Deer Ramblings

Jason and I went camping at a yurt in Flagstaff this week. Here's a snapshot of my thoughts as I ran into a deer on the trail...

Our humble yurt at the Flagstaff Nordic Center

I can't believe how beautiful it is outsi – oh, shit! That's a deer! Like in the trail, looking at me and way fucking bigger than I imagined, deer. Or is it a moose? Wait, no. I'm from NH – why am I suddenly unable to tell the difference between a moose and a deer? Definitely a deer. He looks pissed, or maybe he just takes his morning walks very seriously and I just fucked it all up for him. Do I turn around? Or is that rude – I don't want the deer to think I am avoiding him, but I also don't want to be trampled to death. Do they even trample? Should I climb one of these trees? What? No. I haven't climbed a tree since I was 10 – so no, I should not climb one of these trees. Those antlers are freaking me out and I'm pretty sure he knows it. I can see the headline now - “Vegan Mountain Biker Gored by a Stern Deer”. How ironic. Or maybe it's a she? No, a female deer probably would have ran. Not that I think women can't hold their own, alright now I'm really an asshole. Maybe if there was another deer here for comparison...

One of the super flowy trails in the Coconino National Forest

I'll just turn around and pick another trail. What if he follows me? No, his legs are so long. It would be a very leisurely pace for him, and without small talk he'd probably get bored. Can I look back? Or will that be seen as an invitation to hang out or fight over something we both think we deserve – like the rights to ride on his turf. No, don't look back. What was that noise – perhaps an oncoming ambush? No, I just ran over a pile of wood chips. Okay – what was THAT noise? More wood chips. What is with all of fucking wood chips?

I can't wait to tell Jason about this encounter once I get back to the yurt. How should I word it – maybe, “I saw a beautiful, serene deer basking in the sunlight in the forest”. Nah, he'll know it's bullshit.

A Saddle Bag Made From Upcycled Materials That Is Actually Durable? Product Review: Green Guru Transition

My first impression: “Damn, that's bright!”. Featuring upcycled fabric and a bright logo, this bag demands a double take. I held the Transition up to my current saddle bag for comparison. I was immediately convinced it wouldn't fit everything; one 29er tube, two tire levers, a multi-tool, and a patch kit. I was wrong; this pack is deceptively spacious (1.7L). I could probably fit a CO2 inflator if I wrapped my spare tube tighter and put the patch kit in a small plastic bag instead of the case it came in. The bag has a larger zippered opening than other seat bags I've used - no more taking out three items just to get to my wedged in muli-tool. 

My packing skills leave much to be desired...

Attaching the bag to the seat rails of my saddle was a little tricky. The Transition uses a tri-glide buckle situated on the underside of the bag, making it difficult to see. A side release buckle would be much easier and faster. The stitching came apart slightly on the end of the webbing after one use, we'll see how it holds up to a few months. Once the bag is attached, the wrap-around strap works really well to cinch it in place. For extra security, there is a hook and loop closure that wraps around the seat post. I went over the bars last weekend, and made quite the scene flailing down the trail. The bag held up great, with not a scratch to the sturdy nylon material.

All snugged up!

Looking to use this for city riding? The door of the bag has a vertical reflective loop that you can also attach a safety light to. Though, the loop would work better for most clip mounted tail lights if it was positioned horizontally.

Low profile design lines up with the back of the saddle

While there a few things I'd change about this bag, it is a great addition to my gear family. It checks off a few boxes that other name brand manufacturers can't – like being handmade in Colorado by a company that supports an enormous recycling initiative.

Taking the Transition for its first day on the trails!

Disclaimer: This saddle bag was provided at no charge for review by Green Guru.

Let's Get Nerdy - Tracking Progress

“I will not become a Stravasshole – I'm doing this for science!”, I said to myself as I started the download on my phone. At this point I was riding at least twice per week, but wasn't tracking distance traveled or even my time spent on the bike. I knew I was getting faster (albeit slowly), but basing my progress solely on how I felt was leaving me unsure of myself. I generally hate numbers, but apparently I find them interesting when they pertain to my mountain biking – self absorbed, I know.

I worked on standing up more to pedal on today's ride. Holy hip flexors!

Today, I decided to make a quick spreadsheet of my mileage, speed and elevation gain from my weekly rides at Papago Park over the past month. Seeing the numbers like this instead of in an calendar activity log makes it easier for me to see the progress. One thing to keep in mind – I did not ride the same route every time and my mileage and speed increases have been minimal, but overall I think this is a great snapshot of my improvements. I can't wait to see what this chart looks like 3 months from now. 

Lots of people make spreadsheets for fun, right?

What do you do to track your progress?