Carmen Creek Rd.
As I am wont to do, I took a ride during Family Camp weekend, post-nap but pre-supper, a perfect window if you ask me. My route would comprise 2-3 sections of gravel on these empty Casey Co. roads. For this purpose I brought the country bike, the Bleriot, one I hadn't been on since early August before the commuting season started.
Rather early on, the whole nature of my ride changed with a big "Pang!". Once the noise and rattle started, I stopped to find that the front fender screw had removed itself, rendering the front fender nothing more than a flapper in the breeze, or as it were, a banging metal dinner pot against the frame of the bike. Talk about noisy. I looked in my loafer to see if I had anything suitable to jerryrig it, but nope, I did not. Assessing the situation, I decided that, while noisy, it wouldn't create any long-term damage, so I went forward, into the void.
the culprit
A sign on this building read 'Walltown', and it's listed on the map as such, but there isn't much to Walltown.
Once on top of the hill, I had the biggest pains of indecision and frustration of the ride. I really wanted to take the downhill down Phillippe Rd. towards Fishing Creek. I would find some nice gravel in the middle of nowhere, just the kind of experience I like. But, the fender thing would make it an almost painful experience, so I head down 837 and a way back to the camp.
After some map study and hemming-n-hawing, I chose to suck it up and take Carmen Creek Rd. back towards home. I just had to have some mixed-terrain, come hell, highwater, or a broken fender. As pictured below, Carmen Creek Rd. looked pretty heavy, in gravel terms.
the turn
Aaahhhhh!
Rather early on, the whole nature of my ride changed with a big "Pang!". Once the noise and rattle started, I stopped to find that the front fender screw had removed itself, rendering the front fender nothing more than a flapper in the breeze, or as it were, a banging metal dinner pot against the frame of the bike. Talk about noisy. I looked in my loafer to see if I had anything suitable to jerryrig it, but nope, I did not. Assessing the situation, I decided that, while noisy, it wouldn't create any long-term damage, so I went forward, into the void.
the culprit
A sign on this building read 'Walltown', and it's listed on the map as such, but there isn't much to Walltown.
Once on top of the hill, I had the biggest pains of indecision and frustration of the ride. I really wanted to take the downhill down Phillippe Rd. towards Fishing Creek. I would find some nice gravel in the middle of nowhere, just the kind of experience I like. But, the fender thing would make it an almost painful experience, so I head down 837 and a way back to the camp.
After some map study and hemming-n-hawing, I chose to suck it up and take Carmen Creek Rd. back towards home. I just had to have some mixed-terrain, come hell, highwater, or a broken fender. As pictured below, Carmen Creek Rd. looked pretty heavy, in gravel terms.
the turn
Aaahhhhh!Carmen Creek turned out to be an A+ cycling road. As pictured above, there were some tires ruts which smoothed out the gravel some, and my direction provided a smooth, controllable downhill for perhaps a couple miles through the woods. It would be just as great an uphill as downhill, rideable but scenic. I rattled down and down, occasionally finding patches of pavement amidst bigger patches of gravel, passing a 'baccy patch and a couple groups of dogs.
Tobacco patch, for you non-Kentuckians.
Tobacco patch, for you non-Kentuckians.I finished out the ride passing 2 sheriffs dealing with a disturbance at a trailer and otherwise took the downhill ride on Bastin Creek Rd. that I had climbed earlier. The total was only 16m+, but it was a nice 16m and only wetted my whistle for more mixed-terrain in Casey Co.
p.s. As a side note, Sunday morning I was actually in cycling clothes, on the Bleriot, ready to do another 1-hr ride during breakfast (believe me, you can miss a meal at Family Camp b/c the other meals are so tremendous!) and before the rest of the morning's activities. About 15ft out I realized that my front tire was flat, even though the rear was worrying me yesterday. That's the official end of the GrandBois' on the Bleriot. They're a velvety-smooth tire, but were some of the most short-lasting I've ever had. Quality over Quantity. It'll be back to the ColdlaVies until the new Pascentis come into play. And I didn't bother changing it. It was morning watch and breakfast time! Family Camp may be my most favorite time of the year. It's just a peaceful time in the middle of the whirlwind that is modern life. And the food is great. The company, better.
p.s. As a side note, Sunday morning I was actually in cycling clothes, on the Bleriot, ready to do another 1-hr ride during breakfast (believe me, you can miss a meal at Family Camp b/c the other meals are so tremendous!) and before the rest of the morning's activities. About 15ft out I realized that my front tire was flat, even though the rear was worrying me yesterday. That's the official end of the GrandBois' on the Bleriot. They're a velvety-smooth tire, but were some of the most short-lasting I've ever had. Quality over Quantity. It'll be back to the ColdlaVies until the new Pascentis come into play. And I didn't bother changing it. It was morning watch and breakfast time! Family Camp may be my most favorite time of the year. It's just a peaceful time in the middle of the whirlwind that is modern life. And the food is great. The company, better.
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