When does normality become the exception? For ages the usual routine was a Night ride mid-week and a Sunday ride. But it's been bloody ages since I have managed to do this with any kind of regularity. Maybe life is regaining some semblance of order cos for the second week running both the night ride and the weekend ride both happened. And conditions for both were absolutely freakin splendid! Midweek and although the temp crept above freezing briefly during the day (putting the ride in jeopardy for a while) by the appointed time the mercury was buried nicely in the "bugger me it's cold" region. Flurry of emails and on arrival at the appointed launch site turns out a couple of Brian's mates are joining us - more the merrier, splendid.
So the roll call for this iteration of the "oh so infrequent of late" night ride was Dave (who road with us once before), Kenny, Todd, Brian, George and DB.
All starts as it should, Small Intestine, Belmont and "up the Purple" (snicker..oh grow up!). Belting along at a fair old clip. At the crossroads we decide that the same route as previous Sunday sounds damn fine - Ridge to White and down the Hike Only section. New guys and old guys vying for bragging rights so the speed down White is higher than usual - not to my taste at all! Over to BC side and it's time to take on Soapstone, trails are very conducive to climbing - hard and no loose surface. Still involves a lot of out of the saddle anaerobic effort but the climb is completed just before my heart explodes. regroup at the top and work out it's a night for climbing! So the aim is down Vineyard, up House of Pain then down Mission Impossible - EPIC!
Vineyard passes in a complete blur - the guys are up for it tonight and it's all I can do to keep in sight of their lights as they hurtle away from me. Fortunately House of Pain is a great leveller - I can push my bike as fast as the next man! Stupid steep at the bottom, fun going down but virtually impossible up, some loose stones make the steep section even tougher as spinning back wheels add to the torture. Second section is almost doable then the upper third, more gentle (but still a heck of a climb) feels like a holiday in comparison to what we have just endured. Regroup again, and hit Superhighway to Mission Impossible, at the junction though there is a change of heart! Instead of Mission Impossible we take the re-routed Patarini Hill to the the top of the Hillside section and then the group splinters, George and I opt for Tunnel Trail (now "officially" closed - sign up and everything) whilst other favor staying on official trails. But you know how it is, within seconds on George and me starting on Tunnel we are joined by Brian and Todd - just couldn't resist this trail. It's been knocked about a fair bit in attempts to close it with a few obstacles being made just about unridable - result is that each of us take one trip over the bars in the first half of the trail. With ice and snow George is only one who takes on the big rocky section and then I opt for discretion and walk a fair bit of the very steep leafy descent. At the road we head to the bridge then take the steep route to the right of the waterfall, Brian absolutely crushes the first (and steepest) portion of the climb and is still cranking away on his Redline SS 29er when he gets to the stoopid rooty section. Gets as close to riding it as anyone I have ever seen. At the top of the hill pause for the (now routine) group photo. Down the rocky stream bed descent and Brian mentions to me that although he has ridden bikes for over 20 years with some guys, and only just over a year with me, that he has seen me fall off my bike more than anyone else he knows - Cheers Brian!
By now legs are fried, lungs are seared and thirsts are well developed. Talks of extra sections are quelled and we take a direct route back to the cars and beers. Fantastic Ride! Longest of recent times and fast ads we have gone for an age. Couple of beers and it's time for bed.
Sunday came and with it a lonely ride for MLW and me! Were suggestions that may be five of us, but with the Bollux-house thermometer reading 17oF when we left I didn't hold out much hope, and so it proved.
MLW was a bit leery both of riding just the two of us and riding in such cold conditions. We took on the "big loop" from Landing - Small Intestine has again been removed and "Not Trespassing" signs erected - so we took the old route up to Belmont Road. Fist 15 min were pretty hard on the hands but once we got some body heat going all were happy. Along Ridge two guys rode on MLW wheel for an age - despite her offering to let them pass. I thought perhaps they were just enjoying the view but the reason became apparent after a brief stop to catch breath at the top of one on the hills, we set off ahead and they just disappeared! So not (as MLW though) so much trying to pass MLW - they were desperately trying to stay on her wheel!
Trail again just perfect, SWMBO was a little bothered by "trails like concrete" descriptions, but by the end she was a convert! Admitted the trails conditions were the most fun she has ever ridden. Some hills climbed that I haven't made in many months and when we got to the waterfall on Cascade it id frozen solid! Photo-opportunity or what?! Bikes are discarded on the trail and we scrabble down to stand on the petrified splash pool and get a picture right in front of the falls - magical.
Quick sprint up Cascade back to the car and the big loop has been done faster than ever before on a Sunday - we the team!
Enjoy the cold while we can - summer soon.
DB
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Gathering of the Tribes!
So it turned out to be an interesting weekend! Normally the midweek night ride is with George, Todd ,Brian etc and then the Sunday am ride is with Sean, MLW et al. This weekend things turned out a bit different. Sunday was planned as usual then MLW found she had run out of contact lens! Bless her cotton socks, she's as blind as a bat without them. Having attempted emitting high pitched squeaks and echo location and not been that good at it she abandoned all hope of riding Sunday am. Then Todd calls to say the Night riding posse is deviating from the norm and riding in the daylight hours on Sunday am.
Long story short, Sunday am we meet at Rockburn Branch Park to amalgamate the Nightriders and the Sunday Riders into one happy cohort. Turns out there are six of us (biggest turn out in living memory) representing 4 different nationalities (US, British, Irish and Dutch) a melting pot indeed.
Quick spin along the power lines and over Landing Road and we are ready to hit the Happy Trails of Patapsco! Oh joy! Turns out the devastation of New Trail and Small Intestine have been reversed, so the first ride at Patapsco of the New Year is on old favorite trails. At the top of Small Intestine the balance section is still removed but a "ridalong log" has been placed on the trail side. Too much for George to resist! Best college try but only rides about half of it. Mr Biking Sean then shows us how it is done, that guy has balance in spades! If we strung a piece of fishing line between two trees I think he would ride along it. After a few more failed attempts by us mere mortals and another demonstration of how it should be done by Sean the Balance King and we head off in the direction of Belmont. Quick pit stop for Todd to fix a flat then race down the Belmont hill and over the "bouncey" section to the water crossing. Very interesting!! The stream is frozen solid. We look at it, think about it, think some more......then get off our bikes and walk across it - except for Brian who sails gracefully across the sheet of ice crying "just don't pedal". Over the water and Sean repeats his balancing act on the next log, to George and my chagrin (as we make a complete dogz breakfast of it). Up the Purple (so to speak.... oo er missus) and we are at the Crossroads. Quick conflab and we decide Ridge to White and down the "Hike Only" trail is the way to go. White is fantastic as always, we reckon that at 8:30 am on a Sunday (when the air temp is only just above freezing) is pity safe, unlikely to meet any hikers. Would you Adam and Eve it! Just as we hit the bottom section we startle a runner heading up! No harm, no foul - luckily.
Over to BC side and you know with the fantastic condition of the trails Soapstone is a must. Trails are sweet, hard and sticky (oo er Missus) so even given the grade Soapstone is pretty manageable. We lose Reender though - having spent the Holidays in his native Holland (not too many hills) he is feeling the pace a bit and decides discretion is the greater part of valor - he heads to the bottom of Vineyard to meet us.
I love Vineyard! Fun but not too scary. Uphill is better but even downhill I have a fairly good time. Meet Reender at the bottom and the group decides it is time to head back to HC and the cars.
At the base of the Water bar we encounter a group of riders being lead out by Jon "the Poz" Pozner and after a fun climb we head back along the newly reinstated Small Intestine, New Trail and back to Rockburn - just time enough to fit in a close encounter with Mr Eatough (who is heading into the park from Rockburn). Then before I know it it is time to say goodbye to the guys and head back to reality - and Splashdown with the youngest!
Till next time
DB
Long story short, Sunday am we meet at Rockburn Branch Park to amalgamate the Nightriders and the Sunday Riders into one happy cohort. Turns out there are six of us (biggest turn out in living memory) representing 4 different nationalities (US, British, Irish and Dutch) a melting pot indeed.
Quick spin along the power lines and over Landing Road and we are ready to hit the Happy Trails of Patapsco! Oh joy! Turns out the devastation of New Trail and Small Intestine have been reversed, so the first ride at Patapsco of the New Year is on old favorite trails. At the top of Small Intestine the balance section is still removed but a "ridalong log" has been placed on the trail side. Too much for George to resist! Best college try but only rides about half of it. Mr Biking Sean then shows us how it is done, that guy has balance in spades! If we strung a piece of fishing line between two trees I think he would ride along it. After a few more failed attempts by us mere mortals and another demonstration of how it should be done by Sean the Balance King and we head off in the direction of Belmont. Quick pit stop for Todd to fix a flat then race down the Belmont hill and over the "bouncey" section to the water crossing. Very interesting!! The stream is frozen solid. We look at it, think about it, think some more......then get off our bikes and walk across it - except for Brian who sails gracefully across the sheet of ice crying "just don't pedal". Over the water and Sean repeats his balancing act on the next log, to George and my chagrin (as we make a complete dogz breakfast of it). Up the Purple (so to speak.... oo er missus) and we are at the Crossroads. Quick conflab and we decide Ridge to White and down the "Hike Only" trail is the way to go. White is fantastic as always, we reckon that at 8:30 am on a Sunday (when the air temp is only just above freezing) is pity safe, unlikely to meet any hikers. Would you Adam and Eve it! Just as we hit the bottom section we startle a runner heading up! No harm, no foul - luckily.
Over to BC side and you know with the fantastic condition of the trails Soapstone is a must. Trails are sweet, hard and sticky (oo er Missus) so even given the grade Soapstone is pretty manageable. We lose Reender though - having spent the Holidays in his native Holland (not too many hills) he is feeling the pace a bit and decides discretion is the greater part of valor - he heads to the bottom of Vineyard to meet us.
I love Vineyard! Fun but not too scary. Uphill is better but even downhill I have a fairly good time. Meet Reender at the bottom and the group decides it is time to head back to HC and the cars.
At the base of the Water bar we encounter a group of riders being lead out by Jon "the Poz" Pozner and after a fun climb we head back along the newly reinstated Small Intestine, New Trail and back to Rockburn - just time enough to fit in a close encounter with Mr Eatough (who is heading into the park from Rockburn). Then before I know it it is time to say goodbye to the guys and head back to reality - and Splashdown with the youngest!
Till next time
DB
Friday, January 16, 2009
Cool Ridin,
All bike rides are cool, night rides doubly so. But the first night ride of 2009 was to be possibly the coolest ride ever, both figuratively and literally!
With an arctic front making it's way down the East Coast the weather looked perfect! Cold as cold can be. To make matters even better Todd decided that the best way to celebrate the first ride of 2009 was to turn it into a ride from Chez Todd rather than our usual haunt Patapsco. An inch of snow during the day and temperatures never moving out of the teens just added to the excitement.
8:30 and Todd, George and "Yours Truly" are suiting up for the off, balaclavas, mittens, heat pads and shoe covers all in evidence tonight, as is Georges helmet-cam to catch all the action!
The mercury is telling us it is 14oF as we head out (same when we get back). It's a short ride through Todd neighbourhood, disturbing the local dogs and then into open fields. The trail dusted with snow and ice crystals shimmers with millions of specks of light, reflected from our helmet lights. It looks like a dusting of diamonds on the trail. For a few seconds I can't think what it reminds me of, then a dim and distant memory surfaces. It has the same look as I remember from the dwarfs diamond mine in Disney's animated version of Snow White! Quite magical.
As well as being pretty spectacular visually this field section allows us to turn the pedals over quickly (all three on SSers tonight!) and to build some body heat. First few minutes of a cold ride are always a bit painful, aching/numb toes and fingers until the core temp gets high enough to re-initiate a decent blood flow to the extremities. By the time we turn off the field and head into the woods feeling is just about returning to the digits.
After an initial leaf littered descent the trail is hardpack which is great as it allows more time to get some heat in the engine. Soon however the trail just disintegrates. mainly horse traffic in this area and the horses have done a fantastic job in churning up the trail into a mass of peaks and troughs. Now frozen hard as concrete it's like riding over a stormy sea that has been instantly petrified. The effect is a bit jarring with the rigid fork! Other sections (especially the steep sections) are eroded into deep trenches that have filled with several inches of leaf litter, hiding any and all obstacles/rocks. Dispite the trail conditions being challenging (both climbs and descents made super-difficult by the leaf litter) the mojo is in full effect and we ride without mishap for over an hour. Then enevitably on a steep descent I tense up and over the bars I go. banged my face enough to remove skin from nose and knocked the wind out of me good and proper. After squatting on all fours for a couple of minutes to get my breath back and ensure the pain in my ribs is nothing sinister I wipe the blood from my nose and continue. At the bottom of the hill George is there to record my bloodied face on video then we head on.
After another half an hour (and another trip over the bars for me -caught in motion this time by Georges camera) it's time to head back. Group photo taken to record our frigid ride and it's back a slightly abbreviated route to Todd's where venison sandwiches and a hot tub are awaiting. Life is good! Moving from riding at 14 oF to a hot tub at 101 oF is interesting - and the frozen feet complain initially. But, after 20 minutes and two beers I am wonderfully poached, to the point where I have to drape my arms outside the hot tub to dissipate some heat!
Just before midnight it is time to say cheers to the guys and head home for part two of tonights adventure.
End of Jan I'm heading to Pa for a weekend trying out ice-climbing, part of the fun involves a camp out on Saturday evening. Last year when the guys went it was 19 oF when they camped! In preparation for this I thought I'd better make sure my camping gear is up to winter camping - I've only ever camped in the summer before where heat rather than cold is the issue. Got myself a new tent (delivered Wednesday night and immediately erected in back yard) so tonight was the night to test out my coldhardiness. At home a quick trip inside to use the loo and check the temp - confirmed at 12 oF - and I'm in my new tent with thermals on, fleece on and my primaloft coat (not to mentions ski socks and fur lined slippers). All inside my sleeping bag!
I bring a bottle of beer with me but too tired and cold to contemplate this and it's abandonned in the tent. I'm surprisingly warm and soon drift off to sleep. At 2am I'm woken by a strange chirping, a bit like a car alarm, too cold to investigate I lie in my bag trying desperately to keep my heat inside as I move to get comfortable. the chirpig continues intermittently for the next two-three hours slowly developing into a painful keening screech. in the end I determine it must be some metal structure groaning as it contracts in the ever deepening cold. By 4:30 am I'm not omy beginning to feel the cold but I need the bathroom too! Ain't no bloody way I'm leaving my sleeping bag though, so I spend a fitful couple of hours drifting in and out of sleep fighting the cold and the need to take a leak. At 6:30 am I decide enough is enough and I rejoin civilization and warmth (in front on the pellet stove). Experiment a success - the gear 9and body) are up to the challenge of cold weather camping, temp outside at 6:30 am was 10 oF and the temp in my tent couldn't have been much higher cos my abandonned bottel of beer was frozen solid when I retrieved it.
Oh the fun we have!
Cheers
DB
With an arctic front making it's way down the East Coast the weather looked perfect! Cold as cold can be. To make matters even better Todd decided that the best way to celebrate the first ride of 2009 was to turn it into a ride from Chez Todd rather than our usual haunt Patapsco. An inch of snow during the day and temperatures never moving out of the teens just added to the excitement.
8:30 and Todd, George and "Yours Truly" are suiting up for the off, balaclavas, mittens, heat pads and shoe covers all in evidence tonight, as is Georges helmet-cam to catch all the action!
The mercury is telling us it is 14oF as we head out (same when we get back). It's a short ride through Todd neighbourhood, disturbing the local dogs and then into open fields. The trail dusted with snow and ice crystals shimmers with millions of specks of light, reflected from our helmet lights. It looks like a dusting of diamonds on the trail. For a few seconds I can't think what it reminds me of, then a dim and distant memory surfaces. It has the same look as I remember from the dwarfs diamond mine in Disney's animated version of Snow White! Quite magical.
As well as being pretty spectacular visually this field section allows us to turn the pedals over quickly (all three on SSers tonight!) and to build some body heat. First few minutes of a cold ride are always a bit painful, aching/numb toes and fingers until the core temp gets high enough to re-initiate a decent blood flow to the extremities. By the time we turn off the field and head into the woods feeling is just about returning to the digits.
After an initial leaf littered descent the trail is hardpack which is great as it allows more time to get some heat in the engine. Soon however the trail just disintegrates. mainly horse traffic in this area and the horses have done a fantastic job in churning up the trail into a mass of peaks and troughs. Now frozen hard as concrete it's like riding over a stormy sea that has been instantly petrified. The effect is a bit jarring with the rigid fork! Other sections (especially the steep sections) are eroded into deep trenches that have filled with several inches of leaf litter, hiding any and all obstacles/rocks. Dispite the trail conditions being challenging (both climbs and descents made super-difficult by the leaf litter) the mojo is in full effect and we ride without mishap for over an hour. Then enevitably on a steep descent I tense up and over the bars I go. banged my face enough to remove skin from nose and knocked the wind out of me good and proper. After squatting on all fours for a couple of minutes to get my breath back and ensure the pain in my ribs is nothing sinister I wipe the blood from my nose and continue. At the bottom of the hill George is there to record my bloodied face on video then we head on.
After another half an hour (and another trip over the bars for me -caught in motion this time by Georges camera) it's time to head back. Group photo taken to record our frigid ride and it's back a slightly abbreviated route to Todd's where venison sandwiches and a hot tub are awaiting. Life is good! Moving from riding at 14 oF to a hot tub at 101 oF is interesting - and the frozen feet complain initially. But, after 20 minutes and two beers I am wonderfully poached, to the point where I have to drape my arms outside the hot tub to dissipate some heat!
Just before midnight it is time to say cheers to the guys and head home for part two of tonights adventure.
End of Jan I'm heading to Pa for a weekend trying out ice-climbing, part of the fun involves a camp out on Saturday evening. Last year when the guys went it was 19 oF when they camped! In preparation for this I thought I'd better make sure my camping gear is up to winter camping - I've only ever camped in the summer before where heat rather than cold is the issue. Got myself a new tent (delivered Wednesday night and immediately erected in back yard) so tonight was the night to test out my coldhardiness. At home a quick trip inside to use the loo and check the temp - confirmed at 12 oF - and I'm in my new tent with thermals on, fleece on and my primaloft coat (not to mentions ski socks and fur lined slippers). All inside my sleeping bag!
I bring a bottle of beer with me but too tired and cold to contemplate this and it's abandonned in the tent. I'm surprisingly warm and soon drift off to sleep. At 2am I'm woken by a strange chirping, a bit like a car alarm, too cold to investigate I lie in my bag trying desperately to keep my heat inside as I move to get comfortable. the chirpig continues intermittently for the next two-three hours slowly developing into a painful keening screech. in the end I determine it must be some metal structure groaning as it contracts in the ever deepening cold. By 4:30 am I'm not omy beginning to feel the cold but I need the bathroom too! Ain't no bloody way I'm leaving my sleeping bag though, so I spend a fitful couple of hours drifting in and out of sleep fighting the cold and the need to take a leak. At 6:30 am I decide enough is enough and I rejoin civilization and warmth (in front on the pellet stove). Experiment a success - the gear 9and body) are up to the challenge of cold weather camping, temp outside at 6:30 am was 10 oF and the temp in my tent couldn't have been much higher cos my abandonned bottel of beer was frozen solid when I retrieved it.
Oh the fun we have!
Cheers
DB
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
2008 - Wow! What a year!
Well, it's been quite a year! First full year of the DogzBollux Blog and a year of some fantastic highs and a few painful lows.
Some great biking has been done in all weathers, majority at Patapsco but we also had our first foray into self-guided MTB tours (we certainly learned a lot from the Massanutten Mountain Madness experience!). Some great new trails appeared , and then unfortunately disappeared, at Patapsco - RIP Small Intestine, New Trail and Tunnel.
Competitively as well it's been a year of mixed fortunes. 7 races and some 233 competitive miles covered. Injuries looked likely to spoil the fun somewhat but in spite of this three podium places were achieved - probably best year in that regard.
Best Event of the year has to be 12 Hours Lodi Farms - just for the huge fun element in this race. Least fun was 6 Hours of Patapsco (but just because of the appalling weather conditions). But the thing I am most satisfied by was the JFK 50 finish, really was touch and go and given the issues during training the end result was the very best I could have wished for.
Looking back, 2008 was a pretty good year, hopefully 2009 can follow the same pattern. Plans are already fulminating! The year started with the HAT Run already entered and then on New Years Eve (after a few bevvies natch!) Running Sean raised the spectre of Boston (Marathon) qualification. MLW was very excited by the prospect of an opportunity of a trip to Boston so plans were quickly sketched out. GW Birthday Marathon (Feb 15) was selected and wadda you know on Jan 1 2009 I entered what will be my first marathon since 2002.
My poor old legs don't know whats hit them! After months of training at 9+ min/mile pace all of a sudden I am (trying at least) training at sub 7:30 min/mile pace. It's nice to have the base miles in so with 5 weeks to go the aim is mainly to get the speed work done. Hurting like hell but things are getting better - running two 10+ mile runs a week at approx 7:30 pace currently. In the next few weeks hopefully the mileage and pace will both increase. Course this means the anticipated increase in biking time is not going to happen any time soon, but at least (injuries avoided) I should be in good shape for HAT!
Cheers
DB
Some great biking has been done in all weathers, majority at Patapsco but we also had our first foray into self-guided MTB tours (we certainly learned a lot from the Massanutten Mountain Madness experience!). Some great new trails appeared , and then unfortunately disappeared, at Patapsco - RIP Small Intestine, New Trail and Tunnel.
Competitively as well it's been a year of mixed fortunes. 7 races and some 233 competitive miles covered. Injuries looked likely to spoil the fun somewhat but in spite of this three podium places were achieved - probably best year in that regard.
Best Event of the year has to be 12 Hours Lodi Farms - just for the huge fun element in this race. Least fun was 6 Hours of Patapsco (but just because of the appalling weather conditions). But the thing I am most satisfied by was the JFK 50 finish, really was touch and go and given the issues during training the end result was the very best I could have wished for.
Looking back, 2008 was a pretty good year, hopefully 2009 can follow the same pattern. Plans are already fulminating! The year started with the HAT Run already entered and then on New Years Eve (after a few bevvies natch!) Running Sean raised the spectre of Boston (Marathon) qualification. MLW was very excited by the prospect of an opportunity of a trip to Boston so plans were quickly sketched out. GW Birthday Marathon (Feb 15) was selected and wadda you know on Jan 1 2009 I entered what will be my first marathon since 2002.
My poor old legs don't know whats hit them! After months of training at 9+ min/mile pace all of a sudden I am (trying at least) training at sub 7:30 min/mile pace. It's nice to have the base miles in so with 5 weeks to go the aim is mainly to get the speed work done. Hurting like hell but things are getting better - running two 10+ mile runs a week at approx 7:30 pace currently. In the next few weeks hopefully the mileage and pace will both increase. Course this means the anticipated increase in biking time is not going to happen any time soon, but at least (injuries avoided) I should be in good shape for HAT!
Cheers
DB
Monday, January 5, 2009
Winter Solstice (Part 2)
Yeah, so this should have been posted before or during the Holidays - Hell life got in the way! Anyway here goes.
Having "celebrated" the Winter Solstice (2008 version) on Saturday with the Celtic Solstice 5 miler a good old night ride on the day itself (i.e. Sunday Dec 21st) seemed only appropriate. Not a usual night ride night so "special dispensation" from SWMBO was sought and duly obtained. Out went the email - in a fit of solstice-inspired exuberance, aided by a couple more "sherbets", the email suggested that in time honored fashion the gods would expect to be worshipped by way of a NAKED ride. I assumed this piece of British style humor would have been appreciated by my New World riding buddies. The deafening silence in response to my email suggested otherwise!
A few phone calls later and many reassurances that clothing would be acceptable and a ride was potentially on the cards. Then the weather and some familial commitments scuppered the plans! BUT out of the ashes of the Solstice Ride rose.... wait for it! The Solstice + 1 ride scheduled for Monday the day after the solstice.
The gods must not have been annoyed because the conditions were absolutely magical! Dry and blisteringly cold - temp measured at 19 oF at the end of the ride. Trails were solid and had a rimey grip to them that only occurs when the temp is at it's lowest. Three takers for the ride, George, Todd and "Yours Truly" DB. Thermals, winter gloves and even ski goggles were in attendance. Headed out through Belmont and up to Ridge, then down the "Old Ridge" hiking trail (White?) to the road - this trail is amazing, in both directions, but tonight with the moonlight shining through the leafless trees and visibility good enough to enjoy the trail life was good, even the shaley section (made even more treacherous by a layer of leaf litter) was fun and no injuries to report.
Having "celebrated" the Winter Solstice (2008 version) on Saturday with the Celtic Solstice 5 miler a good old night ride on the day itself (i.e. Sunday Dec 21st) seemed only appropriate. Not a usual night ride night so "special dispensation" from SWMBO was sought and duly obtained. Out went the email - in a fit of solstice-inspired exuberance, aided by a couple more "sherbets", the email suggested that in time honored fashion the gods would expect to be worshipped by way of a NAKED ride. I assumed this piece of British style humor would have been appreciated by my New World riding buddies. The deafening silence in response to my email suggested otherwise!
A few phone calls later and many reassurances that clothing would be acceptable and a ride was potentially on the cards. Then the weather and some familial commitments scuppered the plans! BUT out of the ashes of the Solstice Ride rose.... wait for it! The Solstice + 1 ride scheduled for Monday the day after the solstice.
The gods must not have been annoyed because the conditions were absolutely magical! Dry and blisteringly cold - temp measured at 19 oF at the end of the ride. Trails were solid and had a rimey grip to them that only occurs when the temp is at it's lowest. Three takers for the ride, George, Todd and "Yours Truly" DB. Thermals, winter gloves and even ski goggles were in attendance. Headed out through Belmont and up to Ridge, then down the "Old Ridge" hiking trail (White?) to the road - this trail is amazing, in both directions, but tonight with the moonlight shining through the leafless trees and visibility good enough to enjoy the trail life was good, even the shaley section (made even more treacherous by a layer of leaf litter) was fun and no injuries to report.
Few bike issues, loose chain on the faithful old monocog, which called for some speedy trail side maintenance. Too cold on the old hands to spend too much time arsing around with bikes tonight.
On a night such as this the BC side was calling and the call did not go unanswered. Up Soapstone and round the Community College loop. At the top of climb (by the Maintenance sheds) the decision was made to hit Mission Impossible - Whoo Hoo! The riding was fantastic and no falls pretty much the whole way to the log crossing. After the log things were a bit more sedate for Todd and myself as we rode less and pushed more on the technical sections. George of course tried to ride anything that looked even vaguely plausible and he fell the customary few times. The stream was frozen over in places and the waterfalls were spectacular.
At one such waterfall it was decided that a group photo was in order - "right then lads, kit off!" was the rallying call and although Todd didn't understand the "Brit-speak" (how do I organize close captioning?) George understood and with a whoop started shedding clothes left and center! Despite Todd's pleas of "what the F and you two doing?" within two minutes George and DB were standing starkers in front of the frozen waterfall! Todd played his role in this madness by operating the camera and the rest is history.
In the time it took to take the incriminating photo the sweat on the inside of my outer shell jacket had frozen and it took a while for George and myself to regain feeling in any of our extremities!
The remainder of Mission Impossible passed in a hypothermic blur as I worked as hard as the trail would allow - mainly pushing the bike - to generate some body heat. The end of the trail as always is fun - the stupidly steep and stepped decent that Todd and I struggled to walk down with our bikes and George rode down!
Back across the swing bridge to HC and a quick jaunt across the waterfall to the Cascade trail, few more water crossings just for good measure - they sure are fun when it's that cold. And then back to the cars. At the cars I find my shoes are frozen to my socks and have to be torn way - luckily fresh clothes and shoes are waiting and then (in a departure from the norm) we congregated in Todd's automobile to make the post -ride beer a bit less of a challenge.
Ride was fantastic, trails were awesome and the gods (I hope) were appeased!
Cheers
DB
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