A lovely morning of riding. I took almost all back roads and a lot of dirt. The piece between Loon Lake and Chewela is a gold mine of mountain dirt roads. I don't think I'll ever be able to ride 395 again. Mobile post
How do you like down tube shift levers vs. bar end shifters? I see that's what you have for this bike and it's the direction I'm leaning towards for the road bike I'm slowly building up.
My dad is buried in the Chewelah cemetery so I rode up there via 395 (well to Loon Lake at least since I turned left there and went through Springdale) last Memorial Day. I really want to try the back way/dirt roads next time around though.
Jason: I like the DT shifters for this bike. They're indexed -- so with such short cables, the shifting is on the money. I don't shift as much with them. I don't know if that's a good thing, but I like it. I also run these on my blue RB-T -- but only to make cable routing easier with a front rack. I really like bar-ends for most bikes. Next time you ride to Springdale you should take the back way. It's super nice and quiet and pretty. Everything that 395 is not. And you could probably get there by a more direct route. Wade: It was about 65 miles to Chewelah. 4.5 hours.
How do you like down tube shift levers vs. bar end shifters? I see that's what you have for this bike and it's the direction I'm leaning towards for the road bike I'm slowly building up.
ReplyDeleteMy dad is buried in the Chewelah cemetery so I rode up there via 395 (well to Loon Lake at least since I turned left there and went through Springdale) last Memorial Day. I really want to try the back way/dirt roads next time around though.
Looks like an awesome route. What was the final mileage/time for the trip? Wade
ReplyDeleteJason: I like the DT shifters for this bike. They're indexed -- so with such short cables, the shifting is on the money. I don't shift as much with them. I don't know if that's a good thing, but I like it. I also run these on my blue RB-T -- but only to make cable routing easier with a front rack. I really like bar-ends for most bikes.
ReplyDeleteNext time you ride to Springdale you should take the back way. It's super nice and quiet and pretty. Everything that 395 is not. And you could probably get there by a more direct route.
Wade: It was about 65 miles to Chewelah. 4.5 hours.
Very cool. I think I want to do this. It looks like you sure picked a fine day!
ReplyDeleteThat looks like an awesome ride.
ReplyDeleteAny chance of posting the route
ReplyDeleteAnon: I just uploaded the gpx track from my Garmin on bikely. http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Spokane-Chewela-back-roads
ReplyDeleteThis is the meat of the ride.
Absolutely stunning!
ReplyDeleteJon, you went by my family homestead on this ride. That is so great!
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting the route
ReplyDelete