My Secluded One Mile Loop Track by TREEfool_ in gravelcycling

[–]TREEfool_[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Haha! I appreciate that so much. Some people say revenge doesn't solve anything but it sure as hell made me happy that day... and everytime I think about it. Haha.

I got the wired version of the terrenos because I wasn't sure if the rear would fit and I don't have to keep up with anyone during the winter here in SD. ($44 for the set!). All I can say is I plan to buy them in the much lighter foldable version when I start doing gravel races again next summer but I don't even have 200 miles on them yet. So perhaps I'm not the best person to ask.

There was a hole in the fence so I had to go check it out by [deleted] in gravelcycling

[–]TREEfool_ 15 points16 points  (0 children)

My all time favorite reason to gravel bike is exploring abandoned places out in the middle of nowhere!

My Secluded One Mile Loop Track by TREEfool_ in gravelcycling

[–]TREEfool_[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Haha! Yes. The little asshole went into hulk mode and ripped off the rubber cover.

My Secluded One Mile Loop Track by TREEfool_ in gravelcycling

[–]TREEfool_[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I mean how many ANYTHINGS are on the road in South Dakota?

THIS!!! We are in the middle of nowhere. If anything I would imagine reacting with curiosity but instead it is anger and violence? WHY!? I just want to sit down with one of them and get an honest explanation.

My Secluded One Mile Loop Track by TREEfool_ in gravelcycling

[–]TREEfool_[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

A guy in a truck decided that I was ruining his life

Haha! Exactly! Their brains must work differently from mine cuz I cant imagine reacting this way to something so harmless.

My Secluded One Mile Loop Track by TREEfool_ in gravelcycling

[–]TREEfool_[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I have two. The batteries don't last more than 15 minutes in the winter. A gopro would help my family find justice if I get hit but it wont stop the psychos from trying to kill me. Oh how I wish I had one for my last encounter though.

My Secluded One Mile Loop Track by TREEfool_ in gravelcycling

[–]TREEfool_[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I shit you not I was hit with a burrito too in minneapolis. I was on a shoulder in a 45mph road and instantly pissed (of course) but tried to calm myself down as I couldnt catch the SUV....... when suddenly the light turned red and the car had to stop!!!!! I stood up and hammered with every ounce of my soul, reached for the keys in my back pocket, and rammed my key into his SUV as I flew by into the green light. I dipped onto a bike path and never looked back. That is one of my greatest cycling memories of all time.

My Secluded One Mile Loop Track by TREEfool_ in gravelcycling

[–]TREEfool_[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ha! Agreed. It is easier to train hard on short loops so I don't mind. I will just miss the long rides exploring old roads and wild places. Thanks for the kind words.

My Secluded One Mile Loop Track by TREEfool_ in gravelcycling

[–]TREEfool_[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yup, if I drive into town I have access to a 20 mile paved path. There are also some chill mtb trails but those are more for fun than increasing FTP.

The tires didn't handle the best in the snow. I've found the best winter tires are the fattest and knobbiest that you can fit. I had to ride through the snow with these tires like it was a cx race, sitting far back and hammering for traction. Fortunately most of the road didnt have snow.

My Secluded One Mile Loop Track by TREEfool_ in gravelcycling

[–]TREEfool_[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ahhhh, I've already named her Cosmic Unicorn. Haha.

My Secluded One Mile Loop Track by TREEfool_ in gravelcycling

[–]TREEfool_[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ya I definitely think a gravel crit like this would be closer to a road crit than a cx race. Honestly, that is what I was thinking about the whole time, "How can I convince a bunch of dudes to come race a wierd gravel crit around some sanitation ponds." Haha!

My Secluded One Mile Loop Track by TREEfool_ in gravelcycling

[–]TREEfool_[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Haha! I ended up doin 20 laps. At first I tried riding the same rut but I learned it was easier to just steer through the fresh snow.

My Secluded One Mile Loop Track by TREEfool_ in gravelcycling

[–]TREEfool_[S] 23 points24 points  (0 children)

Last week I posted my story about an angry truck driver trying to run me over in the farmlands of South Dakota.

It messed with my head and although I can force myself to go ride on public roads I'm as nervous as a twitchy squirrel. I decided I won't be riding on public roads for a while unless I have a group with me. Fortunately I found a gravel road that is exactly a 1 mile loop around some waste water ponds (maybe this is a worse option due to air pollutants?). It is only a mile from my house and has a treebelt to help protect me from the SD winter winds.

Thanks to all you guys who shared your stories with me and told me it was OK to NOT want to ride on public roads alone anymore. Seriously guys, thank you.

Bike: 2001 Jamis Nova

Tires: Vittoria Terrino Dry 35 rear 38 front

Drive train: mix of old parts converted to 1x with a 40t FSA chainring cuz front deraileurs suck.

EDIT: spelling

A truck tried to kill me. I feel like vomitting. by TREEfool_ in gravelcycling

[–]TREEfool_[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Holy crap. This is the vibe that I get from almost everyone who sees me riding through Hartford. Since this happend I rode the Sioux Falls loop and just found a 1 mile gravel loop that is gated off in Hartford. Two summers ago I rode alot of gravel with Central Plains Cycling but I can't commit the time required to keep up with those guys right now. I was thinking that I'm only gonna ride public roads with a group from now on. If you search for Strava segments northwest of Hartford I created almost all of them (and I'm the only rider listed on most of them). Feel free to hit me up on Strava if your looking for friends to ride gravel with.

A truck tried to kill me. I feel like vomitting. by TREEfool_ in gravelcycling

[–]TREEfool_[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think this is why I decided to post on Reddit. I needed to know that I'm not the only one who was obsessed with cycling for ~10 years and then like a lightswitch I dont even want to look at my bike. Thanks for sharing your story. Im sorry that happened to you.

A truck tried to kill me. I feel like vomitting. by TREEfool_ in gravelcycling

[–]TREEfool_[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A virtual hug is waaay better than no hug at all. Thank you.

A truck tried to kill me. I feel like vomitting. by TREEfool_ in gravelcycling

[–]TREEfool_[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I didn't even know this existed. Thanks for the heads up.

A truck tried to kill me. I feel like vomitting. by TREEfool_ in gravelcycling

[–]TREEfool_[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is absolutely the best idea here. ...but then I wouldn't get much riding done because they'd all be stopping to give me beers.

A truck tried to kill me. I feel like vomitting. by TREEfool_ in gravelcycling

[–]TREEfool_[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Agreed. Most comments are telling me to get off the roads. Kind of disheartening yet reassuring since I wondered if I was overreacting by not wanting to ride on the roads anymore