Sunday Ride in the Country
I haven't been able to get out and ride my bike as much as I would have liked since Labor Day. Today the weather was beautiful, and there were no football games that I wanted to watch until 4:15 PM, so off I went. I was in the mood for something different, so I decided to go out New Design Road past Elmer Derr where I normally turn right.
The shoulder of the road disappears south of Elmer Derr and the speed limit is 50 mph. There are a moderate number of cars on the road even on a Sunday afternoon. I would say the traffic is right at the limit of my comfort level. After a couple of miles I turned right onto Manor Woods Road. The EASTALCO Aluminum factory is on Manor Woods, but it is one of the most nicely landscaped factories I have ever seen. You see glimpses of it thought the trees, but it is easy to forget that it is there.
When Manor Woods crosses Ballenger Creek the road markings disappear and the speed limit drops. This is one of the those country roads that I seek out for my rides. Eventually the road tees into Cap Stine Road and I turn north. It is a very pleasant rise with many beautiful views across harvested farm fields to the mountains in the west. Cap Stine becomes Mount Zion after it cross US 15.
I turn from Mount Zion onto Mount Phillips. I have not ridden Mount Phillips in months. It is a seriously hilly stretch of road, and it is a net uphill going in the direction I was taking. It starts with a brutally steep section right after you turn on from Mount Zion. It feels like the front wheel is lifting up from the road as I pedal. The downhills are great. I hit 42 mph on one of the them, but even going that fast I do not have enough speed to make up the next hill.
I made it all the way without too much difficulty. Perhaps I am getting better at this. The total ride was 21 miles in 87 minutes. I have now ridden 1775 miles this year. It appears certain that I will exceed 1800, but 2000 may be tough unless I can get in some 50+ miles rides on the next few weekends.