“Magnificent Seven (7)” Ride

Seven of us gathered (gaggled?) today and had one swell ride from Yelm area toward Rainier direction and back. There was lots of fun single-track and friendly yammering throughout the “3-hour-tour.” A fair amount of the trail was so overgrown it segued to “ride-by-faith.” The weather never “started getting rough” and the bikes never got “tossed,” and no bike or rider ever got marooned (on a “tropical isle” -- weak analogy to “Gilligan’s Island” here). Someone (think it was Al?) coined the group “magnificent seven.” The question surfaced, “what happens if there’s an 8th . . . and, someone pronounced . . . “I thought there’s only 6 of us?” There was either too much lactic acid buildup or not enough oxygen intake at that point because I don’t recall anyone responding. Sad to say we had to “take a body count” a number of times just to make sure there was actually seven. SOME thought there truly was only 6.
Video: Bill and Al.

Join us in saying “welcome” to Bill. E. (far Rt.),
and
Barrie W. (we never use last names for privacy).
Barrie shot many of these pics. Thanks Barrie!

Armor & Low Slung Top Tube = Amour

Tried out a Specialized P2 “Jumper” bike this afternoon on single-track for 1 ½ hours. Jumped on and off everything one could - rocks, big roots, gaps, holes, but the 5-6” high log was a TOTAL show-stopper. I literally became “hung up” attempting to jump over it. The front tire cleared it perfectly and like perfect science the momentum started to carry forward and glide over the front chain ring and bash guard until it met . . . the rear tire and science decided to flunk my sophomore moves and the bike from any forward inertia. Science stopped everything. Mr. Zech, my high-school science teacher, was undoubtedly laughing. Is it ironic there are skulls and cross-bones painted on the bike’s down tube?

In another bold (asinine?) move one launched off of a 6” ramped up log only to find out that both feet CAN actually LIFT completely OFF the pegs a couple of inches and land back down with a “thump.” NOTE: this is not a good sign, and it should scare the bejeebees out of one if it happens.

Today’s science lesson is: Body Armor = Amour. Low slung top-tube = precious and priceless.