Don't Be a Mr. Softie

We went out last night to "test the limits" but we missed it by about 4 hours. Was 29 when we left at 830pm, but this morning it is 15. So we missed the opportunity to test the limit, and so still don't have any *officially* designated softies (although we do have some candidates based on light attendance last night).

Don't be a "Mr Softie" - be there for our next limit tester whenever it comes!!

It is still a little loose out there, but considerably better than Sunday. Should be even better by Thursday night (snow showers, low 30). 830 LL departure.

Chris

MRDBS Breaks Out

Sunday ride was super sloppy. I'd estimate maybe 10 miles on the map, but our wheels spun at least twice that! 9 riders including first timer Mike Young. Kirk treated us to a new wardrobe - took a page from DM's fleshtone unitard book. Mike demonstrated his bike shop prowess on DM's bike (and as a result we christened a new trail, the "MRDBS"). If you missed the ride then you have to ask about MRDBS next time, fabulous story that will be with us FOREVER. Finally we benefitted from some capital improvements to the Sole trail.

Slippery Slope

We but broke new ground for a night ride. Over the dam, down the Sole Trail, and up into the Sunday ride territory where we circumnavigated the mud pit and were still back in time for 9:30 Sports Center. New challenges await!

I suspect attendance was light due to work and family commitments, but now that we are into January it's worth mentioning the slippery slope...the one that leads to the refrigerator and the couch on Tuesday/Thursday nights instead of the great outdoors. It starts innocently enough but it ends with a rusty bike and a spare tire. Don't even look over the edge of that slope - it is EXTREMELY slippery and many good men have toyed with the edge only to find themselves suddenly sitting at the bottom wondering what happened.

Next ride is Thursday (LL 8:30).

Chris

White Clay

Fantastic day yesterday at White Clay for 9 riders! A couple of collisions (with the ground and a tree or two), one broken chain, a white-knuckle ride through the skills course, and some navigational challenges rounded out the day. Attached is GPS map of the ride. Mike I believe you may have some interesting photos from the ride - care to share? Thanks Rob for the tip on White Clay.

I am pleased to welcome 2 more guys to the email chain - Andy and Dave. Hope to see you guys out on the trail soon.

Defiled Again

Well we have successfully defiled yet another pasttime! A fast ride last night (8 riders!) followed by almost 4 hours of electrolyte replenishment around the bonfire. We covered a lot of ground in those 4 hours, including:

* TMI about Dean's under garments
* Interest in hiring "mountain s_______s" for our next post ride event.
* Learned we are "not young" but rather we are "old guys" according certain local teenagers who should know
* A scarey peek into Miller's world during winter break at Target

The ride home was interesting to say the least. Thanks Kirk for setting this up.

I am out for the happy hour ride due to haircut appointment that slipped (what was left of) my mind last nite.

Remember this SUNDAY's ride starts an hour EARLY: 10am - 12noon. Departing from Upper.

Also Damian is trying to pull together photos/videos of the house fire. He has asked if I could help pull these together. If you have pix or know of someone else who does could you please let me know? Also if you would pass the word that I am trying to pull these together for Damian that would be appreciated as well.

Later,
Chris

Room for Improvement

More interesting analysis from yesterday’s ride…

“Moving time” was less than 3.5 hours (not bad) but elapsed time was 5.5 hours suggesting 2 idle hours (if you count puking up your lungs as “idle” time). The good news is that an analysis of the idle time suggests opportunity for big improvements with relatively little effort:

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• Three tire changes (estimate total of 1 hour since the first tire change involved expedition back to the car in search of 15mm wrench).


• Ahern search party (estimate 15min)


• Unplanned detour to Palisades Road (added about 5 miles and let’s say 30min to the trek, I take responsibility for this navigational breakdown)


• About a dozen 5min rest stops at the top of the alleged “rolling hills”

So with quick release on Matt’s ride (or a 15mm wrench in his xmas stocking) and a compass for Jim (and I) we would be at less than 4 hours elapsed! More conditioning and less time at the buffet table could yield even more improvement.

The 3.5 hour moving time became interesting to me yesterday evening when, speaking with Rob, he mentioned Blue Marsh as a roughly 3 hour ride (I didn’t ask if he meant the 20mi or 30mi loop because I was afraid he would say the 30mi loop). Now whether a bunch of long-in-the-tooth-weekend-warriors could cut yesterday’s elapsed time in half is debatable, but I thought the analysis might be encouraging.

Rob also mentioned another destination in Delaware (“White Clay” I believe) that he said was less of a ball buster than Blue Marsh. Rob, anything you could share on that area would be greatly appreciated.

Steve, Steve, Tim, and Mike – hope you were good this year so Santa will bring you a ride and you can experience this insanity first hand! So far it is looking like a year round sport although we are still testing the sub-30 degree arena to determine if practical to ride without losing toes to frostbite. Ask Santa to include some wool socks.

Chris

Lights Out

Even better ride last night with 6 including guest appearance by some guy named Kirk who clearly had something to prove and rode like a madman. Sebastian wrote a new chapter in our book of memorable adventures by riding at night without a light (very impressive), and some trails we rarely (never) try at night took out a number of riders myself included. Having a large turnout seems to take things up a notch or two...

I trust KO and DM made it back OK as we entered Lyndenwood at a very high rate of speed and found we somehow lost 2 riders.

Back on tonight at 8:30pm. Jim will be picking up Blue Flash at LL (assuming he can find a light) but let’s depart from UL to add some variety and so we can finish with a sprint on the flats by the river.

Jim would it be possible for you to be at my place 8:20pm so we can then push to UL to join up with the rest?

Chris