Bedrock & Paradox

I dream of a hard and brutal mysticism in which the naked self merges with a non-human world and yet somehow survives still intact, individual, separate. Paradox and bedrock.

"Numbers don’t lie"

Edit: put some words up on MTBR, for context.

6/3 add.: I was going to produce some epic blow-by-blow, but I don’t really care to in the end. On the one hand, the moment by moment stretching of the hours is really cool. On the other, it’s still me riding my bike. And still riding. And still, again. Perhaps the most interesting thing is that is doesn’t bore me.

The reason the memories from the trip have ripened so quickly is just how much ambition and uncertainty were built into it’s conception. That is, I’ve decided this year, the real thing I want. All the best days in the field, all the best trips (RATS, Royal Arch, C2M, D2D/SBFL, last weekend) were all the biggest “can I do this?” moments. I like being fit, I like “racing”, I like rides where their entirely is suffused with competence (KTR this year v. last), but it is uncertainty above all that is really worth looking for.

That will I think become my main operating objective in the year to come. The endurance moments in any ride; this past Saturday afternoon when I wasn’t sure I could make Flag before dark on the southern route, switched, second-guessed, and generally lost my will to go on. All overcome, and on each of the three nights that have followed I’ve slept the better for it.

It’s also worth noting what an amazing tool the mountain bike is for moving through terrain. I can’t envision a more pleasureable (in the meaning-infused, dirt in your nose sense) way of seeing what I saw this weekend. Especially Sunday. The Flag-GC route was a bunch of magnificent, varied, and interesting terrain transitions that make the riding all the more elegant.

I am afraid I may need a new saddle, tho.

DaveC

11 responses to “"Numbers don’t lie"”

  1. Ed Avatar
    Ed

    203 milesAlmost 23 hours total time10.9mph avg.Almost 7,000 ft. of vert.?Ed

    Reply
  2. Enel Avatar
    Enel

    That’s a cool tree you’re focused on.Great weekend for it.

    Reply
  3. Dave Avatar
    Dave

    6897 is the present elevation. I haven’t bothered to splice all the pieces together yet, but I’m expecting around 17000′ of gain.And yeah, I’m tired. (GPS wasn’t on when I slept!)

    Reply
  4. Ed Avatar
    Ed

    Current altitude, of course! 7,000 ft. total vert. did seem ridiculous given the miles.Quite the adventure!Ed

    Reply
  5. Dave Avatar
    Dave

    omg, my skin HURTS this morning. Work is no fun on days like this.

    Reply
  6. Blair Avatar
    Blair

    I’m not much of a numbers man… would you please show me some pretty colors and spikey lines in Topofusion?

    Reply
  7. Chris Avatar
    Chris

    looks awesome. i’ll imagine riding while I eat another chocolate bar. ;)

    Reply
  8. Blair Avatar
    Blair

    Did you breathe a sigh of relief this evening with the glimpse of hope of change or is it the vacant realization that the real horror of the movie is going to begin with the next scene?

    Reply
  9. Jill Avatar
    Jill

    “Perhaps the most interesting thing is that is doesn’t bore me.”I’ve always wondered the reasons for this myself.

    Reply
  10. Dave Avatar
    Dave

    B, that is a very good question.

    Reply
  11. Dave Avatar
    Dave

    Added a BPL trip report, too: http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/forum_thread/14028/index.html

    Reply

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