| Ride Stats |
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Time: 03:05:29
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Route:
Paris Mountain
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Distance:
34.20 miles
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Avg Speed:
11.06 mph
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Max Speed:
0.00 mph
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Altitude Gain:
0 ft
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Terrain: Road: Steep
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Bike: Gary Fisher Rail Road
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Club: Clydesdales |
| Weather Conditions: |
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I went grocery shopping this morning and didn't know if I'd ride late morning or wait until late afternoon. The lawn was still damp so I headed out for a late morning ride. I decided to try climbing the Greenville side of Paris Mountain to get to Travelers Rest. I haven't been up the Greenville side since before my accident. I didn't know if I would be able to break the wall. I know that I'm stronger than I was before, but I am also heavier than I was before. The Greenville side climbs 900 feet in 3.9 miles, but the real test is in the first .7 mile. It climbs about 6 to 8% then has a 150 yard stretch at 22% that is called the wall. I have always had to stand up to finish climbing the wall and since my accident I have a phobia about standing to ride and I haven't taken the time to deal with the silly phobia. After I left the house my lower back started hurting, but it straightened up after about a mile. Then getting to the mountain I was fighting the wind and my legs felt tired. But once I was on the mountain I just kept going. I could feel the strain as I approached the top of the wall, but just kept going. I was shocked to find that I could break the wall without standing. About a quarter mile above the wall I ran into Lou from work. He was flying down the mountain at about 30 to 35 mph was I was slogging up the mountain at about 5 mph. I yelled "Lou Sanchez" while he yelled "Kraig Scott" and he was gone! I met a few riders going up the mountain, but it was pretty quiet. I stopped at the top and drank most of my water bottle.
Then it was down the Travelers Rest side. I am heavier than the last time I rode down and every time I released the brakes I just shot down the mountain. That side drops 900 feet in 2.2 miles and stays pretty steady at a 6% descent. Twice I had cars come up behind me and I slow to a near stop to let them by. In the past I could descend quicker than a car would. I met a ton of cyclists climbing the mountain as I rode down.
At the bottom I crossed US 25 and went to the Furman campus to catch the trail and head north to Travelers Rest. I rode through TR and on to the north end of the trail. I stopped there and finished off my water bottle. There was a couple stopped there and they had a million cycling questions while I was drinking. We talked for a while then I headed back south. In TR I stopped at Dukes Doggs for a drink. I filled my water bottle with ice water and had a icy lemon-ade, then a glass of icy Sprite, and two glasses of icy Coke. They were so cold that I was fighting a brain freeze, but they sure felt good. There is a reason that I seldom drink sodas and that is because I struggle to process the carbonation. I chatted with Krsity, but once alone I muffled a 45 second belch. Had I not muffled it, it might had triggered the seismic sensors. I headed on down the trail, but I knew from yesterday that the trail would be closed in Furman for some trail work, so I took a path through the Furman campus and rejoined the trail south of campus. On the ride down I ran into Kimberly. Then I stopped at the Swamp Rabbit Cafe. I finished the water in my bottle from Dukes and refilled it at the water fountain inside the Cafe. I ate an oatberry shortbread and bought a strawberry/almond scone for Cis.
The rest of the ride was a little warm, but it was a good ride.
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