Alarm went off at 6:45 and I got up, excited to hit the trail for the first time in a long time.
Quick breakfast to ward off Señor Bonk:
Gear thrown together:
...and off to the trail head.
As I started to get closer, I actually got a little nervous. It had been so long since I had ridden... what if I sucked? What if I was in crappy shape? What if it wasn't as much fun for me anymore?
Nice trail head. Weather was humid but the temperature was good. I pulled all my gear out and hit the trail, leaving the camera behind in the car since I hadn't been here before.
These trails are pretty nice! A small drop-in leads you into the woods. I expected some pretty flat trails but they're well constructed - lots of short, steep climbs and constant switchbacks, making the most use of the small land space alotted to these trails. Some nice little touches, too - a ladder here and there, some drops constructed with a secondary line to ride around, even a teeter totter once you got well along the trail.
I also noticed a small sign labeled "taint tugger" or something like that. I followed the small path and it dead ended at a pretty gnarly step down that I would have considered on a DH bike with some friends around but wasn't about to touch on my hardtail during a solo ride.
There's one big loop of about 5 or 6 miles that has a half dozen or so smaller loops off the sides as you progress. I have no idea how many loops I looped or side trails I rode, I just rode. A few sections of the trail really spoke to me and I rode back up them to do them several times over. Very nicely constructed routes. Ran into a group of riders towards the end who were hauling.
A couple hours later, my water was exhausted, I was liberally coated in sixty-five thousand spider webs, sweat and dirt, and was ready to head home.
As it turns out, I do suck a lot more than when I was riding a lot. And I am out of shape. But the fun was plentiful
The Sovereign after a post-ride rinse to insure I get my apartment security deposit back:
My next goal is to head out there once a week for an early morning, before-work ride. I'll bring my camera next time.
Quick breakfast to ward off Señor Bonk:
Gear thrown together:
...and off to the trail head.
As I started to get closer, I actually got a little nervous. It had been so long since I had ridden... what if I sucked? What if I was in crappy shape? What if it wasn't as much fun for me anymore?
Nice trail head. Weather was humid but the temperature was good. I pulled all my gear out and hit the trail, leaving the camera behind in the car since I hadn't been here before.
These trails are pretty nice! A small drop-in leads you into the woods. I expected some pretty flat trails but they're well constructed - lots of short, steep climbs and constant switchbacks, making the most use of the small land space alotted to these trails. Some nice little touches, too - a ladder here and there, some drops constructed with a secondary line to ride around, even a teeter totter once you got well along the trail.
I also noticed a small sign labeled "taint tugger" or something like that. I followed the small path and it dead ended at a pretty gnarly step down that I would have considered on a DH bike with some friends around but wasn't about to touch on my hardtail during a solo ride.
There's one big loop of about 5 or 6 miles that has a half dozen or so smaller loops off the sides as you progress. I have no idea how many loops I looped or side trails I rode, I just rode. A few sections of the trail really spoke to me and I rode back up them to do them several times over. Very nicely constructed routes. Ran into a group of riders towards the end who were hauling.
A couple hours later, my water was exhausted, I was liberally coated in sixty-five thousand spider webs, sweat and dirt, and was ready to head home.
As it turns out, I do suck a lot more than when I was riding a lot. And I am out of shape. But the fun was plentiful
The Sovereign after a post-ride rinse to insure I get my apartment security deposit back:
My next goal is to head out there once a week for an early morning, before-work ride. I'll bring my camera next time.
