CMAN ON TWO WHEELS

I wasn't sure how today was going to go.  Especially after how yesterday started and knowing the type of roads I was going to climb today.  Basically, I was climbing over the last of the mountains on my trip up to the Blue Ridge Parkway and then back down again.  I had been told it was going to a steep climb and they were right. Heading out of Lexington, I went over a serious of "rollercoasters" as Rick from yesterday called them.  And then I was on a flat road all the way to Vesuvius.  Well, in fact, was a false flat most of the way. (Never a good sign when you see this on your Garmin!) Once in Vesuvius it was uphill and by uphill, I mean UPHILL!  3.5 miles of 6-12% grades - mostly 9%. Something interesting about riding for a long time at grades over 10%.  When you drop down to 9%, it feels easy!  At one point, I looked down to see why it felt so easy and noticed I was still at 9.6%, but the previous 10-12% grades made it seem so much

Yesterday started off pretty rough.  My legs seemed to have nothing in them and by 20 miles in, I was really wondering how I was going to do what I thought would be 105 miles.  Between the legs, the headwind, and the short, steep rollers, I just couldn't get into a rhythm and was really struggling.  But, it's funny, as the day went on, things got better and better and by the end, I had pretty much forgot about the first 20-30 miles.  It's funny how things work out! The day was a transition day of sorts between one set of mountains to the West out of Damascus and another set to the East that head over the Blue Ridge Parkway.  By the end, I had dropped about 1,000 feet in elevation while climbing about 5,500 feet - if that gives you any sense of the roads I was on. The scenery was, as usual, pretty.  Lots of rolling hills with a combination of open country and in and out of wooded areas.  I rode my motorcycle out this way last year when I was checking out the route and

I was too tired to post last night, but I made it to Lexington, VA.  I got a good night's sleep and am headed out again. This time to Charlottesville, VA.  Today is the last of the mountains and I'll cross over the Blue Ridge Parkway. Then it's all downhill to my parents. (Well, there's rollers, but still downhill.) I'll post up more this evening. 

I'm kinda dilly dallying around right now because it's cold outside. It's a balmy 61 degrees and that's cold (to me).  I just updated yesterday's blog post. After reading it this morning, I thought of some things I didn't post and, frankly, I didn't like the post. I guess I was more tired yesterday than I thought I was.  Anyways, enough lounging around and time to pack up the bike and head out. 105ish miles ahead of me. 

Today, I rode 103 miles to Radford, VA.  It started out overcast, but as the day went on, the sun started to come out. It's was still partly to mostly cloudy most of the day, but it was nice change to the gray rainy days the last few days.  Right out of Damascus, the roads headed upwards.  In the first 26 miles, I had 3 big climbs in succession.  The first was the hardest being the steepest. The second was more gradual and, I think longer.  Third was relatively short at 2 miles or so.  The climbs were really pretty. Trees everywhere and a stream running down the mountains. The noise from the stream was very loud. (I rode through the Mount Rodgers National Recreation Area.) After the first and second climbs, there were some short (2-5 mile) descents before starting the next climb.  In these areas, there was civilization and then it was onto the next climb. (An old church I saw along the way) The second climb was the highest at just over 3,600 f