schnauzers.ws

There was a nice large group today.  It's been a while since I have ridden with a group.  We started from a different parking area than I am familiar with.  It was actually much better than starting at the visitor lot as I think there was more singletrack this way.

It has been very dry around here and the trail certainly showed it.  After the dust devil in the parking area, the dust kicking up from the group was choking and so I quickly made my way to the front on one of the nasty walking climbs (the pic doesn't show how steep it is).

I am not so sure getting to the front was a good thing as I now found myself riding with two hammerhead racers (Andrea and Dan?).  It was tough hanging on their tails and for the most part I hang on until the next rest stop.

We start out again on our way to the boat launch area and a lunch stop.  Here comes the train!

Lunch time at the lake.

From there on it was hammer time.  Again I was out front with the racers who eventually were about three minutes ahead of me as I became three minutes ahead of the rest of the pack.  So I soloed for a while on some sweet singletrack until i met up the the race crew at a trail fork for the ride back to the lot.

Back at the trailhead, most of the group decided that 23 miles was not enough and needed to do the nasty ski area climb for another six miles of extra credit.  The Jersey contingent decided a refueling at the local greasy spoon was more in order, so we feasted on prime rib sandwiches, beer, and soda while watching the hot waitress flash the tattoo on her hip.