Day 2

Last night after work and a bit of dinner I took the bike up Logan canyon. I made it about 3-4 miles up, which sounds weak sauce but after a 10 hour day getting 70+ pound bike that far is no small feat. The total ride mileage was 9.8 miles with 1390 feet of ascent.

Today, work was fine, and now the good stuff. I was even more stunned than yesterday as I rode up the surprisingly gorgeous Logan canyon past a few dams. I went about 8 miles up thrilled as can be at the sights and relative wildernessiness of the place. As much as I enjoy a nice light road bike, the cruisey upright position make touring quite a treat. Here's a pic from the little pull-off where I turned around.

On the way down the canyon I thought I'd try out the nature trail that follows the river rather than coasting down the road. I hopped on at some campsite and enjoyed the wide graveled trail. A mile or so later the trail turns singletrack and circles up the hill to dodge some private property. I found this out after I had ridden up their driveway. I was hesitant about the singletrack given Madsen's length, but continued on for the sake of science. She handled remarkably well, reminded me of driving a rental Chevy Lumina across washboard in the Nevada desert (funny story), not the smoothest downhiller, but manageable. I did however knock the double kickstand on more than a few rocks as I'm not used to her clearance compared to my normal cross country mountain bike. I didn't think to much of the clunks until I got home and realized that I had lost both of the beefy rubber feet.

Oops. I'll have to find some old crutches somewhere....

I was however thrilled that I took a moderately technical bit of single track and handled all but the one sudden switchback on this longtail. Overall ride stats: 17.7 miles, total ascent 2589'.

I have a feeling my legs are going to be ripped and sinewy by the end.