I Like My Bike

Join the "I Like My Bike" campaign and write to Pearl Izumi today! This fabulos riding shirt is currently only available in kids sizes, so big kids like us cannot proudly proclaim "My bike is fast" or "My bike makes me strong." After asking at a coulple of retailers about adult sizes, the unversial response has been "no, not available, but tons of people ask." The manager of the Pearl Izumi outlet in Bend had the same response, but then encouraged me to contact the home office - "maybe they'll listen to you" she said.

So, if you "Like your Bike" and want to tell the world, join the campaign and contact Pearl Izumi at: info@pearlizumi.com I did and got a nice response that my e-mail was being forwarded to the product development folks. Maybe if they hear from enough of us kids, we'll soon be riding in style too.

Lost Rides Found

Just when I thought it was lost, found my device still held the June 14 Magnificent 7 ride. Also found the Ft. Lewis Summer Classic from June 20. Still have hopes of overlaying these rides onto a topo map to begin laying out the trail network. Someday...

Spouse and Spokes

Suzanne's first big ride on the Giant Yukon full-susser: An Out & Back from Circle 7 to Lava Lands Visitor Center. Nice flowing single track with a good rise on the way out making for an easier return. Total ride just over 14 miles. A good time together and a good milestone ride for Suzanne to measure progress against. Looking forward to more time in the saddle with my best friend.

A couple of ride maps....

Still figuring out the Garmin. Lost the big Ft. Lewis ride with the magnificent 7 (June 14 post), but here are links to:

Peter Skene Odgen - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/8951034

Skokomish River (see July 3 post) - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/8951056

Peter Skene Ogden Trial

A perverse reverse ride yesterday morning: Ride single track up the mountain and take the forest service roads back down. Apparently user conflicts over the years have made this the rule on the Peter Skene Ogden trail. And after having climbed 2,000+ feet on just over 8 miles of trail (starting elevation 4,250), I can see how it would be screaming fun to flow back down, but the unexpected meetings with hikers and horses coming up would be a problem.

A good ride overall - trail was sandy for the first 2 miles, but riding the trail edge kept the tires rolling. Miles 2 - 5 were a nice easy "I could do this forever" rise. Miles 5 - 7 were peppered with short steeps and switch backs with just enough recovery in between to keep you riding. The last 1.3 leveled off, but by then the legs were tapped, so felt like it would never end. Then victory - a quick peek at the lake and then down, down, down (rather borning going down, though some good speed at times). 2:10 to the top and 40 min back down. Pic is at one of many falls along Paulina Creek which the trial paralells on the way up.

Big “Shout-Out” to John PR (JPR) for Trail Clearing

A big thank you and “shout out” goes out to John PR who

(we just found out) cleared a long stretch of single-track from Scotch Broom, tall grass, and ferns which previously overflowed / overgrew the trail in area 21 (Ft. Lewis – off Rainier Rd). The editor can attest that . . .

“this trail absolutely rockets

from the start to finish.” (One can look well ahead and see the trail!)

Today was a recovery ride for the editor after yesterday’s ride on Capital Peak Green Line #6 to #20, to #8 from Mima Mounds.

Today’s ride took place in area #23 – single track through woods, up the hill to near the top of the old “Rainier Lookout,” and back. Mind you . . . JPR was on a single speed, 23 lb’er hard-tail bike. Editor = dual-suspension, 37 lbs (the bike) and about 10-14 lbs overweight (editor). Nothing like a good ride (humbling) for getting motivated to eat less, and ride the same, if not more. At least we were out on bikes for 1 ½ hours! (Could have been doing something far less healthy.)

Find of the Day

Came across this while riding tonight out in the middle of a meadow. Neato . . .

Video of Don riding "Primal Scream" Trail

On a recent July 5th ride at Ft. Lewis (area 23), William W. took this video shoot of Don D. riding the tough, and steep pitched “Primal Scream” trail.

Preping for Primal Scream takes some
psyching up and mental preparation.

Welcome to William W. & Dog Rescue

We’ll have more to pics and a video to follow on this shortly yet first an introduction to William W (Left) who joined Don D., and John for his first mountain bike ride today. William rode a nice full suspension bike (Kona King Kikapu) rented from the Bike Stand. For a first-timer, he did amazingly well in hopping over logs and navigating some of the more technical pieces today. A dog also joined us today. In spite of providing him a lot of water, the distance and heat just got to be a bit too much. We drove a truck in to extract him out of the woods with about a mile to go. Not worth risking the well-being of “man’s best friend.”

(@Right- Don & William)

Remote Trails Can Be Lonely -- Affected by Recession Too?

A few of us went up to the South Fork Skokomish River area (South of Lake Cushman) for what we recalled two years ago as “heavenly single-track.” Things change over time. Marriages do. Friends do. The type of cars we drive. Our bodies do. Work and trails do too. Over time, trails can become overgrown, and in a tough economy, coupled with remoteness can yield tough passages, whether biking, or hiking. So no heaven today. We parked a ¼ mile up North from the Brown Creek Campground area, rode up FS Rd # 2300 to #2361 to its end – about 12 miles.

Going back down the river involved taking trail #873. The first 1.6 miles goes fine until you come to a river crossing. When you cross (wade) the river you end up with a “hike-a-bike” bush-whack for about 3-4 miles. There were several sections of trail completely washed out by the river, and other sections of trail with 4-6 huge trees to climb over, under or largely deviate around -- places where one only gains a mile in a single hour. If you decide to not to cross the river (like we did initially) you end up with a “hike-a-bike” that drops over a cliff down to the river, or leads up a jeep trail back to #2361.
Here’s what we recommend based on our lessons learned.

• Park at Lebar Creek Horse Camp. (Don’t forget the $5 day fee like we did or you could receive a citation.)
• Ride trail #800 out that then connects to #873 after about a mile (heading in a northerly direction). The first 5 miles of the trail is quite well maintained along with a few technical pieces, including 7-8 quite steep, sharp-turning, and very exhilarating down-hill switch-backs as you head out. Coming back you may likely find some way too steep and long to ride.
• After 5-6 miles out on the trail, it sort of disappears and it becomes quite overgrown with vegetation. When you start hitting / seeing logs across the trail or see the trail head over a cliff to the river, that’s the sign to turn around and go back down (by sometimes going up very steeply).

Net for the day: 25-26 miles, 5 hours, 2,100’ in elevation gain, and twitching muscle spasms towards the end makes for spastic partners for one’s significant other (the wives). Fireworks and a good meal soothes the worst parts of this though.

“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.

Short Intense Ft. Lewis Area #23 Ride Today

An interesting profile of an intense ride today.
Thanks Jeff for the mapping provided at this link:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/6350343

Roadies Suprised by Non String Being & Pimped Mtn Bike

One of us P.O'd a couple of "roadies" on separate occasions Friday afternoon on a paved Chehalis-Western "recovery" (HA!) ride of 32 miles. The riders weren't happy to see your editor being less than 6', and . . . stocky keeping up with them as "string beings" for respectable distances on a "Pimped Out" mountain bike compared to their fancy-smansie racing bikes. This editor thought he lost one particular rider only to come around a corner to see him red-faced, drinking, and leaning up against his bare-boned elegant racing bike. He looked stupefied to see someone on a mountain bike, full Camelback pack on, and mouth guard hanging from a chin strap. He was panting, mouth wide open, and eyes followed suite. He looked absolutely stunned. It was precious and worth every forced pedal stroke this editor delivered. The muscle burn was worth it! (Okay, tomorrow we'll recover.)

Sprint and Leisure

Started the day with a 9 mile sprint up and back from Benham Falls parking lot to Lava Lands Visitor Center. 777 feet elevation gain, running 32 minutes out and 26 minutes home. Sweet ride - i.e., no snow or falls like yesterdays five hour hike-a-bike marathon. Just what the doctor ordered.

Second ride of the day was a nice family ride - about 9 of us altogether. Helen and Maggie toughed it out for 10 miles, though Helen did not enjoy the single track and Maggie is now running a fever. Suzanne took her Yukon on it's madien voyage and has a couple of bruises to prove it. Pinky's rear brake seized up - only one bolt left on the disc. Took one from the front and nursed it home on the front brake when required. Picture is of Suzanne on her new ride with Maggie and Uncle Pete trailing behind. Heading home to Olympia in the morning.

Doing "B52 Bomber"

Awesome views today with a 19 mile, 4 hour, 2,400’ elevation gain ride. Started from Summit Lake area up B5200 (a.k.a., the “B52 Bomber”) to Rock Candy Mountain saddle and back. Legs got spent way early in the ride while trying out a new seat. During the first 2.5 miles and steep 1000’ pitch, the seat was initially angled down far too much. It changed the whole dynamics of leg leverage and peddling. Adjusted the seat two more times and finally found the sweet spot but legs were tapped after already experiencing such a l-o-n-g edgy muscle burn. Here’s pic of the Sound from Rock Candy and a vid of Summit Lake and South Sound.

Hike-a-Bike-athon

Note to self: Memorial Day weekend is too early to ride Cultus Lake. A normal 2 hour, 12 mile ride was a five hour marathon of pushing bikes through snow and much hoisting of iron ponies over winter falls. Egads. Notwithstanding, Pete and the boys (Christian, Michael and Bryant) were troopers. The effort was rewarded with shakes and fries for the boys and pie a-la-mode for the men at Cultus Lake Resort when all was said and done. Looking to ride the lower elevations around Sun River tommorow with the wife (on her new (used rental) full-sus Giant Yukon FX). Here's to seeing today's ride in the rearview and tommorow's ride yet a dream of bliss on rubber on dirt.

mtbMistress.

Edge 705 Initial Exploration

A 01:44:20 ride covering 11.48 miles and 623 ft of elevation gain. That is what Edge tells us. The Edge misses, of course, the sun, the trees, the roots, the puddles, and the companionship. A good exploration ride today, mostly on double track and a few single track sections which had been previously discovered. And, the maiden voyage for the Edge. Will be nice when the Topo Maps are loaded - still hoping I can add trails to the Topo using some third party software. Will have to wait for that. In the meantime, you can (I think) check out the ride.

Mystery Poles & "Go Figure 8" Work(aholic) Out

One is wondering about this mystery of poles found today on a trail waaaaay out in the woods off of Kennedy Creek area. Any ideas? (They are 6-7' tall poles, and mostly all debarked.)

Today was “Go Figure 8” (like last weekend) and “Then Some” (extra special pain hill-riding) today at Kennedy Creek. Goal was and has been to focus on hill climbing skills, and middle-gear workouts. We didn’t do the very steep “Heart Attack Hill” today but the next one, “LSDH” – Long, Steep, Daunting, Hill.

Today there were about 80-100 horse trailers parked under the power line at Kennedy Creek for the “Back Woodsman, Fun Trail Ride.” We talked to the organizer and she told us they got approved a bunch of new trails in this area (Green Triangle), and started punching them in shortly before this ride. They are well marked with yellow and orange hanging survey tape. We went on a few tails but kept running into horses. Some of the new trails are steep, very narrow, and rocky "baby-head" rough, especially dropping DOWN from “Windy Gap” (the scenic area previous pics were taken from.)

Stay in touch. Phone is on. So are we, except for Jell-O-ee legs. (They're out of commish for the evening until they can "get pumped" . . . up again tomorrow, maybe? Please? Please!)

Garmin Edge 705

At last I have taken the plunge and it has arrived. The Garmin Edge 705 - the ultimate in bike tech geek according to one article I read. Just out of the box and no playing with it yet. It is smaller than I thought it would be. Not a lot of information out there on how to use it, particularly in the manner I hope to - cartography 101: riding our home trials and creating accurate maps to share. Looking forward to the first ride this Saturday and the ensuing learning experience in map making. Stay tuned - hope to post maps of Ft. Lewis riding areas soon that make sense of the maze.