Daniel E. Markle's Blog

Getting back into bicycle riding as I work on getting into shape. My bicycle needed a rear tube replacement and a good cleaning to remove the cat hair from the gears. As a 'return to cycling' event and a July 4 adventure, Christine and I rode the Buffalo Valley Rail Trail on Monday.

Only the ends are paved, but the packed gravel in the middle is reminiscent of the lane at home, so it wasn't uncomfortable. Although at first I felt my bike was a little stiff for gravel, by the end I realized it was the rider not the bike that was stiff. A beautiful ride in the country with farms and fields on either side and gentle slopes, even for a rail trail. We rode in light rain and mist on the return leg, but my gear kept me dry and it proved rather refreshing.

Longer than I expected; about 10 miles each way, as they finished more parts of it than when I had investigated it in the past. 20 miles was probably a bit more than I should have tackled after having not ridden in years, and led to being quite sore this morning.