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helena kotala

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Tag: endurance riding

Posted on October 31, 2018January 24, 2020

Unks to Tinker Hill: My first solo double century.

I knew around mile 50 that, barring anything catastrophic happening, I would make it. The first quarter of the ride flew by. Evan and Shannon joined me for the initial 10 miles, then left me to fly solo as I headed due south down Rt. 522. The sun was dropping, the clouds turning pink and …

Continue reading "Unks to Tinker Hill: My first solo double century."

Posted on October 15, 2018October 15, 2018

Rite of passage.

Three years ago, Evan and I rode 200 miles from Huntingdon, PA to his parents house near Phoenixville, PA, just west of Philly. We did it on a tandem, in one shot, through the night. Ever since, I've wanted to do the ride again, but on my own. So when we decided to go to the …

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Posted on September 11, 2016October 1, 2016

Hug the lake.

Caleb and I have been talking about doing a century all summer. I'd never done one on my own bike. I've done a 100-miler and the 200-mile ride to Thanksgiving on the tandem with Evan, but somehow I feel like that's different. I needed to do one myself. Caleb had never done one either. I …

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Posted on December 4, 2015April 12, 2016

Ride to Thanksgiving: The Bike & Gear 

Since we purchased our Salsa Powderkeg tandem in June, it's seen several different incarnations. First, we set it up as a full-on mountain bike, but a plethora of mechanicals proved that it's a ride way more suited for mountain touring than singletrack shredding, and so that's the direction it's been moving. Then we decided to …

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Posted on November 27, 2015January 24, 2020

Ride to Thanksgiving. 

The sun dipped low on the horizon as we pedaled out of Huntingdon and down Rt. 22. It set as we crossed the Juniata River, tossing cotton candy hues into the sky and bathing the few puffy clouds in a pink glow. The world grew darker. The first 40 or 50 miles flew by. Through …

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Posted on November 3, 2015November 3, 2015

To ride 200 miles.

In three weeks, Evan and I plan to ride our tandem from our house to his parents house for Thanksgiving. It's about 200 miles away. We are going to do it in one shot. It's a tradition for him, riding down for the holidays. For the past couple of years I've been envious, but this is …

Continue reading "To ride 200 miles."

Helena Kotala

Outdoor adventurist. Mostly bikes, also runs, paddles, hikes, and more. Map-maker & other duties as assigned at the Pennsylvania Environmental Council. Central PA based.

Bikes + friends to celebrate 33. 🎂 I can’t say enough good things about the inaugural @lulackawyco Starrucca Crossing. The route was beautiful, remote, and challenging with over 10k feet of elevation over 100 miles and unrelenting, punchy climbs. My legs felt like 💩 by mile 45 but I was determined to do the entire course and kept it rolling slow and steady. As is my usual M-O, I got a second wind and my legs loosened up at mile 70ish (naturally an endurance athlete through and through 🙋🏻‍♀️). There were cool old bridges and impeccable stone walls, SO much gravel (probably 85-90% of the route?), and continuous lovely views of rural Susquehanna County. Word is the course will be different next year but I have no doubt it will be just as great. Put this one on your calendars! Some more from Virginia! A sampling of photos from my MTB trip to Virginia with @_whit_green_ this past week. I can’t pick a favorite ride or trail — the highlight was in the variety. There were plenty of vistas, lots of rocks but not too many, and a healthy amount of climbing (almost 17k ft of gain in just over 100 miles over 5 days). Been very excited about mixing it up with more foot-powered adventures lately. Sometimes off-trail, often steep and rocky, always good views. Seeking snow last weekend. I’ll probably always complain about the shuttle, but the Red Mo long run sure is fun. Under the railroad, over the river, and up the hill. An H in her natural habitat — deep in the middle of the woods, staring off into the trees.

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