Did you know that Nashville is on central time? I had no idea. Seems so east coast. And Chattanooga? EST. The time zone line goes right between them.

This was a fast rocknroll weekend bike trip to the land of country music and churches (as an aside, according to wikipedia, 82% of Tennesseeans identify themselves as Christian, 9% are non-religious. compare that to Vermont where 55% identify as Christian and 34% as non-religious). And the whole thing was nearly totally derailled when I discovered one missing spacer on the axle of my rear I9 hub. Try to find one of those in the middle of TN late on a Saturday afternoon. Just try.

Enter Nashville Bike Lounge. Totally saved my butt by calling in a favor and producing a wheel to borrow for the weekend. Love the cycling community, turns out we’re all really just one friend removed. They hooked me up, and if you find yourself in Nashville looking for a true bike shop, that’s where to go.

Food, hanging out with cousins, and Rock n Roll. Making good times and lots of smiles in Nashville on Saturday. Sunday — not quite so good. Woke up to pouring rain, pounding head, and food poisoning. Nothing like a violent vomit session to start off the day. It was a fog of unpleasantness, through which we somehow made the trip down to Chattanooga before I passed out again.

Not to let one rough day ruin the trip, Monday was a fresh, new opportunity and time for me to finally ride. Raccoon Mountain. Fun and fast trails on a warm, if a little grey and misty, morning. It’s been over 8 weeks since I rode a singlespeed mountain bike, since the great groin crash. Damn, I missed it. And I love riding my travel bike, the belt drive gearing was perfect and performing in that flawless, no-drama way it does. The trails were mapped, and signed and there were fantastic vistas filled with clouds. Oh, and it was 70 degrees. Loved it. Thanks Chattanooga, can’t wait to come back again with more time to hit more trails.

Time was ticking. Airplanes don’t wait. Time to head back to Nashville and return my loaner wheel and pack up the travel bike. This trip was fast and furious, but whet my appetite for more of the South. Can’t wait to get back again soon.