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

Back In The Swing

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

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

Colonic Irritation!

Took advantage of a very short respite provided by Mother Nature (in that it didn't bloody rain for a whole 48 hrs straight) to get out for a night ride. Short notice so participation was restricted to just Todd and myself. Turned out to be a very disappointing ride on all levels!

Headed off from the usual launch site and headed as is customary for the fun that is Small Intestine! Got to the trail head to find....... SHOCK HORROR the trail has been completely dismantled! Not only that but New Trail has suffered the same awful fate! (So too it transpired later had the loggy section at the top of Small Intestine!) Big time downer! My two favorite trails on the HC side are no more. Trying hard to recover from the shock we headed up to Belmont and thence down to the Purple Trail. The Purple Trail was a mess! Being the good souls we are we didn't attempt to ride this (cos we'd just chew it up) but walked our bike to the top in somber mood - sloppy trails and destruction of favorite sections, the night would never recover! Hard to take that trails like Small Intestine that drained pretty damn well and were as fun as hell to ride should be trashed while sections like the Purple Trail that drains horribly and is no fun at all even when dry should be promoted! Ho Hum.

Once on Ridge things were a little better but we decided that in deference to the trail conditions we'd cut it short - past the derelict houses and back to Morning Choice. Nice to get out and blow some air through the lungs, it feels like it's been too long. Rode for a while on the Rockburn park side, just to put in some miles then back to the cars. Stopped at the New Trail entrance and surveyed damage - total trail annihilation, took a photo to commemorate the fall of a once good friend and back to the vehicles for a couple of solemn beers - a wake to fallen trails we have known and loved.

Crazy Times!

Since the Massanutten debacle life has failed to get any more sane.

Seems that the only time I get to do any real training is when the sun is nowhere to be seen and the bloody moon is out! One single solitary mtb ride - yep you've guessed it, a night ride. Initial plans were for a fairly major turn out, but as it transpired there was just Brian, Jon (from SSOFT) and DB. Still with Jon on a 29er SS it was good to have the SSers outnumber the gearies for a change. Changed things up a bit - Small Intestine, Ridge, Cascade then up to the old railway ties. At the junction hung a left down the shaley descent to the road. The results of the hours running in prep for the JFK 50 are becoming apparent, legs and lungs are fine but my bloody technical riding is (as Sean would describe it) "pants". As a result I'm up front pushing on the uphills then playing the "rusty wheel" on all the downhills.

Head across the swinging bridge and the pattern continues, fine up the climbs but hating every minute of the technical descents. Finish off up the water bar and backwards on Small Intestine for a nice 2 hour ride before we adjourned to the cars and a couple of beers - Blue Moon Pumpkin Ale - not as bad as it sounds!

Most of effort currently running though - trying to put in miles wherever they can be inched into my schedule - lunchtime runs and early mornings. Oh the joys of being an ultrarunner, Saturday morning and the 5am alarm call. On the road for 5:30am and 15 miles done by 7:30am. Home in time to take MLW a cup of tea in bed and make the children pancakes before the sun is even up properly! Sunday night it's another 10 miles in the dark and Tuesday morning another 5:30am start to get 10 miles in before work. Still only another 9 weeks to go! In all honesty I'm going to need every second of those 9 weeks if I am to get my fitness level to anywhere near where it needs to be, weekly mileage (even with early starts) if topping off in the 40s, and I need to get up to the 80+ mark pretty damn soon. Wish me luck!

Cheers

DogzBollux

Back to Night Riding

It's been ages! Weather and scheduling issues have kept the Night-Ride group for convening for what seems like a bloody lifetime. Well that all changes last week, emails, texts, smoke-bloody-signals, whatever it took were exchanged and resulted in George, Brian and DB meeting up finally for a good old fashioned blow out.
Todd was absent partly due to some exams-thing coming up in the next few weeks but more importantly due to an ankle injury picked up during the Bike Polo escapade up at Ganoga - Bummer!
Ride started as any good NR should, with a trip up Small Intestine. Disaster is narrowly avoided as the rickety bridge is not so much rickety but more collapsed! Fortunately having got the new light i had just enough warning to both brake myself and to shout a warning to the others (close on my heals) before we all disappeared into the abyss. The section just after Small Intestine (with all the sticks/logs laid on the trail) was in pretty dodgy shape too, yielding the first fall of the night when George lost his front wheel on a log lying across the trail at about 45 degrees.
As it's been so long we were all full of enthusiasm and after a short confab decide the "Old Ridge Trail" uphill is in order. Tough, tough, tough! Fortunately we have Brian with us to show us how it is done. thence onto Ridge and a foolish decision (by Yours Truly) to take the descent from Ridge(just before the Cascade rock garden) down to the road! This descent scares me rigid in the daytime so at night I am a nervous wreck. George and Brian disappear into the gloom and leave me picking my way down pitifully slowly. This descent was the inspiration for the "SloMo Endo" post as a little over half way down I perform this little stunt to end up in a tangled mess amidst frame and undergrowth. Nothing too major though post ride checking reveals I've removed a fair amount of skin in various (some rather delicate) area of my body!
Once at the road it's over the Swing bridge and up what has now replaced Vineyard as my favorite climb on the BC side - the Convent climb! No dogs about this time to make friends with. Then it's a circuitous route to Bullrun and then we head back to HC via the waterbar and take Morning Choice back to the cars. Fun, fun, fun. About 2 hours worth of solid effort - feeling quite good (limitation of beer intake for past month is beginning to show effects both weight and fitness wise) and we have certainly earned our beer and pesto-bread "post-ride repast". Surely there should be a law about having this much fun - Oh yeah I think there probably is!

Till next time

DogzBollux

Sick as a Dog!

After the recent interactions with the DNR the decision was made to change things up for the weekly night ride. Different launch point, different day/time! And the Maintenance Huts are off limits for the foreseeable future.

This week Brian was AWOL but Todd and George were back!

Having resigned ourselves to a HC restricted ride the challenge was to make the ride interesting in some way. Normal way to infuse a potentially dull ride into some kind of challenge is either spped or distance. I'm in no mood for speed (tonight or ever!) so distance it is! I suggest an EFI ride. The idea is to cover "Every F'in Inch" of bike trail HC side (excluding trail leading to the road) in one ride. Todd, ever the prosaic one, just wants to ride his bike and doesn't need a stoopid reason to do so - but of course George buys into it immediately! Once in the Park discussion begin about the best way to hit EFI of trail, the issue is the "threaded" regions where the trail breaks into three or more branches that all end up in the same place. With an almost immediate resignation that we will fail - but fail gloriously - we decide just to ride! Tick off Small Intestine, and the Belmont Hill. After the water we head left up the steep rooty climb. AT Morning Choice however, for a change, we hang a left and tick off the Derelict house portion and the Roller Coaster section that takes us back to the main drag from Landing Road. Another discussion and we take a right down the lose rocky descent back to Ridge, thence to cascade, including the climb to the Railway ties and back to Morning Choice. Not even half way yet, but it's obvious that George is "not in a good place". Too much spaghetti and meat balls pre-ride apparently!

"Better out than in"

Once he has "lightened the load" somewhat George is feeling better but not stellar so the original plan is further doomed to failure. Still we plough on gamely heading (not on the usual loggy section) to the stream before taking the New Trail and heading back to the Belmont Hill for round two. This time we take the newly reopened climb up Rockburn Branch and head out on Ridge. Hitting the Connector trail to take us back to Morning Choice, thence Old Branch Trail Loop and then back to the Loggy Section. By now over two hours have elapsed and our resolve has deserted us, replaced by a desire for beer. Over the water after the loggy section and disaster strikes! In the dark I pick an appalling line through the water and hit a ridge on the far bank, I get up the ridge but stall at the top. Todd in "hot pursuit" hits my back wheel and is unceremoniously dumped into the water - he is not best pleased, especially as the mud at the bottom of the stream is somewhat fragrant (and not in a good way). Fortunately we are minutes from the cars and a change of clothes. Heading back to the final water crossing Todd stops suddenly to view some stags in the trees, George and I speed on it anticipation of alcohol.

At the cars although food (yet again) is available there are no takers - tonight's efforts (again over two hours and nearly 15 miles) has taken it's toll. The much anticipated "20 miler" can't be that far in the future surely?!

Cheers

DogzBollux

Sorry For The Inconvenience!

As of now, usual service is restored!







O.K. as you already know I have the tendency to be a bit of a lazy Bastard - but things have really gotten on top of me. You know work, family stuff (in-laws here from homeland) etc., not enough hours in the day.





Pity really cos the night ride last week was something close to epic! Now epic, as an adjective, is a little overused these days in the mountain bike fraternity. Personally epic describes a ride that is measured not in miles, but tens of miles and elevation gain in thousands rather than hundreds of feet. Against this background the last night ride wasn't epic - but it was damn close! Todd was a "no show" so George, Brain and DB made up the "three Musketeers" that assembled, in remarkably timely fashion, and launched onto the trails just after 9:30pm. Small Intestine for starters - got to love that! Now, it occurs to me that as the trail naming scheme I use is somewhat abstract (in that it doesn't coincide with any designation found on any map) I should perhaps describe the trails ridden in greater detail. To do this for an entire ride would be tedious in the extreme, so I'll parcel out the descriptions amongst future posts. For now a description of Small Intestine will suffice.



As the mane suggests it is fairly short (probably less than a mile in length) very narrow and bloody twisty. Although there is very little in elevation gain or loss the feature that makes the trail so much fun is the logs! Not big but loads of them!! Every ten feet or so there is a log to negotiate. Combined with the tight twisty nature of the trail this means there is almost no way to maintain flow or momentum. As a result it is a workout from start to finish, working the shoulders lifting that front wheel as well as the legs. Fun is enhanced mid-way by a section of small logs over a boggy patch and then a rickety bridge of small logs. All in all a joy to behold!



After SI we take the usual route down Belmont Hill and up the recently re-opened climb that formed part of the "6 hr of Patapsco" course. At the four way junction we decided BC-side was "a-callin" so we set off down the Water Break. Just across the river as we were about to emerge from the short riverside trail section car lights stopped us in our tracks - the dreaded DNR? The car slowed and parked at the exit to the trail we were on, not a good sign! Lights were extinguished, no panic though - soon as the Ranger gets out the car and heads into the trail we will simply "hightail" it out the other direction (sounds like a plan). Then to make matters interesting a second car pulls up! Could be in trouble now as our "friends" the Ranger's could potentially block both ends of the trail - HUM! At this point with minimum lights we retrace our steps (whilst Mr Ranger is planning their strategy) and then ride "sans Lights" back to the Water Break. Up we go! Always fun.

At the top I take lead duty and lead up Morning Choice, past the derelict houses thence on to Old Loop Trail and back to Cascade (via the decimated Lewis and Clarke). Head down Cascade, up the left fork "rocky climb" to the old railway ties. Brian becomes the "Decider" at the top of the climb and opts to head left down the sketchy downhill to the road. At the road nerves return - in case of a second close encounter with DNR. Lights off and we ride stealth to the swing bridge and over to BC-side.

George is in true fighting mood tonight and takes the lead up House of Pain - woo whoo! By the top we are all pretty spent but having a blast. We pause for breath and to plan the next installment, Community College loop to Soapstone meets with universal approval. Sweet riding tonight, we all look like we know what we are doing for a change! No technicals no falls and soon we are scooting down Soapstone - George takes on the big log at the top of Soapstone two or three times but hell - tonight it's not happening! Brian and I just ride the chicken run round it and spent our time laughing at George's antics!

At the base of Soapstone and it it time for stealth number 3 - ride in blissful darkness under the bridge and as no car lights are visible we light up and head for the site of our earlier sighting of the DNR. As we enter the trail we ride past 9and almost into) a group of young guys apparently night swimming in the river! We are just about to shout out warnings about our earlier DNR sighting when we realize these guys were probably in the cars we saw an hour or so earlier! DOH!

Back to HC-side another heart pumping, leg burning climb up the Water Break and it is time to think about heading back to the cars and beer. Rockburn Branch, up the Belmont Hill and it's time for Small Intestine in reverse! Big fun in either direction. At the end of Small Intestine we regroup and "synchronize watches" turns out it is five minutes to midnight! What to do? Only one sensible call - lets head left onto the New Trail and make sure we ride into tomorrow. New Trail with all it's big logs still fails to induce a fall - tonight we can do no wrong! and before we know it we are back at the cars - 15 miles and 2 and a half hours - as I said "almost an epic".

Beer and chat before heading home tired and wearing big grins! Tomorrow will be tough at work. Next week I miss out as I'm on vacation but hopefully the 20 mile night ride is only weeks away! Top F'in Notch

Cheers

DogzBollouz

Slippery When Wet!

It's been tough to get out there and ride since the "Lodi" debacle. I've been raring to go but the weather here in Md has really not been playing fair. We've had pretty much the wettest May on record and the trails have spent much of the month as "no go-zones". Despite the weather last week we did have a few dry days prior to the weekend which allowed a ride to take place with a clear conscience. Turned up at Landing to be greeted by, not only Sean (Mr Regular) but also Doug (Mr Irregular). The aim was to try out the "Six Hours of Patapsco" route (wwwsixhourspatapsco.com). Fromthe map it looked like it took in mainly the best drained trails and should be easily ridable. Let me tell you guys (i) it was not as well drained as I thought and (ii) if the course we rode was actually the race route then I'd like to meet (and shake the hand of) any "Sports" rider who can do that loop in 40 min (as the website suggests). A solid ten miles taking in all the Ridge and Cascade fun, some milder Morning Choice and Old Loop Trail sections and for good measure the fireroad decent (and climb!) from the valley floor! Great loop but for mere mortals like me I think 4 to 5 laps in six hours is going to be a push rather than 6-8! We'll see.

Since then I have tried to be good and restrict my biking to Fixie-fun on the roads but at times I've felt like a recovering alcoholic watching all his ex-drinking partners getting hammered whilst he sipped his soda. Every time I have driven past Landing Road there are cars there with bike racks!! It's been killing me. As the call of the trails got louder so the call came from George for a night ride - what was the option? There wasn't one - I'm "in".

Met usual time, usual place - me with my now botched light set up (having lost my bar light at Lodi). Brian turned up just to say Hi (2 weeks post surgery, so no riding yet) and to laugh even louder at my lights. As it turned out lights performed absolutely bloody great - Small Intestine, three times (once out and twice back) a never ridden trail to the road, the fire road up from the parking lot (a'la 6hrsPat) and loads of other fun stuff. Rode for over two hours, not finishing till midnight. Coupl of quick beers before home and bed (to be followed by a very glased day at work)

Weekend and I weakened again - supposed to guide MLW round "sixhours" course but that didn't happen - another story! So just Sean and DB again. Rode Small Intestine to initiate Sean and then took on a trail neither of us had seen before! We looked for signs as to whether riding was permitted - no signs - so he went for it! Short interesting loop couple of sketchy sections, clearly not ridden for a considerable while so lots of potentially slippery leaf litter. Good fun - turns out (when we hit main trail again) it is "Hike Only" but signage is only from one direction (DOH). Still no harm no foul.

On the trail back to the car bump into Brian on his "comeback" ride - 3 weeks post-surgery and he handily makes us look like the amateurs we are as he rides fluently and without breaking sweat over trails that have Sean and me struggling. Nice ride again probably in double digits for milage so heading in the right direction for June 7.

Cheers for now - enjoy the warm weather, summer heat/humidity is just around the corner.

DogzBollux

Lessons Learned From Lodi VII to Lodi X

I apologise to Cornershop for blatant plagarising the title. Anyone interested check out



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKimNdqZ3Z8



Smashing!!



Anyway, hardly an expert on this "marathon" mtb-lark but I have learne a thing or two, either directly through bitter experience or vicariously watching other poor buggers suffer like dogs. So here goes, few "words of wisdom" to avoid some of the worst horrors for anyone attempting a long mountain bike race for the first time!



Lesson One - Lube Up or Die!



A very painful lesson learned on my first foray into endurance mtb fun. 2005 and the 7th edition of 12 Hours of Lodi Farm. My first solo 12 hour race. I'd never really ridden for more than about 3 hours before and never bothered to lube up the private bits. So even when the guy camped next to me offered lube I declined - BIG MISTAKE! Warm nights lots of cycling, sh#t loads of sweating and by mornign my backside felt like it had been sand-blasted! Let's put it this way - bathroom tissue was not even an option for three days, lots of showers! And I had to use a "doughnut" to be able to drive to work. Oh yes lube is good!!!!

Now if (like me) you are a cheap SOB then expensive bike specific lube seems a bit of a freakin' luxury. Fortunately in 2005 I had a child in diapers - so lots of Desitin about the house - let me tell you this stuff rocks. Thick as axel-grease and about as water-soluble, one liberal application lasts a good 12 hours and you'll still have trouble washing the stuff off when you get home. And if you look at the ingredients - titanium oxide! The bloody stuff is made of titanium!! What biker is going to pass that up.

Lesson Two - Don't Panic!!

You know what, yep this is a race, but it's a bloody long race! That's why it's called endurance racing! So try and control your exuberance and don't hurtle off in the first 30 min like it's a normal Sunday ride. You'll have many unhappy hours to reflect on your mistake. Curb your enthusiasm - first hour is warm up. Last place is fine, far better to spend the next 11 hours passing people than being passed.

Lesson Three - Expect the unexpected

This is a cliche I know, but whilst some cliches are cliches cos they sound good, some are cliches cos they are worthy of repeating and repeating. I always plan like a beast and still am always blindsided by what can go wrong during a long race. In my 6 years mountain biking I have broken precisely one chain! When? Lap One of Lodi 2005!!! Did I have a chain tool? Did I F#*K! So I had to run the last 3 miles of my first ever lap in an endurance race just to get back to my car, so I could mend the damn thing. How often have I broken a seatpost? Yep once! When? Lap two of Lodi 2008, kin fantastic.

Basically shit will happen! Get over it already and just do your best - see lesson two! The race is long, even a lost 30 min-1 hour is not the end of the world. Be calm and try and sort the problem - if you can't then hopefully you have tent pitched at the start/finish and a cooler full of beer!!

Plan as much s you can but then just relax and go with whatever fate throws at you. If you have a incident free race then raise a "cold one " to the MTB-gods at the end cos they have smiled upon you - THIS TIME!

Lesson Four - Carry back up lights!

If the race has night riding you basically can not have too much redundancy when it comes to lights! Beg, borrow (even steal) your friends lights to make sure you have more than you can ever imagine needing. More races are spoiled due to light failure than just about anything else. Your light dies you are toast!! I would strongly recomend a cheap battery powered headlight (an EverReady unit from Target $10). Stick it in your hydration pack. If your light packs up midride you at least have a light to use to try and diagnose the problem. And if your light is just plain screwed it will provide just enough light for you to limp out of the woods and back to basecamp (where hopefully you have your backup system ready and waiting).

Hopefull wise words

Get out there and ride long!

DogzBollux

The Monocog Rides Again!!

"The Monocog is dead!"

"Long live the Monocog"

Yep as they promised the Bike Doctor in Linthicum got me a new frame (2008 model) ad rebuilt my Reline Monocog29er in exactly a week! fantastic service both by the shop and Redline! Thanks to all concerned.

So how excited was I to get my bike back? Think Bill Clinton interviewing a slightly overweight intern with a cigar fetish whilst Hilary is way on the election campaign! Well O.K. maybe not quite that excited!

So midweek bought the prospect of an inaugural ride on my new baby - and it semed fitting that this ride would play host to a whole range of other firsts too. Todd has installed his new hot tub, so we had to check that out, I had new shoes (in preparation for Lodi) and as we were riding from Todd's house all the trails we hit we completely new for me! Now I'm as excited as Bill!

THe ride itself (once started - after a slight delay caused by me locking my keys in my car - DORK) was a bit of a damp quib! I am still pretty sore where I banged myself last week and the thought of another smack in the groin was unthinkable so I was being mega conservative. I wussed every obstacle pretty much. My pedals and shoes were not talking at all so I couldn't get clipped for a good 80% of the ride, adding to my feeling of insecurity and the trails were (as Todd described them) "more rustic" than Avalon. Lots of leaf litter/debris on the trails, falled trees and super muddy stream crossings that just wanted to suck your wheels down and stop you dead. Exactly the kind of trails that would have been BIG FUN if I hadn't been sore, my pedals were working and Lodi wasn't just a few days away. Hopefully I can ride these trails again some time under better conditions cos they looked fantastic.

WE rode for best part of two hours (George and Todd being very patient with me - again - as I brought up the rear) Light issues slowed me more toward the end so we finally gave up the technical stuff and took a paved and fireroad route home.

Hot tub was.... well hot! And the beer was good and cold. Perfect set up we lounged around and chatted as we finished our beers not gettig home until close to 2am.

Since then all attaention has been getting ready for Lodi - pedal/shoe issue dealt with (hopefully, will confirm with a short ride tonight). Borrowed Todd's ligt so illumination shouldn't be an issue. Washed and packed pretty much all the bike gear I own (4 pairs shorts, 4 jerseys, 3 baselayers, 5 pairs socks, four pairs gloves, two pairs shoes, two helmets, numerous bandanas, and a partridge in a pear tree).

Psyched as Norman Bates on a bad day!

Seeya after 12 hours Lodi Farms!!

DogzBollux

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

Back on the Monocog (at last)

It's been far, far too long, but at last me and the faithful Monocog 29er finally got a couple of rides in in the past week. The last time I had ridden her was at McKeldin with Todd and George so it was fitting that the first ride was a night ride.



Lovely night - warm and dry - it won't be long before the night temps will get so high that we will be sweltering and won't be able to remember the bitterly cold winter night rides when the ice covered the bike frames and shoes after the first water crossing and the post-ride beer was curtailed due to the fear of frost bite and hypothermia. Best make the msot of the current lovely weather rode in shorts and summer jersy for the first time in 2008 and was absolutely comfortable.



The conspirators this week were Brian and Todd (George off climbing or some such daftness - even though the Nomad is back in action! What can I say?). As it's been so long we headed of on what had been the "usual route". Up over Belmont (where the trail is seriously boggy!) and then down the fun downhill. After the usual climb to the cossroads at Ridge, Mrning Choice, Rockburn Branch and the fire road the decsion was made to hit the BC side. Smashing! Over the road and the Soapstone climb beckoned us. I was the "rusty wheel" as so often but in a blazing show of defiance (to my early season lack of fitness) I crawled my way to the top without cracking! That is one serious climb, just when you think it is nearly done the trail just keeps getting steeper. So a fine start to the ride with all three up the climb and pushing on. Past the Community College and climb two was likewise vanquished by all three of us - turning into a classic effort this ride. At the top we were so full of exuberance that we decided to take the long route home so straight on down the Superhighway (first time in ages) and onto the Charcoal trail. Nearly lost here cos it's all been redirected but with Brian's local knowledge the correct trail is identified and off we head toward the big decents! Just as we head to the top of the decent we rather startle a young courting couple! I think they assumed that at that time of night they would be fairly safe and undisturbed deep in Patapsco State Park. So they were probably a bit shocked when three lycra-clad guys on bikes with lamps attached to their heads came bombing down the tail. That'll learn em! Get a room!

The decent (sorry forgotten it's name) was steeper and far more skethy than I remember - a bit of the but clenching side at times - and the back wheel was felt to rise a bit on the high side on a couple of occasions. Fortunately I got my arse back far enough behind the saddle (normally a shortcoming of my riding) to avoid disaster. As always by the time I got to the bottom I was a bag of nerves and the final steep drop was an obstacle too far and I bottled it! Needless to say Todd and Brian were sat at the bottom of the hill getting cold by the tiome I got down - those two having bombed down the trail at fearsome speed!!

Over the swing bridge and traverse the waterfall back to Casade - nice ride back past Landing Road - cleared both the Big Rock (first time in bloody ages) and the Rooty Stump - before taking the rail back to the car via the "New Section" with the big obstacles - by the time we got here my bar light was gone and I was relying on my helmet set up only! Makes life interesting.

Back at the car and it was all smiles! Great ride, beautiful weather and no-one is in a rush to get home. Few beers loads of chat and plans for a ride from Todd's house in a couple of weeks to celbrate the grand opening of his new hot tub!

Sunday and despite some bad weather late in the week the trails are deemed ridable - Small group - just Richmond and me! Richmond turs up having forgotten his helmet and despite my pleas otherwise he insists on riding without one! His dreaa sense is a little left field as well! Jeans and a sweater! Makes me feel a bit stupid in all my bike gear to the point where I forgo my shin and elbow pads and hope for the best!

First big climb and two bikers are far less than happy to be (i) overtaken by me on a rigid single speed and then (ii) to be overtaken by a guy with no helmet and dressed more for church than a Sunday moring ride.

We organize the ride to avoid the bits of trail likely to be boggy so it is a series of small loops on the HC side - take in the Big Rock on cascade twice (the "yip" is history) and all the fun bits of trail. Ride for about 80 min then time for Richmond to go to work and me to head home and prepare for the "Mommies Gone Wild" Roadride #2. Same course as two weeks ago similar issues with bikes and nerves - consensus appears to be forming that everyone wants to get road bikes and dispense with the hybrids - so a deal of time will be spent on CraigsList in the next week or so trying to find decent roadbikes at sensible prices!

Cheers for now - enjoy the nice weather!

DogzBollux

New York, New York!

Well my recovery from the HAT Run was far quicker than anticipated. I suspect my absymally low level of fitness for the HAT actually prevented me running hard enough to do any real damage. Whatever.... by Sunday although a little on the achy side I was able to take a limite role in the inauguaral "Mommies Gone Wild" Irongirl triathlon preparation road ride. A group of six or so of the "Mommies Gone Wild" assembled at the Bollux mansion (I wish) and after some degree of tinkering with bikes (saddle heights, brake adjustments, tire inflation etc) we set off. I was on the faithful old fixie and took the "Lanterne Rouge" position. Turns out one of the girls hasn't been on a bike since she was 17 years old! And has never ridden a bike in traffic! Despite this after an initial dodgy start - which allowed the rest of the group to disapear out of sight never to be seen again - she actually made a really fine attempt. We didn't make it too far but she overcame the obvious terror she experienced at riding on a road with cars and by the end she was looking a far more accomplished rider. The rest of the group successfully completed the 12 mile hilly route taking in Homewood Road, Folly Quarter and Tridelphia Road. All good and lots of smiles on the ladies faces at the end.

All smiles after the inaugural "Mommies gone Wild" training ride

Since then mainly running in preparation for a potential bash at the Columbia Clydes 10 K run on 20 April. Babysitting issues may scupper this as MLW is away that weekend doing an adventure race.



Then last weekend we took a weekend away (sans kids!!) to New York! Bloody great - using Hotwire.com got a reasonable deal on a hotel on 42nd street (right by the Chrysler Building - which is probably my favorite building in NY). Did all the usual tourist things - too much eating/drinking, took in a show, walked all over Manhatten and even managed a jog around central Park. Got home Sunday night absolutely knackered - but still forced myself to take the "Tomac" Rockhopper out of a 1 hour "nightride" around Columbia (mainly bike trails but some bits of single track too). I need the bum on saddle time in preparation for Lodi. Haven't even sat on the Monocog for 3 weeks now. : (



Talking of Lodi - it is only a couple of weeks away and I finally committed the entry fee (solo SSer again). Could be interesting cos apparently there will likely be no rental lights this year so I will have to rely on borrowing units from non-participating friends. Ho Hum.



Oh well I best get out and do another run!



Cheers



DogzBollux

That was the week that was!

Finally........ my lack of blog activity is not a result of inactivity and bugger all to write about, but instead a symptom of an embarrassment of riches and no bloody time to sit in front of the old computer tapping away.

Late last week the weather gods finally relented and gae us a night cold enough to allow a night ride. One was rapidly convened and Todd, Brian and "Yours Truly" met up at the usual spot. Things have gotten a little predictable lately (as predicatble a night riding in winter can) and with me reaching a state of panic about the upcoming Hat Run - and my fitness level being lower than a limbo dancers arse - I decided to try and mix things up a bit!!

So instead of the usual anticlockwise direction we started in reverse for a change. Nice loggy sections and challenging riding onto Cascade. Then after the first water we hung a left up the hill past the old railway ties. At the top a left turn onto the steep decent to the raod - with Todd "Mr Rim Brakes" mutterings of discontent ringing in my ears the whole way. Half way down I bottle an obstacle and hit the floor in such slow-mo that Brian (who is right behind me) almost wets himself laughing. The whole sketch is not helped by the fact that I can't get unclipped so spend embarassing seconds flailing around attached to the 29er moncog.

Once safely at the road, over the swing bridge and up House of Pain. My legs start giving notice and I push a good deal, but Todd (on his monocog!) crushes the hill with Brian in clse pursuit! Wow! At the top, once my heart rate has decreased to a rate where I am actually capable of conscious thought we head padt the tirepark and cut right down the rocky downhill, past the College and thence up and down to the Soapstone descent. By now the bar light has gone but my "combination headlamp" (the Princeton Tech Yukon plus my highly focused led lamp) give me enough light to descend with some degree of confidence.

Back to HC side and up the fireroad - my legs are found wanting again, but Brian and Todd are as indefatiguable as ever and make it look easy (and me feel inadequate). Back over the usual trail top the cars for a beer or two, 11.3 miles covered an a fair old clip! At the cars despite all having major cold gear, after about 45 min chatting and drinking the cold drives us home to our loved ones and the real world.

Sunday brings the usual "group" ride - as it looks like just Sean and me again I decide it is time to christen the "Tomac" Rockhopper on Patapsco. As it turms out Greg shows up unannouced so we are three for some fun! Head from Landing along Morning Choice and the connector onto Ridge then the short loop (anticlockwise) back to Cascade. Then we loop back to take on the loggy sections and the "new" section before a maiden voyage round the Old Loop Trail for good measure. Conditions are great (ie frozen) when we head out but are thawing and as slick as a slick-thing by the time we finish. For me personally the ride was a story in three parts (i) me being Mr Nrvous on the Rockhopper and taking no chances (ii) finally getting to grips with the front heavy geometry of the bike and feeling comfortable and (iii) getting over confident and becoming "Mr Fallioff Uselessbugger". Fortunately Greg and Sean were gracious enough to put up with my foolishness and just laugh at my stupidity. Cheers Guys!

Sunday is also my first day back running - a very ginger 3 miles - all is good, no pain. Followed up with 5.5 mile runs both Tuesday and Wednesday and the Hat looks more likely (though leg is giving a bit of notice at the moment).

Finally got the fixie wheel into my LBS (Princeton Sports) - looking dodgey for a second as the mechanic isn't sure he can fix it - then all is good as he spots a broken spoke that explains the lack of tension eleven buck later and I'm really to roll again, fan-bloody-tastic.

Life is good!

Cheers

Dogzbollux

Biking with Sore Legs!

My lack of posting has reflected my general lack of activity. To some degree this has been forced upon me by work related stuff and by injure (of which more in a minute), but as always the truth is that my own bloody laziness has also played a huge role.

With the Hat Run fast approaching some miles needed to go in running - and so of course right on track I get bloody injured! My sore leg (right calf) has been playing up big stylee and really hindering my efforts to get in any kind of shape. Then after a modicum of rest all appeared to be fine and dandy! To celebrate Biker Sean and I headed out on a recent Sunday for a good old fashioned MTB show down. I was up for it big time but family commitments for Sean meant we couldn't head to the Baltimore County (BC) side of Patapsco but instead decided to do a "balls to the wall" effort on the "Long Loop" HC side. Good fun and a pretty reasonable pace maintained all the way round. Then bloody disaster! Last sodding obstacle (the large rock on Cascade) and I come a cropper - been having trouble with this lately, balls it up more often than clear it - with the conditions being a bit muddy I don't get enough speed up and trying to hop over the tiop of the rock I pull the handle bars to hard and the front whell takes off! I fall like a F'in lemon and smack my right knee on said rock with a right old clout. Hurts like heck for a minute or two then subsides and I assume everything is cool. And so it is for the remainder of the ride and a couple of hours after. But then as I try and get up from the dinner table later in the day I can't! Bloody knee is locked solid and swollen to twice it's normal size. No pain but it takes til Wednesday for swelling to go down.

Following weekend I am in Belgium (land of the "cross cyclists"). Being at a loose end on Saturday morning i try and do a long trail run behind the hotel - well, I manage 45 min and my calf is completely shagged again! the last two miles I hobble around like an old man. A gentle effort on Monday confirms that all is not well in "calf-land" so off to the "Docs" it is. Good news - no real damage, bad news - torn calf muscle which will only get better with rest! "You can do anything that doesn't hurt" is the Doc's summation. But with hat only 6 weeks away he gives me less than 50 % chance of being fit! Bollux!

But then there is some good news - On the night of the lunar eclipise a night ride is scheduled with George (back from hand surgery), Mr Todd and fast riding Brian! I'd need to be dead to at least not try and go along! So just as the moon is starting to disappear behind the earth's shadow we hit the trails, snow on the ground, well below freezing and all is well with the world. Calf gives a few twinges but no real pain. We bounce around checking out conditions - a few tire tracks tell us we are not the first (only) folks out tonight. Obstacles taken head on are fine, but the occasional small log at angles across the trail cause a degree of chaos that needed to be seen to be believed. Frozen gears for Brian and George, frozen brakes for Todd and frozen pedals/cleats all round.

The "Three Amigo's"

End up doing the Long Loop again, plus some bits and bobs at the front end. My Nite Hawk (still trucking on like a real trooper) packs in mid way along Cascade so I have to rely on the limited illumination of my Princeton Tech Yukon for a good deal of the way back - just about enough light, but would be challenging on trails I didn't know well.

Finished off with the "new(ish)" section over the big logs and a fantastic time was had by all - after a dodgy start I was overjoyed that the leg held up - and i can feel the cahnces of the Hat happening creeping up!

Back to the cars for a couple of relaxing beers and a good amount of chat (it's been a while since we were all together) before the biting cold finally drives us into the sanctuary of our cars and back to reality for another week. I LOVE NIGHT RIDING!

the guys enjoying a beer post ride - bloody freezing

Summers nearly here guys

Dogzbollux

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!

Another one ride week!

This weekend saw us hitting Pa again! This time to visit daughter #1 at college for the Family Fall Festival - on campus to visit your daughter, that'll make ya feel old!! Anyways this meant it was to be another week without a Sunday MTB ride - bummer!



So a lot was invested, emotionally and physically in the mid week night ride. Park N Ride chosen for the launch point and a rather fine Blue Moon Pumpkin Ale chosen for the post-ride libation, looking good so far! More good news when we get there as George and I have company! Todd has returned from his Ohian exile and we have a "guest appearance" by "Hard Ridin' Rodger", gracing us with his presence for his semi-annual night ride. Rodger is all "blood and thunder" and wants to hit pretty much all the unridable trails, I'm already having second thoughts! When he realizes that Todd and me are on SS's he relents somewhat and with a slightly more relaxed agenda we hit the trials.



Well someone must have upset the cycling gods this week!!! It wasn't me honest! Cos the ride was a riot of misfortune and aggravation. First casualty of the cycling gods wrath was Rodger - he didn't even make it onto the trail proper before his light packed up! Ten minutes of fussing later a knackered battery was the diagnosis and so Rodger's semi-annual night ride came toa premature end after 50 yards! the remaining trio scooted down Soapstone then up the Soapstone climb (only the second time I've ever nailed that one - good job!). Then we did the usual route,half way round which Todd's saddle can loose, on the Superhighway rock garden casualty three was your's truly. Being a pathetically slow decender I was trying to "haul ass" to keep with George and Todd. Misjudged a tree, clipped my left handle bar and wit the bars whipped out from my hands I took a graceful dismount over the bars and directly into another tree. Having slid down the tree trunk into a groaning heap my first thought was "thank god I didn't hit that tree with my bad shoulder" second thought was "oh shit I did!" third thought (after some flexing of the shoulder was " so... guess tha's healed up then" - It's all good.

Got my wind back and headed off in search of my compadres (who thoughtfully were waitying for me). At the base of Patarini hill, we hang a left and for the second time in my life (and the first in Todd's) we take on Mission Impossible, as bad if not worse than I remember, I really don't see how this trail can be riden! So that's the challenge for this winter - to get to grips with Mission Impossible - might actually try it in the light!

Quick (ish) ride up House of Pain and were just about to head back when George broke his chain and Todd had a puncture! The consensus was sod this let's get a beer. Bikes were repaired and the quick route home down the power lines was taken - just as well cos before we made it home Todd's light packed up!

Back at the launch site - beers were cracked, instructions were given to lost (and bemused - by the sight of seminaked men in lycra at the Park and Ride at midnight) motorists and the usual bikecentric chat was engaged in. Then it was time to hit the road back to reality. Oh well until next week!

Cheers!

Dogzbollux

Hectic Times

It's been quite a week! As usual the week kicked off with a night ride, just George and me again (come on guys we could do with some company!). I've been suffereing from a bit of "trail-wander lust" recently, getting bored with trundling round the same old trails. Night riding adds variety and different trail direction/orders spices things up a bit but it was all getting a bit old! Good old George! Adds a new (but familiar) element that made the night ride the blast it should be - speed! He announced he wanted to do the "long route" (ie Belmont, Rockburn park, Ridge and Cascade) twice, once in each direction. Right on!



Hardly an epic ride (approx 7.5 miles each way) but as my faithful light (Nite Hawk Raptor - 10 watts of inexpensive illuminating beauty) only has a burn of just 2 hours (and I'm trying not to burn it completely flat cos its a lead acid battery and they don't like that) the ride was going to need to be at a good pace (for me).



Hit the trails clockwise first cos that's the hardest way, no time for chat tonight, heads down keepin' it movin'. When I slacked off George would push ahead and I'd chase, if George slacked, off I went. Felt bloody great - both of us took on many of the "extra point" obstacles that litter the trail edges. First lap just 55 min - not bad even for a daytime effort. At the entry point, no talking, just turn those bikes around and hit the trals in reverse.



Woo Hoo! Second lap felt a bit move of an effort - LOADS of deer out keeping things interesting. As we entered Cascade my light suddenly dimmed. In an effort to protect mt battery, I turned my bar light off and relied on my $10 EverReady helmet light. This emergency light is just sufficient to ride by on non-technical, well known trails (luckily exactly what Cascade is). The only issue was when George was right behind me - the light from his NiteRider (beautiful light) was so bright that my EverReady light couldn't even cut into the shadow cast by my body in George's light! So I was essentially blind as to what was directly in front of me. I turned on my bar light to give me just enough illuminiation to safety navigate the "loggy section" leading back to Belmont, then flew down the final smooth section in darkness!! Great ride, second lap took just 50 min, wild! Only downer is that this meant my Nite Hawk now has a burn time of less than two hours (as a result of the battery abuse I've given it of late). Maybe it's time for a new light.

Riding Sunday was a no-go (more of that later), so I worked it so I couuld fit in my first ever proper fixie road ride on Saturday. After dropping Child #3 off at a play date I took the opportunity to hit the pavement on my old Peugeot fixie. 25 Miles of heaven and hell, chose a pretty hilly route, Highland Road (MD 216) than Brighton Dam, onto 650 then 97. A straight "out and back" which tested my leg strength at times and my ability to spin crazy fast at others. Max speed 29 mph and average of 16.5 mph =- took it pretty conservatively. A slow flat in my rear tire over the last 3 miles made life exciting (as I had no pump with me - FOOL), meaning I had to stand as much as I could, but I made it back with no apparent damage to wheel or body. Must get out and ride the fixie more often!

Sunday was a "no-rider" as MLW and four of her friends were headed to Pa for an Adventure Race. The Wildlands Challenge Adventure Race was a 27 mile circumnavigation of Blue Marsh Lake in Pa. It involved padding canoes, MTBing, running (sometimes "bungeed" to an MTB) and various "challenges" (mainly crawling, dragging and carrying stuff). The girls did a great job, had a complete blast and canme in third ladies team (in 5 and 1/2 hours)! Awesome job! George and I went along to act as crew and enjoyed a relaxing day eating PB&J sandwiches, cookies and occasionally transfering bikes and other equipment between transition stations. The atmosphere was generally relaxed (everyone happily chatting away exchanging tips, experiences and stories) and everyone seemed to have a great time. Girls are psyched about the whole adventure race scene so I guess my "crewing" skills may become more developed over the next year or so - there was even talk of attempting a 24 h race!

STICKING IT TO THE MAN - OH YEAH!!!

The night ride this week was spiced up a little by a close encounter with a Park Ranger! George and I had headed out for our usual jaunt and had intended to take it easy on the Howard Side, partly due to some neck issues George is enjoying and my wrist being as sore as buggery after kayaking last weekend. Best laid plans of mice and men! Once the mojo got us we were no way going to take it easy! Scooted down the sketchy downhill from the apex of Cascade - over the swing bridge and up House of Pain - whence I took a short "lie down" captured in full technicolor by George on his new fangled camera obsura! Cheers George - like I need any help looking foolish!

Over the top and we are just heading for Double Drop when as we meet up with the roadway a van is on the road - no worries we often see traffic and it's no sweat. Only this time the van has an ensignia on the door and slows suddenly as we approach! Whoops....... We turn off our lights to see how this little sketch is going to play out and then a guy steps from the van (perhaps 25 feet from us) and starts shinnig a flash light inot the trees. "Time to go" shout George and like a couple of school kids caught on school grounds during the summer vacation we high tail it out of there. Looking to "shake the man" - who I'm sure had thought "oh screw this" about 15 seconds after we rode away and just went home - we rode sometimes with lights, sometimes without along Mission Impossible. This is the trail featured in the final minutes of 24 solo where Chris Eatough (spelt correctly note) and Jon Posner take 34 attempts to clear a long log! Yeah, well I walked it and only just made it then! The log is no where near as long as it looks in the movie - perhaps only 12-15 feet, but it is about 4 feet off the ground! And below it are just nasty looking rocks! Other bits along here are unphathomable in terms of riding. Once back across the swing bridge and safely on Cascade we lit up properly and finished the ride, giggling the whole way. Idiots!

I would have felt bad about my illicit noctural riding, but I'm still smarting over the loss of by favorite log at the hands of the overzealous trail guardians so screw them! Sticking it to the man ... YEAH!!

I was back again on Sunday am wit the usual crew, but this time (for teh first time) we launched from the Park N Ride, fun trails, down House of Pain, up Vineyards and down Soapstone - even had a bit of fun catching air half way up the Mile Smile waiting for stragglers to catch up.

Calories in, Calories out balance is swinging the wrong way - no riding to work and haven't got into the habit of training after work/at lunchtime yet. If this keeps up - 300 lbs by Christmas!

Cheers now

DogzBollux (bad attitude and big belly)