Solo Ride on Single-Track

Rode fairly clean single-track (near the old landing strip) at Ft. Lewis area #23 today for 2 hours. It was a solo ride. The trail was solo. I was solo. And . . . it was so very quiet not just in my mind.

Day After Christmas Ride

Here's a few pics returning from a 2 hour snowy ride at Kennedy Creek. There's video too but don't have the disk yet.

Dog Day Snowy Afternoon

Went for a easier (recovery)
ride today
in the snow
along with
the dawg (Winston).

Truly Downhill Kennedy Creek Single Track

Don’t know what to say, but do know what to do – ride the trail. Jeff (in the video) found a new roughed out, truly down-hill trail today at Kennedy Creek, just down from the “Windy Gap.”

We spent a fair amount of time clearing out baby-head sized rocks. It’s got a number of drop-offs, lots of steep, and speed. Although, it may be a crawl to get up to the start it shows good signs of becoming a great loop for training rides and conditioning.

A Fine Winter Day

Morning found us basking through a sunny ride of sumptuous single-track. A group of four ended up meeting and riding Ft. Lewis areas off of Rainer Road. We had some good times and they’re not gone even with winter here. Today’s ride is proof of that -- and shorts. It didn’t seem like it at all but folks ended up with about 18 miles and roughly 3 hours or varied trail. Dry trail riding! No mud!
Ron joined in the ride today. He returned from traveling though foreign parts of the world throughout the summer. Ron was thankful not to be on a plane for another 40 hour trip. Good to see and ride with you again!

And, John P-R hooked up again with his single-speed hard-tailed bike this time. (It weighs about 21 lbs and has carbon-fiber frame components.) Jeff H. was back riding after having been out from a head-code.

Santa Came Early –
We found a number of new trails equestrians punched in that have a lot of promise. (They just need a little clearing of snags here and there.) There is such a network of trails to explore! We passed by at least two junctions with trails leading out in other directions. Much to look forward to.

Tutu -- Tata

Lots of riding at Ft. Lewis single track up until recently when one of us either tore (or pulled) a hamstring while stepping over a “doggie gate” in the house. Of all things!
(Ungraceful as it was and without a Tutu, one did the splits and heard a "pop" then, pain rang out from all corners.) That was early Thurs. AM Thanksgiving.

By Sunday . . . mustered up some guts and courage to introduce a rider to the domains of Ft. Lewis single-track, John P-R. Here’s John P-R’s pic (on the right).

And a bit of a profile on him:
JPR started riding MTB in '96 and rapidly got hooked. “Riding is like being a kid again, except that I have a way cooler bike and Mom can't make me come in when it gets dark.” Since that time he’s picked up road and cyclo-cross as well. JPR raced off and on over the years, most recently 'cross. “The whole thing's an addiction... All-mountain bike, x-c race bike, freeride / park bike, single speed, 'cross bike, single speed 'cross bike, 2 road bikes, tandem....you get the idea.” As far as pace goes, JPR can hang with just about any group and he’s just as happy to just ride around (JRA) as he is to hammer. "Stopping on the side of the trail to session a log ride is cool too. Fast and swoopy or ridiculously technical, it's all good.”

Tata for now.

Recovery & Trail Maintenance Work

We did a recovery ride on Sunday and conducted some trail clearing at Fort Lewis unspecified single-track area (hint: near old landing strip). Built up a couple of ramps over trees that were too large to move or difficult to sail over without having to slow way down! Enjoy . . .

A Best Birthday One Could Wish For . . .

It happens every year, like it or not -- one’s birthday. This last weekend I witnessed a very positive birthday experience. Not Mtn-Biking Man’s but MTBmistress’s (Jeff H). There were a couple of elements that made it most positive and a standout:

1. Jeff's significant other was extremely supportive and encouraging to go “have a nice ride.”


2. Jeff was riding in his new self-selected ¾ highly waterproof pants and . . . it rained during part of the ride.


3. Jeff was wearing the “right gear” (¾ pants)!


4. Jeff conquered, non-stop, a very steep 1¾ hour ride up to “triple towers” (due West from Summit Lake and across from the ORV park). We’re talking about "front-wheel-popping, sit-on-the-front-seat-edge, leg-pounding" of a ride.


5. It was a great abuse of a ride for the legs! (Could only walk around at the summit.)


6. Great coffee at Blue Huron Bakery after the ride.


7. Wife of Mtn-Biking Man feels sympathy for Jeff's such tough ride and bakes him special oatmeal choc chip cookies.
   
   

   Happy birthday Jeff H!

Riding Beyond Fall

Completely right, totally right, seeing nothing wrong at all . . . riding fall, to its fullest. (The pictures say it all.) Riding up through and above the fog at a Kennedy Creek. A weekend day away from the otherwise bleak. A victorious way to spend the end of the day.

Gilligan's Island Ride -- More Than What You Asked For!

Jeff H's brother, Mark from Bellingham joined us for a ride at Ft. Lewis recently. It was his birthday and this is how he wanted to “spend it” . . . on his new 29 incher Cannondale (nice bike) chillin’ with his bro’ on single track! It turned out to be a “Gilligan’s Island” ride though. The duration was intended for 1 ½ hours but it turned into a “3+ hour tour” due to finding new single-track and taking some countless improper turns trying to return to the start point. Here’s Mark on the (his) “last leg” at 2:50’ish hrs. into the ride and about 2 miles away from the vehicles. Even though it was raining in Olympia, we had only a mist and a light wind throughout the ride – no puddles on the trail and NO MUD!

Yes, Still Riding . . .

Yes!

We're still riding -- on all types . . .

It's been a while since we've last posted. During this lag time we've been finding new riding areas in and around Fort Lewis and Kennedy Creek . . . for single track! We are really fortunate in Olympia. Today, two of us traveled all of 10 minutes away from Olympia and rode single track out at Fort Lewis (areas 22, 21, 19) for 2+ hours -- which left us speechless. Reason being, the trails were all drained with no standing water after the last couple days of rain! We’re not talking about lame single-track here. These are some of the best technical and “puzzle-like” navigational pieces around and the other “J” likened it to Bend’s single track (only a little damper). But, we get to ride it all year around and not have snow to contend with.

On another note, J & J were bad. We’ll have to confess to our wives later as we bought ourselves some new ¾ Venture Endure mountain bike knickers. Check out http://www.wiggle.co.uk/. They have by far the best price. Also, had to try the Strike winter glove. We think we do know what we’re getting for Christmas and Easter, and birthday……. Thankfully, I can deflect any blame to J. “Hey, J was complaining about how shoddy I was looking with all the holes and besides, he got the same thing.” There is safety in numbers.

Charred Field Yields Secret Jet Pack and Sudden Exodus

. . . rode an area of Ft. Lewis this weekend. It can’t be properly referenced or may mean more trouble. Usually after coming out of a particular single-track section from the woods we enter more single track that cuts through a large field peppered with occasional trees. This time though, a small part of the field we ride through looked very discolored, like black. Following the trail took us to a sharp left turn around a few trees and then immediately saw it -- something bright red sitting in the middle of a scorched area.

It was a backpack device with two arms and hand sticks coming out from the sides with some switches. It was humming, no whining. Quickly I straddled my bike, got my camera un-holstered to take a picture of what we think was a military jet pack! But Just as I was raising the camera there were suddenly shouts and hands coming up from out of nowhere – right smack in front of my face. It scared the beegeebies out of me and in a panic I grabbed the handle bars – camera banging all about on the wrist strap and I just pedaled as fast as I could out of there with a bunch of loud shouting, chaos, and who knows what else all going on behind me. It was at least a half-mile of furious pedaling and jumping logs and stuff I previously never ever jumped, before I stopped.

Can’t say anything more at this point. Still too shook up.

Meet Allen H !

Don D. recently introduced Allen H. to the Kennedy Creek secret “single track.” Allen works in Olympia and lives out in the Shelton area.


Say . . . can you say “special,” because that’s exactly what this ride was. You may think that ONLY Capitol Forest can reign in (“smack down”) a good workout? Guess again! Lots of hills and ample time for recovery with this ride! Allen enjoyed being the rabbit – trying (successfully) a couple of times to get Don or self to “bite” and stay parallel to his competitive advances. But guess what? Even the Clydesdale in me was able to throw (not up) a challenge in Allen’s direction and he was not quite able to meet it. (‘Course I was left far behind near the end of the ride . . . nothing left to put up. Boo hoo.)

Here's to Don and Allen. And, here's what we rode!

Off-Gear

A new job can yield being “off-geared” . . . out of sorts . . . yep, a gross deviation from one’s normalcy. Two of us were recently appointed to new jobs. Big deal you say! Well, for me at least, it’s meant at least 10 to 12 hours of work over the last three months (yet with a smile), to get a handle on things. Everything I’ve newly seen is being rearranged. This is the time in life that I’m living, and I’ll face each day with a smile knowing that there is a different and better tomorrow as long as I have any influence on it.

I'm aiming to get back in the saddle of total fitness here in the upcoming weeks.

Final Ride and Good Memories Made

Rode from Sunriver (across the river’s bridge) up to Benham Butte down to Benham Falls and back. Nice memory of a ride.

As an extras plus, it was especially pleasing to ride into my wife (Naomi) during the last 4 miles of paved pathways in Sunriver. She deserved a break at that point so I let her ride Enduro while I walked back much of the way in cleats on the paved pathway. (We got strange looks and comments from people – I just explained that the bike fit the princess perfectly.)

Sun River to Black Butte

Sun River to Black Butte Ride – 18 miles round-trip, 92 degrees. Nice . . . and . . . HOT!

Hinnerup, DK

A nice ride this evening which began along a rolling country road with great pastorial views and through an old village. We then descended into the Count's forrest on dirt logging roads (this particular Count owns the largest track of forrested land in Denmark!). Much of the forrest was reminescent of the "black forrest," though the Iron Age burial mounds added a deeper touch of mystery. The weather was just like at home: it began in the sunshine and ended in the rain. About a 12 k ride. Hope to have one more of the same prior to departure. Thanks to Aksel, my riding partner, host, and cousin-in-law (pictured). Thanks also to Jasper for loan of the bike. MTB Mistress.

Ride from Sunriver to Inn of 7th Mountain & Back

Naomi and John rode the Deschutes River today from Sunriver to Inn of 7th Mountain and back (~18-21 miles). The trail access from Benham Falls had been previously closed from Sunday 7/6 to early Tuesday AM 7/8 when we did this ride. It had been closed because a local Bend Emergency Room doctor was reported missing on Monday. We found flowers left where he disappeared . . . such a loss. Many locals grieving . . .

"The search is over... The body of a missing 58-year-old Bend emergency room doctor was found in about ten feet of water around 7 o'clock Monday night. It was more than a mile downstream from Benham Falls. Lynn McDonald's bicycle was found Sunday near that area. Officials are not speculating as to how or why McDonald entered the water, but the investigation continues. McDonald had been employed as an ER doctor at St Charles-Bend for the last 27-years." Married with two 16 year old kids.

Out-of-office July 6-12

Hi all . . .

There may be very few posts for the next two weeks. John & Naomi are down in Sun River / Bend area for mountain biking.

We’ll try to post some pictures.

Glostrup, Denmark / Sunday, 29 June

Less than 8 hours in country and I found myself on a bike on dirt. Okay, it was the Scandia Hotel single speed and just a couple of blocks of dirt trail along a canal, but I am going to count it anyway. There is a bike shop just up the road a bit - peeked in the window and spied a full-suspension "Focus" that looked to be a full carbon frame with a wicked design. We are off to a castle and Tivoli today. Not sure if the first real ride will happen in Germany this week or later back here in Denmark again. Will post when it happens. Holiday!

Go Figure . . .?

Go figure this out:
Mystery Icon in Middle of Ft. Lewis Boonies-

No more riding up Mount Rainier?

Highway 99 on ramp closed to Mountain Biking?

Today we rode: 4.15 hours, ALL HARDTAILS ~23-27 miles (Rainer Rd. to Yelm High School and back – poking up any trail and dual track possible).

Meet Don

One of us folks started a new job recently. And, well word got around the office there was yet another mountain biker incognito as “an IT person” during most hours of the day but whose real life surrounds his passion for mountain biking. Everybody, meet Don D. Don D. meet your blog mates.

Don is a previous MTB racer. (He whipped up a good batch of “Kick Your B_ _ _” for a few of us along with a good portion of "Humble Pie" Wednesday night at Kennedy Creek. (Rode 7-9PM about 10 miles – good hill training and some “invisible single track.” “Are you SURE we’re riding single track – I can’t see a friggen’ piece of the trail!)

It’s a Small World . . .

After yesterday’s 3 hour thigh-banger – today was meant for a recovery ride. Bizarre it was. No, it was probably “Devine Intervention.” Ask Sister Hazel (“Battle Axe Nun”) or your priest or pastor if you aren’t able to “work with me here.”
Started riding from #21 lower Weir Prairie at 1 PM. Did “the hill.” (Okay, so I walked it alright.) Circumnavigated all upper Weir Prairie (3 miles), and looped back to then do the single track along the ridgeline. Took my sweet time -- popped out at the end, and low and behold . . . there’s my previous boss Dave, and his wife Aggie, on a tandem mountain-bike pedaling up the last piece of a hill. (Note: I had left my job and started new work 3 weeks ago.)

I had been sharing with Dave over the last year about the quietness and pristine nature of the meadows -- how peaceful and therapeutic they were. It turns out they had just decided to come check it out that very day. And, they nearly turned away from going up the hill that put us at the same place at the same time. Bizarre? Devine Intervention? What do you think?

Nirvana Again . . .

Found lots of new single track today (area #23 where the pipeline runs). Jeff and John discovered new track to the South of the pipeline that goes over a ridgeline and back a couple of times for approximately 2.5 to 3 miles. Two of the miles are very challenging technical pieces with lots of big roots (3’- 6”) to jump / lift over and sizeable “adult-headed” rocks peppering short steep hills and descents around sharp corners. We ended up down near the Landing Strip, crossed the pipeline track and . . . found newly placed steep single track. That led us to a new single track hill we coined “Primal Scream.” (One of us screamed as we were only able to ride it ¾ of the way up before flat-lining each time out of 3 attempts.) An hour later we ended up at Stedman Road and did some back-tracking in order to hit the pipeline for a quicker way back.

Upon return home: Jeff’s wife had already BBQ’d their dinner and it was sitting on the table. (Yes, we were late!) And, John’s wife . . . “we’re almost ready for dinner, was IT THAT MUCH FUN?” John only smiled (“yep, it sure was – Nirvana again”).

Solo Saturday: Attack roots and dogs

My first post: An exciting Saturday heading out to the new Yelm area playground from the Military Road entrance. Started off by going head over handlebars as I tried to navigate a large root, landing squarely on a fist under the breastbone. Ouch. Inauspicious beginnings led to a great 2 + hours on recently discovered (and perhaps some new) very overgrown single track. Met a new friend on the way home by the name of "woof 'I want to chew on you' woof." Came out from the house you pass just as the ride starts out (or ends). Looked to be a Rottweiler. He/She/IT finally gave up the chase when I gave a good loud scream and shout. So, heads up when riding by the house - not sure if the puppy was just into the chase or really did want to chew. All in all, a great Saturday evening and just what the doctor ordered.

Summer Solstice Bike Ride in Eatonville, June 21st 2008.

From Len T. (Eatonville Outdoor) --
To celebrate Summer Solstice we're going on late afternoon/early evening bike ride. We will meet at Eatonville Outdoor located in downtown Eatonville at 6:15pm, leaving there at 6:30 sharp. The ride will be out to the future Nisqually-Mashel State Park land where we will ride to the Nisqually River and return. The distance will be about 12 miles, on both paved road and gravel logging roads. Though it's a short ride, plan a moderate pace to get back to town to enjoy dinner in Eatonville on the longest day of the year!

(John can take 1-2 people -- who's interested?)

Happy Fathers' Day

Here is to giving thanks for Fathers. And, a day of appreciation and . . . rest?

Naaaa! Let's go ride!

"Easy-Rider Ride" Not So Easy . . .?

Today was supposed to be an “easy-rider ride.” Don’t think so. We headed toward Flander’s Lake – a hidden gem of a lake.

Made it to the hidden lake and then headed out on dual track “toward home.” Jeff H. and John were bringing up the rear and were heading down a fair amount of grade when Jeff spotted (and spouted) “SINGLE TRACK!” [Hmmm . . . me thinks this looks VERY familiar.] It is familiar! It’s the same single track coming out and up from behind JZ Knights’ kingdom.

Jeff and John caught up to Todd and Lisa who appeared excited that we’re apparently close to home (Area #22 near Rainer Road). Not so. We’re less than 4 miles away from Yelm central. Oops. We retrace ground covered and take the single track up through the “Black Forrest” around areas #19, #20 and #21. An hour and a half later we make it back to the vehicles. 3 hours. ~17-18 miles. 1,300’ elevation gain. Happy, happy, joy, joy for these “easy-rider ride” days.

Outtakes of What Riding The Area Is All About

Here are video highlights regarding today’s ride.
Al bombing down secret single-track . . .
Todd – showing ultimate grace and balance on his 29’er "hard-tail"

“Cleaning one of the “steeps” (Al)

Exiting “Black Forrest” (notice the grin Todd has – he’s experienced "single-track Nirvana")
No breakdowns today. We rode new single track that was more of a bushwhack ride (abusive, had to fight through the jungle of overgrowth and much of the time couldn’t see where the trail was going until right on top of it).

Net outcomest:
+ 17 miles
+ 3 hours
+ 1,400 – 1,700 elevation gain

Have a great week ahead!

Ken E and . . . Derailleur Demise

Yesterday, on the way out from doing trail maintenance Jeff and John came across another mountain biker. We were driving back on the single paved road off of Rainier Road when we saw this guy make a sudden “bee line” on dirt dual track away from where we were driving. (He thought we were the MP security?) After a number times honking the horn he ambled back to where we were. Once he saw bikes standing up in the back of the truck he just stated “Ohh bikes!!!!” Introductions were made, chat surfaced about secret SINGLE TRACK and we then exchanged “vital records” (e-mail, phone numbers, blood type, insurance coverage, and next of kin), and then parted.

Today, Sunday - Ken was the only soul to show up for a recovery ride with John. We met up at the 1 PM appointed time and rode up to where the steep baby-headed hill intersects with the hidden single track. It wasn’t but probably 10 minutes into the single track that John LIKE WHOA . . . HIT A WALL, and not by his own accord. A 3” thick ‘outrigger’ branch from a stump SLAMMED his rear derailleur and totally bent it backwards and inward to the spokes. It started throwing John over the bars!!! He thanked his football days of ballet-pirouette training (no S***)! Well, it’s probably more likely based on genes from his Mom (Liz) and Dad (Ed), of Mill Valley CA. BIG SPECIAL THANKS & LOVE for SAVING YOUR SON’S BACON!

The net, net:
1) Argghhhhhh! Bent derailleur!
2) Only two functional gears to use for a 10 mile ride – and some steep hills.
3) Damn the torpedoes -- full speed ahead, the heck with “Recovery! – It’s HAMMER TIME.”
4) Enjoy the rest of the ride with Ken and show / ride secret single track!
5) Take bike into shop – “Oh . . . , you’re definitely really screwed on this . . .”
6) Got to thank parents for dexterity and “grace.”

All of this said . . . everyone, meet Ken E! (For privacy, we don’t use last names unless you say so.) Ken has been riding Ft. Lewis incognito for about 10 years. He also rides Capital Forest but not with the recent mud-fest conditions. Ken works in the medical field. His steed = A Litespeed hard-tail with front suspension fork. This guy can HAUL TAIL with this bike – super light, and takes off like a rocket. Look for Ken again!

Your Escape with Landscapes (or Minimize the “Mow”)

Mtn-Biking Man has been picking up lessons learned from others on how to gracefully gain more time for riding and spend far less – yes, much, much less time mowing and picking weeds. Here are tips worth considering:
> Shrink grass as much as possible!
> Surround grass with bark or rock (see great picture)!
> Pour a “Sport Court.” Don’t have room for a full size? No issue, just cement it and call it a “half court” or better yet . . . call it a large / extended “socializing patio” [wife bound to like this, especially with a couple of chairs and potted flowers added]!!

> Rock your front yard! (see other great picture)!
> Throw a fountain, a bench and some stepping stones out instead of grass!

> Get a dog -- “sorry can’t mow today – too much *!#&$ in the grass and the boy has yet to ‘pick-up-the-poop’ (PUTS).”
> Ask your neighbor if you can borrow his goats. Goats eat grass (and everything else). No goat? No problem! Ask neighbor is they’ll let their kids play on your lawn. They’re sure to trample the grass, weeds, and flowers down (after all they’re kids, the next best thing to goats). Viola! Grass trampled down and nothing to mow! Poop has mysteriously disappeared too (or got mushed in, who cares)! No flowers! No weeds! No poop!

You’ve worked hard orchestrating all of this, so go take a well-deserved bike ride!

We’re all pulling for ya!

Trail Stewardship

Greetings everyone,
Since there were just a few of us today, we spent time mixed between riding and doing trail maintenance. Jeff and John cleared a single-track section through one of the meadows of head-height scotch broom (where we lost track of some folks on the previous ride) and then went on to clear about a mile or so of brush, thick ferns, and nettles from single track in the woods. The trail is more open and smoother now with no more “green prickly” obstacles. Several (slimy & slippery when wet) logs were removed and a trail going over a fallen tree was widened so you can now ride over it with a little finesse and some concentration.

Rock Candy Mountain Not So Sweet

Tried to ride an “old favorite” today -- Rock Candy Mountain’s B5000 road. B5000 is a great hill conditioner – well it was when it was there. Worth noting: the bridge is out and DNR’s Chris Knutson says it won’t be replaced for another year. Even if you ride up the Rim Rock trail to get around the bridge and catch the road going up . . . you’ll face yet another chasm (see picture).

The trail (Rim Rock) going up was too greasy, baby-head rocked, and very steep to ride so it was back down over numerous washed out areas. B5000 area is not worth the effort for hill conditioning. A better choice is Kennedy Creek for hill conditioning. Rock Candy is great though if you like a lot of bush whacking!