Mod Mountain Biking

Roadkill takes on a whole new perspective when your biking on the side of the road. No longer is it a quick flash of a dead squirrel, like in a car, but rather a messy, smelly and rotting carcass of bird food. Roadkill, potholes, saddle soars and idiot drivers who weave into your shoulder, these are the drawbacks to long distance biking. On the plus side is the sense of accomplishment and a new wardrobe when you finish!

Today, my excercise-mogul Ms. Nola and I rode from Albany, NY to North Adams, Mass, a one-way journey that took about 4 hours to complete. Ms. Nola exceeded my every expectation, many times leaving me trailing from a half a mile behind. She road with new tires on her super light Trek 1500 twenty-one speed and dressed with a sunvisor helmet, sunglasses, toe-clip shoes and a CamelBak. I, on the otherhand, rode a 12-year old mountain bike with semi-slick tires, a wet sticky cotton t-shirt, a undersized 10-year olds helmut that cut into my chin (I lost mine) and casual sneakers. Boy was I an ugly sight for soar eyes, so much so I wisely forgot my camera at home. Of course, 10 minutes and 5 miles into a 45 mile journey and I could care less what I look like.

Route 43 is blanketed with rolling hills, narrow passes, few houses and steep climbs over the Berkshire Mnts. Farm land with an occassional chewing cow or barking dog interupts the wooded back country. The weather shines brightly over a little meandering brook that parallels the road. All is right with the world while we ascend another vicious climb, over and over and over again. I repeat my mantra to block my burning thighs. "Mountain Goat, Mountain Goat, Mountain Goat". It's our treat when the day is done to go shopping at the area's premier outdoor specialty shop, The Mountain Goat. And by the looks of me, I need the Mountain Goat more than gatorade and a powerbar combined.