Now THAT'S Mountain Biking

What is a quick definition of mountain biking?


No, not blurry pictures...It's riding bikes over, around, and on mountains. Douglas H. and I got out for a great ride today that fit that definition perfectly. It couldn't have been a better day for it, too. Temps starting in the 50's and topping out in the high 60's, zero humidity, and bright blue skies.


I was supposed to show Douglas a route for his upcoming group ride but... we ended up going much further than originally anticipated. The ultimate route: from the PMBAR start/finish->276->477->Avery Creek->Buckhorn Gap->477->Buckwheat Knob->Black Mountain back to the vehicles. 17.5 miles, 3950' climbing.



We started with a swift pace up the pavement to 477. Then a couple of miles of gravel to Avery Creek trail. A perfect warm-up. Right about the time I was thinking it had been a loooong time since I had been back there I took us on the first Buckhorn trail I saw. Well, I had planned on going the other way on Buckhorn Gap to Clawhammer->Black->back to the vehicles but *gasp* I made a navigational error down in the soggy beauty and didn't realize it until we hit 477.


477 is NOT clawhammer. I asked Douglas if he was in for a longer ride than planned and with a big smile he said he was game. Next thing I knew he was climbing away from me on 477. He was always just a switchback or two ahead but it was apparent he's been spending some time on the road bike. I had to drop into granny and give up the chase at one point but immediately, around the next corner, he was doing a trackstand and was waiting for me. Class. This man ooozes it.


Thanks Douglas, that was a huge boost seeing you right there.
Next was Buckwheat Knob... UP. A first for me. After explaining that yes, I do ride down that root-ball, I was regaining my push and likity-split, we were at Club Gap.


Oh, and regarding that definition, here's the map. Clockwise: Buckwheat Knob. Clawhammer Mountain. Black Mountain. Hickory Knob. I love this place.



Saying it was just Black Mountain from there to the vehicles doesn't do the next two hours of riding justice. Include: Tech climbs. Tech descents. Whoops, hollers, and yeeeeaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!'s. We stopped and talked with a group of riders a Buckhorn Gap, then continued on Black. Douglas would take the lead on the climbs and I would on the descents. I was feeling ON FIRE descending Black. That trail is super-fast right now, a welcome change from the tech tech tech tech that we had experienced up to that point. The ride ended with the full speed ahead lower section of black and we were both railing the berms and having a great time of it all. a little less than 3:30 after we left we were back at the vehicles. No wrecks, No mechanicals, No bonks. What a great day in the woods.

Douglas, we need to ride together more often. That was awesome. You pushed me harder on the climbs than I have been pushed in a while and you were rocking the descents. Thanks for coming out.

Melissa and Ian Lione:

Rain, a Black Bear, MUNIs, and a Dead Deer

After going out with a rowdy crew for a night on the town to celebrate Ian L.'s impending wedding I woke up this morning with a funny taste in my mouth (juniper?) and loaded up for a ride with Dicky and Bill Nye. We originally were headed to Yellow Gap but the call was made to stay out of the clouds and hit up a couple of hours at Bent Creek. The route: from the new parking lot->gravel->Ingles Field conn.->Ingles Field->Tony Michaels->GreenSlick->Sidehill->Little Hickory->Ingles Field->???->Hardtimes conn.->Homestead->Deerfield. I took a wrong turn and we ended up at the campground so I decided then and there that I was done for the day.


It's been raining in Asheville almost non-stop for two weeks now. Last week the French Broad River broke it's banks. Well, the rain had let off for two days, then was on all afternoon/night Friday, let off for about 10 hours, and resumed moments after we arrived at Bent Creek.


The order of the day went like this: Dicky and Bill Nye would take off on the climbs and after a few minutes I'd catch back onto Bill Nye's wheel. We'd arrive at the top where Dicky was waiting and I'd take the lead for the descent then would wait for Dicky, then Bill Nye to arrive at the bottom


There were a few interesting sights today, as indicated by the title of this post. First I saw my first bear in a number of years. It was awesome. As I rounded a corner I saw what I first thought was a big black poodle take off down the trail. I quickly realized I was following an adolescent black bear and I maintained a 50' buffer and followed it for a good 5 count before it ambled off the side of the trail.


There were also 20+ unicyclists scattered all over Bent Creek and a dead deer on the trail that I'll talk more about later.

Bent Creek ~ fixed gear ~ in the rain

When I got home from work today my brand new 22t Tomicog was waiting in the mailbox so of course I slapped it on the wheel and took off for Bent Creek to try it out. The easier gear is much appreciated and I was ON the bike for almost the entire ride. I still don't really know my way around BC so I unintentionally picked a rather tame route but... when the thunderstorms hit I was having enough fun dodging puddles, I didn't need super tech. Homestead->Deerfield->Gravel->Sleepy->(lft)Explorer->Explorer Alt->Explorer->Gravel->Campground Connector. Just about an hour out.


Tomicog bolted to the disc brake mount / Endless cog lockringed on the drive side. Just in case.

The green machine at Lake Powhattan
In the rain at Deerfield
Hey! It's Kathy T.!

Oh, and just before I left I was talking to a guy in the parkinglot and a flock? pack? pride? of unicyclists went by. Sweet.

cruisin' 'bout 45 for a minute there....

Road/gravel ride. From West Asheville->191->Bent Creek Gap Rd->BRP->191->Hominy Creek->State.
26.75 miles, 3880' climbing (mostly gravel), Just under two hours of faaaast movin'.

Laurel / Pilot in 2:20.... solo, rigid, and fixed.

Today's ride was exceptionally difficult: Laurel Mountain to Pilot Rock, starting from Yellow Gap. Not the toughest route under most circumstances but today I decided to try it fixed gear 34x19. I was off the bike more than usual going up and down but still made it back to the Jeep in just only 20 minutes slower than what I consider a fast pace, on any bike, for myself.

It was a beautiful late summer day. Highs in the 70's, low humidity, a cool breeze... Here's the view from Pilot Rock:


I was having more trouble today with the actual gear size than the non-coasting bit. I'm used to SS'n a 25 in the back. 19 is makes any uphill feel STEEP. I was wondering if I could just drill out an endless and bolt it on back there. Anyone know if this can be done?


When I got home I felt like I had been on a 6+ hour ride. The descent down Pilot beat me up. I felt like a novice... Rocky switchbacks are difficult when you can't coast.
Here's a very quick vid I shot while descending 1206 towards Bradley Creek. About 1 millisecond after I started shooting I realized the camera is in the wrong hand....

Fixed Gear Mountain Biking in Pisgah

Today's ride: Trace Ridge solo and fixed starting at 6:30pm. I was back at the Jeep at 7:55. 85 minutes for Spencer->Trace is pretty good for me on any bike. Tonight's lesson? There IS a rear brake... and it is very effective. Oh, I did have one crash, while climbing Spencer I took a dive off the trail. I need to remember: concentrate. quiet the mind. don't space out. use the virtual coasterbrake. pedal harder....

2nd fixed ride ever

Fall is in the air and trees:
There were a few moments during the ride that made me whoop and yell and laugh out loud. One was when I full on powerslidskid towards and barely missed that damned tree in the lefty at the bottom of trace. The line between in and out of control on the fixed is razor thin.