My mind is drifting as I began getting ready for today’s 6 hour ride. What I learned from our last trip, it was not the physical endurance but more the mental fortitude. Sure, your butt and back will be the first to go physically but butt butter and gel shorts help alleviate most of that problem. The key is too keep your mind focused so that you don’t stop when your tired…you stop when your done.

Our starting point is the Golden Triangle bicycle shop which is located right on one of the trail points. Britt, the owner, tells us that the name is a reference to Downtown Pittsburgh, colloquially referred to as the Golden Triangle. Great bicycle shop if you decide to do this ride on your own. Anyway, time to go…first stop Connellsville where we will see our old friend Helga.

We get questions about what you pack or the kinds of technology used on the ride. While we are all different, I use following equipment in what I refer to as the cockpit:

A: Iphone XS Max – Linked to Garmin 1030 (B) via bluetooth and GoPro (D) and (E) via wifi. Used for navigation, watching NFL football, phone and music connected to Airpods via bluetooth

B: Garmin 1030 Edge device – Connected to Iphone via bluetooth and radar (G) not shown. Radar is used to determine any objects in back of the bike that may create a safety hassard. Also used to track other riders using GPS to their devices

C: Bike control system tracking speed, power and other sensors

D: GoPro 7 – Main video system for front side video. Connects to Iphone (A) via wifi

E: Gopro 5 – Side view Gopro, backup Gopro and used for Helmut cam when mounted. Same connections as above.

F: Low tech Bell – Sends a chime to other riders that a bike is approaching and they should move over so we can pass on the left.

G: Radar and LED rear lights – Connects to Garmin (B) via bluetooth

Given this set-up, I was able to watch the Dolphins implode…losing a 17 – 0 lead in the third quarter. I guess the Superbowl is out this year! Speaking of football, at least Texas beat Oklahoma in the Red River Classic. Texas is the real deal:

By the way, thats Bevo, the longhorn mascot for Texas, doing something to Oklahoma’s side of the cake…Hook em Horns.

Back to the ride, we just finished dinner in Connellsville. Time for bed! See ya tomorrow!

Other pictures from the day:

Jerry and Phil discussing ride strategy

Ride Break

Beehive ovens were critical to making the Pittsburgh-coal seam in southwestern Pennsylvania the nation’s foremost coke-manufacturing region during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Water running thru these ovens create the orange colors.

We saw several Deer on the trail today