Moles, armadillos, & trail marbles....

mojo deluxe said:

......are the top three trails hazards in these parts. Not the snakes, wild
hogs, or gators.

The moles are crafty little mouse sized creatures, that are capable of
creating invisible ruts, you are impervious to, until your front tire finds
it at the worst possible time.

The 'dillos, rat [censored] that they are, digs Grand Canyon size holes in the
middle of trails. Mostly in grassy singletrack, where one will not see it
until it's too late.

Trails marbles, aka gumballs, are loads of fun. Dropped by the truckloads,
by gumball trees, these things can literally change your intended line on
tight singletrack.

Ooh, I hate those sweetgum balls. Our neighbors have a sweetgum tree
right next to the property line and it drops those spikey little
landmines all over my yard. It's like having a sea urchin factory next
door. I don't dare take the garbage out or walk to the mailbox barefoot
for fear of the little [censored]. A master gardener friend suggested
that a fatal illness could easily be arranged for the trash-bearing tree
and I can't say I haven't been tempted.

I'd have to say that out on the trail black walnuts are much worse
threat. That's a fall thing, though.

Kathleen

"Kathleen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

mojo deluxe said:

......are the top three trails hazards in these parts. Not the snakes,

wild

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

hogs, or gators.

The moles are crafty little mouse sized creatures, that are capable of
creating invisible ruts, you are impervious to, until your front tire

finds

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

it at the worst possible time.

The 'dillos, rat [censored] that they are, digs Grand Canyon size holes in

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

middle of trails. Mostly in grassy singletrack, where one will not see

it

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

until it's too late.

Trails marbles, aka gumballs, are loads of fun. Dropped by the

truckloads,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

by gumball trees, these things can literally change your intended line

on

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

tight singletrack.

Ooh, I hate those sweetgum balls. Our neighbors have a sweetgum tree
right next to the property line and it drops those spikey little
landmines all over my yard. It's like having a sea urchin factory next
door. I don't dare take the garbage out or walk to the mailbox barefoot
for fear of the little [censored]. A master gardener friend suggested
that a fatal illness could easily be arranged for the trash-bearing tree
and I can't say I haven't been tempted.

Heh, I have so many of the damn things out here, I'd spend weeks with a
chainsaw getting rid of them. I've just learned to live with them.

Quoted message said:

I'd have to say that out on the trail black walnuts are much worse
threat. That's a fall thing, though.

No kidding! Much harder, and less rolling resistance.

You should just return those spikey landmines to his
yard.

I MTB 2004

Quoted message said:

You should just return those spikey landmines to his
yard.

Nah. They're good people. They just didn't really think ahead when
they did their landscaping. The problem may solve itself over the next
few years anyway. That tree is not only close to the property line,
it's very close to their house. Once the branches start flailing their
siding and roof whenever the wind blows I bet they'll take it out.

Meanwhile, the sweetgum balls have their uses. Any time my youngest
gets in trouble I make him go outside and clean up tree balls off the
ground. They make good kindling for the chiminetta.

Kathleen