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My humble switch was flipped today as I finally learned why it is I’m always passing bikes going UP Green Mountain when trail running. It’s because it’s hard to bike up Green Mountain, especially the 678 feet up Fire Road.

And maybe some other day I’ll try Rooney up(?), but today I started with what I thought was my best option: Fire Road, the most-direct and therefor steepest way to the top of Green Mountain.

I wasn’t prepared.

For starters, my tires just weren’t cutting it, and I was skidding out early and often. I don’t love pedaling for free, you dig? And when I finally hit the first of a couple of really steep parts of Fire Road, I found myself with no choice but to get off and push. Fortunately, I wear trail shoes! And today I even had my screw shoes for extra traction. But it was a steep climb, and 30 pounds of bike/gear made it even harder.

I found more rideable trails at the top but… not all of them. And after taking the Fire Road (and Rooney Connector) to the radio tower, I decided to loop back and take Fire Road down. 

This wasn’t much easier. 

In an act of true resistance training, my shoulders throbbed as I squeezed the brakes for dear life for about 90 percent of the ride down. Simply put, it’s too steep with too many obstacles and loose gravel for me to do anything but hold on for dear life! I let loose maybe two or three times, but never hit speeds like I’m usually able. It was all maintenance. Maybe I'll get faster over time (and with better tires), but today was all discovery.

Once I reached the bottom of Fire Road, I took the lower trail east and came around the other side of Green Mountain, which required more pushing up the old service road, where it’s super steep and tricky even on foot. I’ve never seen bikes go up or down that way, so I pushed for a more rideable situation. As soon as I connected to the main trail, I was able to take the north side back up to the radio tower, where a MTBer was waiting for me. 

“Getting up here on that bike is impressive,” he said. We chatted for awhile and together came to the conclusion that I’d do myself a favor softening my tires considerably. After he left, I did just that, but apparently didn’t seal the valve. Heading west just a short way up the big hill on Green Mountain Trail, I realized I was riding on a flat.

Good thing I had my new portable pump with me! Attached it this morning and, man, it works like a dream! And it only took a couple of minutes before I was back in the saddle and finishing my climb. I’d push my bike one more time, up the connecting trail from Rooney to the peak--the steepest, rockiest trail of them all, which I had no intention of riding down anymore than I had the ability to ride up--then I circled back around from there and down Rooney, which had some tricky parts for sure but was mostly fun with its largely smooth ruts and windy,  ending turns with banks. Too bad I can’t corner for shit!

This was simultaneously the slowest 15-mile ride I’ve ever had and without a doubt the hardest. If this was the last workout of 2025, man, it was a gem. Happy New Year, and here's to more miraculous miles in 2026!

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Jeremy JJ Johnson

Gravel Ride 12: A Dirty, Dirty Dozen (plus 3)

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Good Gravy, That’s a Good Gravel Ride

Lucky Gravel Ride 13: New Year’s Day 50K

Gravel Ride 12: A Dirty, Dirty Dozen (plus 3)

Eight Ain't So Great

Gravel Ride 11: Epic(er) ALL-Road Ride

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