RR: first ride of the season

Ok, so maybe this ride was nothing compared to others first rides, but i thought i would share
it anyway.

I decided to use my car to transport my bike to the trailhead so i could bring a small ratchet set
in case the unexpected happened.

Before i even got to unstrap my bike from the carrier, i was ambushed by a environmentalist church
group. The group leader did not hesitate to point out the damage a mountain bike does to trails. At
this point, i noticed about 15 kids from the group out stomping in a semi-damp spot turning it into
a muddy mess. After pointing this out, and explaining that unlike some of the careless teenagers i
have seen on the trails last year, i find a way to do my best not to leave too much of an impression
(including walking around the really wet spots if needed). As this seemed to satisfy him, i mounted
my semi-trusted steed and began my ride. I didn't happen to ask if he was a famous herpetologist.

After about 1/8 of a mile, a remembered i should have drank some water before the ride, as i seem to
have left my water bottle to home (had just a small after-the-ride bottle in the car that i had no
means to carry it. i did remember my AMB headband though). after the long climb up the shallow hill
(pathetically, only about .25 miles), i reached where i thought the bike-specific trail was. but it
was nowhere to be found. baffled, i decided to continue on. after a little while, i managed to start
to remember the surroundings and knew the trail was just ahead. as i reached the trail intersection,
i stopped for a mild break to try and put the fire out in my lungs.

Recovered, i shifted into the gear i use for this trail (simply a good all-around gear for both
downhill, uphill, and flats so i can concentrate on the uneven ground). The trail was just as i
remembered
it. it was even dry as a bone, other than a small 8" X 6" patch of snow. I glided over the terrain
with the same ease i remember from last year. thoughts only on the terrain in front, and on what
lies ahead. i feel no pain, no lung weakness, just the joy of riding again.

But alas, the trail rejoined the walking trails (covered with an energy sapping bark). i make it to
another familiar section known for its slow, but thrilling downhill. I roll down with effortless
grace. carving every turn, soaking up every root. but the, the trail has suddenly left me. ahh yes,
there was a turn back there. guess i didn't remember it precisely enough. no bother, the trail
turns back in another 5 feet, and the ground was dry enough i left no trace apart from a few
disturbed leaves. after rejoining with the trail, i glided down the rest of the trail, though a
little slower should i miss a turn again. Arriving back at the car, i suddenly am reminded of my
out of shape lungs as i strap the bike back on and jump in to fire up the AC while draining the
small bottle of water.

Overall, i rate this ride fairly well in that i was able to completely forget all around me and
focus only on the trail ahead (and the occasional red squirrel that scampered off the trail).

My legs did not seem to complain much, at least i didn't notice them apart from my lungs burning.
but within a few more rides, i should have a little more endurance built up.

~Travis
--
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travis5765.homelinux.net, Primary Administrator TF Custom Electronic, Owner/Founder/Developer
(current project: Automotive exhaust flame-thrower)

 

On Sun, 20 Apr 2003 18:26:03 -0400, Technician <[email protected]> wrote:

>Ok, so maybe this ride was nothing compared to others first rides, but i thought i would share
>it anyway.
>
>I decided to use my car to transport my bike to the trailhead so i could bring a small ratchet set
>in case the unexpected happened.
>
>Before i even got to unstrap my bike from the carrier, i was ambushed by a environmentalist church
>group. The group leader did not hesitate to point out the damage a mountain bike does to trails. At
>this point, i noticed about 15 kids from the group out stomping in a semi-damp spot turning it into
>a muddy mess. After pointing this out, and explaining that unlike some of the careless teenagers i
>have seen on the trails last year, i find a way to do my best not to leave too much of an
>impression (including walking around the really wet spots if needed). As this seemed to satisfy
>him, i mounted my semi-trusted steed and began my ride. I didn't happen to ask if he was a famous
>herpetologist.
>
>After about 1/8 of a mile, a remembered i should have drank some water before the ride, as i seem
>to have left my water bottle to home (had just a small after-the-ride bottle in the car that i had
>no means to carry it. i did remember my AMB headband though). after the long climb up the shallow
>hill (pathetically, only about .25 miles), i reached where i thought the bike-specific trail was.
>but it was nowhere to be found. baffled, i decided to continue on. after a little while, i managed
>to start to remember the surroundings and knew the trail was just ahead. as i reached the trail
>intersection, i stopped for a mild break to try and put the fire out in my lungs.
>
>Recovered, i shifted into the gear i use for this trail (simply a good all-around gear for both
>downhill, uphill, and flats so i can concentrate on the uneven ground). The trail was just as i
>remembered
>it. it was even dry as a bone, other than a small 8" X 6" patch of snow. I glided over the terrain
> with the same ease i remember from last year. thoughts only on the terrain in front, and on
> what lies ahead. i feel no pain, no lung weakness, just the joy of riding again.
>
>But alas, the trail rejoined the walking trails (covered with an energy sapping bark). i make it to
>another familiar section known for its slow, but thrilling downhill. I roll down with effortless
>grace. carving every turn, soaking up every root. but the, the trail has suddenly left me. ahh yes,
>there was a turn back there. guess i didn't remember it precisely enough. no bother, the trail
>turns back in another 5 feet, and the ground was dry enough i left no trace apart from a few
>disturbed leaves. after rejoining with the trail, i glided down the rest of the trail, though a
>little slower should i miss a turn again. Arriving back at the car, i suddenly am reminded of my
>out of shape lungs as i strap the bike back on and jump in to fire up the AC while draining the
>small bottle of water.
>
>Overall, i rate this ride fairly well in that i was able to completely forget all around me and
>focus only on the trail ahead (and the occasional red squirrel that scampered off the trail).
>
>My legs did not seem to complain much, at least i didn't notice them apart from my lungs burning.
>but within a few more rides, i should have a little more endurance built up.
>
>~Travis

By your encounter with the evangelical sect, you must be riding in Tenn or Georgia

 

In article <[email protected]>, [email protected]ca says...
> On Sun, 20 Apr 2003 18:26:03 -0400, Technician <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >Ok, so maybe this ride was nothing compared to others first rides, but i thought i would share it
> >anyway.
> >
> >I decided to use my car to transport my bike to the trailhead so i could bring a small ratchet
> >set in case the unexpected happened.
> >
> >Before i even got to unstrap my bike from the carrier, i was ambushed by a environmentalist
> >church group. The group leader did not hesitate to point out the damage a mountain bike does to
> >trails. At this point, i noticed about 15 kids from the group out stomping in a semi-damp spot
> >turning it into a muddy mess. After pointing this out, and explaining that unlike some of the
> >careless teenagers i have seen on the trails last year, i find a way to do my best not to leave
> >too much of an impression (including walking around the really wet spots if needed). As this
> >seemed to satisfy him, i mounted my semi-trusted steed and began my ride. I didn't happen to ask
> >if he was a famous herpetologist.
> >
> >After about 1/8 of a mile, a remembered i should have drank some water before the ride, as i
> >seem to have left my water bottle to home (had just a small after-the-ride bottle in the car
> >that i had no means to carry it. i did remember my AMB headband though). after the long climb up
> >the shallow hill (pathetically, only about .25 miles), i reached where i thought the
> >bike-specific trail was. but it was nowhere to be found. baffled, i decided to continue on.
> >after a little while, i managed to start to remember the surroundings and knew the trail was
> >just ahead. as i reached the trail intersection, i stopped for a mild break to try and put the
> >fire out in my lungs.
> >
> >Recovered, i shifted into the gear i use for this trail (simply a good all-around gear for both
> >downhill, uphill, and flats so i can concentrate on the uneven ground). The trail was just as i
> >remembered
> >it. it was even dry as a bone, other than a small 8" X 6" patch of snow. I glided over the
> > terrain with the same ease i remember from last year. thoughts only on the terrain in front,
> > and on what lies ahead. i feel no pain, no lung weakness, just the joy of riding again.
> >
> >But alas, the trail rejoined the walking trails (covered with an energy sapping bark). i make it
> >to another familiar section known for its slow, but thrilling downhill. I roll down with
> >effortless grace. carving every turn, soaking up every root. but the, the trail has suddenly left
> >me. ahh yes, there was a turn back there. guess i didn't remember it precisely enough. no bother,
> >the trail turns back in another 5 feet, and the ground was dry enough i left no trace apart from
> >a few disturbed leaves. after rejoining with the trail, i glided down the rest of the trail,
> >though a little slower should i miss a turn again. Arriving back at the car, i suddenly am
> >reminded of my out of shape lungs as i strap the bike back on and jump in to fire up the AC while
> >draining the small bottle of water.
> >
> >Overall, i rate this ride fairly well in that i was able to completely forget all around me and
> >focus only on the trail ahead (and the occasional red squirrel that scampered off the trail).
> >
> >My legs did not seem to complain much, at least i didn't notice them apart from my lungs burning.
> >but within a few more rides, i should have a little more endurance built up.
> >
> >~Travis
>
>
> By your encounter with the evangelical sect, you must be riding in Tenn or Georgia
>
>
>
>

nope, Maine

~Travis
--
To reply by email, remove clothes.

travis5765.homelinux.net, Primary Administrator TF Custom Electronic, Owner/Founder/Developer
(current project: Automotive exhaust flame-thrower)