Brown Season: Bumpy Ride

Escape Route: Burton Avenue.

Well, the weekend was bracketed by bad weather here. Friday was just weirdly moist. It never really rained outright, but it was misting off and on and it looked like it could go full-on rain at any minute. Not a very good day to ride.

Sunday was Easter, but it also rained, so Saturday, which was actually rather pleasant, was the day to ride, so I did. I had to wear some warmer duds since it was only in the 50's and the breeze was out of the North. I decided to ride the pink BMC MCD and head North out of town up Burton Avenue.

I had to wait until after lunch since I work Saturday mornings. I managed to also get off any family duties after asking Mrs. Guitar Ted about making a short ride plan. I would only have about two to three hours to get something in, but that is enough. So, I headed out at about 2:00pm.

The ditches are turning greener. Brown Season is coming to a close.

The ag traffic is high now and the roads reflected this.

Right away I noted there were a lot more bumps, lunging feelings, and roughness to the road. I figured out this was all caused by agricultural equipment. It seems these beasties are so heavy they push, compress, rut out, and deposit field dirt which all contributed to the weird feeling road experience.

An image from the highest point on my ride, just North of C-57 on Burton Avenue.

This cool barn and outbuilding complex is just South of the St. Pauls Church and on the opposite side of the road.

I don't know what it was, but I was not feeling it on this ride. Maybe it was the Northwest wind, which was stronger than indicated by the weather people, but then again, it almost always is out here. It could be I wasn't rested. It could be I just haven't gotten in the miles due to all the stupid wind we've had so far this year. Probably all of that, actually.

Stopped for a quick breather here.

This controlled burn is so fresh it was still smoldering when I passed by.

Things got a little better when I turned East on Gresham Road. I had something of a tailwind and I felt a bit easier than I had been feeling. The road was pretty much all fresh gravel, but with the all-day moisture event we experienced the day before this gravel was not shifty and like marbles under the tires. So, it was a lot less difficult than it could have been.

Moline Road was smooooth sailing!

Farming activities are starting to ramp up out here.

Turning South on Moline Road was the best part of the ride. The wind was a quartering tailwind, the road was way smoother, and the rollers made for fast, fun riding on the way back. I ended up doing just over two hours with one minor stop. It was all I wanted to do, to be honest, with the way I felt. I need to get out there more consistently to start getting myself into some semblance of "gravel shape". 

Hopefully this weather straightens up so I can do this.