Back to Hartley! We left even earlier after noticing a class on break outside everyday. So this time we did our kid ride with time for Jr. to get in on a game of catch befor his class started.
Lieblings had to work so I hit the trails solo. In just a few days I’ve gotten a lot faster and better at them and I’ve been adding up the miles from the map and doing just over four on challenging terrain. It’s not that much, I used to ride 7 miles through the city when we lived in town, but that was also on streets and flat paved bike trails. I was carrying my satchel across my body and getting tired of it banging around and creating a hot patch of sweat on my side/back so I took an old Duluth Pack shell bag that had the strap removed and cliped it to my waist carabiners. It makes a sweet chaos bag and is big enough to hold my sketchbook, writing tools, and various odds and ends. I keep my metal waterbottle on my key clip on the other side. It was hilarious to take a break and watch the spandex-wearing bro dudes go by on expensive bikes and giving me weird looks, but I’m managing the same trails as them in Doc Martens and cut-off workpants on my old Rock Hopper. :P
I’m REALLY liking mountain biking, it’s a ton of fun and feels like a full-body workout. My favourite part of the trails is the Root Canal (lots of turns and rocks) and then it opens into a beautiful swampy meadow with a boardwalk through. It’s absolutely elating to glide out into this beautful sunny open area and catch your breath as you gaze around after bombing down the shaded trails.