Brandon The Bike Pedaling Ginger: May 2019

Monday, May 27, 2019

Morning Greed

Didn't need it but I kinda wanted it. Found myself awake too early, so a ride was in store. Count it :)

Friday was a banger, pretty standard loop w nothign fancy. Celebrating my 10 year wedding anniversary Saturday to Monday I am excited. No ride picture so the car was in good spirits under the underpass a rare parking spot.

Sweet Moisture

A little weather rolled in at 5am, by the time I was riding it was absolutely pristine out there on the trails. The smell of moisture was powerful for sure and dirt was happy and me ofcourse.

Weather delight

Spring just keeps on giving these beautiful days, I will take them happily. Easy spin around Usery was just was my Wednesday needed.

Mo Bettah

I needed to spice up the trail experience, leaving me at Hawes for some reason but I opted for mine and got what I was after.

So good out head not so much

Mondays weather was outstanding, I was in a bit of a funky head space but I was pleasantly pedaling in perfect conditions. The weather is cool, the legs are fine and shred I did

Tuesday, May 21, 2019

New pedal day!

I have notice the a few months ago that my one ups just weren't gripping all that well, so after a long stint of cheapness over 60$ new pedal I ordered them up and was very excited to get them on. I owned a pair of aluminum kona wah wah's about 10 years ago, I was exicted for these in plastic and updated. They feel absolutely fantastic and far better than my one us and race face chesters. Impmressions are good, now to see how they hold up.

Cloudy breexy and pretty

Thursday had me at Usery pass, feeling mellow I went up the mountain and enjoyed a pleasant hiker free journey. Very very nice out in the desert right now, weather is going to be great the rest fo the week and weekend.

Playing dead or dead?

Wednesday had a pavement climb to the dirt, a regualr for me about once a week, out of the corner of my eye I spotted a rattler along the curb, no sign of trauma but he wasn't moving and I wasn't about to find out if he was alive. Rest of the ride I expected to be snakey, with my eyes peeled no more snakes for me, just a bucnch of bugs hitting my body.

Yea Mon

On this Tuesday I felt a little better, I put Jimmy buffet on pandora and had that mellow vibe going for the ride, nothing fancy just a spin around Hawes.

Pissy

I got home Friday night after a very pleasant trip to CT. I had mixed feelings about being back in Phoenix but happy to be back with my family. The next ride would come Monday, I was kinda in the mood for it, thinking things might feel refreshed, after 5 mimutes I was back in the old funk, just not really feeling it in teh head and body. But I rode on, on a comfortable successful ride. Came across a really pissy rattler, I got around him and we parted ways.

Wednesday, May 15, 2019

One last treat

There was rain expected for Friday, I wasn't planning to ride really, but packed the car in case the chance arose. At 4am I checked the forecast and I was free and clear and just couldn't help myself and headed out the house to get a good ride in before my train back to the city. I picked Naugutuck trails I rode Tuesday since there was still some exploring to do and it was close to the house and trail map recent in my memory. It was a nice spin, I was very very thankful for this trip to CT, I got 4 great rides and this one was another in the bag before the rain came. Not ready to go back to Arizona but ready to face the music, thank you CT :)

Nassahegon Blast

Thursday I was feeling brave and ventured up to Nassagegon. I have rode here twice before and really enjoyed it. This time I was happily armed with a trail map and ready to rock. I have really been enjoying CT, the change in scenery and weather is soooooo welcomed. It was yet another rain free day which was quite lucky I might add, I had a few trails in mind and was going on the fly. Turns out the trail choices were super sweet, I linked one fantastic single track after another, these were Mountain biker built trails for sure and was very very thankful for trail signs and easy navigating. I can't believe how little miles it takes me in 2 hours on CT trails. I left Nassahegon fully satisfied by the time I was back to the car, so much more to ride there when I get the next chance.

Roaming around Case Mart

Wednesday I was off happily very early in the moring for Case Mountain. I have rode Case alot when I use to live in CT, alot has changed since I moved away though. I was left with my old knowledge and time enough to get lost. I did both, I missed alot of the good stuff but hit some of it. I wasn't feeling all that energetic or great either for seme reason, so it was kind of painful out there in a way but still a beautiful time in the woods. It was frustrating out there even with my map, but the mission was complete!

Sweet sweet Naugutuck State Forest!

So I rolled into town by noon and gave my parents a quick hello and off into the woods I went to get a ride fix in. Feeling a little guilty but extremely anxious from the trip I was off to Naugutuck to explore the closest trails from my parents to save time. I had a trail map on trailforks and was happy to have something to go by. I was very very pleased as the trail began to climb along pristine CT single track on a warm spring day. The ground was a little soft from a few very wet days of rain the days before but not enough to leave a tread but enough to rob a singlespeeders progress. I rode around the preserve with some trails in mind, luckily not alot to choose from but got distracted by unmarked trails. With the two hour void filled I very very happily went home to shower and spend some great time with my family.

Central Park Stroll

Like I said I was off to CT for some family time. I landed at JFK early in the morning and had to commute train to home so I happily made my way to Manhattan where I could connect with the Metro North Railroad. This included two trains and then I found myself on a wonderful spring morning in the city. I had the idea of renting a citi bike and I proceeded to do as follows. For me this was a first and memorable one for me, I set off scarily across the busy street and quickly into Central Park where I could roll around and enjoy the scene. It turns out my gears were not working on the bike so the singlespeeder was left with a singlespeed go figure! I was in a hurry so a little loop was just what I needed to stretch my legs and burn off the red eye. It was quite pleasant but I was not allowed on the pathways which meant sticking to the road.