The 7:00 pm rides are successful so far, since the baby goes down at that time that give me from then to daylight leaves. Which is usually a good 90 minute run or longer. I was looking for more ride time so I chose to ride Hale, I am hesitant to ride Hale lately since I ride it so much and have actually grown bored if it a little I must say. I chose a quick route with the least amount of work I suppose, it was slightly cooler out which is extremely welcomed. As usual equipped with one gear and no suspension I was cranking away out there. It was a pretty un eventful ride I suppose, things went great and trails were in great shape. Actually there are some areas that are very very grown in, and not just tall weeds I'm talking over you head can't see any of the trail kind of stuff. For some reason every one of these sections is littered with thorn bushes..........grrrrrrr. Not only do they cut me but they also really irritate my skin, yesterday I found running water on the arms helped which was a genius invention. As I write this the clouds are thundering, we shall see if I can pull off another ride here tonight. Oh my gosh so amped for Utah!!!!!!!!!!!!! Flat n fast at EveryTrail
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Crandall Power Hour

So my lady is on her final week of Uconn summer block, so when the baby goes to bed at about 7 that is when I get out and shred the gnar. Thunderstorms were threatening the evening ride but I went out anyway armed with a doppler radar on my phone and a familiar looking Golden Doodle. I chose Crandalls for the ride and it did not disappoint. I have finally got my company's lease vehicle back and finally setup the bike rack on it instead of throwing it in the car. This was long over due, Bentley is not normally excited about sharing the back with a bike. It has been too long since Bentley had joined me on a ride, I take him to Crandalls especially since there is low vegetation. I was pedaling mighty strong the stars were aligned and we were having a good time. When I got to a split which brought me out to the furthest trail section I heard a rumble above so I took that was a warning to head back or stay close to car. No biggy so I set off Intestine to zig/zag. Heard another grumble above and I set off down the TVA trail which I have been dying to ride down since I always commute it on the way uphill. It was as fun as I expected, really my two favorite trails there, TVA and zig/zag. It was getting darker and the radar showed some threats so I tucked my tail and headed for the car as it began to lightly rain and then heavily rain. What a great ride, mosquitoes were present but not overwhelming, the trail was nice and dry. Only got an hour ride but I will take an hour everyday anytime!

Hour ride into the rain crandall

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Few wrong turns

Ok so Saturday morning riding was on, I was off to Schoolhouse Brook where I would park in their lot for a different start. The idea was to try to beat the heat and start early, ended up with a later start but there was no beating the heat to be honest. The mosquitoes attacked me upon exiting the car and prompted me to get my gear on as fast as possible and dip into the woods where we would play tag. I took a wrong turn soon entering, what a idiot, no big deal since I am game for mapping out more of these trails on the Brook side. No big deal I ended up at the little lake and back on familiar groung until i made another wrong turn. This one cost me and determined not to back track I ended up screwing aorund on pavement which was another poor decision. Took a gps to locate myself in unfamiliar territory but soon I was back on trail having a nice cruise down Stoned Hill. Remember I named it that a few weeks back pretty cool huh? Stormed down that sucker like a rigid mofo does and then did a lap at the soccer fields and then realized why I ride this loop counter clockwise. Steep quick jaunts brought me off my pedals, did not mind it the first few times but when it was back to back I felt pretty sucky about myself. But hey was a SS expect, I know I am no iron man even with gears so all good brotha. Onwards was pretty straight forward tracing my route in reverse and that was until I had to get up Mountain Rd. The street name is worthy of it's identity, I walked that hole sucker since I knew I had no fighting chance. Back into the woods I had been this area once before and I had help from my old routes, mosquitoes were driving me insane at this point, any slight slowing and they swarmed my face and bit me at every chance. Somewhere in there I felt something on my hand and little jerk got me right through my glove. I hate to sit here bitching about mosquitoes but they really are a creature I cannot stand to live with. Took a new trail at the end and still have not found anything I am crazy about but the trail options are there in Schoolhouse Brook. When I saw the car it was a glorious sight, I had got a little over two hours and 14.75 miles was a fast ride, even with all my walking and swatting insects. Got home and had a great time in the new pool, still filling it up slowly, should be good this week. Next week at this time I will probably have filled myself completely full of beef and be drooling on the couch waiting for my first Utah Ride! Thank goodness I will be at my real home soon:)

Hollow brook reverse fail

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July 4th stinker

I rode today, planned 90 minutes, it was so hot, after an hour I quit, whether it was the tough heat or lack of morale and energy I don't know or care, day got better when we got in the pool with wife and son :)

Hale hour of silly at EveryTrail
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Gay City Skeeter Festival

The rainy weather has finally subsided and while it's nice to not have the rain there are other uncomfortable things going on but not much I can do right. I wiggled some free time and got a shot at a 90 minute pedal and with plenty of options I went for Gay City so I could be lazy and have a mellow pedal. Setting off on red I took an old trail I use to ride with the Thursday night group rides and was pretty stoked since it had been a good 2 years since I last rode it. Nothing too great just another plain old CT trail. I then climbed Ribbon in the opposing direction which always takes longer than it should seemingly. By the end of the Ribbon the mosquitoes were really hammering down on me, a good 10 of them just hovered in front of my face as I pedaled as fast as I could at all time to ride them from me. Those little jerks can fly pretty well, I was covered in OFF so I did not receive bites luckily but they were obnoxious the whole ride. It was nice cruising down the path at the end of Ribbon but I did not loose them for very long. By now I was soaked in my own sweat and just wanting this ride over. Got my good workout and had to race to get into the car as they lit me up as soon as I got there. Grrrrr you little !$$#&* I hate mosquitoes so much. I hate these riding conditions I truly do, but it is what it is. Soon falle will come and it will cool. I miss those days going out and being perfectly happy it was 32 degrees. Either way great ride, still wondering how to condition myself off big mountain Utah rides. Do I give a good rest before I leave for Utah, do I just ride normally. I think I find that I ride more stellar after a 5-7 day rest, but who wants to do that. Maybe I can get some input from here or just google that Biatch. I am sure some XC weenies should know. Ride on suckas!

Gay city skeeterfest at EveryTrail
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Saturday Bliss

LuAnn was gone most the day and I was anxiously awaiting her arrival home so I could sneak out and get some trail time. She got home later than expected but in my annoying obsession with riding I still was anticipating a ride. So reluctantly I headed out with the blessing of my loving understanding wife. The day had cleared up and became really nice. I got pedaling at Mansfield Hollow all set to finally complete the big loop cleanly. It felt outstanding on trail, the conditions were prime despite being still hot. It was a little after 6 and off I went with strong legs after a decent ride week. Again mosquitoes were pretty bad but I was able to keep moving fast enough for them not to attack. I hit the river and was happy to fine the trail still alive so I could avoid the tick filled meadows. Up Stoned Hill and happy to not come across anyone on blue. Over into Schoolhouse brook and a quick pedal was had all the way to Puddin Ln. What a great ride, it came to 1.50hr and there are many other ride lengthening choices from there. Prettty pumped toi have finally navigated my way through on a success loop. I Love Mansfield Hollow, it lacks a lot of technical and that is what i like most about it, as lame as that sounds, most trails around here can be overloaded with technical that a smooth fast pace ride is all I want sometimes. Less than two weeks to Utah, looks like I am shipping my bike out there tomorrow, hope the Tanuki arrives unscathed. Forecast looks like poop for this week but weekend looking great so let's see what riding happens.

Clean hollow brook loop at EveryTrail
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Wild Ride

I was off to Crandalls Friday night for a 90 minute spin before it got dark. The sun popped out for a little while before the ride which usually is a motivating factor especially after a rainy dreary week. Equipped with a singlespeed and a freshly cleaned BB I was finally back rolling smooth. This was my third time out this week which was fantastic, I was short on ride hours and this would be another cut short. Trails were in good condition, found the rocks and roots icy as usual. It was hot and humid as could be but there is no changing the funky CT weather. Mosquiteos were atrocious and attacked and any standstill, so I kept moving at a good click. I made the mistake of riding the Whales Back rock I think it's called, and found myself sliding as soon as I started, it was a pretty harry ride from then on as I balanced the bike trying to stay on and eventually got ejected as my rear wheel popped off. This is the second time, apparently the frame dropouts widening and cheap skewers are causing a real headache with this frame. Anyway I was pretty rattled as that was a really scary ride and lucky to have escaped an injury. I traveled on and cut the ride a little short in eager to get home and have some time with me wife. Was happy to get out but was another soggy yucko riding day but oh well. Not a tick bite by the way, all is good.

Crandalls despiration at EveryTrail
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