Kissing the Blarney Stone

The last time that the SMNDFBR had been out on gravel was February 2nd, an entire month and a half. So I was pretty excited when the weather started shaping up for a gravel ride this week but with the epic flooding that is devastating Nebraska right now, I wasn't entirely sure if the gravel would be in good shape. We were going to find out though.



The ride started with the temps being just above freezing but we warmed up quickly and by the time we rendezvoused with the Great Plains Bicycle Club at the GSK trail head on 84th; we were shedding layers already.


After a group photo, the two groups split up. The road folks heading out on Hwy34 and the gravel folks heading out on A Street to Walton where we would pick up our first gravel of the day. Looks like big happenings going on in Walton, maybe a new subdivision or something. Always excited to see local small towns grow but really hoping that doesn't mean more pavement and less gravel.





Gravel was in awesome shape and with a little push courtesy of a tailwind, we were cruising up and down the gravel rollers. At about mile 10 we stopped for a regroup to let the little end catch up and of course a barley pop refreshment stop. Not a huge IPA fan but Todd the Axeman gets my nod for a decent one.


In other Todd related news, seat adjustments have made a comeback on the rides too. It's sort of a running joke in the group because none of us have seen someone fiddle with their saddle, height, angle or fore and aft position quite as often as Todd does. I jokingly told him he needed to come up with a wingnut type bolt for his saddle so that he wouldn't need to pull out his tool as often; million dollar idea right there.





While probably not the best for vehicular travel when it gets wet; this time of year when the roads are mostly dirt and clear of the gravel aggregate, it's my favorite time for gravel riding. Roads are so smooth and fast when they are dry during the early part of spring before they cover them with rock; a practice that seems to be seeing bigger and bigger rock in the last few years. I'm no rock expert by any means but my two cents on the subject, it just seems like the bigger rock tends to disappear from the road surface quicker, not sure if it's getting driven down into the dirt or flung off by tires but the smaller pea gravel that they used to use more around here seemed to stay longer. But what do I know, I'm no roadiologist.





A few more miles and we turned north and headed into Eagle, it was the first time we didn't have the wind directly at our backs and you could feel the winds picking up. The way back and the headwind were going to be interesting for sure.




We once again met up with the Great Plains Bicycle Club at Bailey's Local in Eagle and joined their festivities, already in progress.



Every paid member of the GPBC got a card for $2 off of whatever food you decided to get but it was a St. Patrick's Day Ride so you had to get the corned beef. It did not disappoint.





The ride back was a little bit slower pace, full of corned beef and bucking the head wind where a big contributing factor.


Since the ditch beer spot was so accommodating on the way out, we figured it was a good spot to stop on the way back as well. This time something more on the dark side was in order, oh man was it a good stout.


A few more miles after the stout and we were back in Walton and back on pavement. Usually not a huge fan of pavement over gravel but since this was our first longish gravel ride in a while, it was good to see that smooth surface again; ride kicked my butt. Also had construction on this side of the road too, should be a city ordnance against just leaving your hoe out in the front yard. If you're cold, they're cold.


With the headwind and the long climb out of Walton, the pavement wasn't exactly the easy route. Look at those moon craters on the corner there... going to be some tar being flung this spring.

Take me down to  pothole city

Where the tax is high yet the roads are shitty

Fix the roads (oh won't you please fix the roads)

One last stop on the way back to the shop, this time I opted for a Sprecher Root Beer and man did it taste fantastic. Leaving Pour we officially ended the SMNDFBR for another week. It was good to get back on the gravel, hoping that this will turn out to be a drier spring and a hot, dry summer.