While waiting to get my break pad replaced at the bike shop in Bainbridge I looked around the shop and found a saddle I thought I'd try. Guess my five hours in the saddle the other day got me to thinking that something might be more comfortable than the saddle I have. The new saddle is one of those body geometry saddles that's supposed to give comfort to the "soft tissue" areas.
So I put the new saddle on my trusty Sequoia and headed out on a new route with hopefully less traffic. Weather was cool but dry. The route took me out of Poulsbo toward Port Gamble on the Big Valley Road. This turned out to be a great way to avoid the traffic on Highway 104. Only had one pickup pass me in the 10 miles before the road finally joined up with Hwy 104. Then only about a couple miles on Hwy 104 before it turned toward Port Gamble at the Hood Canal Bridge.
Had a latte at the General Store in Port Gamble and then headed toward Kingston via more back roads. Took the Old Port Gamble road to Gunderson, Gunderson to Miller Bay Road, Miller Bay Road to Indianola Road, Indianola Road to Kingston Road and into Kingston. Had some clam chowder and an Irish Death beer in Kingston before heading south back toward home.
Perhaps it was the clam chowder or the Irish Death but I definitely sucked on the Gunderson hill climb coming off Miller Bay Road. Had originally thought I'd take Miller Bay Road south through Suquamish ending up at the Clearwater Casino to get a few more miles in. But the wind had come up pretty strong in my face on the way back so I decided to call it a day and take the shorter route back. Gunderson has an 11% grade and I had to stop about 1/2 way to let my heart rate go down. Then while going up the Old Port Gamble climb I also had to stop part way. This road has a 14% grade at one point but I've done it without stopping multiple times. Perhaps it was the combination of wind, grade and Irish Death that put jello in my legs.
Back home while soaking in the Hot Tub I got to thinking I might need some better climbing gears than what I have planned for the ride across America. Perhaps a touring gear set. Perhaps a new touring bike. A gear set that lets me ride up the steepest hill after the longest day with the most tired legs. Just thinking.
So I put the new saddle on my trusty Sequoia and headed out on a new route with hopefully less traffic. Weather was cool but dry. The route took me out of Poulsbo toward Port Gamble on the Big Valley Road. This turned out to be a great way to avoid the traffic on Highway 104. Only had one pickup pass me in the 10 miles before the road finally joined up with Hwy 104. Then only about a couple miles on Hwy 104 before it turned toward Port Gamble at the Hood Canal Bridge.
Had a latte at the General Store in Port Gamble and then headed toward Kingston via more back roads. Took the Old Port Gamble road to Gunderson, Gunderson to Miller Bay Road, Miller Bay Road to Indianola Road, Indianola Road to Kingston Road and into Kingston. Had some clam chowder and an Irish Death beer in Kingston before heading south back toward home.
Back home while soaking in the Hot Tub I got to thinking I might need some better climbing gears than what I have planned for the ride across America. Perhaps a touring gear set. Perhaps a new touring bike. A gear set that lets me ride up the steepest hill after the longest day with the most tired legs. Just thinking.
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