Texas Canine Ambush   
 Ride Stats
Distance: 33.85 miles Altitude Gain: 2,283 ft Avg Speed: 15.46 mph
Route: Chambers Avg Grade: 129 % Max Grade: 158 %
Max HR: 0 bpm Avg HR: 0 bpm Terrain: Road: Hills
Bike: Look 585 Carbon Road Club: Schuyler County Cycling Club
Weather Conditions: Sunny 73 F NE wind @ 8 mph
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 Dancing with Squirrels
Legs felt much better today and planned on a fairly relaxed cruise with a likely hard day coming up tomorrow. Caught a tailwind up SR 14 to Horseheads and spun comfortably at a mild pace. Had a less than stellar short climb up Wygant but legs recovered quickly and continued again at a pleasant pace. Goal today was the crest atop Chambers road. Climb didn't seem to bad today and it sheltered me nicely from the wind as I worked my way back north. Most of the loose stone has been compacted nicely though there are still occasional piles on the shoulders. Opted to go down Catlin Hill rather than into Chambers proper as had no desire dampen what had so far been a good ride by pushing into a few miles of headwind. Had built up a good head of speed on the steep descent when a gray squirrel sauntered across the road. I clamped down on the brakes but they don't really do much at forty five miles an hour on a fifteen percent plus downgrade. I hoped it wouldn't notice me but alas its tail popped up as it sensed me and it started that whirling pattern that squirrels have developed as a survival technique for some unknown reason. Perhaps it confuses predators but seems to be lacking against traffic. I had no idea which way to swerve as his direction kept changing, and I had a brief imagine of the carnage a collision would do to both it and me as the distance narrowed. My side of my front wheel did make contact with the rodent but it didn't seem to cause damage to either of us rather than perhaps a few lost hairs. The remainder of the ride was uneventful and it remained a good cruise despite the unwelcome adrenalin rush.

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Lifetime: 104,688 mi
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Member since: Dec 2009
Home: Montour Falls, NY 
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