7/29 Why not ride?
wet weather socked in wait for blue gap and bolt get on gravel up high pony pasture to briar patch tho passable was so very tasty. log hops too much little speed then roll to insane switchbacks not mud but yes wet all natural bike wash felt like home
Barkers ridge via Gobbler Knob
one mile of ridge - needs chainsaw run
sense a pattern?
Hammer Hollow
pony ride
7/26 WVMBA #9 - A Little Beaver
Shady Spring, WV - back into the race scene. I have been off the bike and limping around the house with a strained knee for about week, then the first ride back, on the Thursday O.D.D ride, and everything seems to be working its way back to "normal", then I slam my shoe into a hidden little stump while riding the river trail in B'ville Park. A little swollen and black and blue, it sure feels like something in that little piggy is broken. I taped it up and made it to the critical mass ride to asses the pedaling dynamic and determined that the little discomfort wouldn't aggravate it further.
So basically I have been riding the couch for the biggest part of two weeks.
Enjoyed a very lazy rainy Saturday, then made the trip South for some slick Beaver action. The wet weather and the location made for a smaller crowd, but my main competition was there to take on the rock and root track with me. There was a big wake up call on the opening climb, in the form of digging deep to in the lungs for enough oxygen just to stay in touch with the main group. Luckily the single-track started soon enough and things started to pile up a little to offer a bit of recovery. The whole course is riddled with rocks and roots as it winds its way through some very tight and twisty rodo thickets. I decide that I like this sort of thing.
Not much climbing after the start but I was able to move into first by riding the only granny gear section after Paul B. dabs about 2/3 of the way up, and I make that pass cleanly. I also reeled some hiking single speeders back into sight in the process - I am an ol' man with gears and am not afraid to use 'em. Most of the race was just a matter of riding every thing clean, with all energy being applied to forward motion. That, and either try to keep Marcus off my wheel or holding on to his, there was 4 or 5 lead changes between us before the last lap, where I ran that granny-gear climb while Marcus cleaned it on the bike. He pulled in a bit, but I think that the effort was nil, because after that I stayed in front with just smooth sightless sailing.
First place.
Sometimes this lazy couching surfing pays off.
Coverage from the local news paper here here
This will be the first "non-race ride" every third Friday evening style in down town Huntington
Six flat miles 45 minutes
just what the doctor ordered
looked a little like this,
Ritter Park
Packin' heat
Downtown
7/23 O.D.D. Ride
Official Dirt Derby track this evening at six. Meet at the top o’ the hill on Park Road. Bring a bike. The pace will be ultra chill.
The pace
Hope to see you there.
7/16 One Month
One month to the 4th edition of The Dirt Derby We hope you are ready. We have a new title sponsor that we would like to welcome ... Short Chiropractic from right here in the community. Plus a new Team Cup competition too! Other than little new single track - the course will remain along the same line. The Guyandotte river trail underwent a major change along the new Barboursville Soccer Complex, which will only open some passing opportunities along what is mostly a single file track. If you like dirt racing, or just trail riding this is not one to be missed, a race that has been call "the most fun race ever" cause the course is that good, well balanced and flowing. Twisty tight to wide open. Gut grinding and white knuckling. Everyone is welcome to come out and help support these local trails to support a healthy you, and a healthy community.
7/15 What's goin On?
Just some riding, here and there, around here. No structure or plans. Waited for the urges to roll around. Ready to jump.
Trail work surprise in Adams Hollow.
7/5 Tour Style
Damn. Hippies.
The reason we gather
is for the magic
that is out there
where we can touch it.
Try and think of some of your favorite rides, they could fit into different categories; There could be a fast hard climb with "if I could get in just one good downhill - today would be a good day" type of ride. Or, the pristine back county ridge riding of pure single track love, ride. And yes, even road riding can be adventurous, heading out to the unknown, road less traveled, maybe get a little lost. You should be so lucky to have a local park to just ride out your door to meet your buds. There is the white knuckle, balls-to-the-rear-tire drops off steep mountain tops - surf sessions can't be forgotten that easily. 100 milers are cool, the scale, the ground covered, up and over the biggest mountains to be seen, on a mere skinny tire bicycle, even to me, can induce a little mind boggle. Maybe that almost perfect loop, that you dig so much, you just want to go back. Trails so sweet (i.e. Bother Knob) bring the home boys, it’s that good of a ride, ride.
Now take all those seven rides and do them over a six day period, one after another one, and you have the Tour de Burg. This was my fifth year (I think) that I have put a G.C. finish under my belt, and it sure feels good. There’s racing, don’t get me wrong, but it is one of those events that doesn’t really matter where you finish in the standings, but how you finish. The Tour took its toll, in the form of broken bones, smashed faces, stitches, cuts, bruises, scrapes, abdominal issues, time cuts, flat tires, and various broken bike bits, but I steered clear of all those issues. Maybe there was a line there that I didn’t want to cross, but I scratched my way to within 9 seconds to local rider PJ going into the last day, so I wasn’t really holding back that much – my cookie just kind of crumbled.
Congratulations should go out to JV Squad member Ryan Fawley and “retired from pro racing” Susa Haysusa for their overall wins; the truest of athletes in their space and time. I would have had a great photo of them but I blew it. Such a spaz. SVBC are the group of guys and gals that pulls it all together. Some of the guys that are rolling with you out there, and more that are behind the scene. Huge thanks to everyone. Cheaper and WAY FAR Better Than Living. Till next year, Viva le Tour!
Thees is le Tour
Hone Quarry Pre-GAme
Stokesville Ramble photo Chrisscottistan
Almost Heaven
Reddish Knob Feed Zone
Breiry Branch Sprint
spoils
6/30 Tour de Burg Starts Today
and I am at home blogin...
2009 Tour de Burg kicks of today with a little time trial action at 6 o'clock. I still have bags to pack or at least a bunch of stuff to throw in the car. Nothing like waiting to the last minute, hey I am thinking in terms of recovery, maybe a little short gap between races (2 days), I am hoping that pans out for the best. can be seen here,
Check out the stage details - some big numbers in there, but the days will be long and the company will be great. I got no worries, I will be riding my bike.
Hoping for as much fun and slum as last year with a cooler forecast. The weather through the holiday weekend looks perfect. Viva le Tour, baby !!!
I have got to be sure to pack a quick link - it won't slow me down.
older
Barboursville FAT Tire Brethren
Beech Fork Association of Trails
bFAT is an informal group of riders who appreciate the land and ride for a healthy well being.
Beech Fork is mostly a single track trail that follows around the lake leading into a combination of creek bed, hill climb, and fast downhill back to the lake. Barboursville's Park has some nice runs from the top with numerous scenic overlooks from the sheer cliffs and steep drops. The flat single track that follows the river and comes out behind the lake - is where the real fun can begin or end. Click on the link at top of page - above left to see a map! The Kanawha Trace and Adahi Trails are 32 mile and 17 mile multi user trails crossing over private land. Check with the Tri-State Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America for trail information and registration.
bFAT email groupo<----click here Become a part of an e-group forum that will let all subscribers communicate (free!). Send an e-mail with the word "join" in the subject or body and you'll get hooked up with other riders, to do fun group rides, get trail info and conditions, technical advice, etc.
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for more info administrator at bike bFAT
