Took the Spectral on its first spin on the trail where I first kinda got started mountain biking: Medina’s Huffman Park

• Acceleration: although I don’t have a ton of experience with motorcycles, and virtually no experience with other e-bikes, the acceleration on an Spectral/Shimano EP8 motor is a little startling at first, then awesomely welcome in places where you would normally stall or have to lay down instant power: Those match-burning moments when you wonder why you’re working so hard to have fun.
• Speed: things happen more quickly, but the speed seems controllable. Think those sections of trail that you hammer at full gaz, but at an effort you can’t sustain for the whole ride, unless you’re racing. And I was never a racer. I think I’ll be going through some brake pads.
• Despite weighing almost 50 lbs, the Spectral’s MX wheels gave it a nimble feel, and the weighted bottom bracket kept it planted to the trail.
• The pedal assist makes constant shifting less necessary. It’s almost a single speeding sensation. I’ll have to monitor the cassette wear.
• I’ll also need to learn some sort of trail etiquette or quick response when I pass other riders. I came up gradually on a lycra-kitted racer boi and his girlfriend, and he didn’t seem to want to let me pass him. Eventually, they both pulled to the side and I wish them a good ride. They’re response was “You, too” then “Ohhh” as if to acknowledge that the reason I was going so fast was not because they were slow but because I was on an ebike. I didn’t respond…because I was weaving and railing and having a blast.
• It has occurred to me that e-bikes will take the “big dick” factor out of riding for some people. It’s not about showing how far into biological shock you can push yourself to impress your Strava audience. It’s about recreating the fun that we all felt when we got into the sport. At least that’s the way it feels to me so far. But then again, I’m almost 60 years old.

Canyon has its/their shit together:

• Tires set up tubeless at 25 psi.
• XTR drive train tuned
• Brakes seem to be burned in and wheels want to spin to infinity
• Unboxing was a piece of cake. Torque wrench and shock pump included.
• I had to fiddle with seatpost height a bit, but the headset routing actually allowed for easy slack adjustment of the cable.
• I haven’t begun adjusting the sag on the suspension because the stock setting seems good for my initial rides
• The only thing I really had to do was install the integrated bar/stem which honestly seems to be one less thing to have to fuck with
• Charging took longer than expected: about four hours, and I found out that the last 10% takes longer than the first 90%
• Shipment took about five days. Glad I ordered when I did because there are no more available
• So far, so good with the direct sales model

First ride impressions:

• I immediately realized that it brings together the best of all of my other bikes
• I can cover just about any kind of terrain
• I did a road ride around the block and averaged 17 mph on a rear Minion and front Assagai

I’m excited about the possibilities of riding again.

I’ll explain more in the next post.

A Couple of Days in Tennessee and Kentucky

Kentucky came back with a vengeance, however, when I drove northward to check out another section of the Sheltowee. The sketchy remoteness of the forest service campground combined with the dog-on-duty pickup truck that blew by me and the (I hate to say it) general ugliness of the area kept me driving northward back home. I’m probably done with my Sheltowee Trace explorations, unless I go with other people. I’m not done exploring the rivers of Eastern Tennessee, though!!

Ugh https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/outside-podcast/id1090500561?i=1000607687898

“Invisible Sun” by the Police: “I don’t want to spend the rest of my life/Looking at the barrel of an Armalite”

So I’ve learned a few things about AR 15- type rifles lately:

• AR originally stood for Armalite, but now has become known to many people as America’s Rifle
• A round from an AR is no bigger than a round from a 9mm pistol
• I recently went to a shooting range with an acquaintance (disclaimer: I do not own a gun) and stood a few feet away from a group of shooters practicing with an AR-type of rifle. I was startled and amazed at the power and sound I felt as they shot
• An AR produces a higher velocity than a typical pistol, creating (along with a higher capacity magazine) a much greater destructive force
• This force creates a “cavitation effect” in the human body which results in devastation to hard and soft tissue much more severe than a wound from a pistol
• Fans of violence might find that fascinating, but I’m horrified to imagine what that power does to the body of a child.
• I read somewhere that a gun salesman said if you want to sell something to an American, tell them they can’t have it.
• These facts have been on my mind this week as I think about the retired police officer sitting on his ass at the end of my hallway with his eyes glued to his phone. Would I feel any differently if he were patrolling the halls with an assault rifle and body armor?
• Kudos to those teachers who have risen up against at least some of the destructive power of a crazy person with an AR 15 and the people who allow this to keep happening. It’s one of the things that makes our country unique.
• Then there’s “Armalite Rifle” by Gang of Four

A Spin Through The Valley

New to me, then I heard singing

Turns out I was on Girl Scout camp property and a troop was hiking and singing and having a good ol’ time. I apologized for trespassing and left immediately, but like Camp Christopher, it seems…a shame?…that such a cool place is on private property.

A good day to test out the new Shimano PD-EH500 pedals. They rule. I noticed that they have screw holes for pegs. Hmmm….

I’m being hypocritical, but I’ll call this thoughtful poaching. It’s actually a horse trail, but you’d have to be nuts to ride a horse here.

Plenty of people have taken pics of this spot, but I couldn’t resist

It goes without saying that we are fortunate to have the CVNP

Finished up in a near snow storm. But then the sun came out as I got back to the truck

COGitations and Perseverations:

Turns out that Shimano included posts with the pedals!! Didn’t notice them in my hasty unpackaging. I’m kinda fired up about the possibilities.

Caught Myself Judging the Cover This guy popped up on my Youtube feed. He actually has some really interesting (and funny) things to say about bike touring. Every time I was gonna click away, he reeled me back in (mandatory fishing reference).

A Little Bummed I reached out to a few of my acquaintances recently about profiling them on this blog, but no takers, which is unfortunate because they have really interesting “biking careers.” I get it, I guess. I do, however, want to give kudos to Brandon Le and Egg for allowing me to tell part of their story. It’s not easy to put yourself out there.

No Chamois, No Beer, No Problems I am currently on my third month of a) not drinking by myself, and b) not wearing chamois when I ride. The beer thing has been greatly facilitated by Athletic Brewing. I’ve found the most apparent effect has been my increased mental clarity. The chamois thing was inspired by a pair of cyclists who are riding from Alaska to Patagonia. They said that it took about two weeks to “break in” the butt cheeks, which I have found to be true. I miss the chamois less than I do the beer – which honestly, isn’t all that much.

Serotonin Shots These songs helped me ride out a cold, dreary day :

• Anthrax, Gang of Four
• Never Again, The Sadies
• Ol’ Nick, The Hackensaw Boys
• The Sadies, 1,000,002 songs
• Minimalaction, Stefano Barone
• No Island Lost, Robin Trower
• Can’t Catch Me, Hackensaw Boys
• Desert Raven, Jonathan Wilson
• Better Way, Watchhouse
• Deadweight on Velveteen, José González
• The Giver, The Dead Tongues
• Mother of Earth, the Sadies
• Hard Drugs and Long Relationships, Ryan Gustafsson
• City of Stone, Del McCoury
• Down In Flames, Dead Boys
• California, Tangleweed
• Riverview Fog, The Sadies
• Haste Make, Watchhouse
• Bombast, The Fall
• Nashville Cats, Del McCoury

Fever to the Form Nick Mulvey

Wheels of Confusion, Black Sabbath

Batman, Stefano, Barone

Auctioneer, R.E.M.

River Lea, Nick Mulvey

Night Flight, Led Zeppelin

To the Grain, Junip

Oak Ridge, The Sadies

Idle Tomorrows, The Sadies

Jars At Home, Trampled By Turtles

Here’s Where You’re Wrong, Jon and Roy

Like a Force of Nature, Todd Snider

Ain’t Like You, Mac Saturn

Thoughtful music and exercise does wonders for the attitude