Laurel Ridge Painfest

Yesterday, I thought that it might be a good idea to go out and put some serious miles in. The last time that I went up to Laurel Mountain to ride the mountain bike trails, I couldn't believe that they had re-paved route 30 going up the mountain. It was making me wish that I had my road bike to try bombing down it. It is about a 4 mile downhill, with most of it being about an 8% grade (at least that's what the sign says.) It seemed like it was supposed to be a nice day, so what the hell, might as well ride up there!

Left from home, riding my old commuting route out following 993 out to and past Irwin, (made it in record time btw, 51 minutes!!) and went out through Jeannette. Hopped on 130 through Greensburg, and kept going through Stahlstown. Made it to the magical water spring on Lynn Run Road, and this is where things get a little weird.

For some reason, somebody thought that it would be a good idea to cover up the pavement, albeit crumbling pavement, with crushed limestone. Ya know, the stuff that rail trails are made of. But two lanes wide. Needless to say, this was not a good time on the road bike with 23's on it.

Needless to say it was a rough climb. Took me a bit, and it took a lot out of me, but I made it. After riding around a bulldozer and a grader. Get up top, and the dirt/gravel road was actually pretty smooth. Ran into a few friends that were out on their mountain bikes, stopped to put my armwarmers back on, cause it was chilly up there, and took lots of pictures of fall stuff...

After riding across the top, tried to bomb down route 30. Well, too bad there was a serious head wind. I couldn't even break 45 mph. Boo. The nice smooth new pavement was pretty awesome though, railing through the turns. Rode into Ligonier, and stopped for a sugary snack. As soon as I started rolling again, noticed that I had a flat on my rear tire, crap. Changed that, and kept rolling.

Rode past Keystone State Park, Loyalhanna, and kept got on 286, and wasn't feeling well. Stopped and sucked down a can of mountain dew, and as I started to move again, started to realize that I was going to be pushing it getting home in daylight. This was a problem for me, as I didn't bring any lights with me at all, and it was going to be close. I was trying to decide which way that I should go, the longer and flatter way, or the shorter hillier way. Ended up taking my chances with the hills.

Ended up making it back through Penn Hills, in the nick of time....

Made it home in time to shower, and get my butt to wing night at Fatheads!!!

Total for the day 130 miles, 7:56 ride time. Wow, mapmyride says only 6400 feet of climbing. Lame.