With mid-terms coming up fast I needed to take some time to myself and get a good hard ride in. Not to mention that I really wanted to make it up that stinking hill. So the plan was sit through class for the day then see if I could entice anyone into a ride. Everyone was busy with class so I planned to take The Cove out for its last ride with Shimano components (about time).
I set out for some solo laps expecting to see a few other riders on the trail I had my eyes out. Despite seeing cars in the lot on my first lap I was by my self only passing a pair of hikers coming down the Rock-house Trail. On the first loop I got to my hill and unfortunately between slipping on the roots and being frustrated with my shifting I ended riding half way up slipping riding back down and doing it again. But I was still unsuccessful. But I was not done. I went for another lap.
Lap two was spirited I was getting warmed up and the shifting was doing better but not perfect. So I started up the hill and immediately had problems, a root at the base of the hill would either push my front wheel to the side or cause the rear tire to slip. After 5 tries I finally found my line and made it over, I think 99.999...9% of it was mental. Since I made it up that part but ended up riding into a tree that is no where near the trail. Once again all mental but through the cursing at the bike and myself I made it to the top of the first hill and got it back together to power it over the last hill to the top of Athens Trail. After making it to the bottom of the trail I checked the time and it was only 4:30! With all the slow downs it only took 1hr to do two laps. So I figured I have to end this era of The Cove on a good note and decided for one final Hot Lap.
The last lap was a good one. I powered the whole way and I had a debt to repay to that last hill, so with out missing a shift I didn't look up and rode like it was a flat trail and made it all the way to the last technical section where once again the loose dirt got the better of me as I slipped off my right pedal and ended up letting out some choice words since I was so close I'll have to end up changing my line since this one seems to not be working, but who knows maybe with some proper shifting I'll be able to make it no problem.
I ended the day with 3 laps with a total mileage for the day near 15 miles on the Mountain bike. Had it not been too close to 5 I would have done another lap but we can leave that for next week. With Vince coming down this weekend Hopefully we can get some good riding in. ;)
Willis out!
After spending the weekend at home I had put of riding yesterday to spend some time working on projects. So today while going home from class I ran into Tyler, who lives across the hall from Brittany in her apartment complex, who rides mountain bikes. We had talked earlier this year about getting together to ride so I figured what time better than the present. After sorting out a starting time I told him I would be back at 4PM to get thing going.
Since Tyler rides a full-suspension bike I decided I would be better off riding The Cove today than messing with the single speed. I knew I needed to take care of my chain from this weekends ride, and removing the big chainring, but they were both easy parking-lot fixes.
Eventually we got on the trail and suffered through the first climb but the trail is moderately flat for the first half until the climb to Athens Trail. We were rolling smooth Tyler's bike really let him climb great being able to just power up hills I am used to waiting at the top of. We rode a moderate pace which kept me under control and both of us comfortable. The both of us made it all the way to the Athens Trail climb without stepping off the bike (except for a water break). So I had a good feeling about today and not to mention I had a set of gears today.
The hardest part of this climb for me initially is to make the turn into the climb, at an almost full 180 degrees I usually end up riding off the trail or needing to stop and re-adjust. Today however I made the turn successfully except I had slow so much that Tyler ended up having to bail out behind me but quickly got going again. The next major milestone for the climb is a small kick up next to the second tree with a few roots, but the gears were there to keep the tires moving. With a huge smile on my face I had made it up the first section now for the technical part. The next two sections are not steep, but very technical. The first is a tree's roots that without proper planning can have you spinning a tire and blowing your climb but I have been planning my line for the last three rides so this one was cake. The final technical section of the climb is another set of tree roots that have a deep dip and some very loose dirt that ended up claiming my victory today. I picked the low line thinking I would sit down to put the weight down but it didn't help I was forced to step off. Had I been alone I would have ridden down to the bottom and do it again. Like Crilli said sometimes it takes more than one ride to really understand a hill/mountain so this leaves me a new goal for the solo ride. 100% completion forwards then time to work on the backwards route.
On another note, I have some secret weaponry coming Friday (mountain bike related)...
Willis out!
With no early class on Wednesday I sent out another txt message tuesday night to line up a group for a morning ride. I got a single response from Bryan who said he was in.
So I woke up around 9 and decided to relax until around 10 to meet Bryan at 10:20. So after picking him up we headed to Sell's Park to ride the Athens Trail system.
We were rolling good and after passing a set of hikers I was feeling great, but knew Bryan who was battling a cold would soon need a rest so I pulled over and we chatted a bit and got back on the bike. A few minutes later I rode past two downed trees with their root balls exposed and a few seconds later heard Bryan's derailleur slap against the frame and figured he was close behind so I stopped to chat a bit but no Bryan. I headed back to find him standing next to his bike. He let me know he had taken a spill which after the ride he realized he had hit a root end-oed and slid on his side back first into a tree.
After a few minutes and making sure he could feel everything we were back on the trail. I could tell Bryan was feeling timid about riding so after the downhill sections I waited for him to catch up to keep him going. Not only was he sick and just had a wreck but he was riding a fully rigid Trek from the early 90's that is in desperate need of new tires and a set of pedals (I think I said that about monday too). But seriously the kid has some balls to do what we do on that bike and never complains he only asks for more.
I'll be hitting up the trail again tomorrow solo and then it's home for the Vee and Tee Wedding and the return of the Cove to Athens.
Willis out!
Posted with
LifeCast
Today was a great day to ride (what day isn't). But I decided to take the Single Speed out for a Solo Ride (S.S.S.R.). I packed up Purple Haze and headed to the other side of town to Sell's Park for some good ol' mountain biking.
I headed up the usual way taking Rockhouse Trail blasting up the first climb (better than I ever had). I was riding great the trail was extremely dry and has definitely seen the recent weather. I last rode this section of trail in the Spring when it had been in great shape minus a few moist spots, this time it was the exact opposite dry with lots of roots and rocks exposed with lots of debris across the trail. I was flying down the trail making it up every climb and pumping the flat sections. I had just been thinking to my self "who needs gears? I'm riding great". When I made the turn to the final hill up Rockhouse trail to Athens Trail. And I had to get off and hike up the hill, way too steep for 32x16 probably too steep for my other combo of 32x18 but I'll try that next week. I don't think I've ever made it up this section even on my geared bike so I wasn't too bummed about having to walk.
After making my way onto Athens Trail I flew the rest of the way back to the Trailhead and after passing the only other person on the trail a man and his dog I had a serious decision to make. It had only been an hour and I was still pumped to ride so do I make another loop? Every time I find myself asking that question and I choose to ride or do something I hadn't planned on I end up breaking something or something goes wrong. So against my better judgement I hit the trail again.
I decided to ride the same trail I had just ridden only in reverse, I haven't ridden this way in at least 2 years so it was a welcome change. I had to hike the first hill but I knew that going into it. It was another great ride but I couldn't help but notice some of the damage to the trail and some even found a downhill trail that someone has decided to add off the trail only adding to the damage. The only reason I am dwelling on this is after I finished my ride I ran into a guy in the parking lot who mentioned that the Athens City Recreation Manager had been out to the trail and was seriously trying to consider what they would be doing with the trail system. So without some proper care it may end up getting closed down. So even though it ended on a sad note the ride was awesome and I couldn't had asked for a better afternoon.
Willis out!
