M
Mike Kennedy
Guest
St. Patrick's Day looked pretty nice, a little cooler then the past week
or so, mid 50's but it was a tad windy. The weather folks had been
predicting high winds and gusts up in the 50 mph range, but that never
happened.
I left Camelsback Park and headed over to Chickadee Ridge and then
preceded to head up the Connector to the Freeway. I was nice and toasty
until I got up on the exposed ridge. The wind brought the temperature right
down, so instead of being over dressed like I thought, I was comfy even on
the climbs. The wind had lot's of fun blowing me around on ridge, but it was
a cross wind so I did not need to expend too much energy. I exited the
Freeway and made my way up Sidewinder. As I have stated in past posts, the
name really fits as the wind along the side of the hills gaining a good bit
of altitude. The trail provides a good view of the surrounding hills, valley
and trail systems.
Once I reach the top, it is time to bomb down trail #4 back to the
Freeway. Steep and fast with a bunch of bumps to get some good air and I am
lucky to make it down without eating dirt. Man what a rush! Once back on the
Freeway and I take a right and head up to the Hulls Gulch intersection then
continue on up to the Motor cycle parking lot. The first section of this
climb is fairly well sheltered from the wind, but as you near the top you
are exposed to a head/cross wind. I cross 8th street and jump on trail #1,
just a repeat of Tuesday ride but I plan to take Bob's trail today.
In my opinion, Bob's trial is the most technical trail in the foothills.
Narrow single track and lot's of rock gardens to through you off if you
aren't paying attention. I have left my share of skin and blood on this
trail in the past, however today I have no real problems heading down. When
I reach the end of the trail I decide to turn around and ride back up since
in all the years that I have been riding, I have never ridden "up" this
trail. Everything is going fine until I get back to the earthen dam that was
built a few years ago to slow any mud slides or flash flooding. This is a
steep section so I am plodding away in my granny gear when without any
warning my chain breaks. I proceed to do the old Arty Johnson Laugh-In
crash, slow speed, clipped in bam! No harm done so I just lay there laughing
and then try to get unclipped before anyone comes by.
I push the bike to the top of the climb and try to find my chain tool,
but what do you know, I must have left it at home or in the truck. Well it
is not to far to push my bike up to 8th street and once there I know I can
coast a long way if there are no obstructions. So I get to the road and
start my descent making myself as small as possible to cheat the wind. I
find myself pedaling a couple times just out of habit and once I almost
tried to shift into a higher gear. As I near the Hulls Gulch trailhead
parking lot my bike feels kind of squirrelly and I think that it is loose
sand on the hardpack. Just after passing the parking lot I come around a
corner and see the road blocked by cars and trucks. Some poor soul either
was run off the road or they were speeding and lost control. Anyway this
cars front end is hanging over the edge of the road and the back is blocking
a lane of traffic. There are probably 8-9 vehicles watching or waiting so I
need to get off the bike and weave my way through. While doing this I notice
that my back tire is flat and since I am close to the end I just jog the
half mile or so back to the truck.
No one offered assistance while I am jogging, but I did hear someone
tell me that I should have worn green and I think that I am going to take
their advice next year
All in all it was a good day to be out.
Mike
or so, mid 50's but it was a tad windy. The weather folks had been
predicting high winds and gusts up in the 50 mph range, but that never
happened.
I left Camelsback Park and headed over to Chickadee Ridge and then
preceded to head up the Connector to the Freeway. I was nice and toasty
until I got up on the exposed ridge. The wind brought the temperature right
down, so instead of being over dressed like I thought, I was comfy even on
the climbs. The wind had lot's of fun blowing me around on ridge, but it was
a cross wind so I did not need to expend too much energy. I exited the
Freeway and made my way up Sidewinder. As I have stated in past posts, the
name really fits as the wind along the side of the hills gaining a good bit
of altitude. The trail provides a good view of the surrounding hills, valley
and trail systems.
Once I reach the top, it is time to bomb down trail #4 back to the
Freeway. Steep and fast with a bunch of bumps to get some good air and I am
lucky to make it down without eating dirt. Man what a rush! Once back on the
Freeway and I take a right and head up to the Hulls Gulch intersection then
continue on up to the Motor cycle parking lot. The first section of this
climb is fairly well sheltered from the wind, but as you near the top you
are exposed to a head/cross wind. I cross 8th street and jump on trail #1,
just a repeat of Tuesday ride but I plan to take Bob's trail today.
In my opinion, Bob's trial is the most technical trail in the foothills.
Narrow single track and lot's of rock gardens to through you off if you
aren't paying attention. I have left my share of skin and blood on this
trail in the past, however today I have no real problems heading down. When
I reach the end of the trail I decide to turn around and ride back up since
in all the years that I have been riding, I have never ridden "up" this
trail. Everything is going fine until I get back to the earthen dam that was
built a few years ago to slow any mud slides or flash flooding. This is a
steep section so I am plodding away in my granny gear when without any
warning my chain breaks. I proceed to do the old Arty Johnson Laugh-In
crash, slow speed, clipped in bam! No harm done so I just lay there laughing
and then try to get unclipped before anyone comes by.
I push the bike to the top of the climb and try to find my chain tool,
but what do you know, I must have left it at home or in the truck. Well it
is not to far to push my bike up to 8th street and once there I know I can
coast a long way if there are no obstructions. So I get to the road and
start my descent making myself as small as possible to cheat the wind. I
find myself pedaling a couple times just out of habit and once I almost
tried to shift into a higher gear. As I near the Hulls Gulch trailhead
parking lot my bike feels kind of squirrelly and I think that it is loose
sand on the hardpack. Just after passing the parking lot I come around a
corner and see the road blocked by cars and trucks. Some poor soul either
was run off the road or they were speeding and lost control. Anyway this
cars front end is hanging over the edge of the road and the back is blocking
a lane of traffic. There are probably 8-9 vehicles watching or waiting so I
need to get off the bike and weave my way through. While doing this I notice
that my back tire is flat and since I am close to the end I just jog the
half mile or so back to the truck.
No one offered assistance while I am jogging, but I did hear someone
tell me that I should have worn green and I think that I am going to take
their advice next year
All in all it was a good day to be out.Mike
