RR: Best Day Ever!

[Ride-A-Lot]

Woke up anticipating today's JAR ride at French Creek State Park in PA.
It's usually an event with a rather large turnout. Temps are hovering
just below fifty, but we will warm up quickly. After riding in Arizona
last week, these temps are certainly a wake-up call. Got to the parking
lot and saw a bunch of rigid SS riders getting ready. Definitely not
our crew and a bit insane for these trails. More climbing than DH and
big boulders and baby heads all over the place. 9:30 rolls around and
the only ones who show up are Bob, Justin, Joe, and I. A newbie (forgot
her name) did show up as well, but after looking at the first climb
decided to bail.

We head up the turtle trail and it begs the question; where is it? The
leaves were inches thick and covered up the trail and the rocks. It was
a very interesting climb not knowing where the line was. We barrel
through and and hit some downhill with more leaf covered rocky goodness.
I think it may even be better this way, since you just attack it with
speed and let the bike do the work. Why throw in the worry, it just
fouls things up.

I'm feeling really good today, and I think I am riding equally well.
Still not the fastest but I am able to keep Bob and Joe in sight. I'm
even climbing these god forsaken hills! We ride for about 16 miles and
sample lots of fun technical rock gardens which only catch me a couple
of times. We even take a "short cut" (on a no-no trail) which ends up
taking us on a longer climb then the "right" trail.

I don't know what it was today, but I just felt like I could ride
anything. Maybe it's a turning point in my ability, or maybe it was
just one of those days. What ever it was, I chalk it up to my best day
ever!

--
o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
www.schnauzers.ws

 

[TBF::.]

"Ride-A-Lot" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Woke up anticipating today's JAR ride at French Creek State Park in PA.
> It's usually an event with a rather large turnout. Temps are hovering
> just below fifty, but we will warm up quickly. After riding in Arizona
> last week, these temps are certainly a wake-up call. Got to the parking
> lot and saw a bunch of rigid SS riders getting ready. Definitely not our
> crew and a bit insane for these trails. More climbing than DH and big
> boulders and baby heads all over the place. 9:30 rolls around and the
> only ones who show up are Bob, Justin, Joe, and I. A newbie (forgot her
> name) did show up as well, but after looking at the first climb decided to
> bail.
>
> We head up the turtle trail and it begs the question; where is it? The
> leaves were inches thick and covered up the trail and the rocks. It was a
> very interesting climb not knowing where the line was. We barrel through
> and and hit some downhill with more leaf covered rocky goodness. I think
> it may even be better this way, since you just attack it with speed and
> let the bike do the work. Why throw in the worry, it just fouls things
> up.
>
> I'm feeling really good today, and I think I am riding equally well. Still
> not the fastest but I am able to keep Bob and Joe in sight. I'm even
> climbing these god forsaken hills! We ride for about 16 miles and sample
> lots of fun technical rock gardens which only catch me a couple of times.
> We even take a "short cut" (on a no-no trail) which ends up taking us on a
> longer climb then the "right" trail.
>
> I don't know what it was today, but I just felt like I could ride
> anything. Maybe it's a turning point in my ability, or maybe it was just
> one of those days. What ever it was, I chalk it up to my best day ever!
>
> --
> o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
> www.schnauzers.ws

Did you find that you actually flowed through the trail faster, even though
the leaves obscured the lines?

 

[Ride-A-Lot]

TBF::. wrote:
> "Ride-A-Lot" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>>Woke up anticipating today's JAR ride at French Creek State Park in PA.
>>It's usually an event with a rather large turnout. Temps are hovering
>>just below fifty, but we will warm up quickly. After riding in Arizona
>>last week, these temps are certainly a wake-up call. Got to the parking
>>lot and saw a bunch of rigid SS riders getting ready. Definitely not our
>>crew and a bit insane for these trails. More climbing than DH and big
>>boulders and baby heads all over the place. 9:30 rolls around and the
>>only ones who show up are Bob, Justin, Joe, and I. A newbie (forgot her
>>name) did show up as well, but after looking at the first climb decided to
>>bail.
>>
>>We head up the turtle trail and it begs the question; where is it? The
>>leaves were inches thick and covered up the trail and the rocks. It was a
>>very interesting climb not knowing where the line was. We barrel through
>>and and hit some downhill with more leaf covered rocky goodness. I think
>>it may even be better this way, since you just attack it with speed and
>>let the bike do the work. Why throw in the worry, it just fouls things
>>up.
>>
>>I'm feeling really good today, and I think I am riding equally well. Still
>>not the fastest but I am able to keep Bob and Joe in sight. I'm even
>>climbing these god forsaken hills! We ride for about 16 miles and sample
>>lots of fun technical rock gardens which only catch me a couple of times.
>>We even take a "short cut" (on a no-no trail) which ends up taking us on a
>>longer climb then the "right" trail.
>>
>>I don't know what it was today, but I just felt like I could ride
>>anything. Maybe it's a turning point in my ability, or maybe it was just
>>one of those days. What ever it was, I chalk it up to my best day ever!
>>
>>--
>>o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
>>www.schnauzers.ws
>
>
> Did you find that you actually flowed through the trail faster, even though
> the leaves obscured the lines?
>
>

Absolutely. It's because I wasn't worrying about which way to go. I
was moving pretty fast and straight which also helped to get over the
stuff I normally would OTB on. The downhills were fun too. I'm still
trying to pry my fingers out of death grip mode.

--
o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
www.schnauzers.ws

 

[TBF::.]

>>
>> Did you find that you actually flowed through the trail faster, even
>> though the leaves obscured the lines?
>
> Absolutely. It's because I wasn't worrying about which way to go. I was
> moving pretty fast and straight which also helped to get over the stuff I
> normally would OTB on. The downhills were fun too. I'm still trying to
> pry my fingers out of death grip mode.
>
> --
> o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
> www.schnauzers.ws



That's usually the way man. I used to freak out whenever it rained and was
out on the motorcycle. It wasn't until I got caught on the highway that I
realized the rain was just an obstacle in my head. You would be amazed at
what you can do on a bike in the wet.

 

[Westie]

TBF::. wrote:
It wasn't until I got caught on the highway that I
> realized the rain was just an obstacle in my head. You would be amazed at
> what you can do on a bike in the wet.


Yep. It's amazing alright. If my memory serves me correctly - wet
roadmarkings, one almost totalled motorcycle and a broken leg would be
testament to that. ;-)
--
Westie

 

[TBF::.]

"Westie" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> TBF::. wrote:
> It wasn't until I got caught on the highway that I
>> realized the rain was just an obstacle in my head. You would be amazed at
>> what you can do on a bike in the wet.
>
>
> Yep. It's amazing alright. If my memory serves me correctly - wet
> roadmarkings, one almost totalled motorcycle and a broken leg would be
> testament to that. ;-)
> --
> Westie

Sorry to hear that, my only problem in the wet these days are the streetcar
rails...never a good plan even in the summer months.

 

[Westie]

TBF::. wrote:
> "Westie" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>>TBF::. wrote:
>>It wasn't until I got caught on the highway that I
>>
>>>realized the rain was just an obstacle in my head. You would be amazed at
>>>what you can do on a bike in the wet.
>>
>>
>>Yep. It's amazing alright. If my memory serves me correctly - wet
>>roadmarkings, one almost totalled motorcycle and a broken leg would be
>>testament to that. ;-)
>>--
>>Westie
>
>
> Sorry to hear that, my only problem in the wet these days are the streetcar
> rails...never a good plan even in the summer months.

Never had to negotiate streetcar rails on anything with two wheels.
Given my propensity for crashing, that's probably a good thing.
--
Westie

 

[Bill Wheeler]

On Sun, 14 Nov 2004 15:58:02 -0500, "TBF::." <[email protected]>
wrote:


[snip nice RR]

>> I don't know what it was today, but I just felt like I could ride
>> anything. Maybe it's a turning point in my ability, or maybe it was just
>> one of those days. What ever it was, I chalk it up to my best day ever!
>>

Very nice indeed!

Bill

 

[supabonbon]

Ride-A-Lot <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> Woke up anticipating today's JAR ride at French Creek State Park in PA.
> It's usually an event with a rather large turnout. Temps are hovering
> just below fifty, but we will warm up quickly. After riding in Arizona
> last week, these temps are certainly a wake-up call. Got to the parking
> lot and saw a bunch of rigid SS riders getting ready. Definitely not
> our crew and a bit insane for these trails. More climbing than DH and
> big boulders and baby heads all over the place. 9:30 rolls around and
> the only ones who show up are Bob, Justin, Joe, and I. A newbie (forgot
> her name) did show up as well, but after looking at the first climb
> decided to bail.
>
> We head up the turtle trail and it begs the question; where is it? The
> leaves were inches thick and covered up the trail and the rocks. It was
> a very interesting climb not knowing where the line was. We barrel
> through and and hit some downhill with more leaf covered rocky goodness.
> I think it may even be better this way, since you just attack it with
> speed and let the bike do the work. Why throw in the worry, it just
> fouls things up.
>
> I'm feeling really good today, and I think I am riding equally well.
> Still not the fastest but I am able to keep Bob and Joe in sight. I'm
> even climbing these god forsaken hills! We ride for about 16 miles and
> sample lots of fun technical rock gardens which only catch me a couple
> of times. We even take a "short cut" (on a no-no trail) which ends up
> taking us on a longer climb then the "right" trail.
>
> I don't know what it was today, but I just felt like I could ride
> anything. Maybe it's a turning point in my ability, or maybe it was
> just one of those days. What ever it was, I chalk it up to my best day
> ever!

Nice! I spent the weekend in Hartshorne. Schweet!
I've got the new fork on that baby too, Marzocchi MX. Man, what a difference.

/s

 

[Ride-A-Lot]

supabonbon wrote:
> Ride-A-Lot <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
>
>>Woke up anticipating today's JAR ride at French Creek State Park in PA.
>> It's usually an event with a rather large turnout. Temps are hovering
>>just below fifty, but we will warm up quickly. After riding in Arizona
>>last week, these temps are certainly a wake-up call. Got to the parking
>>lot and saw a bunch of rigid SS riders getting ready. Definitely not
>>our crew and a bit insane for these trails. More climbing than DH and
>>big boulders and baby heads all over the place. 9:30 rolls around and
>>the only ones who show up are Bob, Justin, Joe, and I. A newbie (forgot
>>her name) did show up as well, but after looking at the first climb
>>decided to bail.
>>
>>We head up the turtle trail and it begs the question; where is it? The
>>leaves were inches thick and covered up the trail and the rocks. It was
>>a very interesting climb not knowing where the line was. We barrel
>>through and and hit some downhill with more leaf covered rocky goodness.
>> I think it may even be better this way, since you just attack it with
>>speed and let the bike do the work. Why throw in the worry, it just
>>fouls things up.
>>
>>I'm feeling really good today, and I think I am riding equally well.
>>Still not the fastest but I am able to keep Bob and Joe in sight. I'm
>>even climbing these god forsaken hills! We ride for about 16 miles and
>>sample lots of fun technical rock gardens which only catch me a couple
>>of times. We even take a "short cut" (on a no-no trail) which ends up
>>taking us on a longer climb then the "right" trail.
>>
>>I don't know what it was today, but I just felt like I could ride
>>anything. Maybe it's a turning point in my ability, or maybe it was
>>just one of those days. What ever it was, I chalk it up to my best day
>>ever!
>
>
> Nice! I spent the weekend in Hartshorne. Schweet!
> I've got the new fork on that baby too, Marzocchi MX. Man, what a difference.
>
> /s

Hartshorne is a climbers paradise. That place knocks the wind out of
me! Now is the best time of year for Hartshorne but the ocean breeze
makes it feel much colder.

--
o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
www.schnauzers.ws