Meryy Christmas.... and a Happy New Year

So come Dec 27th it was time to head south to the Ol’ Burg in MD for the New Year. Time to reconnect with old friends and to hit some old trails. Some doubt as to ridability in the wake of the big storm that hit MD a week before Christmas but in the end “No Worries”. Emails are sent to set up rides at Patapsco, unfortunately Mr Todd is no available as he is traveling with his folks but the kind Gentleman is good enough to donate his bike to “Yours Truly”. As it turns out two rides are arranged – one in daylight with Biking Sean and a nocturnal adventure with Hard Biking Brian. And due to the vagaries of my life in the end they both end up taking place on one day. Ace fun, sore legs!

Mr Todd's 69er (ooer missus)

But the fun in MD starts with two chilly runs with Mr Running Sean. First is a 50 min trip round my old “Hilly Run” – hey it ain’t got no flatter since I have been in MI! Next morning and the wind is bitter! All the running clothes are donned and we head off from the Mall, Sean, MLW and me for a jaunt around Wild Lake. Right leg is sore but holds together for another 50+ min run, all good.
The dawn of the next day sees Biking Sean picking me up at 8 am for a trip to Landing Road and a reacquaintance with the loveliness that is Patapsco. Great to get back on these trails. Take the “old” usual route along Morning Choice to the “loggy section” (despite my time in MI without log overs all is well). First stream crossing is fun with steep ramp on far side and freezing conditions – trails are as hard as a hard thing.

Its good to be back

Bikin' Sean..... bikin'

Up and over and I am actually feeling OK (a feeling that would not last the day). Down to the next watercrossing and onto Belmont life is good. Down Belmont hill and the next stream crossing is too bloody deep! Forget to “half pedal” and soak the feet - clever move! Up onto Ridge (via the grinding middle route) and then along Ridge to the White hike only trail. Who in their right mind will be out on the trails this early on a frigid Dec morning? No one sane so the decision to hit the white decent is taken. Few changes at the top end (including a superfun set of steps) which has me questioning if we are on the right trail but by half way down all is familiar again. At base of hill realize we have used up over an hour of our allotted time and it is time to wend our weary(ish) way back to the car. This is the point where Sean discovers his gears are frozen! In a big gear, oh the joys of single speeding are ever more obvious. Let me tell you the Water Break “in the dog” as Craig Gordon would say is no fun. Mr Sean walks up! I’m motivated and doing OK until rear wheel hits a patch of ice on one of the minor step ups and I am suddenly on my arse! Pick myself up and struggle to the top with lungs threatening to make a bid for freedom! Right at top along Morning Choice via derelict houses and back to car. Ninety minutes of effort, feelin’ fine and happy to be alive.

Night ride scheduled for a 9 pm launch, many calls/emails/texts fail to raise George so it is scheduled to be just me and Brian! In end Brian ropes in two friends (Mike and Dennis) to add a bit more spice to the ride! Nothing like riding with new people to add some edge to the ride. Had a few drinks even before the ride starts (courtesy of a dinner invitation MLW accepted on my behalf and I fulfilled, in full biking regalia, “men in tights!”). Oddly Dennis also admits he is probably biking “over the limit” too thanks to a couple (or so) pre-ride cocktails so it’s all good. Full of beans and good humor as we head to Belmont and down the hill. At the top of Belmont I badly mis-judge a patch of ice to everyone’s bewilderment and the bike just launches out from under me – down on my arse with a right old thwack, sore bum for days. Down Belmont hill and all is good – over the water crossing – I remember the drenched feet from earlier and hang way to the right (beyond the “stepping stones”) following Brian’s lead and keep the footsies nice and dry – Dennis and Mike take the traditional line and I can hear them swearing behind me as I clear the water. Up the hill, the left hand trail to the top (taking in the “extra point” big log over at the top –which bizarrely doesn’t cause me any agro) and thence down to the Ridge trail junction. I’m given the choice of route so choose to repeat the morning ride along Ridge and down the white “Hike Only” trail. Brian is very happy with the choice and the other two don’t know what I’m talking about. Half way down the white and everyone knows where we are – used to be the “old” Ridge Trail and lots of nostalgia ensues – memories of ancient rides in the mid 90’s and earlier. At the bottom there is decent in the ranks! Force of will wins the day and we head to Soapstone (big mistake). Was a time I could take Soapstone – especially when it is hard and grippy like tonight. But Mi has taken its toll! Half way up and I am completely done! Mike (with gears) crushes it!! Passes us all and is still accelerating. But for the rest of us (all on SSers) it is a death march to the top. Dennis is feeling his cocktails and announces there is no F’in way he is climbing another hill – so we agree Vineyard and back to HC. Take the cut through trail that George nearly killed himself on (silly double drop off which looked no more ridable tonight than then) way back when and down Vineyard. By bottom I am in last place (a position II was to maintain for the rest of the ride).
Over Swingbridge and back to Ridge. Stop at base of the major climb for “team photo” and then the agony begins.

Team photo - let the pain begin!

I am done, cooked, knackered – rest of the guys flow up Ridge and I struggle after them actually manage to stay on the bike all the way to the rockgarden and clear it but the “the wheels come off” so to speak! Hit a patch of ice and I am down again. Cascade is a nightmare; I think I ride over every patch of soddin ice and hit the ground every bloody time – no flow, mojo out the window just a hideous struggle. Realize this is what I am missing – haven’t had a decent work out like this since left MD. Need mates who will happily take me out and destroy me. Back on Morning Choice and I gather myself a bit but last hill beyond the “loggy bit” is another nightmare. I am gasping and groaning just keeping the pedals turning and Brian is happily riding just behind me happily chatting away hardly out of breath! Soon enough it is over though hard, brutal and absolutely beautiful! Sit in Brian’s car share a beer and a few yucks and it is time to draw a curtain on my MD riding once more. Back to Running Sean’s house and a sleeping bag downstairs so that I don’t disturb anyone’s sleep. Next day is New Years Eve and the end of the Noughties! The decade that brought me to USA, introduced me to mtbing and now has taken me away from Patapsco for pastures new up north. But I will return!
Happy New Year

DB

And then... there were three!

Tuesday and I finally made it to the "track club" running group, invited by two of my work collegues. Wow...... I had forgotten just how unremittingly painful track work outs were! Paired up and had to run 800 meters, 1000 meters, 1200 meters, 1000 meters and 800 meters in a continuous relay with your partner! Only three miles, so why does it hurt so much eh? Still the beer and burger afterwards helped. Hopefully this could become a bit of a regular bit of agony.

Then Thursday it was time to hit BurchField with Kevin. As we leave the parking lot a guy shouts "Hey Kevin" turns out it is another of the team Kevin organizes (Joe). Now then - Joe is the Man! KNows the trails and leads us on a magical mystery tour around bits of the park I had completely missed on my first exploration! Twist and tight (like Charlotte) but with more ups and downs and some fun obstacles and roots etc. Several "teeter-totters" the first of which nearly does for me and quite a few elevated (O.K. by about 6 inches most of the time, but still)sections.

Logs to get over (though most almost inexplicably built up on both sides - even when less than 12 inches in diameter) and some nice short steep downhill sections! All in all pretty much spot on - in no time we had over 8 miles under our belts and it was time to head back to the cars and a sneaky beer (somewhat spoiled by a policeman showing up!).

Skeets were out in full force and I'm still scratching now but it was all worth it!

Nuff already

Cheers

Jim

Best of Times, Worst of Times!

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times"

Some bloke called Charlie wrote that! He was talking about the French revolution (apparently) but may as well have been describing the past two weeks (since my last entry) in the Bolluxsphere!

Mtbing has been at an all time low - just one measly ride in 14 whole F'in days! OK it was a decent enough sojourn around the usual trails on Patapsco (even discovered some illicit renegade trail - but enough of that), but it was still the only action the Monocog has seen, just not good enough that man!!!

On the up side, the fixie is seeing more action than any time in recent history! With the "young'uns" out of school an agreement has been negotiated between MLW and me (aided by the high gas prices - every cloud!) that a cycle commute twice a week was acceptable! So for the past three weeks the fixie has seen the light of day at least twice a week! And the benefit in terms of leg strength is already being felt! Average speed up form a humble 16 mph (10 mile route) to a thoroughly average 18 mph - but hey heading in the right direction.

Meanwhile Mr Running Sean (not to be confused with Mr Biking Sean) is all hot to trot for the JFK 50 this year!! With him getting the "grand permission" from his respective SWMBO, MLW was forced to concede and grant me a day pass to have a go at this little romp. Fan-bloody-tastic! The reality of this commitment however is harder to stomach - long miles throughout the Maryland summer! So for the past two weeks we have been hardening ourselves by getting used to the inevitable "sh*t it's early" runs. Headlamps on, rising at 4:30am to hit the road at 5:00am giving us enough time to saunter round 15 or so miles before the 7:30am roll call at "swim team".

All in all a real dearth of mtb-fun but plenty of other stuff to keep me entertained!

Then this weeks night ride hoved into view Whoo Hoo! Gonna be a classic! I've just caved and purchased a "proper" light - a rather spectacular Light and Motion unit!!!! Got my Monocog back in original condition- rear wheel picked up from LBS with new free hub in place. New hydration pack - bigger pockets to allow multi day rides (more of which in later posts - I hope) and to top it all off a full bloody moon!!!!!!

New launch site and new company (Jon the gatecrasher). So George, Brain, Jon and DB at the new launch site - how much more fun could we have? Brian's bike is playing up from the off, over the first big log and problems are obvious. I turn to see what's up and Brian has already removed his back wheel - never a good sign. After a brief discussion we conclude Brian's free hub is playing up (ring any bells?) and will probably be O.K. but we decide to head back to the cars to get some lube to make it run more smoothly. Two minutes later on a small rooty uphill as I attempt to crank over a large root there is a "pop" and I literally fly over my bars from a standing start!! I assume I have snapped my chain - but no! Bloody F'in freehub (new, just installed, only half a mile on it) is knackered and spinning freely!! Ride over for DB! Push bike back to car swearing loudly and my "magical" nights riding is over! At the car I swear some more, rack my bike, say Goodnight to the guys as they head back out onto the trail and then I head home!

As I am heading for bed at 11 pm I reflect (somewhat sourly) that the guys are probably still riding and having a blast! Oh well there will be other nights with full moons and good vibes.

Cheers

DB

Back in the Saddle!!

Well..... mtb rides have been like buses lately. Having waited bloody weeks to get one, two come along straight after each other.



But lets not get ahead of ourselves and go through recent efforts in chronological order. Lst Thursday saw a nice little winter storm blow through Maryland, the forecast was for barely an inch of snow, but it started falling mid morning and by mid afternoon there was a couple inches of the white stuff on the ground and the sky was still heavy and snow laden! Despite my best last minute efforts (emails, phone calls and even personal berating of work collegues) I could not round up anyone who wanted to head off out for a nocturnal snow ride. Turns out this was fort he best as by 6 pm the temperature had risen sharply and the nice snow had been replaced by a very wet winter mix. Oh well with mtbing out of the window there was only one thing for it, pull on those running shoes and hit the pavement for my scheduled long(ish) road run. Dragging myself through the snow-laden streets made me feel very self satisfied and to be honest was great fun. Progress was slow, I did a quick mental calculation as I ran (based on known landmarks) and figured that the conditions, and me taking it easy) resulted in a minute a mile slower than normal pace. Oh well still managed a respectable 80 minute run, the last twenty of which were pretty cold as the temperature plumetted again and me wearing wet clothes by then.



Come the weekend and the weather gods were feeling more happy with us bikers and with nice freezing temperatures the trails were always going to be ridable. So Sunday am (8:15) saw MLW, Sean I and me launching from Landing Road. Seriously cold! Temps were barely in the 20's so we donned as much warm clothing as possible and headed off. The new fallen logs I saw the previous week (running with Sean II) were intact (guess "the Man" and his trusty chainsaw were detered by the weather - long may it last) and we ahd a fun ride. Hands were very cold for first 20 min but as the engine began putting out some heat things were all fine and dandy. this was my first real test of the disc brakes and they excelled! Sean I had serious issues with his rim brakes almost immediately after the first water crossing that resulted in him riding down the enxt hill with this feet dragging on the trail to slow himself down. Second water crossing and Sean I lost his gears!! We cut the ride shorter than most due to the temperatures and the fact that the trails wer a bit slick in places, still first ride for over a month and it felt great to be back on the trails.



Nxt day was MLK day so decided to play hooky from work. in the afternoon I arranged to hit Patapsco again but this time on foot for a trail run (in preparation for the Hat run) with James. We actually ran furter than we had rident he day before, completing the whole "big loop" from Landing clockwise (the hard way) - even took in the extra hill after the first water (up past the old railway ties). Turned out the decision to cut the ride short the day before was wise cos some of the trail that side of the park was very slick. James is a pretty seasoned road runner but a novice on the trials. He was quite shocked at the steepness of the hills, if these hills surprise you prepare to be amazed at the Hat run I warn him, and he adds half a minute a mile to his estimated time for Hat! Nice run, both fell in at the middle water crossing. A bit bizarre because the water was much warmer than the air and didn't feel cold at all. Nice frozed trails and more fun!



Then just when it appears life can't get any moe fun!! It bloody well does! Todd goes and organizes the first night ride of 2008. Fan-bloody-tastic! then unfortunately has to abandon due to family commitments but leaves me and a "new guy" Brian to hit the trails together. I've meet Brian before and know he is a real kiss ass roadie and am a little concerned about how it will go. Brian could certainly pull my legs off if he decided to but, being a nice bloke, takes pity on me and we have a nice ride (long loop anti-clockwise). No incidents, both stay attached to the bikes the whole way. Even with the slippery conditions many of the "extra point" obstacles were taken on and cleared. As the Ridge trail progressed so life got more icey and although Brian, with superior skills (and gears), crushed all the hills, me - well I had fairly major back wheel slippage at times, so some degree of pushing was called for.

By the time we tackled the rockgarden at the bottom of the Cascade trail, I was pretty much fried (a nice feeling after too long being idle). When Brian offered to take in some extra hills I had to pass. Could be that my knowledge that there was a six pack of Peter's Wicked Ale waiting for us at the car weakened my resolve! But whatever the reason the decision was to head straight back to the Bolluxmobile for a well deserved beverage.

About 1 hour 20 min riding, brilliant fun and the first "heart rate raising" ride in a while. Brian seemed to have a good time and I suspect he may become a regular fixture on the noctural adventures.

As Gary Glitter once said (in the pre-child porn days) "It's good to be back"

DogzBollux!

The riding week started a usual with the Night Ride. Despite other "maybe's" it was just George and me again at the Park and Ride at 9:45 pm. Both on rigid 29er SS - my faithfull Monocog and George's Independent Fabrication.

At the Park and Ride we bump into two guys also with their bikes - we saunter over to "shoot the breeze" and ask if they are just heading out - thought we could join up (safety in numbers and all that). Tuns out they have just finished - they've been out since 6:30 and got lost, the ride was not intended to involve any nighttime action! When we explain we are just heading out they look at us as though we are insane - maybe they are right.

The route is a bit of a departure from the norm as we take in both BC and HC sides of the Park. Start the usual was up Soapstone but then head down Vineyard and take the road to the Other side. Head up Morningchoice fire road and then take Ridge to the Waterfall on Cascade. The whole way I am convinced there is someone chasing us down as I can see lights shining through the trees as I look back. Turns out it is the full moon shining through the trees! Just before the rockgarden on Cascade (at the waterfall) we discuss what we want to do and Georgw wants to have another go at "House of Pain". W decide the best way doen is the trail just prior to the major rock garden. I have run up and down this trail and found that to be challenging - so on my bike! At night! We both make it though even George (he of no fear) announces that it was a bit "butt clenching" at times. Over the Swingbridge and up House of Pain - fair bit of pushing again, I'm not sure that it is even in my ability level in the light with gears much less in the dark on a SS. Still plenty of fun. Then it's back to the usual, Old Santee Trail and Sawmill Branch (told you I'd look at the map) Then onto Buzzard Rock, where we take the straight route down that George calls "Double Drop" (and I call " get off and walk").

Back up Vineyard and down Soapstone then back to Park and Ride along Soapstone. We take a right turn at some pont o hit a more challenging uphill stretch, good fun - though with an impecable sense of timing my light burns out just as we reach it so i ride the last 10 min with just the light of my $10 Ever Ready LED headlight - just enough to aviod a major wreck.

Nice Ride - just over 12 miles, new trails, mixed it up a bit.

Couple of commutes in the week on the Fixie (here's a picture - isn't she a beauty?). I thought I

was pushing a reasonably major gear (52 x17) but I'm rereading Graeme Obree's Autobiography " the Flying Scotsman" again (a must read for anyone interested in biking - the man is a star) and he casually mentions that he road the British National Time Trial Championships (coming a close second to a certain Mr Chris Boardman) on a Fixie running a 52x12 gear!

Sunday and the group ride is going from strength to strength! Another good turn out at Landing Road for the 8 am start (O.K. 8:15 to 8:30 start depending on when we finally arive - sorry guys). A bit more competitive this week and we mix the route up a bit, Morning Choice to the derelict houses then left to meet the Ridge. Clockwise on Ridge to Rockburn Branch and back through Belmont. We were feeling so good at this point we added a short loop on Cascade, turning left after the first water and up the steep rocky hill. Then back down a nice gravely, rooty decent back to Cascade then back to the cars. Fabulous.

The only other thing to note was whilst we were waiting to set off on the ride I was asked by a lady who had just arrived if I could get her bike out of her car for her - No worries! But as I retrieve the bike I realize why she can't do it herself, she's heavily pregnant! "Wow - how long do you have left" I enquire incredulously "About three weeks" is the answer!! All I can do is ask her to be careful and wish her well. I hope she had a good ride and that everything is cool.

Cheers for now, lets enjoy the summer while we can winter and cold rides will be here soon enough.

Dogzbollux