Today was the best cycling day of the year so far. The temperature was in the upper 60s, the sky was clear, and the traffic was somewhere else.
I was trying something new going up to the overlook this weekend. Last month the crank on my singlespeed mountainbike came loose, and would bottom out on the bottom bracket before it was tight. I've finally decided to write the old bke off and get a new one, but it isn't ready yet. Time to take the fixie.
It seemed to me to be a lot of climbing (for me anyway) on the fixie, so I put a 23t freewheel on the flop side of the hub and stored some extra chain as insurance.
Catoctin Hollow road was hard, but not as bad as I expected. I never switched from 42/17. I took a couple of breaks, but I climbed the whole thing. I was pretty pleased with myself, but reality returned on Wigville Rd, where I did walk a bit. Still, I'm pleased with the effort.
The watershed was almost deserted. I don't think I saw 10 cars from the time I started climbing until I reached Mountaindale on the downhill side.
When I got back into the valley I did start to see a few other riders. As I was putting my bike back into my truck another vehicle pulled into the parking lot and a cyclist started getting ready. I introduced myself. Paul was getting ready for a ride with his wife in preparation for the Catoctin Challenge, a charity ride for the benefit of Frederick Habitat for Humanity. Another of their friends, Janine(?) also rode up on her bike. I even saw a recumbent tandem a bit down the road as I headed home.
| Ready to roll. |
| Absolutely beautiful cycling weather. |
| Crossing US 15 there was a huge group of motorcyclists heading down to Rolling Thunder. |
| Soon I was on to a carless climb. |
| Green all around. |
| On Wigville Rd. |
| Descending Foxtower Rd. |
| The map had a ford at the stream on Foxtower Rd, but is now a paved section with a culvert. |
| Soon I was at the overlook. Panorama of the Monocacy River Valley |
| Blooming thorns. |
| The denizens of the mountain came forth to inspect this strange ride. A Ladybug inspects the brakes. |
| While the bees seemed to prefer a Brookes Saddle. |
| It was very hard too get the skinny tires rolling back up the path. |
| I just had to take a picture. It looks small, but it was the first log roller I've ridden fixed offroad. I got plenty more practice today! |
| Instead of going back out to the road, I tried some real underbiking along the trails for a bit. The green walls closing in. |
| Finally back on the road. My arms and hands getting a bit sore from the extended descent. |
| A short break by a mossy banked stream, and its time to head back to the truck. |
| Today's Map |
| Today's Profile |
Roads Completed 5/29/2005
| Road Name | ADC Map Grid | Subdivision | |||
| COLONIAL | AVE | 13-C-12 | ZIGLER ESTATES | ||
| LARVADALE | CT | 13-B-13 | LARVADALE ESTATES | ||
| SALEM | AVE | 13-C-12 | ZIGLER ESTATES | ||
| WIGVILLE | RD | 6-F-10 | N/A |