Blacksmith Fork canyon is both beautiful and deceiving. It is generally uphill. However, I frequently find myself flying up, my music clear and the hum of the tires against asphalt pronounced. Those are the signs that I am not Superman. Rather, a tailwind is carrying me deeper into the belly of the beast. Turn around and the breath of the dragon will consume your heart, soul and motivation as you pedal with all your might to escape the jaws of the demon.
This is one of the most popular rod bike rides in Cache Valley. It starts near the city of Hyrum and ends 14 miles later at Hardware Ranch. The canyon is typically a few degrees cooler than the valley and so this is an especially popular ride in the summer.
- Crushing grasshoppers, dodging ducks
I couldn’t go fast so I tried to go a bit further. The ride – Porcupine Dam The bike – Time VRS Fluidity - Dog days of summer
Got a visit from some furry friends. They were just chillin’ in the road. The ride – Paradise The bike – Time VRS Fluidity - I disagree. The road does not actually appear to be closed
So many closed roads but as far as I can tell there was no reason to not pass through. Bikes fit through much smaller spaces than cars. The ride – Paradise The bike – Time VRS Fluidity - First dam ride of the year
First dam visit this year. Still a lot of dam water all over the place. The ride – Porcupine Dam The bike – Time VRS Fluidity - Drafting the Honey Bucket
Dropping back out of Blacksmith Fork Canyon I got a huge draft as a convoy of semi trucks passed. As they broke the wind the smell of breaking wind encouraged me to drop off that draft as fast as possible. I felt the experience and appropriate metaphor for a ride that started out rather crappy. Today was my second ride out in the real world … Read more - I went outside
Spring has arrived. It’s not raining. My bike is wonky and won’t shift when I ask but does randomly shift at the most inopportune moments. The randomness adds a little spice to the ride. Utah received plenty of snow and the spring run off is flowing fast and furious. After spending the winter riding with my own stench in the basement, the smells of the … Read more - Drafting my shadow
Sure riding in a group makes you go faster and there are definitely days I miss the hum of tires and chains particular to riding in a peloton. A solo ride gives you a moment (or a couple of hours) to meditate. I do haunt the same roads over and over. There’s a reason – no cars and beautiful country side or tree filled canyons. … Read more - Dam to dam and all the pretty ponies in between
According a calendar my wife has yesterday was ride the wind day. That must mean today was fight the wind day. I and my legs prefer ride the wind day. We were severely punished for missing it. Nothing is more disheartening than pushing 300 watts and going 10 MPH. Instead, we gave up and pushed 150 watts and went 9MPH. The ponies made The ride … Read more - Legs are like no, nope, no way
Not a terrible ride. Even though I slept in it wasn’t too hot which was a miracle given the heat wave that is cooking most of the Northern Hemisphere. I had one of those days were breaking 20mph was a grind and my legs felt like giant lead rods. The bruise from a recent mountain bike incident on my left leg still hurts on occasion. … Read more - Wake Surfing
Took a meditative, recovery ride out to Paradise on the Time. On the way back a huge truck pulling a wake boat passed me. Turns out it’s super fast to draft behind a wake boat. I had been pushing a few hundred watts to get 22mph against a breeze. Behind the boat it was 24 to 30mph while barely pedaling. I need to hire these … Read more - It’s Like Paradise
Had serious leg crams last night as my quads and hamstring got revenge for what I put them through on the MTB. Today we compromised and took a recovery ride to Paradise. The sun shone, the temperature was a perfect 70 degrees and there was but a gentile breeze. It’s hard to pick better road bike days. If it wasn’t for meetings and complaining legs … Read more - Remembering that I own a road bike
I love the mountains and I spent a lot of time there. Cache Valley has some pretty amazing roads. After neglecting my road bike for quite a while I decided it was time to go out for some asphalt meditation. The weather was spectacular. The ride was perfect. The ride – Paradise The bike – Time VRS Fluidity