Tour de Scout

This year seems to be the year that I do all the trips up Scout Mt that I've been thinking about. In the winter, we skied up to the top. In the spring, I ran the Poky 50 trail run, so I ran to the top. Today, I biked up to the campground on my road bike. No I didn't go all the way to the top. This was 32.5 miles roundtrip from my garage, from about 4,600ft to 8,540, much (3,000 or so) of the gain coming in the last five miles. I've been wanting to do this ride since last August or so, and today seemed like the day to do it because 1) I wanted to meet some friends who were camping with their young 'uns for the first time, 2) I had a two hour workout scheduled anyway (40k bike, 10k run) but I can't run so I needed a two hour bike, and 3) it would get me out of doing yardwork. My goal was to get to the campground without stopping, and I did that, although there were a few times that I just wanted to stop (but didn't). At the top, I did a loop through the campground to find them but didn't. I found them pulling out of the campground as I was about to leave and stopped to chat for a bit. There night went well.

I cruised down the hill, slowing way down for the cattle guards, though. Then I cruised across Bannock Highway at about 28mph (not sure what the wind was doing, but it must have been a tailwind!).

I had to stop at the university for a light, and when I stopped, I flatted. Not sure how that happens.....tires are good til you stop, then phhhtttt. WTF?!?! I figured "OK, now's the day I time myself as if I was in a race." Nine minutes later (AARRGG, I'm slow) I had my new tube installed and aired up....BUT it was not sealed right. So I aired down to put the tube back in, and then ran out of CO2 air as I was filling it back up. Damn, that's three times now that I haven't been able to fix my tire and ride it back home. I walked it home on bare feet on hot cement....that led to a couple of blisters faster than I could count to ten....not sure why. I can run or hike all day without a hotspot, but today I got one big blister on both feet on the bottom of my feet below my middle toes outward to the pinkies. Not comfortable at all, but I got home. Would've been a two hour ride had I not flatted. Turned into a 1:50 ride with a 20 minute "walk-it-out" stretching.

This is my longest ride ever, I think. The Buckskin ride (to Inkom then over Buckskin pass) might be longer mileage wise but not timewise as far as I can remember. It was a difficult 1 hour and 10 minutes on the first half, anyway, then easy cruising back home.

Now I can say I've done that ride. And what an awesome ride to be able to start from my home! Gotta love livin' in Poky!!!