How About a Happy Thread
 

I am on a bicycling vacation. It started with an organized event, then it was off to the mountains of eastern TN. Along the way, the folks at Lynskey were kind enough to give me a factory tour when I stopped by.

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I really like the second photo. Fun to see an open road ahead.

God's country in the Sequatchie Valley, where my grandpa grew up.

Was the picture below the Santeetlah Gap sign the Cherohala? If it was, it looks like it's time to repave it!

My brother came down from Columbus OH and rode with me. He snapped it off.

Yep. Interesting that you mention repaving. They were doing that on the TN side. The NC side is in good shape. You are looking at the parking area pavement in the photo.

That is a happy thread!

Lynskey
 

Lynskey factory tour is building on the left!
:)
Barry

You are traveling light. But you are traveling.

I cannot envy you because this is a happy thread, so I will be happy for you.

We rented a cabin, so I am just doing day trips.

This was my view from the dinner table this evening.

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Nice pics!

Nice pictures from your rides. I believe that is a Beacon handlebar on your bike. I now have one on two bikes and just love the set up. I am heading to Tennessee and Kentucky sometime in the next few days to stay with my youngest sister for a bit. She is in Franklin, KY and her son is near Clarksburg, TN. I plan on doing some day trips, maybe an over night or two. I have never been on a bike in either state. I am really looking forward to it. Quite likely, I will be taking my Poprad with 48-34 and 11-34, ten speed. Pretty sure I will be happy.

Kudos

stop it, I'm getting jealous.

A happy thread will never work. (Psych!) :D

Thanks for posting your adventure.

I love these roads. People that aren't from around here freak out about how narrow they are with no shoulder. That's part of what makes it beautiful and it's no big deal, just pay attention and ride a good line.

Great pictures and some amazing country side. Here's one of my air-conditioned cockpits. I guess this is what Pharrell Williams meant in 'Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof'.


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That is what riding in North Dakota is like.

And there was this from a tour in Montana that I rolled back in 2016. Not one man-made sound could be heard. Only the sound of the wind rustling the grasses and the sounds of birds and insects. I wanted to sit there all day.

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Since this is a happy thread I thought I'd share a heartwarming story. A few months ago, one of my customers brought in her ~3 YO son's Thomas the Train bike to have the tires fixed. The tubes were rotten so I ordered a couple of new tubes for it, fixed it up and they were on their way. Now this little boy loves stopping by my shop when he's out riding his bike with his mom on her walks, and he stops in to see me. He apparently really loves his bike and is happy to know the guy (me) who fixed it for him. And of course it brightens my day when they stop by.

THT much?

Cheers

Shad

.

You know what? This is the kind of post that keeps me coming back! Good stuff. Maybe some others will throw in their happy.

I want to ride where the buffalo roam. I'll do it one day.

Only free range cattle on that road.


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Go to Wind Cave National Park and/or Custer State Park, both in South Dakota, for all the buffalo you’ll ever want to see.


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Last summer when we camped near Custer, we went to Custer State Park to see buffalo & other wildlife. We drove around for half an hour or so looking at trees and fields, never seeing anything. Maybe one buffalo here or there. I was getting discouraged, but then we came up over one hill and there they all were, hundreds of buffalo all over the place. It was like that scene in Dances With Wolves where they sneak up to the top of the hill and see the huge herd of buffalo.

Sounds like you did the Wildlife Loop. I rode to Custer from Hot Springs, stopping at Wind Cave to take the long tour of the caves. I then continued on to SD 87 through much of the state park before cutting off on a dirt road on my way to a few nights in Custer. I never bothered to do the Wildlife Loop because I was buffaloed out by then.

I saw some pronghorns during my rest day in Edgemont, which is the southern terminus of the Mickelson Trail. While at Wind Cave I learned that pronghorns are the second fastest land mammal on the planet, with the cheetah being No. 1. It's believed that, over distance, the pronghorn would win a race with a cheetah. Also, they have eyes that are roughly the size of an elephant's eyes, giving them excellent vision. I have a better photo at home.

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Edgemont, SD