RR: Rider of the storm

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So after being missed by a lot of the rain, we've finally
been getting our share. It's been raining every afternoon
and keeping things pretty cool and making the trails nice
and tacky. That's a relief because things were very dry and
dusty for a while there.

This of course adds a new dimension to the riding as we try
to schedule around the rain. On Sunday I headed out for a
solo afternoon SS ride. We had just had a downpour, so
things were looking pretty good for a Hartman's ride (those
trails are best after rain). It started sprinkling on the
four Mile spin to the trails, but it wasn't bad with my
shell on. I spun through the base area, climbed up Jack's
trail and headed for Hog's Back, deciding to stay at the
North end of the area as the clouds were looking threatening
to the South. The traction was as good as it ever is, and I
thoroughly enjoyed really digging in to each turn and
climbing out of the saddle with zero slippage. I rode Hog's
Back and Alonzo's, the latter of which made me nervous as I
heard thunder while I traversed the ridge that is one of the
highest points in the area. I successfully made it off the
ridge (as fast as possible) and started climbing the Luge.
About 1/3 of the way up the sprinkle started getting
heavier, becoming a steady barrage of ever-growing drops.
The wind was picking up and the sky was darkening as I
started seeing lightning flashes and hearing thunder
simultaneously. Time to change my plan. A cell had blown in
and it looked like it was about to really let loose. I
stopped and turned my bike around to head back to lower
terrain and look for shelter. Back at the intersection I saw
a granite outcropping maybe 30 Feet off an old trail that I
had never paid any attention to. It had a perfect overhung
section that I could get under to escape the elements. There
was room for me and my bike, and I got a nice recliner-
shaped rock to wait out the storm. I made myself comfortable
and got out a snack. Over the next 20 Minutes, the rain got
heavier and became hail. The lightning was pretty steady and
very close, making me a bit nervous even from my comfortable
little cave. Then it started to taper off until the rain had
stopped again as quickly as it started and the sun started
to peek through the clouds. I emerged from my shelter and
made a mental note of it's location in case I ever need it
again (it's the only shelter for a Mile or so in any
direction). I was kicking myself for not packing the camera
because I was treated to a beautiful rainbow against a dark,
brooding sky. The sage was extra-bright green with the sun
peeking below the clouds. The rocks were lit up and their
colors were extra-vibrant with the moisture and light,
reminiscent of a southwest-style pastel drawing. It was a
special moment and I had nobody by myself to share it with.
I continued on my ride through the surreal landscape,
climbing back up to Hog's Back and continuing on through
Rocky Ridge, up Sea of Sage, a great effort on Rattlesnake
(closest I've come to cleaning it on the SS yet), and then
finishing off with Beck's and The Notch. It wasn't until I
was at the top of the Notch climb that I realized I was
totally beat. From the Notch I coasted back to the base area
and spun home uneventfully. Although some would see getting
caught in a storm a bad thing, I think that was the element
that made this ride stand out as truly great. Life is good
(even though my break is over and I'm back at work).

Matt

On 2004-06-29, MattB penned:
> From the Notch I coasted back to the base area and spun
> home uneventfully. Although some would see getting caught
> in a storm a bad thing, I think that was the element that
> made this ride stand out as truly great. Life is good
> (even though my break is over and I'm back at work).

Sounds like a wonderful, gorgeous, and eventful! ride. I'm
kicking you, too, for not bringing your camera.

--
monique

Monique Y. Mudama wrote:
> On 2004-06-29, MattB penned:
>> From the Notch I coasted back to the base area and spun
>> home uneventfully. Although some would see getting caught
>> in a storm a bad thing, I think that was the element that
>> made this ride stand out as truly great. Life is good
>> (even though my break is over and I'm back at work).
>
> Sounds like a wonderful, gorgeous, and eventful! ride. I'm
> kicking you, too, for not bringing your camera.

On the plus side, my camera didn't get wet!

Matt

"MattB" <somedudeus@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:2kdlnlF14b3hU1@uni-berlin.de...
> So after being missed by a lot of the rain, we've finally
> been getting our share. It's been raining every afternoon
> and keeping things pretty cool
and
> making the trails nice and tacky. That's a relief because
> things were very dry and dusty for a while there.
>
> This of course adds a new dimension to the riding as we
> try to schedule around the rain. On Sunday I headed out
> for a solo afternoon SS ride. We
had
> just had a downpour, so things were looking pretty good
> for a Hartman's
ride
> (those trails are best after rain). It started sprinkling
> on the four Mile spin to the trails, but it wasn't bad
> with my shell on. I spun through the base area, climbed up
> Jack's trail and headed for Hog's Back, deciding to stay
> at the North end of the area as the clouds were looking
> threatening
to
> the South. The traction was as good as it ever is, and I
> thoroughly
enjoyed
> really digging in to each turn and climbing out of the
> saddle with zero slippage. I rode Hog's Back and Alonzo's,
> the latter of which made me nervous as I heard thunder
> while I traversed the ridge that is one of the highest
> points in the area. I successfully made it off the ridge
> (as fast
as
> possible) and started climbing the Luge. About 1/3 of the
> way up the sprinkle started getting heavier, becoming a
> steady barrage of
ever-growing
> drops. The wind was picking up and the sky was darkening
> as I started
seeing
> lightning flashes and hearing thunder simultaneously. Time
> to change my plan. A cell had blown in and it looked like
> it was about to really let loose. I stopped and turned my
> bike around to head back to lower terrain
and
> look for shelter. Back at the intersection I saw a granite
> outcropping
maybe
> 30 Feet off an old trail that I had never paid any
> attention to. It had a perfect overhung section that I
> could get under to escape the elements. There was room for
> me and my bike, and I got a nice recliner-shaped rock
to
> wait out the storm. I made myself comfortable and got out
> a snack. Over the next 20 Minutes, the rain got heavier
> and became hail. The lightning was pretty steady and very
> close, making me a bit nervous even from my comfortable
> little cave. Then it started to taper off until the
rain
> had stopped again as quickly as it started and the sun
> started to peek through the clouds. I emerged from my
> shelter and made a mental note of
it's
> location in case I ever need it again (it's the only
> shelter for a Mile or so in any direction). I was kicking
> myself for not packing the camera because I was treated to
> a beautiful rainbow against a dark, brooding sky. The sage
> was extra-bright green with the sun peeking below the
> clouds. The rocks were lit up and
their
> colors were extra-vibrant with the moisture and light,
> reminiscent of a southwest-style pastel drawing. It was a
> special moment and I had nobody
by
> myself to share it with. I continued on my ride through
> the surreal landscape, climbing back up to Hog's Back and
> continuing on through Rocky Ridge, up Sea of Sage, a great
> effort on Rattlesnake (closest I've come to cleaning it on
> the SS yet), and then finishing off with Beck's and The
> Notch. It wasn't until I was at the top of the Notch climb
> that I realized
I
> was totally beat. From the Notch I coasted back to the
> base area and spun home uneventfully. Although some would
> see getting caught in a storm a bad thing, I think
that
> was the element that made this ride stand out as truly
> great. Life is good (even though my break is over and I'm
> back at work).
>
> Matt
>

Nice, too nice to snip, cheers Matt.

Steve.