Well early this morning I set out to stick it to the gas man...and I did! 3:50 the alarm goes off and I'm eagerly up and at'em. This morning I'm riding to work. I got dressed in my gear, filled my water bottle and kissed Angie good-bye. 4:07 am and I was in a short sleeved jersey with a wind vest and arm warmers. I really didn't need the arm warmers but I would not know that until I was half way there. Better I have them than not though. Out the door and off to climb buffalo. You know when its dark outside you have nothing to give you relativity about your speed. I'm pedaling along thinking I'm doing pretty good ya know, I hit the garmin backlight 18mph. Geeeeezzz, this sucks! Felt like 25! Oh well, I hit the climb part all is well. Wait a minute! What was that? What was that sound? I shine my helmet light up into the woods......nothing. Theres that sound again! Helmet light back shining into the woods, crap. Its getting spooky now. I keep my cadence the same. Then .............crackle crackle crunch crunch. Man thats close! Helmet light shines into the woods one more time. I can't see a dang thing! Heck with this...........STAND UP............. SPRINT!!! Heart starts to beat hard in my chest, wonder what that is? A deer, a bear...Mountain Lion...Sasquatch??? The sound is no more, my heart is racing now. I peak and flat out blast down the backside. Get to the end of the road still no cars. I still have adrenaline coursing through my veins. Turn left onto Arnold rd. then to Hwy81 to Erwin. I only passed 6 cars heading to work and they were all on hwy 81. Zipped down into Erwin hit the greenway over to work. 1hr 4min for 20+ miles not bad at 4-5am huh? I thought I would get heckled by my fellow drivers seeing me in my cycling kit ( I wouldn't have cared either way) but they were very positive about it and wished they could do the same and save some gas.......nice!Got changed and secured my load and off to Asheville,NC.
I return at about 2:30pm do my post trip inspection and fuel for the next days deliveries. Go inside and gear up. Down about 2 glasses of water. I always prefer to pre-hydrate than wait 'til I'm thirsty on the ride. Ate me a clif bar and then hit the road. I got to see a mud turtle, a huge small mouth bass, a ton of bluegill and a zillion ducks riding back through the Erwin greenway. Things I would not have seen if I had driven today (thank you God!) Hwy 81 up out of Erwin and to the backside of buffalo. The return trip was uneventful, just nice and hot. I'm glad I could do this. It would be nice to be able to ride everyday to work and cut out the $75 or so dollars that I spend weekly for fuel in the explorer. Just think $75 in new bike parts every week.......whew, nice! 2 days and 90 miles on the road-bike under my belt, good way to start any week!
Later G....................................
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