The long way home

Older picture of the Serotta Hors Categorie at the Stones River Battlefield

Maybe I should have just parked the bike today. When I first stuck my head out the door it was raining lightly, so I decided not to bike. Instead, I found my frame pump and put it on the bike. It hasn't ever been mounted on the Hors Cat. Haven't even put the saddle bag on it either. The old saddle bag mounting strap was dry rotted and broke as soon as I tried to mount it. Put on a bigger one that came with one of the bike's I'd flipped last year. Now I'm ready for any kind of mechanical issue on the bike. Though after gettig home, I should consider myself lucky that I didn't get cursed with a flat. It's been well over a year since I've flatted.

Looked back outside and the roads were dry. Must have been a very brief shower. Decided to go ahead and ride my usual ride to the Stones River Greenway and multiple loops of the Stones River Battlefield. Only problem with starting later and a Saturday, everybody and their dog is out.

I've ranted before about how I hate the MUP's, (Multi Use Parkways). Let me count the ways. I failed to take into account how greasy they are after any rain, especially the bridges. Lots of water, puddles, mud and people to dodge. Some big team gathering money was out walking in mass and clogged up the entire pathway. Someone really needs to let them know they have to share with everyone else. When someone says "on your left", that means maintain your line, I'm coming by you on the left. Don't move to the left. And for gosh sakes, get the hell out of the way. Don't maintain your chorus line across the path. I know its going to hurt me more than it does them if they suddenly make a move into my path and I can't avoid hitting them.

So, after almost going down twice. Once, on the bridge, my front almost slide out from under me. Think black ice, except this is greenish brown slime? The second time, some women was kicking something out of the path and I couldn't figure out which way she was trying to go. I announced myself on her left, but I still almost came to a complete stop when she wouldn't commit to one spot in the path. She did thank me for announcing and said she wished everyone would do the same. I'm with her on that. I like to know when I running that a biker is passing, 'cause sometimes it scares the bejebbers out of me.

I rode home through town, only after being forced out on the road because the train parks on the track, blocking the greenway and the roadway. The trip home was uneventful. Almost safer on the roadway than on the greenway. The greenway is great for everyone except someone on a road bike wanting to go faster than 14 mph. Sure wish I'd get the bunny hop thing down. One of the bridges has almost a 2 inch curb that I seem to hit dead on with my front wheel every other time I ride over it. I'm afraid it's going to bend the wheel.