Windy Weekend Riding

I’ve wanted to put some miles on the touring bike and also test gear and the new panniers. A plan was devised to bike camp this past weekend. Others were interested in doing the same. A reservation at Union Grove State Park was procured. The weather failed to cooperate.

The Saturday weather was for winds out of the south twenty five to thirty miles per hour (25 – 30 MPH) with gusts to forty miles per hour (40 MPH). Union Grove is straight south of here. OK, let’s bag that and go to plan “B.”

After an exhaustive five (5) minute internets search, it was determined campsites North of here were scarce. Bummer. In a last minute decision the plan was to roll North, using the rather strong tailwinds, to Brookings for an overnight camp in a City campsite.

Companion number one (#1) had mechanical issues and bowed out. Companion number two (#2) opted to stay here. But, here we go anyway.

The winds made for a quick sixty (60) mile jaunt. On the flats it was easy to maintain twenty five miles per hour (25 MPH). My top speed was thirty nine point eight miles per hour (39.8 MPH). Despite the nice tailwind conditions is was HOT. Upon arrival in Brookings I elected to go for the forty dollar per night ($40/night) hotel room.

A shower and a stroll to downtown were the ticket. At Cubbies burgers were ordered and consumed. Beer chased the burgers. A stroll to Jim’s Tap and more beer while lounging in the beer garden ended the evening.

Sunday, after some breakfast, the route down was reversed and biked back to Sioux Falls. Not only did the winds diminish, they switched direction to become quartering tailwinds for the ride back. Sweet!

As per my usual late spring / early summer, I neglected to put sunscreen on. Minor sunburn attained, farmer stripe as a bonus.

What I gathered from this little jaunt is the touring bike works really well. I rode pretty loaded. Even at thirty nine point eight miles per hour (39.8 MPH), it tracks straight and true. I gave the handlebar a shake to see if I could induce a wobble. No wobble. An introduction was made. Brooks saddle, meet my ass. My ass, meet Brooks saddle. With some laps around the bike trail and now this past weekend’s ride, the Brooks saddle is getting very close to being broke in.

Coming up later this week I’ve got some mountain biking action in the form of the Black Hills Fat Tire Festival. The weekend after that a herd of us departs here for the start of the Tour de Kota. More on those activities later.


Ride On.