A dusty ride still makes for a great time

Jim Larkin, my wife Sandy and I recently struck out along a dirt road on our mountain bikes. It was certainly an experience that was far different from navigating paved roads via our road bikes.

Although the route was far shorter than we were accustomed to, that was no indication that the excursion lacked challenges. In fact, I would suggest that riding on unsurfaced road lends to several challenges that we were not accustomed to.

The loose gravel lent to a far less stable surface, especially while speeding downhill. But even the climbs seemed to be noticeably more difficult.

However, there were certainly some perks, as well. In fact, there were enough perks that we eagerly awaited our next adventure along an unpaved surface.

Well, Sandy and I met up with Dee Ann Teng last Sunday after church and struck out along yet another dirt road. This route was comparable to the route that we had ridden with Jim just a few weeks prior in the sense that it stretched within a tenth of a mile, or so, of the same distance.

However, more and steeper hills lurked within the new route. And we suspected the road would prove somewhat more busy than the first. In fact, Jim, Sandy and I didn’t meet a single vehicle on the initial route.

But that was okay, as we were prepared for an occasional vehicle. The road-top was plenty wide for us to remain out of any oncoming vehicle’s way.

We struck out along the route during mid-afternoon, with anticipation of finishing the ride long before darkness filled the sky. In fact, plans were to embark upon a short hike at the ride’s end.

Well, our timing couldn’t have been any better. We began the ride late enough that the road was shaded by native trees during a majority of the ride. And the temperature was certainly more tolerable than it had been during the previous weeks.

We had hardly left the vehicles before being faced with the first of several ascents. It wasn’t necessarily a long climb, and it wasn’t what one would consider as steep. But it was more than ample to increase my heart rate and leave a burning sensation in my thighs.

However, my pulse would soon return to normal and a simple seat adjustment would all but alleviate future discomfort in my legs.

More ascents obviously lurked ahead, all of which differed in grade and distance. But none remotely so severe that they could not be climbed. And with the completion of each ascent came the opportunity to savor the cool air as we sped down the opposing side.

The ride was going great. The climbs were nothing more than we expected, and the scenery was equally as pleasant. However, we did fail to consider the lack of rainfall that the state had experienced during the past several weeks.

I don’t suppose one could suggest that the bikes actually stirred any dust. However, one could say with all certainty that the few vehicles with which we crossed paths produced a huge cloud of dust.

Don’t get me wrong, each and every driver was more than considerate. In fact, they slowed practically to crawl. And for that I am extremely grateful. But the conditions were less than favorable, to say the least. Previous traffic had literally left the roads dust covered. And hardly more than a stiff wind would produce a huge cloud of particles hovering just above the road.

We completed the ride with ample time to strike out upon the aforementioned hike with time to spare. And I’ll be the first to suggest that our ride was nothing less than a success. However, I am also eager to experience yet another ride along this exact route after rains have fallen and the dust has settled. By-cracky, it should be an enormously wonderful ride!