I was thinking how my poor
Surly has had a rough life this year. Nearly every race has either been in muck, mud, or rain. If it isn't wet, muddy, and raining then it has 35mph sustained winds or rogue livestock. I really needed a mental restart. I've been out of balance and not sure from where the balance was tipping. Everything seemed normal, I have just been feeling overwhelmed and out of sorts. Due to some last minute change of events, I was able to round up 2 participants to join me in a mountain spiritual/mental recharging. Plans were made late into the evening Friday while slaving over the grill, for Keith, Eastbound Evil Eye Jeff, and I to meet up at 8am and head to the mountain. The mountain never fails to disappoint. Epic every time. It should provide them with a great new trail to experience, and I should leave with a smile on my face or at least some new scars. Either way equals a happy Thad.
Wake up to it "pissing down" (H.'s words). I headed off to the barn with the pups to bring the horses in, feed, drag the new feed bags down, and water/hay them. Then back to quickly make breakfast and load up before the boys arrive. I had just sat down to my eggs when Jeff walked in. I still had 10 minutes until 8, perfect. He asked about some
lube and I happened to have 1 remaining new bottle of
Ernesto Lube, so Jeff is the lucky new recipient of some
super lube. Shortly Keith arrived, also asking if either of us had any
lube, this would prove to be a stroke of luck for these two.
We load the bikes into the truck and hit the road. It's overcast, but the blue sky is starting to peak out, and the mountain has magic dirt, so far so good. We arrive at the trail head, suit up in our super suits, and roll out. Out of the gate the mountain forces grins as we race down the roots, drops, and rocks of the opening connector. Quick left, over the slick bridge, and we are on our way. The sun had come out and the temps were warming fast combined with the humid air, it was a sauna. The trail was dry and hard packed, but the rocks were slick from lichen and the early morning dew. The first step down rock about took my wheel out, but I was able to stay upright, this was the name of the game for the next mile or so. We stopped at a few of the techy rock areas to session the different line options, despite the slick nature of some of the rocks. Surprisingly though, traction was pretty decent on the big rock ledges.
Jeff up the step up ledges
Then a sprinkle, then darkness, more sprinkles, then the bottom fell out. Torrential rain, it was perfect. The trail was so hard packed from the heat and lack of rain lately that the trail never got soft or wet, the water sat 3 inches or more deep on top and flowed like a river, a clear river. This is the ride I was looking for, and I laughed as I had told
Old Greg that it'd be my luck for it to end up being mucky due to me finally having new brake cables and housing (and they are back to their stiff crappy operation mode again, 2 finger ease was short lived). The rain lasted a few miles, then stopped. The trail dried up and the traction became perfect. No more slick rocks and my tires were hooking up perfectly (except for the bridges). I can't explain the mountain soil to those who've never ridden on such terrain. Pisgah riders know it well. The magical no mud even when submerged. There was even a point where Jeff took the wrong trail while I was fixing my brakes and Keith and I couldn't make out a tire track to see if he'd passed the way we were heading or not while searching for him. Magic Mountain.
Jeff and Keith waiting in the rain while I fix my brakes
Keith up the slot climb in the rain
Check out that Ernesto Magic! Chain post ride
Anyway, the ride upped it a level with the rain. Then it dried up, then the last 6 miles or so was more down pour, until as we rounded to the road and back towards the truck, the sun finally burned off the clouds and came out as we rode the final stretch around the lake. Not muddy, but covered in sand splashed up from our tires, it was a welcome site, as it made the swim in the lake pleasurable.
All cleaned up and dry, we packed up and headed to Shenanigans for post ride food and beverages.
We saw
Woody's new bike shop location and stopped in to chat. It's going to be a cool shop location and the guys have the life. Their commute is up the mountain to work, then down the mountain after work, on road or trail. With pizza, Shenanigans, and Ice Cream next door. I wonder if they need a full time programmer?
Finished the day off with a few scoops of killer ice cream.
Epic. (
Eric if you're reading this, while riding I felt like I was on a mini version of your
pugsly water adventure, only on a much less grandeur scale, less mud, no danger of getting swept out to sea, no salmon dinners, and not quite as interesting a story. Pretty much leaving it at I also got wet and rode a
Surly.)
