Did 10.5 miles on the Montour Trail - Felt like I was gonna DIE!
08-14-14, 09:23 AM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Portersville, PA
Posts: 8
Bikes: 2000 Schwinn Sierra
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Did 10.5 miles on the Montour Trail - Felt like I was gonna DIE!
Well, I did 10.5 miles on the Montour trail... I think I should have picked a nice day that wasn't 85 degrees out... I felt like I was gonna pass out at one point, but a simple 5 minute rest solved that issue... lol
Here's a few pics of the trail... It really is a nice trail. I was going to start at the Coraoplis trailhead, but it was closed due to some EPA mandated clean up effort on a business down there. I wound up starting at Hassam St. My goal was to get to the tunnel in Fandlay Township. I got there...
What trail ride would be complete without a awful picture of me with sweat running off me...lol... shameless selfie...
Who knows, maybe someday some of you may run into me on the trail. I am now off to search for the next ride... on a cooler day!
Shawn
Here's a few pics of the trail... It really is a nice trail. I was going to start at the Coraoplis trailhead, but it was closed due to some EPA mandated clean up effort on a business down there. I wound up starting at Hassam St. My goal was to get to the tunnel in Fandlay Township. I got there...
What trail ride would be complete without a awful picture of me with sweat running off me...lol... shameless selfie...
Who knows, maybe someday some of you may run into me on the trail. I am now off to search for the next ride... on a cooler day!
Shawn
08-14-14, 09:34 AM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Very N and Very W Ohio Williams Co.
Posts: 2,458
Bikes: 2001 Trek Multitrack 7200, 2104 Fuji Sportif 1.5
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Good job :-), it will get easier the more time you devote to it :-).
Bill
Bill
08-14-14, 11:52 AM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,549
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5224 Post(s)
Liked 3,581 Times
in
2,342 Posts
I like how your bike photo-bombed your selfie. good job with the ride!
08-14-14, 12:29 PM
#5
The Improbable Bulk
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wilkes-Barre, PA
Posts: 8,379
Bikes: Many
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
7 Posts
Congrats on pushing yourself, and pacing yourself so that you made it back!
If I ever get to that part of the state, I'll have to ride that trail. I have a couple of trails here I like, but none have tunnels.
If I ever get to that part of the state, I'll have to ride that trail. I have a couple of trails here I like, but none have tunnels.
__________________
Slow Ride Cyclists of NEPA
People do not seem to realize that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Slow Ride Cyclists of NEPA
People do not seem to realize that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
08-14-14, 12:57 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Ellensburg,WA
Posts: 3,179
Bikes: Schwinn Broadway, Specialized Secteur Sport(crashed) Spec. Roubaix Sport, Spec. Crux
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 179 Post(s)
Liked 167 Times
in
83 Posts
Congrats on the ride! Feeling like you are about to pass out is no laughing matter. Make sure you are hydrated. Ease into the active lifestyle building endurance. Keep it fun so that you can keep doing it. Great pics by the way, thanks for sharing.
__________________
Sir Mark, Knight of Sufferlandria
Sir Mark, Knight of Sufferlandria
08-14-14, 01:27 PM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Cabot, Arkansas
Posts: 1,538
Bikes: Lynskey Twisted Helix Di2 Ti, 1987 Orbea steel single speed/fixie, Orbea Avant M30, Trek Fuel EX9.8 29, Trek Madone 5 series, Specialized Epic Carbon Comp 29er, Trek 7.1F
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Looks like a cool place to ride.
08-14-14, 05:37 PM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 1,968
Bikes: '09 Trek 2.1 * '75 Sekine * 2010 Raleigh Talus 8.0 * '90 Giant Mtb * Raleigh M20 * Fuji Nevada mtb
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
wooohoo! Looks like a really pretty ride. Good job. It will be even more fun as your fitness improves. Funny thing about cycling, you have to spend a lot of time pushing as hard as you did, just so you can poodle around all day once in a while and truly enjoy just being there. Keep it up!
__________________
FB4K - Every October we wrench on donated bikes. Every December, a few thousand kids get bikes for Christmas. For many, it is their first bike, ever. Every bike, new and used, was donated, built, cleaned and repaired. Check us out on FaceBook: FB4K.
Disclaimer: 99% of what I know about cycling I learned on BF. That would make, ummm, 1% experience. And a lot of posts.
FB4K - Every October we wrench on donated bikes. Every December, a few thousand kids get bikes for Christmas. For many, it is their first bike, ever. Every bike, new and used, was donated, built, cleaned and repaired. Check us out on FaceBook: FB4K.
Disclaimer: 99% of what I know about cycling I learned on BF. That would make, ummm, 1% experience. And a lot of posts.
08-14-14, 06:17 PM
#10
Senior Member
That looks like a good trail to ride, I'm envious that you have a tunnel to ride through, they seem to make riding trails more interesting -the most I've got are bridge underpasses 
08-14-14, 08:19 PM
#11
Senior Member
Congrats, and notice the SMILE, that comes from those miles...
08-14-14, 09:52 PM
#12
Full Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Lakeland,Fl
Posts: 483
Bikes: 2008 Trek Police bike 2019 Jamis Coda Sport 2021 Surly Bridgeclub
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 76 Post(s)
Liked 924 Times
in
304 Posts
looks like a great place to ride.. as already been stated " keep it fun"
08-15-14, 05:55 AM
#13
Senior Member
Shawn, did you catch my post in your other thread? I haven't ridden the Montour trail, there's another one for me to add to the list that I haven't hit yet. Looks like a great trail. Love the pic of the dog sign, LOL.
Since it seems you are ok with traveling down that way, try out riding around Pittsburgh along the shoreline trails. It's a great perspective seeing the city, especially for us country folks up in Butler County. I had a great time riding along the river past PNC Park, Heinz Field, and crossing the Fort Duquesne and Fort Pitt bridges overlooking the point.
08-15-14, 08:01 AM
#14
Senior Member
Good job. The trail surface looks like the Katy Trail and your bike looks like the right tool for the job.
Did you drink enough? If it was that hot, you probably needed at least 20 oz for that 10 miles and maybe more.
Were you wearing a cotton t-shirt? If so look for something made out a technical material like Koolmax. Cotton holds in sweat. Technical materials allow the sweat to evaporate which cools you down much better. Maybe invest in a bicycle jersey. The material, front zipper, and back pockets make for much better cycling especially in the heat.
Did you drink enough? If it was that hot, you probably needed at least 20 oz for that 10 miles and maybe more.
Were you wearing a cotton t-shirt? If so look for something made out a technical material like Koolmax. Cotton holds in sweat. Technical materials allow the sweat to evaporate which cools you down much better. Maybe invest in a bicycle jersey. The material, front zipper, and back pockets make for much better cycling especially in the heat.
08-15-14, 07:13 PM
#15
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Portersville, PA
Posts: 8
Bikes: 2000 Schwinn Sierra
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Yes, I got your last post about the other trails... I will undoubtedly be hitting them all eventually... Depending on the weather, I may do the loop around North Park lake tomorrow. Sometime tomorrow. I believe that one is a 5 mile loop if I recall, with some nice rolling hills, that are not too steep as I recall.. I'd like to make it around there 3 times, but I may be pushing my limits. Rocco, a friend I work with (and coach for Nesshannock High Football) thinks I should not push so hard, because I'm not 17 anymore..lol
I still want to try and keep on going! I need to drop another 100 or so lbs before I will be happy again.
Thanks for all the great advice!
Shawn
