It is a new year and time to set resolutions and to measure progress! My Cannondale bike odometer reading is 1637.4 miles. How many miles will I ride in 2009? Ten miles a day would make 3650 miles, but 4000 miles is a good round number. Whatever the distance, I need to get into shape for the Assault on Mt. Mitchell Century in June. I weigh 167.5 pounds today. Only 4 months ago I was about 10 pounds less. Taking 10 pounds off by June would help with...

Here are some more videos of my ride. The climb up Unicoi Gap. This is where I was really beginning to feel some soreness in my legs. It didn't matter much other than the fact that I knew that I had the Hogpen Gap 6.5 mile climb still to come. I didn't want to blow out my legs before I started that climb.  [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpMav6At5no]     Here is a little video of a white blaze of the AT (Appalachian Trail) on the top of Hogpen Gap. This is more than a...

Here is my first big climb of the day, Neal's Gap. After this one 5 more to go with the brutal climb up Hogpen Gap that really had me worried. Today was supposed to be unseasonably hot, but for now, in the morning, it was cool. Only 104 miles! Only 12,000 feet up!  [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjdlwA7LQiM]  ...