Hi, riders,

 

To the 20 or so of you who wrote, thanks...for those not sure...yes, NW 39th Ave, west of the I-75 overpass is totally paved with a bike lane all the way to 241...smooth fast black asphalt.

 

But, now that I have your attention here was my ride today.

 

I left the Cameron Dancecenter parking lot on NW 34th about 315 pm...headed back south to NW 39th...for that short leg, all seemed pretty smooth.  Made the right turn...into the teeth of a ferocious & variable 20-30 mph wind...cruised at ~18 then get anviled down to 12-14 mph in a coupla heart beats, repeat.  I began to wonder what the hell I was thinking...I could be home on a trainer watching Wanted and the backside of Angelina Jolie.

 

I pushed on over the NW 39th overpass...avoiding getting creamed by folks trying to jet into the north entrance ramp...at the top of the bridge I was slowed to about 8 mph pushing into the wind.  Then that magnificent downhill...yea, watch the concrete...I know that one...but the biggest problem was still the wind...hard from 45 degrees left, lean, then it switched in heart beat (that is an important term for me) to 45 degrees right, lean, then back again...4-5x as I started to descend...keeping the bike upright was a serious challenge. I was accelerating...20-25-28.....I hit the drops, shifted weight back, and feathered in the brakes.  I slowed to about 15 mph DOWNHILL just to be sure the wind and gravity did not win and I became a grease mark on the asphalt.  Falling is not an option.  I've done downhills at 3 Gap and on 40-50 milers in the Rockies with 30 mph crosswinds...this was a memorably dangerous moment on par to those magic adventures.

 

At the end of 241...there is a magnificent Baptist church...it seemed like a good time to pull in and give thanks but that seemed in conflict with my earlier thoughts...so instead I went right and north up 241.  In heavy winds, oak trees can drop twigs and monster branches...I kept my eyes UP as I rode.  A thundering snap and the sound of a massive weight falling over my head brought my eyes to my right shoulder...a 20 footer was flipping end over end just above and right of me...but it clearly broke when I was coming under it.  It hit the ground and dropped the butt end on the edge of the shoulder about 20 yards behind me...on 241 just north of the 39th Ave intersection.

 

After battling on up 241, then a left turn onto 78th West...in several places those false flat downhills where you can hit 22-24-26 mph with out even trying...I was lucky to hit 20 mph in a full tuck.  Then I made it to 235, did the right turn and SAILED up 235 at 22-24 mph...made the RT onto 98th...and sat up in the quiet.  The forest on the right totally blocked the wind and the air was just still and smooth.  It was just me and Chestnut Hill...some of you Sunrisers rode that with me last 20 June....you know what I'm talking about. I've made peace with that hill so I used my low triple to elevator over it at 8-10 mph. After all this was only my 5th ride after a 6 week lay-off.  Then cresting the hill...the forest drops away to pasture...and the wind blasted me out to 241 at 26 mph.  Sweet.

 

Then back down 241 to MH Road...back into town...past NW 135th Street....on 20 June...I stopped there...today I blasted past it at 22 mph..wind assisted.  Coming in MH Rd...a mine field of sweet gum balls, twigs, branches...it was a good time to practice balance and threading skills...and a few bunny hops.

 

Finally back down NW 53rd and around to 34th St and back to my car.  Hop off the bike...my refitted aluminum Trek 1500...the bike is a work horse and can still be very very fast.  What a hell of ride. 28.5 miles, 16.6 mph...but it is burned in my memory. Thanks to all who let me know about west 39th avenue....you opened up a route for a great experience & few cars on a Sunday afternoon. I'm glad I'm here to experience it....I'm glad I'm part of this cycling community...what a great place to have an adventure.  Angie's backside can wait for a mid-week trainer ride when time is short and the sun is low.  See you on the road...Bob Howland