Mulberry Gap

Last week, I finally did something about my mountain bike. Billy had a spare 31.6mm post, with a very different way to mount the seat.

Yes.

It seemed at least 20% less likely to wreck my balls in a crash, so I borrowed it and got in a couple of test-rides.

I felt ok on the local trails. I couldn't tell on the road bike, but gerching around on the mountain bike, as one does, it felt like there were little invisible cactus spines jabbing me downtown. I chalked it up to internal stitches that hadn't yet dissolved and just kept riding. It wasn't constant, just every now and then, but it was definitely annoying.

After a couple of local rides, and a ride at Blanket's, I felt ok enough to get a litte more ambitious. At Blanket's I'd felt like I hadn't gotten enough sleep in a month, but I was still able to ride everything I cared to ride, so that night I got good sleep, grabbed a slice on the way out of town, and headed up to Mulberry Gap.

I intended to do an out-and-back on P3, then just see what kind of mood I was in for the rest of the day. I figured I'd try for 2.5 to 3 hours.

On the drive in, I ran into Andrew, taking a new puppy for a walk. Or, trying to, at least. Puppies can be difficult to walk.

When I got to MGap, it turned out they'd gotten in new jerseys! The last time I was up there I saw the design, but they had just ordered them. I was down to a single jersey, single bib, and a single tri-kit, so I was excited to get something new. I'm a mens' small in standard cut, mens' medium in race cut, or womens' medium in standard cut, and I typically have to try on all 3 to figure out which fits best. It turned out the womens' medium of the new jersey fit best, but they still had one mens' medium race cut of the older jersey. Yes! I'd accidentally left mine in the bathroom at Allatoona some time ago and figured I'd never see another one.

What luck!

I mentioned my injury to Tori and Jackie, and they were like: "Oooh, that's awful. At least you have a good story." Eddie had a similar reaction. So did most everyone in my family. It's funny... Pretty much anyone who doesn't ride, that I've told has had a really strong reaction. The guys even turn and protect their own balls as they realize what I'm describing. So far, my family, and all my mountain-bike-related friends have had fairly subdued reactions. I guess something like that is somewhere on their radar already, and whether or not they've thought about that specific thing, they've at least seen, if not been through, some difficult injuries themselves.

Ok, lets go...

The kick over Mulberry Gap proper felt kind-of ok. I was able to spin over it. That usually bodes well for the rest of the day. The first few switchbacks felt ok on P3. I didn't have a lot of power, but I didn't feel like I was having a heart attack either. I managed to sketch on one of the switchbacks though, and then encountered the downed tree that I'd been warned about.

It was high adventure getting over that thing. I kept having to climb more and more to find a safe spot to cross. I kind-of had to drop my bike down about a foot, too, then jump down without landing on it.

Tricky!

Somehow, that effort took all of my remaining energy.

Every inch of the trail ahead looked steep and daunting.

I could feel my heart for the rest of the climb. I assume that feeling is my heart itself not getting enough O2, but I don't really know. I was in the hospital months ago because I felt like that a lot, even when I was just sitting around. They couldn't find anything wrong with me. I made sure to breathe well and drink, drink and it eventually got a little better.

I'd kind-of thought about hitting P4 and taking Tatum Lead back to 52, but I gave up on that and just headed over to the overlook instead.

I sat on the burning hot rocks for 15 minutes or so, just enjoying the shadows of the clouds on the various ridges. It was definitely hot outside. Maybe that was contributing to how I felt.

Coming back down was a lot better. It's not down all the way, of course, and I felt weak on the climbs, but I didn't feel like I had earlier, so that was a plus.

I didn't thoroughly enjoy it though. In the past, I've ridden up there and had a great time, flying all over P3. The last time I was up there, I was gushing about perfect it was - loamy tread, and just a little overgrown, so you know that you're in the real woods. It was much like that this time, but the trail felt narrow and the slap of the overgrowth didn't comfort me like it might have in years past. I also kept feeling like I was in the wrong position on the bike. Normally if I'm rolling downhill, there's some steady pressure in some direction, either against the outside pedal, or pulling back or pushing on the bars... something. I kept feeling like I was centered above the bike and like it was getting knocked forwards and backwards under me by the trail. It's hard to describe. It didn't feel good though.

It was 4:30 when I got back to the road. Dinner was at 6. I figured I could probably get the Holly Creek Gap gravel loop in. If I made an effort, I'd probably even have time for a shower before dinner.

This turned out to be the case. I was uncomfortable climbing, but never got that heart attack feeling again. I did have to walk a bit, somewhere, not because I was tired though, just from that cactus-spine sensation I described earlier.

After you drop off the north side of Holly Creek Gap, there are a couple of turns, followed by a really fast descent. It was definitely the fastest part of the ride. I hit 53.4 MPH, according to Strava, though it doesn't feel that fast in real life. At or near the fastest bit of that, I struck a yellow jacket. It was just flying along, minding it's own business when I ran into it. I must have hit it from behind too, because it immediately stung me. Like maybe it's butt was facing me, and when I hit it, it forced it's stinger into me.

I could tell right away that I was stung. Good lord, it hurt.

But, I still had a few miles left to ride, so I tried not to think about it.

Later it turned into this awesome welt...

...which just got worse over the course of the evening.

I made it back with plenty of time to shower before dinner. It was apparently damned hot outside too, because I let that cool water flow over my head, and I could feel it get noticeably warmer as it poured down my back, for several minutes. I was a new man after that shower, and I enjoyed dinner just that much more as a result.

Dinner was italian meatball sandwiches, corn, and green beans. So good. So good!!! There was a pitcher of milkshake too. I had like 3 helpings of the beans. I really felt like beans for some reason.

I'd heard that the new chef, Alaina (I think, I know it's not Elena, but it's something like that) was from Louisiana, so I asked her, and it turned out that she was from Livonia. Ha! Right off of 190, near Krotz Springs, north of Maringouin. She was surprised that I'd ever heard of it, let alone knew where it was. I was surprised to meet someone from around there not named D'Amico or Lassaire. I love that Chad and Alaina are both from Louisiana.

I pigged out a bit more than I probably should have, but hey, what are you gonna do? I mean, there's food right there and I was beat up and wasted. Gonna eat that food.

I slept pretty well last night, but I'm not sure I got enough sleep. Like, I woke up spontaneously after about 6 hours, which is enough for work, but not enough to be really rested. I think I'm going to make an effort to get better sleep for a while, and see what that nets me.

Effort + Rest = Gain, as they say.