schnauzers.ws

With the break in weather finally happening around here, I’ll be able to get on the bike more. I’ll be in Moab, UT starting the end of Next week so look for ride reports and maybe even a video from there.

Yesterday I did a ride at Marshall Mesa with Ken and the Tuesday night crew. It was tough on my lungs having been mostly off the bike all winter. Getting back in shape is going to be tough and Moab is going to be painful. I was amazed that I was able to clear a technical switchback. I think I am finally starting to figure out the balance thing.

Marshall Mesa is an interesting ride. Not the longest loop, but has a bit of everything. It kind of reminds me of Green Mountain. It’s totally devoid of trees and probably the same elevation gain (650′). It’s only 8 miles from my house, so I’m sure I’ll be riding there when weather forces me off the other trails.

All of the trails were pretty much the same as the above photos. Dry! I encounted one wet spot where a stream basically ran across the trail and thats it. A little snow on the side of the hill where the slide trail goes up, but not effecting the trail. Just prime conditions to be out.

Red Rocks trail was a fun filled speed fest, until I got lost by the theater and couldn't find the way down to Dakota Ridge trail.

And great views.

But after milling around the greatest rock venue in the country, I finally found the way down and ultimately up Dakota Ridge. Yeah, up. As usually I went the wrong way the fun happens.

Going down this would be a blast. Going up was torture.

Then more up hill umtil I came to the aply named slab. I had to turn around and at least give it a try. Nice.

Pending doom. Nah, I didn't jump.

More fun (if I were going down the hill ).

I did manage to fall off the back of the bike going down the rolling ramp waterbars. I guess I was a little too far back on my stomach. The temporary castration that insued was not fun.

Finally reaching the top it was back down to the car, but the rocky fun was gone.

That night the band got together for a private St. Patties party. I don't know where I got the energy, but what the heck. More fun.

Sunday brought more riding and a lot of it. I hooked up with Keith and company for an urban assult to Waterton Canyon. Another beautiful day, great riding, and good friends. We made it to the middle of the canyon climb and stopped. Then on the way back we stop at the resevior and lo and behold, my camera is not there. I left it up at the spillway. Keith and I head back adding another five miles to the ride while Stu gets my car to meet us at the bottom. Thirty nine miles later (on the 26" bike), we meet at the parking lot. Yup, the camera was right where I left it!

So here is just some of what the dumb asses created.

The trouble here is that with the melting drifts draining down the trail, they collect in these ruts. The running water just keeps making them deeper and deeper. I had another photo that showed about 1/4 mile of this with the water digging a trench, but the sun was at the wrong angle.

This is the kind of thing that gives us a bad name. Even with other mountain bikers. I was talking to a couple who like me, moved here from the east coast. They are also mountain bikers and were surpised that riders here did not have the same trail etiquette as on the east. Maybe it's less access issues, but still it is just common sense.

So, with temps in the 60's and 70's this coming week, I think WR will be nice and fast next weekend. Of course, some of the drifts in the shade will still be a little muddy. There's nothing wrong with dismounting and walking over those areas.

See ya on the trail!

That meant road and bike path. With singlespeeds ready to go, the 29" wheels hit the clear road until we climb up the damn. At least we had some dirt.

Even though the bike paths were snow covered, they were sort of plowed. It actually added some challenge to a normally mundane ride. The one exception was coming off the south damn which was covered in wind blown drifts for about 1/4 mile.

Our wheel move a lot faster than the rusty old wagon. Still, it's a perfect setting for this last bastion of great plains before the foothills.

More snow covered fun.

Closing off 15 miles with the standard bike against the log picture.

Well, I'm ready to have my trails back now!

Thanks to Ed for the company.