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!