Back to Hartley! We left even earlier after noticing a class on break outside everyday. So this time

Back to Hartley! We left even earlier after noticing a class on break outside everyday. So this time we did our kid ride with time for Jr. to get in on a game of catch befor his class started. Lieblings had to work so I hit the trails solo. In just a few days I’ve gotten a lot faster and better at them and I’ve been adding up the miles from the map and doing just over four on challenging terrain. It’s not that much, I used to ride 7 miles through the city when we lived in town, but that was also on streets and flat paved bike trails. I was carrying my satchel across my body and getting tired of it banging around and creating a hot patch of sweat on my side/back so I took an old Duluth Pack shell bag that had the strap removed and cliped it to my waist carabiners. It makes a sweet chaos bag and is big enough to hold my sketchbook, writing tools, and various odds and ends. I keep my metal waterbottle on my key clip on the other side. It was hilarious to take a break and watch the spandex-wearing bro dudes go by on expensive bikes and giving me weird looks, but I’m managing the same trails as them in Doc Martens and cut-off workpants on my old Rock Hopper. :P I’m REALLY liking mountain biking, it’s a ton of fun and feels like a full-body workout. My favourite part of the trails is the Root Canal (lots of turns and rocks) and then it opens into a beautiful swampy meadow with a boardwalk through. It’s absolutely elating to glide out into this beautful sunny open area and catch your breath as you gaze around after bombing down the shaded trails. July 27, 2017 -- source link

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