September 3rd (Morning)

The ride this morning started off pretty well. I felt really good physically. With a bit of cloud cover, it was a bit darker (dimmer I guess) than normal, so I had better find some clear glasses soon as even these yellow ones I am using are a bit too dark.

I installed some new brake pads on the front last night, but did not have the chance to break them in properly so I tried doing a bit of breaking in as I left the house. By the end of the ride, they were grabbing really nicely. These are Jagwire pads instead of the Tektro’s that come with the bike (as I got last time for the rear), so we’ll see if I like them better or not.

Going down into Peterson’s Creek was good. However, things started going awry when I started climbing up out of the creek. I made the first section, but then ran too wide and jammed the handlebar into some bushes and had to bail. No worries, I have only made this once before so I wasn’t too worried. Then I started the climb up past the gate and didn’t get my 2nd foot clipped in and thus had it slip off in a hurry, just about causing me a lot of pain. Frustrated, I started the climb again and then completely lost traction and control about half way up (I rarely don’t make this climb, so I was quite frustrated to say the least).

The next section I struggled with was the boardwalk. Yesterday I hit my handlebar on the left railing twice, but it wasn’t a big deal as I was able to keep pushing up and made the climb. However, today my handlebar hit on the right side and actually dug in, and I was barely able to get my feet down in time to save my face from eating the railing…

Finally, I continued on and made the first sandy section, but the next one I veered way left, overcorrected and went way too far right and then couldn’t bring the bike back in line and AGAIN had to dab.

It was very frustrating, as physically I felt really good. I didn’t get even close to my maximum heart rate the entire ride, and my legs felt like I had lots left in them. But technically I just didn’t have it this morning.

I am hoping to meet up with Phil today for an extended ride up on upper PC trails, so I do hope that I snap out of it for that ride as I will need to be more alert and responsive than normal with new trails that will probably be technical and tough. I wish myself good luck!!!