I had a fun ride to do last Sunday. I had a very nice woman purchase one of my canvas prints for her husband for Father’s Day. As we discussed the logistics of getting the print to them, I offered to ride with her husband, since he was a fan of the Flint Hills if he came down to Emporia to pick it up. She thought that would be cool as did I.
I asked Greg what kind of bike he had, what his experience was and so forth to figure out a suitable route for us. He said that he’d feel comfortable going thirty miles or so. I immediately knew a good route that would get us into the hills and back in just over 30 miles. It would be pretty hilly, but that’s the point right?
But then I rode a different route on Friday that took me by the spot that I shot the image that they purchased. Hmm, it would be cool to take Greg by the actual location his picture was shot. I emailed him and wrote,
“I just rode a 45 mile ride that took me past the place where I shot that image. Might be cool to do – it’s a bit hilly in parts, but we aren’t racing, just riding.”
He emailed back,
“45 is definitely doable. I would love to see the spot that was taken, to put it in context (and mark the waypoint, of course.) Hills are good too, all the better scenery-wise. See you early Sunday!”
Looks like we had our route. I would be taking my new friend around Lake Kahola. The route was a good one. And what I mean by good is lots of scenic views and lots of hills. He was in for a real treat. Fourty-five miles wouldn’t be too bad, I’d be back in plenty of time to get things done around the house. It wouldn’t be like one of my Sunday Century days.
Greg showed up in the morning before it was really hot. I wanted to leave as early as possible. It was supposed to be in the upper 90s and it was humid already. The winds were also blowing pretty hard out of the south, so Greg would be getting the full Flint Hills cycling experience – heat, wind, hills and beautiful vistas.
I think it was nine before we left. We chatted a little and got our bikes loaded up.
Jen asked if I wanted her to take a picture of us before we left. “Sure.”
She started snapping shots before I knew it.
Me checking out his rig
Greg had two water bottles. Hmm. I wasn’t so sure that would be enough, but I packed two extra because I have been trapped in the hills more than once. Water is essential. Still I wasn’t worried. We were only going 45 miles.
Pretty sure Jen thinks my legs are sexy. That’s why she shot this. Or maybe it’s the socks.
The mud on my shoes is from the DK200. I haven’t washed them. What’s the point?
The shot.
As you can see, I am always happy to expose another rider to the Flint Hills by bike. Maybe I’m too happy?
We had some thick clouds overhead but it was mostly sunny heading out into the hills. We had the wind mostly at our backs and we were moving along pretty well. We made good conversation and rode side by side getting into single file only for passing cars.
We made it to “Lake Kahola Road” or YY. We passed over it and I said something about not seeing any more pavement for awhile.
Greg commented how cool it was that we could be on gravel in just a few miles from my house. Yes, it is cool, very cool, and not only gravel, Flint Hills gravel.
We were making good time, feeling good and having a great time. That is until we both heard Greg’s rim bottom out on a big rock in the road. It came too quick to avoid it. I was hoping we would not have to fix flats on this ride, but that’s just part of riding in the Flint Hills.
As Greg changed his flat…
I looked at huge ants,
Checked out the cool little stream running under the bridge,
Looked at the pool on the other side of the bridge and thought it would be a perfect place for DK200 riders to cool off,
and then I realized it was taking Greg some time to change his flat. I better investigate.
He knew what he was doing, but his tire did not go over the rim easily. It took some muscle. He got it on only to realize that the inner tube stem was too short. I brought extra tubes and we switched it out. Greg’s hands were red from trying to work the tire back on the rim. I took it from him and muscled it back on. I must have gotten lucky. I didn’t want to sit out there too long. It was heating up and I know from experience, it’s better to be riding than to be cooking in the heat, changing a flat. After 30 minutes or so, we were off. I was already hungry and grabbed a Kep’s Ball to eat. Not bad.
Soon the road curved to and fro and we found ourselves heading towards Lake Kahola. I think I shoot this scene every time I ride it. It’s so serene, tranquil and vast.
Greg’s Specialized Tricross flying down the gravel
Clouds were forming. I kept my eye on them as I know from experience a storm can form in minutes in Kansas. I was not about to take my new drivetrain into the mud. Of course, I’d have no choice if the heavens decided to open up on us.
We made it to Lake Kahola and the long, fast downhill leading to the Lake. It’s a beautiful area.
We passed the lake. We passed over cattle crossings. We rode through open range. We passed the Kahola Ranch. We made some cows run for the hills. We pedaled. We pedaled some more. Even in the heat and wind I was feeling great. Greg was not as acclimated to the weather and hasn’t put in the miles I have, although no normal person rides that much. Soon he needed to stop. Seems as if his brain had started cooking. He needed to cool down. We found a shady spot.
I was maybe a little bit worried. We were around half the way through the ride. We still had a good 20 miles to go. It was only getting hotter and we hadn’t made it to the spot where I took the picture yet. And after that spot we would be on Road V or Victory Road as I call it. It is nothing but rolling hills and we would be heading straight into the strong southern wind. I assured Greg we didn’t need to go fast. He would be fine.
We made it! To the left is the print that would be hang in Greg’s house and here is Greg at the same spot, just earlier in the summer before the flowers bloom. Victory.
The first hill on Victory Road is the longest and steepest. I began to feel I was pushing Greg a bit at this point. But I knew he could do it.
It took a little while, but we made it to the turn to get off Victory Road and head east back to Emporia. I tried to talk a lot to take Greg’s mind off the long road ahead, the wind and the next rolling hill.
I find I am used to the wind, but Greg was seeing depressing speeds on his Garmin. I think it was playing tricks with his mind. As I was feeling good, I think he was beginning to loose it. Most of the battle on a long ride is mental. Once your mind goes bad, your body will follow. Ok, it’s mental until you get heat stroke, then it’s purely physical. We had to stop a few times to let Greg cool down. What started as a fun time in the hills had turned into a sufferfest. I felt maybe a little bad, but I quickly realized that it’s the really hard rides that once finished, feel the best. I would make sure he finished the day with a great sense of accomplishment. Take that Jillian! After this ride, he would appreciate that print even more. At least that’s what I told myself.
I rode up a hill and left Greg behind so I could get a shot of him climbing. I really know how to treat my guests. But wait…
…where’s Greg?
I took a few shots of the countryside as I waited for my new friend. If I didn’t see him soon, I’d go back.
There he is!
Uh oh, head down, pedaling, no longer looking at the scenery. He was hurting. He began mumbling things about shade and water. Soon we stopped so he could sit in the shade and cool down.
I decided this was a perfect time for a picture of my new friend, while he was suffering. And look to the left! Little did we know there was a water spigot by the fence. That could have provided some relief but I didn’t see it until I looked at the picture.
OK, there’s a partial smile. I think he may still like me after this. I made him take my second water bottle. He already used my first one. I was good with what I had in my Tangle bag. (If you don’t have one and do gravel grinders, you are missing out. It’s my most useful cycling accessory.) We sat there for awhile. I knew he needed to cool down. He seemed refreshed so we got back on the bikes to get to Emporia.
Soon he wasn’t doing well again. The mumbling started. He stopped and I turned my bike around to find him trying to find a way into a creek. The way down had a steep fall, lots of weeds and posion ivy. Then I looked at the water. It wasn’t moving. It was brown. It looked utterly disgusting. “You don’t want to go in there,” I said. I looked over towards a house and saw a water hose. “Let’s go see if we can use their water.”
We went up the the house and knocked on the door. No answer. We knocked again. Nothing. “Let’s just go back and use the hose,” I said. I felt confident enough to talk our way out of this if someone with a shotgun showed up. I mean really, I had a dying man here. He needed to cool down. He needed cold water.
We left our bikes out in front of the house, and my camera was in there. My one regret of this ride was that I didn’t shoot Greg cooling down in the water. At first it was warm water that was left in the hose in the hot sun, but then as the cold water hit his head and body, he was a man in complete ectasy. He no longer had a care in the world. He was even making noises that made me blush a little. He was like a man that found salvation. If anyone was in the house and heard these man sounds and saw two men in lycra, a shotgun would have been pulled for sure. He soaked himself, filled his bottles and we were off, Greg in a much better mood. We were only about four miles from town. He was going to make it.
Beautiful black and white field
We made it in town and over the big hill by the soccer fields. When we got back to my house Greg said something about it being surreal to be back in my garage again. I think he had a near death experience. Or maybe it’s just the feeling one gets after being far from civilization on a bike all day. It’s what I love about riding those roads. I think I was successful at giving Greg the full experience.
Anyone else want some? Maybe I should charge for this…?
Feed Your Monkey!
Eric
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