Monocog's Last Stand!

Weather is perfect!

So the mid week nightride was a no-brainer this week, the usual email circular went round and the time/place was confirmed as same as last week. Everything as normal - expecting the usual trio, Todd, Brian and Yours Truly BD but when I got to the launch site what dio I find? Four other cars already there! George has turned up to give the new Nomad it's inaugural noctural outing and Brian has coerced a frien (Mike) to join the marry throng! Spot on - the ride was already looking to shape up to be a classic. Mike it transpires has never riden at night before and is sporting his LW's light that she uses for early morning road rides.

What is more there are murmurs among the group of a "New,New Trail" all hush hush so as not to spoil the surprise for those of us who have not experienced this yet! New riders, new trails and a damn near full moon, am I dreaming?

Head of along the New Trail and then just after the stream crossing we take an unexpected left turn onto (for me) virgin trail. This new section is ace! Very different to much of Patapsco, it is very narrow, twisty and hellaciously loggy! No big obstacles but a considerable struggle to keep the momentum going. Fun trail and we will be visiting it again on a regular basis. Due to it's tight windy nature the New New trail is almost christened the Small Intestine, we'll see how well that monica sticks. The Small Intestine dumps us out at the top of the Belmont hill and we Whoop and Holler our way down this section catching air at every little drop off. Up and over then the decsion is made that we have to cross to the BC side, so down the fireroad and off to Soapstone.

We came we saw we conquered Soapstone climb for second week running geared guys leading out with Todd and me on SSers bringing up the rear. Then continue the climb past the water tower and then the loop past the Community College. Climb #2 just after the CC is also dispatched (almost with disdain - wow the summer legs are kicking in) and we regroup at the top to discuss what to do next. Mike is having a great time, riding like a seasoned night rider, though he does admit to the fact that he is finding some of the sections a bit on the terrifying side. Group decesion to hit House of pain down then Vineyard up. George is George and screams down House of Pain on the Nomad at suicidal speed. Rest of us take it a bit more sedately. Riding to base of Vineyard and we ride as a loose pack taking the chance to chat, I recall my first nightrides with George and (the now entirely absent Spence) and how I spent the whole time terror stricken praying for it to end. Mike concurs that this is a similar experience for him.

Up Vineyard - god I love this climb, no real tough bits but just a steady grind which is absolutely perfect for SSers, as a result Todd and I lead this section and the "Shifties" trail behind in granny gears chatting away. At the top we take a group decesion to hit another new peice of trail (Bloody hell what's gotten into us), so instead of heading to the tiop of Soapstome we cut left down a sketchy downhill which meanders down eventually drops us on the section of Soapstone leading to the Park N Ride. This section is notable for two reasons, (i) the kin enormous built up log that we try (I fail) that leads to a dead end trail and (ii) just after said kin enormous log the Todd man concluded it was time to go stealth!!!! Big moon, probabaly the last time with no leaf cover till nect fall so their was no good excuse. Off went the lights and the rest of the decent (sketchy in places and completely new to me) was done stealth.

By the time we hit the carpark at the base of the Soapstone fire road climb Mike was campaigning so heavily for beer that I suspect beer could have beaten both Obama and Clinton if the Pennsylvanian electorate had been with us! So instead of another climb up Soapstone we headed back HC side and up the fireroad. Here we "lost" George - amazing jow easy it is to loose a ride in the dark. We looped back to find him but nothing doing so eventually we headed back towards the cars assuming we would find him at some point.

In the absence of George we didn't hit Small Intestine backwards as had been the plan but headed straight for home - just as we approached the cars we encountered a very large group of deer on the trail, which we took as a fair sign that George hadn't come this way in the recent future. This was confirme when back at the cars there was no sign of George - few minutes thinking what we should do, go and look for him, give him a few minutes or Sod him lets just drink beer when some bright spark suggested "Hey whay don't we just call him on his cell" DOH! George doesn't actually answer but before we can discuss next best idea his light hoves into view and we all let out a communal sigh of relief.

With the group back together it's out with the chairs and beer and the social aspect of the night ride kicks in. Turns out we have ridden for over two hours and covered probably in excess of 15 miles! A truly classic ride, new trail, new rider, stealth riding.

As it turned out this was to be a fitting final ride for the Monocog!! Few weeks back I noticed a ding on the top tube, closer inspection last week whilst washing the bike suggested it was more like a crack than a simple ding. Called Bike Doctor (Linthicum) and was told, yep covered by warranty (good news) and "NO I shouldn't ride it" (bad news). Well with no option the night ride was a risk but a fitting end - inspection after the ride showed the crack had extended significantly and the next day I took her in for inspection. Knackered after the previous nights exertions and the wrench in the Bike Doctor doesn't endear himself to me when he announces the damage to the frame suggests it's been crashed (i.e. voiding warranty). I decide to simply smile and point out the obvious - all original parts (in good nick) and even the wheels are still true (not a crashed bike). In the end the Manager comes over and doesn't even bat an eye - "leave it with me" she says and I'll phone when I know more. She called less than an hour later and my new frame will be in next week!! Good show! Hopefully the ne Monocog will be back in action in time for 12 hours of Lodi farm (3-4 May).

Shame about the Monocog - loved that bloody bike! And the frame is supposed to be bombproof - ironic that the components all the reviews question - seat post, bottom bracket, headset - have all kept on keeping on through thick n thin and the frame should have an issue. Guess just a dodgy peice of tubing, and Redline/Bike Doctor have made it right so I have no complaints.

RIP my old green Moncog - it was good while it lasted!

DogzBollux