February 13, 2016
I started Cascadia Flow about a month ago as a way to hold myself accountable for enjoying Oregon and not spending all day, every day in my basement laboratory. In this sense Cascadia Flow has been successful, as I have made a point to “live deliberately” and enjoy the Pacific Northwest (rides, runs, wine, beer, and of course, people) several times a week. This has resulted in a lovely backlog of material, which I have unfortunately not posted. So, in an effort to get in to a blogging flow, I will begin posting my backlogged material interspersed with current adventures.
On Saturday, January 30, I rode along Leif Erikson Dr. from Thurman St. to Germantown Rd., looped Firelane 10->Newton Rd.->Skyline->Germantown, and returned to Thurman via Leif Erikson. My steed performed well (I am especially happy with being able to use fenders with 40c tires), though the tires were not made for muck, making the steepest (and slick) climbs of Fireroad 10 nigh on impossible for a novice such as I. It was much too sloppy for Strava PR’s, but the value of outdoor exploration (I had not previously ventured north of Germantown Rd.) trumped the unpleasantries.
The ride started in the late afternoon mist of Tolkein’s fantasy, and ended in the dark, cold, rainy night. This jaunt was simultaneously sublime and sour, a delightful dichotomy ever-present in life. I look forward to riding this loop again.
Steed: 56 cm Haanjo Comp with 700x40c Kenda Happy Mediums and a NiteRider Lumina 350.
Stats: 25.6 mi., 2:16:03 moving time, 2,155 ft. of elevation gain.
©2016 B.N. Taber
Cascadia Flow 