Date: 025-10-27/28

• 2024: 

Rides: 55

Total Distance: 1030 Miles

Average: 18.7 Miles

• 2025

Rides: 30

Total Distance: 821

Average: 27.4

• 45% increase in the average miles per ride, but a 45% decrease in the number of rides.

Like most tales amiss, this story starts on a cold October morning in Dayton, Ohio. Sitting at 735 total miles on the year, I drove an hour north to the Creekside Recreational Trail. The plan! Pass through Xenia and grab lunch in Yellow Springs. Napkin math had this around a 50-mile round trip. Pushing off at 10 a.m., there was a chill in the air. Getting out of downtown Dayton was a little slow with all the street crossings as my legs warmed up.

About two miles from Xenia, my front tire started to get a bit soft. Moments later, we were flat, in front of Kil-Kare Speedway & Drag Strip. Must have hit some debris! Finding a sunny spot between the trees, I got to work changing the tube. After what felt like 1,000 pumps with the Topeak Mini Morph, the tire wasn’t seated correctly, but thankfully, there was a bike shop just a few miles away, K&G Bike Center. After a quick tuneup and friendly service, I decided to cut my losses and head back to the truck. With 30 miles completed, I was still 35 miles from 800. Let's try again tomorrow.

The Next Day...

Spoiler; no mechanical problems on this ride, but I did forget my snacks. Arguably a much bigger issue.

Starting from Lunken Airport, I need to bike out 18 miles, then turn around. With Loveland, OH, 21 miles away, it’s a perfect spot to grab some lunch, then head home.

Rode past this point a dozen times and never knew Kings Island was hiding behind the trees.

After enjoying some pizza at Cartridge Brewing I made a quick stop in Loveland at Narrow Path Brewing Co. Recommend the Loveland Pub Ale, from the site; Cracker & Shortbread Notes, Clean & Balanced Bitterness Floral, Spicy Hops - Historically Accurate Beer Engine Pour.