I took advantage of my regular weekend kitchen pass to go ride on
Sunday. I had about 2 hours to play with so I planned on re-riding a
route I'd discovered last month.
A mature trail network does not exist down here in Trinidad so most
rides are either on farm tracks or old country roads that the
rainforest have reclaimed. Plus there's certain efficiency in how
most paths/roads evolve here, which is if you can build it straight up
the hillside then do so. The building of gradual zigzagging routes up
mountain sides doesn't happen. Think Lombard Street in San Francisco,
but on steroids, climbing up to 2000ft, over roots, rocks and mud. Plus
the odd fallen Teak tree or bamboo, makes the riding here kinda fun.
So I was happy to put together a small loop from my house that was
about 50/50 trail and road that takes about 90 mins. Riding from the
house I begin the ride up the road to the trail head. This is short
haul from 300ft to 1000ft over a couple of miles, but as I've just
left the house I am not warmed up and so I always find this tough. By
the time I reach the trail head I'm already panting like an old dog
and my legs are sore. A good time to stretch, gulp back some water and
let my pulse drop below 300.
The trail begins with a low gate that I have to lift the bike over
and then of course more climbing. But now it's steeper and there's
less traction so the pushing begins. My goal is to ride this piece of
trail without pushing; maybe I should rest more after the initial road
climb? After 30 minutes of riding, pushing, more sweating (it is 32c)
and guzzling of water I reach the top of the trail. From here I get a
great view of the Northern Range and glimpses of Trinidad to the south.
It's all rainforest with the odd farm clinging to a mountain side. I
can't imagine how these guys grow tomatoes or pimentos on land
that's as steep as a church roof, but they do.
Not a view from that day, but from a point not far away...
http://chookooloonks.blogphotography.com/archives/4551_1926153310/108306
Dropping the saddle by an inch I begin the ride down. It's a wide
bench cut trail, may have been a road once, but now it's all dirt,
overgrown and steep. Not 'sit your [censored] on you back wheel and pray'
steep, but steep enough that when you release the brakes you're
hitting 25-30mph in about 4 seconds. So don't brake I hear you say,
just go for it! But as it's all overgrown you can't see where the
rain has cut foot deep mini-ravines down the trail or left behind
random large rocks. I let my bike handle most of the nasty stuff; these
trails are the main reason I invested in a bike with 6" travel front
and rear in the first place. I know I went faster than last time I rode
this trail and as my confidence and knowledge grow I'll be going
faster and faster.
After 10 mins of modestly flying down the mountainside my brakes
begin to squeal and there's a smell. I stop and look down, both discs
are black. I pressurize my camelbak and squirt water on them. The water
boils like crazy on contact and steam rises from my brakes. Holy [censored]!
I take advantage of the stop to rest and stretch and allow my brakes to
cool to a point where I can touch them and then I head off for the last
part of the trail.
The lower sections of the trail begin to level out and I can release
the brakes completely, letting body and bike absorb the rough stuff and
caving some of the corners. There's a sweet section where the rain
has left mini-ravines running across the trail, leaving exposed wet
rock on a stair like configuration. It's maybe 50 meters in length
and all I do is point the bike straight and hang on. Last time I rode
this I tried to pick my way through and almost came off, this time I
fly over the dips, hitting the highs, braking hard afterwards before
hitting the next bend. Big grin time.
The final section before I'm back on the road and heading home
takes me through an old sugar cane field. The cane's is all about
10ft tall, the trail is about 3ft deep in grass and your only clue to
the trail is to avoid the cane. As the trail here dips only slightly
it's time to start pedaling again to keep up the speed.
After 60 seconds it's all over and I'm back on the road heading
home. I'm completely stoked and of course now all warmed up. I ride
the 5 miles home thinking I need another 2 hours to play with.
Laters,
Marz