One odd Truck and more awesome gravel

So I've had my LHT for just about a year now and it's finally to the point where it's absolutely perfect for the riding I do. The list of stuff I've changed isn't too long: Saddle (new B17), pedals (Shimano PD-M520), bars (Nitto Noodle), tape (Cinelli Cork), tires (Schwalbe Marathon Cross) but it's all come together in sort of the "perfect storm" of amazing bike comfort. Here's how she looked today, headin' back from Wabash. That stem angle is ridiculous, I've got more spacers on my bike than some shops stock, but man is it ever comfortable. The rack is on it's way out (more on that in another post), but this is how it's goona stay.

Some day I will get more than a cameraphone, BUT! Today was also amazing. Headed out to the mopac with three hours to kill, hoping to make it to Wabash and back. I haven't been out there for.. I don't know how long, but too long. It was just a great dang ride, with one exception.

My hydration issues reared their ugly head again. The ride out was great, kept hydrated, but man did I sweat a lot - it was pretty warm with lots of humidity and not a lot of wind. I was making killer time, then midway between Elmwood and Eagle I started feeing it. I almost, at this point, made a really stupid decision - I was down to my last bottle of water and it was nearing the halfway point. "I can make it back to Walton, no problem, on a half bottle of water". Yeah no.

I came back to my senses as I approached Eagle, and picked up a bottle of water and bottle of Propel at the general store. Slammed the Propel, refilled the bottle on the bike with the bottle, and headed out. This would be known, forevermore, as the beginning of the perfect storm.

See.. right about then the iPod turned itself in to "mind reading" mode. The Cliff Bar and Propel hit my system fast and I restarted, basically, feeling like I did on mile 5. Now I'm not a Green Day fan by any means, but something about "Holiday" gets me amped up to level 2349203829 - and of course the iPod dished it up right as the rush hit my system and BLAMO I was off. I stood up as the song started and began to quietly sing, when I realized, seriously, I'm the only one out here I started yelling the lyrics. Grabbed the second biggest gear I've got and spun my legs off.

Standing up, AND spinning ON THE SAME RIDE? Yeah. It was good.

I arrived at my truck in Walton in 19 minutes, I don't think my heart rate dipped below 170 the entire time. It was awesome.

This vacation is freaking awesome. Seriously.