Adam conquers Kennedy Creek

Adam's introduction to Kennedy Creek, a fair "mountian" bike ride compared to his flat Kansas home, was a success. While a bit of a slog through intermittent rain, steady determination got Adam up the hills to the top. The seat on his bike was being a real pain in the a#$, so we swapped saddles at the Y before the long climb to Windy Gap. Picture is from the top near Windy Gap.

Noticed a signed horse trail between the top of the climb and Windy Gap - off to the right, going down the side of the hill. Did not attempt it today. Exepect it may be quite steep, but look forward to seeing if it is rideable and where it dumps out the next time I get a chance to spin around Kennedy Creek.

Race Track Takes On Don & Val

Another day of bliss of single-track riding, oh so close to Olympia. Only 8 miles out of Oly! This time around Don and Val join in on the fun!

Bloggers, meet Don & Val. Don and Val, meet your fellow Bloggers.

Here's the trail we did today (it's mapped from an earlier trip yet still accurate) -- http://connect.garmin.com/activity/101548384
Best,

New Trail & New Riders @ Fort Lewis (Rainier Road) = Horses & Bikes Collaborate 4.5 miles of trail survey tape marked and punched in by Nisqually Chapter of Back Country Horsemen (equestrians) who did an awesome job. Swoopy, swerving, roller-coastering through the trees and meadow! Maximum FUN factor for mountain bikers and 4 hoofs! Mountain bikers cleared logs, spoke-breakers, and treacherous derailleur-detachers.  Mountain-bikers recently bush-wacked ~2.5 miles of the trail.  While bush-wacking, ran into two (2) Black-Faced hornet nests -- at a cost (4 stings and swelling factors -- ankle, back areas, groin area ). Next day = Heavily sprayed the areas and put signs up to warn all trail-users of areas that were sprayed. Happy riding for all now!  Met two awesome stewards of the area, on the trails today. Riding totally awesome 
Tennessee Walkers (horses, NOT a bike type). Very respectful of bikers, can outrun wasps too: Carrie & Barry
Also joining us today -- a totally new rider to mountain-biking. Bloggers meet Jacques. Jacques meet your audience/readers. 
We've been having a totally awesome times on the "Race Track". Contact us if you want a neat experience of a ride just 8 miles outside of Olympia. Johnspecht1@comcast.net

Stottlemeyer 30

It was clear within the first mile that I was way out of my league and the goal would be to simply finish this race/ride. Notwithstanding all of my "I've been sick and have not ridden in over a week" excuses, the field of riders was obviously more fit and way into the racing scene. Get past all of that and what you have was a truly epic ride on a great, challenging course.

A couple miles of road to string out the pack and then we hit it: tight, twisty, rooty, uppy-downy, muddy, don't catch a handle bar on that tree or a pedal on that stump single track. In smaller doses, this would be downright fun to ride. A couple of miles later it opened back up for a stretch of gravel road and then REALLY FUN sweet, swoopy, slightly downhill and fast single track. This was definitely the best part of the ride - even on the second lap where things were really starting to drag. Then it was back into the tight track with some pretty good climbs to complete lap one.

Felt okay at the end of the first lap (see pic), but began to worry that if my legs held out, my upper body would not and I'd be in trouble trying to muscle through the tight track. In the end, the arms held up, but severe leg cramps at mile 24 put me off the bike and walking the final climbs. Took a wrong turn and lost a few minutes and a couple of riders I had been in intermittent contact with. Rats on that! Was able to get back in the saddle for the last push home, feeling like my own little version of "Bert the Conqueror" as I crossed the line.
For the record, finished in 4:11:53, 24th out of 32 riders in the old guys division. My GPS put the route at closer to 27.5 miles.
Don't think I'll follow up with the Echo Valley race - this definitely showed that you need to train for a ride like this, let alone race. And, with only 4 weeks to go, don't think I can make enough improvement to justify the expense. But, I may be back next year to race against the clock and see if Jeff.12 can beat Jeff.11

Final comment: what fun to watch the real racers race - incredible how fast they could move through that single track. A testament to their skills and fitness.

Race Day

Thanks to BuDuRacing for introducing Thumper to race day. Nine miles of realtively tame trail, mostly doubletrack, around Ft. Steilacoom. Rode the 40-49 yr old virgin (beginner) class. Finished dead center - 6th out of 12 riders, clocking a time of 55:28. Happy to note that only 1 of the 9 riders between the ages of 19 and 39 was faster. As for the race itself? Well, lost contact with a group of three about mid-way through the first lap and by then had also gapped the guys behind. So after that it was just me and Thumper riding alone to the finish line. I think that probably took some of the fun out of it, but it also presented it's own mental challenges with no one there to help pull or push me along. Shout out to my wife Suzanne, who buzzed down from the kids volleyball tourney in time to yell some encouragement as lap one was completed and was there to give a kiss at the end!