Saturday, November 29, 2008
PERFECT 2.5 hour ride w/ the dogs
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
clawhammer->buckhorn->s.millsriver->pinkbeds->clubgap->averycreek
I woke up early and decided to head out around noon. The problem? I hadn’t arranged any riding partners. I sent out an email to about 15 folks and got one ‘yes’, Drew. I didn’t have Dennis’ address but after a few PM’s and a phone call, Dennis was aboard, as well.
We started at the Horse Stables and up Clawhammer. Dennis took off like a batoutahell with Drew following behind. Pfftt… I wasn’t up for that…. I hung back until I rounded a corner to find Drew waiting. ‘Dennis is fast as shit’ he said. Yes…. Yes Drew…. he is. Drew dropped me a couple more times but I kept the throttle as maxed out as I could. We regrouped at Buckhorn Gap where Dennis was waiting, already breaking out the 1st of two Yuenglings…..
Just before we left (on Buckhorn Gap trail headed to S. Mills River) we had an interesting interaction with a fellow trail user…. A hunter came rolling down Black Mountian on a mountainbike. Deer rifle on his back, no helmet, and not at all skeerd. He sat down next to us, lit a smoke, and started to lament the fact that the ky-otes were killin all the baby deer…. makin’ it so he couldn’t kill the adult deer…. hmmm…. I asked if he’d shoot coyote if he saw them… he said ‘it’d ruin the hunt for t’day… but yeah…. so I kin hunt whi’tail next year’.
Anyway, we hammered down Buckhorn Gap trail to S. Mills River to FS476. Dennis must have been in his big ring the whole time because Drew and I were NOT catching up. I decided to stop, after Drew said that would be a great photo…., to take a shot of S. Mills River at the concrete bridge:
We found Dennis talking with another hunter at the Pink Beds and we took a nice long breather there. I hadn’t been on the Pink Beds trail in quite some time….
Sunday, November 23, 2008
duh nunt *tick* duh nunt……… duh nunt *tick* duh nunt……… W I L S O N ‘ S
Story later. for now…. photos:
Table Rock at the start:
The climb up 181 from my vantage point:
Greentown River crossing 1:
Greentown River crossing 2:
No ATVs, No Muscle Cars???, No Jeeps, No motorcycles… Yes Ian, Bikes are allowed:
They were outgunned…. and they knew it. Bill F setting off a pack of blackcats:
Me at Harper’s Creek Falls photo by Bill F.
Mike B. and Ian B. at Harper’s Creek Falls:
very efficient regrouping. Ready? Let’s ride bikes!
Goin’ Down!!!!
Me and Rebecca, just before going down photo by Bill F.:
Rich not going down:
Saturday, November 22, 2008
a REAL mountainbike ride
We met at Mr. Pete’s at 11AM and carpooled the rest of the way. When we started at Bradley the temp was hovering right around freezing and we both bundled up with about every piece of gear we had. Pilot Cove starts out innocently enough with just a slight upward grade. Perfect for getting warmed up. I went back and tried just about every tech move on the climb until I cleaned it and we kept moving forward without a break. The fern field took longer to get to than expected and the climb got much steeper than I had remembered after that point. Dennis was doing amazingly well, his fitness far exceeds his skill level at this point, smashing through the corduroy, root gardens, and razor edge benchcut. We made it to the two turns and headed out to Slate Rock next. The trail cuts across the ridge then descends through switchbacks before the big view at the rock. When we got there Dennis said ‘Well, this makes it all worth it.’. The view was spectacular today. We took a nice long breather there and talked about the history of the land we were awestruck by, some work stuff, how great a dog Sophie is, and God knows what else before heading down into the valley. The trail is in great shape, despite the ball-bearingesque leaves everywhere, and when D arrived at the bottom he was amazed (so was I actually) that he was able to clean the whole descent. ‘I may be slow, but I do it all’ he said. Well the decision was made to head back to the Jeep at that point rather than climb back up and around. That was fine with me, I have a biggin’ planned for Sunday…. Great ride Dennis. Thanks for getting out there!
As promised, here are a bunch of photos from this ride:
It was freakin’ cold out! Winter is almost here.
Dennis took a plunge over the edge!
Dennis rockin’ the switchbacks headed to Slate Rock:
Here’s Sophie and I at Slate Rock. Sophie is such a good dog….
and finally, another shot of Dennis. This time near the bottom after Slate:
Monday, November 17, 2008
Playin’ Hookie
Saturday, November 15, 2008
morning run around the ‘hood
Sunday, November 9, 2008
consumer electronics?!?!? are you looking for a challenge?!?!?!
We started at the PMBAR start/finish and climbed lower Black Mountain. I was chilly before the start but the climb took care of that quickly. After a quick regroup at the gap jump I was by myself struggling to warm-up. I turned at Thrift then turned at the steep up, started to wonder if I was going to be alone all day, and got to first big top where everyone was waiting. After hardly a downhill we were climbing on Black again after Pressley Gap. Keith and I were in the back trading places for the next hike-a-bike and I started to feel warmed-up and ready to go once we hit Turkey Pen. A little descent to start then some of the best tech downhill in Pisgah was next. HUGE sweeping downhill switchbacks with ZERO room for error. I was really feeling it and railed into the freestyle move.. one dab.. then wahat was next? The skateboard drop. I looked, went back, then hit it. This was the first time I’d tried that move since I was on a 5×5 26″er… and it felt great! So much so that I went back and did it again. RAD!!! Next was an up then the downhil to Buckhorn Gap. I tried every switchback and almost got them all. On to Black past the shelter… I had been dropping my chain (in 1×9 config) so I took out a link thinking it would tighten things up, but it only really took away my granny gear… anyway, I made it to the top of that hill and squeexed my way forward to behind Otto. He smashed his way into the descent, floating from here to there with ease, with me in tow. Pfffffffft…. pinch flat. I took care of that and was off the bike for the climb to the descent to Club. I got in line again behind Otto and pushed hard. His wheels would come off the ground and I waould follow… trying my best to keep my wheels ON the ground. A few scares later and we high fived at Club Whew! That was fun!!!! regroup then the climb to Buckwheat Knob. We fell into our paces, Keith and I in the back, everyone else doing their thing until the next badass descent of the day, down to FS477. I took the worst line possible and the new Smoke Bike ate it up. Down the rock steps, through the perpendicular root garden, over the log of death…. and then W I D E open to 477. The big smiles started to wane as Adam was still not there and the word got out that he ate it hard. When he arrived there was missing skin and a wild look in his eyes. Sweet let’s go! Up the false climb (no, really it is a climb) and on to Bennett. This is what I remember…. fast fast fast… Q-bert rock? Easy. rail rail rail…. deep breath… thread the needle is next…. Otto is movin’….. Avoid hole to Oblivion….. Whooop! Crack!!! everything was still. Sure as shit I’m glad I was wearing a helmet. Nausia… Dizzyness… Mike B talking through a tube… ‘let me take your helmet….’ and after about 30 seconds my world came back together. I didn’t see stars, I didn’t see the white flash, I didn’t blackout…. but boy howdy was that a bell ringer. I walked carefully down then we climbed to the top of the next knob. I let Mike out in front and was witness to the coolest backwoods highspeed log drop move that I’ve seen in a long time by Otto. Mike was moving fast enough and after a regroup at Coontree we continued towards 477. Mike had themost drawn-out unsceduled dismount I’ve seen in ages and then the Big Nasty was done. I9 Jake and crew were just starting a ride and we saw some poachers on Pressley…. but I had no mind for confrontation so I let it go… Next was 477-276-North Slope and all that is really notabl about that was 1. It was only my thrid time ever on the trail 2. I was done.
Big ride. 18.5 miles, 4.5 hours.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Election Day Ride
Just over 11 miles with 1700′ of climbing
As I’ve mentioned before, Dennis is just getting started in mountainbiking but has taken to it like a fish to water. I knew before we started that it was time for him to step it up a notch from Bent Creek riding. What’s one notch higher than Bent Creek? Why, Trace Ridge of course. We started at Bent Creek Gap and descended 5000.
Right turn onto Spencer Gap to start the trail portion of our day. Mike put it into overdrive and I followed. We knocked out the steep climb through the field without a dab (I was thrilled tha I made it with the 1×9) but I was seeing spots and joked about ’stroking-out’ (where the hell is The Pony these days?!?!?) and Dennis was there moments later. Spencer is always a fun climb to Trace Ridge and today was no exception.
We were taking a quick breather at the Ridge when a group of kids came ripping down the trail. The decision was made to pack up and get ahead of them because the last thing we needed was ‘goats in the road’, trail fodder, or…. a bunch of slow guys in front for what was next, the fastest trail descent in Pisgah.
more later…
Monday, November 3, 2008
Extraordinary Ride!
Erinna and I went on a ride that fits both definitions above of extraordinary. The route and the time of day were not usual, regular, or customary and the overall experience was exceptional. We started at about 3PM on the first day of non-daylight-saving-time at Yellow Gap. The route: 1206->476->5018->Horse Cove Gap->Squirrel Gap->Laurel Creek->5015 back to Yellow Gap. 20 miles, 2800′ of climbing.
The ride started in beautiful Fall weather, in the low 60’s, low humidity, and bright blue skies. The warm-up was tough as I had not been on my bike in a week and have been recovering from a cold. The ride to Pilot Rock took longer than expected but we were rewarded with the presence or the KOP when we passed. We bowed our heads in respect to the King and took the left onto 476 moments later. We continued with no break onto 5018 and I started to find my groove on that climb. We took a breather at the overlook which is my landmark for knowing the climb is oh, 2/3-3/4 done…
… but when we finally made it to the end of that never-ending-road-of-grassy-gravely-death we just continued onto Horse Cove without a break. The sun was going down quickly and we only had one good light between us. I figured that if we made it to 5015 before dark everything would be fine…. or we would be safe at least. It’s amazing what a little anxiety can do for a ride. When the anxiety is in regards to making it out in time it puts a nice fire under my ass, and Erinna’s too. It wasn’t the fastest I’ve ever done Squirrel but it sure ranks up there. No breaks. If I got ahead of Erinna she was always there within a minute. She did excellent, especially considering how little time she’s spent on the bike lately. The woods were absolutely stunning in their beauty. The trees and understory were vivid yellow, red, and orange. Very little green is left out there but the colors have not yet started to fade.We moved quickly but the sun set even faster.
By the time we turned onto Laurel Creek it was pretty dark and the tech upper half was rather sketchy. At the bottom of the switchbacks we stopped for maybe three minutes and installed the commuter light on Erinna’s bike and pressed forward. I took off ahead for the bottom of Laurel Creek, my catlike night vision was in full-effect, and made it almost all the way to the bottom before my sinces came too, or, my since of sight was gone… and rode to the creek crossing with Erinna. After almost falling in to the creek the decision was made to just get our feet wet and push forward. When we made it to Bradley Fields it was pitch-black dark out but our final task of the day lay ahead, the second never-ending-grassy-gravel-road-of death of the day. We took a long break at the bottom then set a 50 minute pace up the road. Along the way I was just ahead of Erinna so my shadow was riding ahead of me the entire way. I saw so many creature-eyes in the woods wondering who the hell we thought we were… and my eyes kept playing tricks on me as Erinna’s light danced back and forth across the road behind me….. right about the time we were both wondering if, this time, we really had found some ‘groundhog day’ loop where the road really was never going to end…. we were done. Beautiful evening to be in the woods… oh, and great company out there, too.
