got out again today and kicked my own ass. these days all that means is 2:45 on the bike in the hot part of the day.

i did break a spoke and get a flat descending where there was nary a spot o shade to be found. that certainly didn't help as the "up shannon, down priest rock" ride would have pretty much kicked my ass anyway.

it was still a good ride. when i finally got off the mountain and back into town i stopped at seven eleven for more drinks and a snack. went to the ice box for a snickers ice cream bar and found a snickers ice cream fudge sandwich (the "bread" was a fabulous fudge cake). damn that hit the spot after melting in the sun and dirt...

fwiw the spoke broke on my front wheel - which is an 18 spoke white industriles LTA hub laced to a velocity fusion rim with sapim CXRay spokes. hardly a trail riding wheel for a nearly 200 lb rider. and i've done mountain bike races on it where, at the finish line, they'd ask if i was in the clydesdale class.

obviously i've abused that wheel for well over a year - probably two or more. wasn't meant to take such abuse but it did. honestly it's a testament to the wheel and the builder: Dave Thomas.

interesting thing is it broke at the nipple. i think i'll just throw on one of the spares he sent with the wheel and true it right up.

going to take a break tomorrow and try to ride in on monday...