Rather than ride solo on roads, I drove north to Banks and rode the Banks-Vernonia State Trail. It was the first time I've been on my carbon bike in nearly two years!
It was a beautiful day to ride a bike!
I did take one detour out along Williams Creek. The sign seed "stream view, 1/2 mile" it started out as a dirt road, but as it neared the creek, it turned into a small boulder strewn path. Being on 23mm tires, I was definitely at a disadvantage. When I got to the creek I stopped and took this little video of Williams Creek.
I hadn't had a decent breakfast and with this longer ride and slightly uphill slog, I was feeling a bonk coming on. I was looking forward to replenishing calories when I got to Vernonia.
The Banks-Vernonia State Trail was Oregon's first rails to trails conversion in 1991, and is beginning to show it's age. Especially in the 7-8 miles on the Vernonia end there are many off these:
The final stretch into Vernonia was more exposed and there was a noticeable headwind hampering my progress. With less than a mile to go I crossed the Nehalem River.
I arrived in Vernonia and made my way to a gas station/convenience store. I took in a balanced diet of protein, carbohydrates calories, and hydration. ;-)
Having replenished my energy level I pedaled back toward Banks. The wind in the opening miles was now a tailwind though it was slightly uphill. I felt comfortable pedaling at 17-18 mph. After a few miles I caught up with a fat tired electric bike. The operator was complaining about the hill hampering his speed. You know what happens when there are two bikes together, a race! I pedaled on with new vigor. I arrived at the 11% grades used to bypass the horseshoe trestle. I quickly maneuvered the sharp switchbacks down to the Hwy 47 crossing, then mindful of my electric assisted nemesis behind me hammered up the 11% grades back up the other side. I kept thinking of the Furnace Creek 508 that had 11% grades on Towne Pass (after 200+ miles of racing) where I never dropped below 5 mph. Today I couldn't match that performance, but close, 4.8 mph. As I topped out and faced downhill riding to the finish of today's ride I stopped to take a drink and check social media while look over the scenery. I heard the singing of knobby tires at speed. Sure enough, my electric assisted friend had arrived. He zoomed by me while saying, "finally some downhill". I put my stuff back in my pack, and hopped back on the bike. I couldn't remember what the maximum speed of an electric bike was, but I figured I would better that with my big gears and gently downhill grade (even if the legs lacked their former glory) I kept the bike at 25-35 the whole way down. After a few miles I caught electric bike guy and reveled in being able to call out "on your left" as I went around him! There is nothing worse than passing someone only to have them pass you back again, so I kept pedaling. I arrived back at the Banks Trainhead, 41 miles, 1 hour and 11 minutes after leaving Vernonia. Not too bad for an old out of shape guy. Electric bike guy arrived a few minutes later. We chatted a bit as I helped him lift his bike into the back of his big pickup. He said the top speed of his bike was 20 mph which he maintained all the way back from Tophill.
I rewarded myself on a job well done at Hop Cycle Brewing.
 |
| being left handed I went for the offering on the left. |
43.7 miles, 1551 feet elecation gain 11.2% maximum grade, 34.1 maximum speed.
.......Road Bike........Rollers.......MTB..........Lifecycle......Total
Today ......44.................0.................0.....................0............44
Jan.........0.................. 0..................0.....................0..............0
Feb.........0..................0..................0.....................0...............0
March.......0.................0................0.....................0...............0
April.......0.................0..................0......................0...............0
May.........0..................0................80....................0..............80
June........63..................0................59....................0..............122
July........44...................0................50....................0...............50
YTD.........133...............0................190.....................0.............323
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