"Most of the trails here are like wet sponges right now. I'll be riding
the pines (on singlespeed) tomorrow. I did a *gag* road ride early this
morning. It was cold!"
So says Sir Ride-a-Lot. While I don't doubt his ability to judge the
moisture content of New Jersey sand, this was most definitely not the case
for the Delawhere mica-filled clays and loams.
I spent all night Thursday and most of Friday talking to Ralph and Earl
about buicks. Food poisoning or nasty virus (there's one going around), take
your pick. I'm guessing the latter, but in any case I had had no food,
little sleep, and few liquids since about 3:00 AM Thursday night.
Finally about midnight on Friday things got better and by Saturday morning I
was getting back to normal, minus about 5 pounds in temporary water-weight
loss (this is what men get in sympathy when their sig other is doing the
woman monthly thing, or when they spend time praying to the porcelain god).
In my case it was the latter. And for me, that was about 2.7 % of my body
weight.
So Saturday morning after a run to the store for tater tots for my also sick
spouse who was kind enough to take care of me (and the dog) while I was
incapacitated (and who never eats fried food - people get weird craving when
they are sick), I decided to complete task one for the weekend - turn the
garden. That accomplished, I still felt pretty good. It was 50 degrees
outside, it had not rained in days, the trails were in good shape, and it
was going to rain tonight, hard, and soak everything. So I can bail on the
ride using the sick excuse, or suck it up and get in at least something
before the rain hit. It would seem an easy decision, but one must remember
that once I ride, the sick card has been fully played and I will be destined
to do all chores, cooking, cleaning, and other stuff for the rest of the
weekend. Well it's only fair, she took care of me....
It was close to 4:00 PM, which give me about 2 hours of ride time, give or
take 15 minutes. I drove to the local MTB "mecca", White Clay Creek State
Park to save some time (I can ride there in 10 minutes by road or 30-45 by
trail) and took off on the Whitley Farms Trail. The trail was in excellent
shape, dry in most spots, barely damp in other. There were few people out
for such a nice day, but it was pretty late and "March Madness" is in full
swing, so maybe that kept the folks off the trails. The Whitley Farms loop
is a nice, tame single track the rolls through woods and fields, almost all
downhill. It's a well designed, well, maintained, fun trail - a good way to
start. I rolled through the fields and into the woods, a good downhill run
to an old gravel road and trail junction. Someone (state park personnel ??)
Had taken a huge oak that had fallen last year and cut it in half
lengthwise, put a ramp on either end, and turned it into a cool stunt.
Unfortunately, after riding this trail so many times, I was by it before I
even realized it was there and only noticed it from the other end. I was
going to fast to want to stop and turn around on the single track, so it'll
have to 3wait until next time.
At the junction I turned right onto the David English trail, a great single
track with some hills and a beautiful downhill run past some ruins and
through a mature woods. I still was feeling pretty good, but I'd only had
one uphill stretch (and these are Delaware hills). At the half way point of
the David English trail I took a break where the state park has an office,
some benches, and a picnic table. I needed the rest, it was becoming obvious
the past day and night had taken a toll. I continued on the DE trail back to
the junction mentioned previously. I could take the easy easy out (uphill,
but on the gravel two track, then a short run back to the truck on a "paved"
road), or go right and continue on the second half the Whitley Farms trail.
I could tell the last hill on the WF trail would be a [censored], but it there
was plenty of light, it was a nice day, and even if I had to walk part of
the hill, at least I'd be outside.
So off I went, up the first short, steep grade onto the WF trail. This too
is a great, easy single track through mature woods, with some fields thrown
in between the wooded sections. I could fell my energy lagging. The middle
front chainring was becoming as useful as [censored] on a boar hog, but what the
heck. And although I made it up the first hill, the second one got me and I
had to stop, just 100 feet or so from the top. After a short break, I was
back on, almost always in the upper three granny gears, but at least I was
rolling. Rolled right into the last downhill run (I think every mountain
bike trail needs that last downhill run to the parking lot).
So it was not a long ride, maybe 8 miles or so, and it was not a fast ride,
but it was a ride. Another fun ride in the great MTB trails of White Clay
Creek-Middle Run in - of all places- Delaware on a gorgeous almost spring
day. Right now, about 2 hours later, I feel OK. A little more hydration, I'
ll be fine. I have to go now, my wife wants me to clean the toilet....
Now if I could rehydrate without gaining that 5 pounds back..
TS.