Sundays are mountain bike days now. We meet up at the Hub at 7:30, then head to the trail. We've got 3 rides in so far. Yesterday was the Chubb.
We started on the West Tyson end and it got real technical real fast. I'm still getting it together and I had to stop quite a few times. We regrouped after the killer climb/walk. It was a perfect day with beautiful fall colors, a clear sky, and temperatures in the 50s.
We rode on up to the picnic table and I ditched my coat. We made it on down to the steps, walked that part and rode the rest of the way down the hill. We got off into the flatter part and it was perfect except for a few muddy spots. We made it through the rock garden and decided to ride the Castlewood loop.
It was pretty wet and hard to pick a good line. We stopped on the river bank for a post card quality view. Ryan hammered out of there and I chased him all the way back to the railroad tracks. At the end, a dog chased me. I got a laugh out of that. We headed back to West Tyson.
There was a little group dread as we approached the climb. I stalled on the rock wall at the start, but held it together all the way to the steps and then to the loose switchback on the picnic table hill. We went out on Flint Quarry. Ryan blasted off on the decent and I finished a few seconds back.
We regrouped and climbed up to the jeep and headed home. I dropped off Andy, headed home. A few hours later I was at the Cardinals parade for the World Series.
Monday, October 30, 2006
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Blue Ribbon
When you get to the tunnel, you don't need to slow down. Just go straight in with your head down. It's dark in there, but just keep looking towards the end. When you pop out on the other side go to the left.
The first section is narrow and uphill. It winds around a bit. When you get to the ditch ride through it, make a left and start heading down the steep hill with a sharp right at the bottom.
Get into an easier gear as you head back up and get ready for the log. Hit it straight on and go over it, no need to stop. You'll come out in a field and head back to the left up a steep dirt section. Stay to the right and spin up. Climb a few more feet and bomb back down and climb up to the wooden bridge.
After the wooden bridge you climb some more. Save some energy for the steep rooty section and hit it going as fast as possible. You're back on to gravelly single track now. After a few rollers you climb a steep gravelly section up to a sharp right. It's steep here so try now to spin out.
From here you keep climbing at a reasonable grade. After the left turn be ready for a rooty section that is steep. Hit it with a little bit of speed and you will make it. Grind on up the hill. Stop at the bench and have some water if you want.
Now it's downhill time. No brakes for the first section until you hit the sharp right turn. Get your butt back and head down the loose stuff and look for a good line. Hit the brakes at the bottom and make the left staying over to the right. There's quick section and then you go back to the right and do the same type of hill again. Watch out for the tree. Stay to the right along the washed out dirt part.
Now you're on a very fast section. When it heads to the left you are headed for a steep drop off. Go over hit the brakes, get into an easy gear , make the left and climb back out. You can make it over the roots if you have some speed.
Keep climbing and looking for good lines. Pop up a couple of steep parts and give it all you've got to make the last super steep left. Now you are on the old road and you have to climb out.
At the top start flying down again. It help to bunny hop some of the rough stuff. At the end it gets sort of technical, with the last bit being kind of dangerous due to a big drop off that you have to hit with some speed. To avoid make a sharp right and come off the hill.
Head back into the tunnel. At the end just go straight out.
Son, you just did Blue Ribbon in Castlewood State Park while sitting at your computer.
The first section is narrow and uphill. It winds around a bit. When you get to the ditch ride through it, make a left and start heading down the steep hill with a sharp right at the bottom.
Get into an easier gear as you head back up and get ready for the log. Hit it straight on and go over it, no need to stop. You'll come out in a field and head back to the left up a steep dirt section. Stay to the right and spin up. Climb a few more feet and bomb back down and climb up to the wooden bridge.
After the wooden bridge you climb some more. Save some energy for the steep rooty section and hit it going as fast as possible. You're back on to gravelly single track now. After a few rollers you climb a steep gravelly section up to a sharp right. It's steep here so try now to spin out.
From here you keep climbing at a reasonable grade. After the left turn be ready for a rooty section that is steep. Hit it with a little bit of speed and you will make it. Grind on up the hill. Stop at the bench and have some water if you want.
Now it's downhill time. No brakes for the first section until you hit the sharp right turn. Get your butt back and head down the loose stuff and look for a good line. Hit the brakes at the bottom and make the left staying over to the right. There's quick section and then you go back to the right and do the same type of hill again. Watch out for the tree. Stay to the right along the washed out dirt part.
Now you're on a very fast section. When it heads to the left you are headed for a steep drop off. Go over hit the brakes, get into an easy gear , make the left and climb back out. You can make it over the roots if you have some speed.
Keep climbing and looking for good lines. Pop up a couple of steep parts and give it all you've got to make the last super steep left. Now you are on the old road and you have to climb out.
At the top start flying down again. It help to bunny hop some of the rough stuff. At the end it gets sort of technical, with the last bit being kind of dangerous due to a big drop off that you have to hit with some speed. To avoid make a sharp right and come off the hill.
Head back into the tunnel. At the end just go straight out.
Son, you just did Blue Ribbon in Castlewood State Park while sitting at your computer.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Getting Back on the Mountain Bike
I had the mountain bike upside down in the garage all summer. There was nothing bad wrong, just a bad tire. I finally got it fixed and headed off to Castlewood.
My brain went into overdrive trying to get it back together. The shaking, tree whizzing by, floating through the loose stuff, getting into the right climbing gear. My legs felt good and I took it easy. After a few trips I felt a little like my old self again. I'm looking forward to the fall and winter on the mountain bike.
My brain went into overdrive trying to get it back together. The shaking, tree whizzing by, floating through the loose stuff, getting into the right climbing gear. My legs felt good and I took it easy. After a few trips I felt a little like my old self again. I'm looking forward to the fall and winter on the mountain bike.
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