AM-B FFTF (preview)
JD
of characters from AM-B included MattB, Craig Brossman, Anthony Sloan,
MTBBrian, Pete Fagerlin, Notaknob, and yours truly. Tales of mud,
rain, snow, darkness and other adversities to follow...
JD
MattB
I think we could safely call that epic! I just finished cleaning my bike for
a couple of hours.
Not quite the adventure I was anticipating. Nice to see all you guys and
glad to hear you all eventually made it out.
Off to ride some nice dry dirt...
Matt
Anthony Sloan
Ahhh, t'was a walk in the park.
http://www.anthonysloan.com/fruitadeathmarch/fdm15.jpg
Webpage is in the making...
Michael Paul
"Anthony Sloan" <ant...@spamlessinfohiwy.net> wrote in message
news:109b2jm...@corp.supernews.com...
Holy Crap!
what happened to that infamous Fruita Singletrack I've heard so much about?
Look forward to the tales and photos in the days to come.
Michael
Marty
"JD" <d...@usafcct.com> wrote in message
news:ebf270c9.04050...@posting.google.com...
Please, no pictures. I don't think I could take
it...............................
Some day..........
Marty
Anthony Sloan
O it was there.
http://www.anthonysloan.com/moorefun/mf03.jpg
Just not on that ride. Whoops typo. Should be spelled as such:
THAT ride.
A
Slacker
>
> Michael Paul wrote:
>
>>Holy Crap!
>>
>>what happened to that infamous Fruita Singletrack I've heard so much about?
>>
>>Look forward to the tales and photos in the days to come.
>>
>>Michael
>>
>>
>
>
>
> O it was there.
>
> http://www.anthonysloan.com/moorefun/mf03.jpg
>
> Just not on that ride. Whoops typo. Should be spelled as such:
>
> THAT ride.
>
> A
>
--
Slacker
mtbchip
Sloan" <ant...@spamlessinfohiwy.net> wrote:
Looks like my ride on the "Powreline Trail" in the north shore area of
Kauai. I must have taken 2 hours to clean ( disassemble & rebuild) the
bike. Looks like you guys got douched...........er , ah........drenched.
mtbchip
Craig Brossman
A good time was had by all, thanks Jerry, you won't soon be forgotten :)
--
Craig Brossman, Durango Colorado
(remove ".nospam" to reply)
Dave W
news:cHtlc.694$Ga....@fe25.usenetserver.com
Jerry? who's Jerry?...Lewis?
MattB
<snip>
>
> Jerry? who's Jerry?...Lewis?
We would have loved to have you along, Dave. That could have made it
perfect. Maybe another time...
Matt (might have made that "who would we eat first" decision a little
easier)
JD
It wasn't in Fruita.
JD
Craig Brossman
> Dave W wrote:
> <snip>
>
>>Jerry? who's Jerry?...Lewis?
>
<snip>
> Matt (might have made that "who would we eat first" decision a little
> easier)
>
>
Funny! But would it be sort of like eating carp, I've never like bottom
feeders.
Only kidding Dave!
Craig Brossman
Before the whole story comes out, the funniest, most telling moment for
me was with the Albuquerque boys, Rich, Brian and Scott.
We had all stopped somewhere during the middle of the slog to the water
tank, the four of us waiting for the rest of the group to catch up,
perhaps hoping that someone would suggest we turn around.
Sometime during the break, Rich pulls out the baggy, all our eyes light
up. Within seconds, a chorus of "yeah, I'll do some" breaks the silence.
I didn't even use any water to swallow my Advil, they went down real
nice. I told my wife about it, she says we should submit it as a
commercial suggestion, it was classic!
TM
"Craig Brossman" <craigb...@starband.net> wrote in message
news:9xvlc.705$Ga....@fe25.usenetserver.com...
> I told my wife about it, she says we should submit it as a
> commercial suggestion, it was classic!
>
You might be used to this by now, but your wife is right!
Anthony Sloan
Well, I'll be the first. It'll be interesting to see how various
accounts stack up...
Anthony Sloan
S o r n i
Great writeup and pics. No comment on the outfit :)
Weird how the bikes stayed relatively clean while the tires caked with mud.
Around here we usually get the full caking effect (downtube, both
derailleurs {if applicable}, chain, etc.). Extra grind for the grind!
Bill "sorta glad I didn't make the trip (had briefly considered it)" S.
MattB
Quack quack!
Man, had I seen or known about the omens I might have lobbied for a
different ride! (or maybe not)
Nice photos, but somehow they don't capture the despair. That last one is
just a hint of what it was like.
I put my camera away at the tank - my hands got too muddy to handle it at
that point.
There also seemed to be a split between those who have had a similar
experience in the past and those who hadn't. I think those who hadn't were
maybe just a little more frightened by the potential of what was still to
come, and those who had were resigned to suffer as needed until we got out.
I fell into the latter group.
That was an amazingly beautiful sunset wasn't it? I was taking it in as I
was telling my wife that I was still on the trail, already two hours late,
and a two hour drive from home. She was sure I was kidding at first. I only
wish I was playing such a cruel joke on her. I was glad I thought to try my
phone once I could see the cluster of lights that is Delta in the distance.
She was not pleased. Not mad, but definitely not at ease with my news.
In a weird way, I kind of enjoyed that two track after we parted. It was
rutted just so and I felt I could really rail the turns in the fading
twilight. I even dropped the first ledge when things started getting steep
and it was pretty fun. I wouldn't have, except I was still trying to ride
after the light had pretty much gone. When I realized it was a ledge (maybe
18" or so) if I had tried to stop I would have ended up like that kid trying
to ride stairs someone recently posted. Then, the moon came out from behind
some clouds and I could see OK (for night riding without lights) so I
cautiously rode the flatter sections to cover as much ground as possible,
stopping as soon as it was hard to see what was coming or what I could see
didn't look safe.
I also came out with a skinned and bruised knuckle from hitting it on a
juniper bush. My other injury is a nice lump on my shin from a rock I kicked
up in the dark. Both of which could have happened on just about any ride.
It definitely could have been a lot worse, but I'd venture to say it also
could have been better. Maybe next time we'll all make better decisions. If
we don't, we'll deserve whatever comes of it.
Matt (been eating almost non-stop since then - you guys been hungry the last
couple of days?)
TJ
"MattB" <somed...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:c76a4m$5vnm$1...@ID-86156.news.uni-berlin.de...
Escalante turn off on the way to work and was wishing it was dry. I guess
I am all out of wishes. Glad to see every one had a lot of fun in their
misery.
TJ
Jonesy
> MattB wrote:
>
> > Dave W wrote:
> > <snip>
> >
> >>Jerry? who's Jerry?...Lewis?
> >
> <snip>
> > Matt (might have made that "who would we eat first" decision a little
> > easier)
> >
> >
>
> Funny! But would it be sort of like eating carp, I've never like bottom
> feeders.
I read this after the account of the mud-fest. ROTFLPIMP!
On my honor, I will never refer to last year's AMB-ID as the Loon Lake
Death March.
It had nothing on this. This was the real deal. From now on,
LLPRITW. (Loon Lake Pleasant Ride In The Woods.)
--
Jonesy "Don't think about eating Dave, I think he has a case of Mad
Inbred Disease"
gabrielle
> http://www.anthonysloan.com/fruitadeathmarch.html
Wow. That mud is impressive. Glad you guys didn't have to
camp.
gabrielle
Craig Brossman
Nice Anthony, I have my own little story to add.
I was probably the least dressed, fingerless gloves, shorts, short
sleeve jersey and shell. The only part of me that was cold were my
fingertips, and I think that was mostly from getting wet scraping mud
off of my bike. I ate what little food I had, and hadn't eaten much all
day, but generally speaking, I was in good spirits and felt pretty good
and reasonably comfortable ... until.
When my wife dropped me off at JD's house around 11:00, I thought I had
the opportunity to do a shorter ride, my wife was hanging with our 10
year old son, we had all planned on riding together later that day. I
told her I would be back by 3:00 or so.
When you read Anthony's account, you'll realize that at 4:30, we were
nowhere close to being done, and cell phone reception was not happening.
Probably at the same location as Matt's success, we finally got a
siginal. It was dark, we were not exactly sure how long we had yet, but
we were confident we would get out. I called Cindy, but had to leave a
message on her cell, it was something on the order of, "we are all ok,
nobody's hurt, we should be home is a few hours, don't worry." Then it
happened.
By now it was dark, we could see the lights of Delta. As I said, I felt
good. Within 30 seconds of me leaving the message with my wife, we
rolled off, I think I was 3rd or 4th in line. I rolled off a rock, maybe
a 10" drop, really nothing, then it happened. You know those slow
motion, over the bars, ground coming quickly. I hit hard, I must have
hit something pointy near my privates, banged both knees pretty hard. I
never saw what caused my endo, as I lay there taking stock of the
injuries, I heard Rich say that I pulled a large stick up into my front
wheel, it jammed against the shock and sent me flying. He tossed it
before I regained my feet. I never saw the stick before or after the crash.
Just as Anthony experienced, I suddenly felt weary and ready for the
trucks. The wind had gone from my sails, but I was not injured, though
now much more tenative for the really technical part yet to come.
MattB
<snip>
> By now it was dark, we could see the lights of Delta. As I said, I
> felt good. Within 30 seconds of me leaving the message with my wife,
> we
> rolled off, I think I was 3rd or 4th in line. I rolled off a rock,
> maybe
> a 10" drop, really nothing, then it happened. You know those slow
> motion, over the bars, ground coming quickly. I hit hard, I must have
> hit something pointy near my privates, banged both knees pretty hard.
> I never saw what caused my endo, as I lay there taking stock of the
> injuries, I heard Rich say that I pulled a large stick up into my
> front wheel, it jammed against the shock and sent me flying. He
> tossed it
> before I regained my feet. I never saw the stick before or after the
> crash. Just as Anthony experienced, I suddenly felt weary and ready
> for the trucks. The wind had gone from my sails, but I was not
> injured, though
> now much more tenative for the really technical part yet to come.
Damn Craig. I didn't realize you went down so hard. Any structural damage or
just scrapes and bruises?
Hope it heals quickly and you made amends with your boy. I imagine he could
understand at 10, and maybe some battle scars would even help your case.
Let's ride somewhere dry sometime when we've redeemed ourselves with our
families!
Matt
Dave W
86156.news.uni-berlin.de
> Dave W wrote:
> <snip>
>>
>> Jerry? who's Jerry?...Lewis?
>
> We would have loved to have you along, Dave. That could have made it
> perfect. Maybe another time...
perhaps, it is on the short list...
>
> Matt (might have made that "who would we eat first" decision a little
> easier)
well, considering my noticable absence, who was the lucky entree'?
>
>
>
Dave W
> MattB wrote:
>
>> Dave W wrote:
>> <snip>
>>
>>>Jerry? who's Jerry?...Lewis?
>>
> <snip>
>> Matt (might have made that "who would we eat first" decision a little
>> easier)
>>
>>
>
> Funny! But would it be sort of like eating carp, I've never like bottom
> feeders.
> Only kidding Dave!
you should try some southern fried catfish my friend...
>
Dave W
news:ebf270c9.04050...@posting.google.com
was that the sight of the 24 hr course I heard (read) so much about?..damn,
I see what you mean about all the wanton destruction! Damnable 24 hr race!!
Dave W
news:109d6el...@corp.supernews.com
Damn! Sounds like both a fun time (being with good friends) and a crappy
time (riding conditions),
But it seems to me that those are the best times!! Good job, and excellent
write up!! Thanks for posting...
Corvus Corvax
>
> http://www.anthonysloan.com/fruitadeathmarch.html
Man. Great story.
CC
Craig Brossman
Actually, I really like catfish.
Anthony Sloan
Corvus Corvax wrote:
Thanks,
I just made some subtle refinements and corrected a few typos.
A
MattB
<snip>
> Actually, I really like catfish.
Me too. Blackened!
And a Chinese friend of my dad's says carp is really good when prepared
right.
Matt
MattB
We managed to make it out just before we had to go to that level. We were
eyeing one younger specimen who we figured would be a little more marbleized
than some of us older, stringier guys.
Matt
Dave W
> Dave W wrote:
>
>> Craig Brossman <craigb...@starband.net> had this to say
>> news:4lvlc.704$Ga....@fe25.usenetserver.com
>>
>>
>>>MattB wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>Dave W wrote:
>>>><snip>
>>>>
>>>>>Jerry? who's Jerry?...Lewis?
>>>>
>>><snip>
>>>
>>>>Matt (might have made that "who would we eat first" decision a little
>>>>easier)
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>Funny! But would it be sort of like eating carp, I've never like bottom
>>>feeders.
>>>Only kidding Dave!
>>
>>
>> you should try some southern fried catfish my friend...
>>
>>
>>
> Actually, I really like catfish.
>
Very nice. We've been having a sort of "down home" fish fry every Saturday
at work...been enjoying quite a variety of fish the past coupla weeks...
I guess you guys would have enjoyed a few fillets that day, huh?
Still sounds like blast....of sorts :)
S o r n i
> We managed to make it out just before we had to go to that level. We
> were eyeing one younger specimen who we figured would be a little
> more marbleized than some of us older, stringier guys.
OK, when Matt refers to himself as "older", it's time to start coffin
shopping.
Bill "sigh" S.
MattB
Well, compared to some I am. I don't think you have THAT many years on me,
old man!
Matt (always a kid at heart!)
JD
I must add a disclaimer before posting my account. It took a few days
and the reference to the train as a bad omen was written before you
posted your page, A.
The Western Slope can be sketchy in the Spring, which can be easily
found out when one gets above the Transitional Zone. Some of the best
rides start out in conditions that can be described as "utter crap"
and end beautifully. Those that don't end beautifully can push you
right to the edge of one's limitations. I'm sure that the next time I
invite a few of those whose limitations were tested Friday for ride
will think twice before readily accepting. Such is life.
Most of us met at the Shack, milled a bit and then headed out. A
common shortcut I use to avoid downtown was blocked by a train, so the
three vehicle caravan had to flip a u-ey and backtrack to the main
artery. Some might have called this a bad omen, however I just saw it
as a minor hassle. After threading through the usual downtown GJ
nutty drivers, we headed to a remote intersection of the "Lonliest
Highway in America" to meet Matt and proceed to the trailhead. A
quick trip a few miles up an improved dirt road had us at the
trailhead in a few minutes.
The skies were threatening in places, but increasing patches of blue
were encouraging. A vehicle with a local license plate was at the
trailhead and there were fresh bike tracks headed up the singletrack,
which didn't look wet. After a few minutes the people who made those
tracks came rolling off of the trail on bikes that looked pretty
clean. I asked them how high they had ridden and one advised that
they had stopped on the first bench and turned around because of mud.
Apparently they had not ever been there before because there is a
short section that stays wet a little longer than the singletrack on
top, which is loamy and drains really well. That tidbit of
information made the decision to proceed under sketchy conditions much
easier.
Brian S, Brian C and Scott decided to forego the twelve mile up-canyon
warmup spin and drove to the BLM border with the map to park. At this
point, Brian S was officially made the keeper of the map and he did
well with those duties, which became very important later. The spin
up the canyon was pretty uneventful, with the exception of Pete
ripping by me through a puddle and splattering me with mud. There
were a few slow downs and stops to take photos, though one historic
dwelling was being overrun by a local county school, evident by the
bus and kids crawling all over the place and canyon walls above it.
That's the last time we saw anyone other than our group of ten for
quite a while.
The Brians and Scott were ready to roll when the last of us coasted in
to where they had parked, so we decided to not waste much time there
and pressed on up the doubletrack off of the main canyon road. The
doubletrack surface started out relatively dry and there were still
patches of blue occasionally cruising overhead from the Northeast.
Some of the low spots were a little soft, but the South facing
sections that had gotten a little Sun were not too bad.
Then the fun began. I had warned about the last 800' or so of
climbing being a bit of a beast. Well, it became even more beastly
with the rude introduction of the first really steep section and its
damp condition. Anthony and Matt both made valiant efforts to climb
it, but were impaired by slippage that was caused by this wonderful
thing called bentonite clay mud. Wonderful because it makes one
wonder, "What am I doing in this crap?" It didn't get any better, but
we all pressed on because of the proximity of the days apex and a
loamy descent that promised to be long and fast.
There was no pushing your bike up after the first steep section
because your wheels would pack-up after a few turns and you were
resigned to scraping this clayish goop off of your tires for just a
few more turns. It was time to pack the bikes on our backs. Most of
the group scraped or beat the mud off of their tires with a stick, but
I just tossed the muddy 50lb pig that used to be my bike on my back
and pressed on. Since only I knew exactly where the apex was, it had
become paramount that I arrive first, or at least as one of the first
few. The weather continued its schizophrenic ways by snowing, raining
and even letting the Sun shine as we slipped and slid our way to the
top. Brian C had stopped about 100 yards shy of the top, right before
Craig and I slogged up and we finished the main climb together,
followed closely by Scott.
One by one, everyone else started filtering in to the small clearing
off of the road where we had staked a claim to recuperate in. I
grabbed some sunshine while it was peeking out and then switched to
keeping out of the wind when the overcast returned. Somewhere in this
I had managed to eat the food I had in my pack and everyone else was
digging for and relishing whatever caloric intake they could find.
Pete's entrance was rather odd. He came walking up to the clearing
sans bike, but still clad in his pink lycra and matching helmet.
"Anthony, do you have a zoom lens?" "Yeah, why?" "Grab it and check
this." Though we were all pretty beat up, we had to take a look.
Pete was walking back to his bike, which was sticking straight up in
the middle of the road and we all knew it had no kickstand. The
clearance his Maverick fork provided had let his tire grow with mud to
about a seven inch diameter and it had become a kickstand unto itself.
After Pete's stunt, I took a count and noticed Brian S had not arrived
yet. Though all in attendance were responsible individuals, I knew it
was up to me to check on Brian's progress and assist if needed.
Jogging down the road sure was a lot easier than carrying a mud-laden
pig on my back up it. I found Brian at the top of the last really
steep section, scraping his tires and getting ready to heft the bike
some more. I asked him if he had any food and how his water was
holding out and he said he was out of food, but still had plenty of
water. A few words of encouragement later and we hit the final
stretch, cruising into the clearing. After asking if anyone had any
food to spare, Brian was on the road to recovering enough to press on.
Before I had run back down the road to check on Brian, I had asked
Anthony to check the conditions on the road we were supposed to head
down from the top. Apparently he had taken Pete and Matt with him and
their telltale footprints in the mud were obvious. There was no
losing them.
While Brian was recovering and the others were scraping mud from their
bikes, the familiar "poop poop poop poop" of an atv became present
from the direction which we had come. Up pulls Grizzly Adams at 60
and about 100lbs heavier, dressed in camo. He had the decency to park
it on the road and then decided to saunter up to our little clearing.
As he walked up, he pulled out a tobacco pipe, filled the bowl and
fired it up in what appeared to be a single fluid motion. He and I
talked a bit our conversation revealed that he was a pretty friendly
dude and out hunting turkey. He had never been in this particular
area and was getting skunked, so I suggested a place not too far away
that has plenty. He knew that place, but said it was still closed,
though my guess was that it might have required too much walking for
this particular sportsman. He bade us a good day and got the same in
return and then poop-pooped his way up the ridge above the
intersection.
Anthony, Matt and Pete had not returned yet and the others were
getting a little cold from not moving much and I told them to go ahead
and press about two miles on to the first intersection where we needed
to turn next. I started out with them, but then decided stay back to
wait with the bikes left behind by the scouts and to give them the
skinny on the plan. The turkey hunter returned and followed them down
the road a ways, but I could hear him turn around and come back after
only about a quarter mile. He paused at the cattle guard to tell me
that we were in for more mud, but I had faith that the loamy downhill
was not too far off from where I stood. That was the last time we saw
anyone else the rest of the ride.
When the scouts returned and gave me the grim news that it didn't get
much better, I reminded them that the sandy soil on the downhill was a
much better alternative to trying to ride down what we had slogged up
and they gathered up their bikes. I caught up to where Rich and the
others had stopped, which was the first intersection and apparent turn
we sought. I broke out the map (which I had decided to become the
keeper of at this point) and checked the intersection against terrain
features and it looked like we were exactly where we needed to be.
The others caught up and we wasted little time in the waning day by
heading on down the road. There was a campsite about a hundred yards
in and then the route became strangely narrower and quite a bit more
untrammeled. That little voice in the back of my head told me this
didn't look right, but others had pulled ahead and I decided to wait a
bit before consulting the map again.
It didn't take too long. I pulled up to the main body of the group
where Pete was saying to stop and that we had been dead-ended. Indeed
we had and at a nice, mucky abandoned bentonite quarry. The view to
the South of the canyons we had ridden up affirmed that we were a bit
off from where we needed to be. Rich's GPS didn't help for much more
than orienting the map because the lat/long graduations on the margins
were too infrequent to triangulate our exact position. Looking at the
map and surrounding terrain told me enough and I knew we had somehow
turned a little earlier than we should have. The only thing to do was
buck-up and backtrack to the last intersection where we would make a
decision on what action to take.
I arrived with the first few back at the intersection and decided to
take the time to check down the road, past a cattle guard I could see
just before a slight downslope. I told the others that had already
arrived to wait for me there and then rolled down the muddy track
towards the cattle guard. Just after passing the cattle guard, I
could see a road veering off to the right and when I rolled up to this
intersection, a large sign indicating our original intended route
greeted me. We had missed it by a mere 200 yards. I dropped my bike
and hoofed back to the intersection, arriving just as Anthony was
donating some food to Brian S.
The rain started spitting a bit as I addressed the group, "This is it,
either we turn around and go back the way we came, or we use the
intended route, so let's put it to a vote." There may have been a
little reluctance, but the general consensus was that we press on.
After finding the real turn so quickly after the miscue and knowing
our proximity to the trail we sought, I was confident that pressing on
was our best option. The only other thing that I stressed at this
point was that we all stay together from then on because of the
weather conditions, our condition and the fact that darkness would be
upon us before we finished the ride.
The mud wasn't too bad on the approach to our intended turn, but we
all managed to find the worst mud of the day as we dropped down
towards a low point before the last sustained climb of the day.
Everyone was stopped at the next intersection, cleaning their wheels
off in preparation for the last climb. As soon as we all were there,
the ascent started and the trail conditions improved almost
immediately. It went from the hellish clay goop to damp, sandy loam
with half-buried chunks of sandstone here and there. Even though it
was now raining more steadily than it had all day, I knew our
deliverance was imminent. I celebrated by stopping and entertaining
Rich while he passed by with my own demented rendition of the "I Dream
Of Jeannie" theme and a little footwork to accompany it. He laughed
and shook his head as I finished with a loud "WHOOP!"
The main group had rallied up at the apex of the ridge and was huddled
under a large Pinyon. Our drivetrains had taken a mud beating all
afternoon, but at least enabled us to finish the climb and gave hope
for keeping up a decent pace on the long, gradual downhill ahead.
Anthony had been leading from the decision point and I had consulted
the map with him there, showing him the topographical features in
relation to our intended route. I reminded Anthony that our last turn
was not too far away and in the apex of a turn to the South and the
group pressed on.
The route turned and headed eastbound and then took a sharp turn to
the South, where in the apex of the outside of the turn, was our
trail. The first few had missed it and I immediately yelled for them
to turn around, which they did as I pulled the map out one last time.
Anthony rolled up, I confirmed our position with him by showing the
track in relation to the jeep trail and surrounding terrain features.
Some atvers had pushed the trail in from the top and I knew we were
less than two miles from where I had ridden the trail out and back
from the bottom. The atv presence was evident by the unblocked
barricade that appeared to have been constructed by the land
management agency to keep them out, as well as other routes ridden in
that circumnavigated the barricade. Some people's kids...
After about a mile of twisting down the trail, the group had stopped
at an apparent intersection. The low road looked a lot less traveled
and after a minor bout of indecision, I pointed up the trail where the
atv use had been most prevalent because the other direction had not
seen as much traffic as the lower section I had been on before. This
was the last intersection and that was confirmed shortly thereafter as
the trail led us through the large meadow that I had turned around in
on my previous visit to the area. Familiar terrain, sandy soil that
was hardpacked, and the rain letting up seemed to brighten spirits and
pick up the pace. Unfortunately, we were now racing the rapidly
setting Sun.
The track was still atv width for the time being and at all of the
pauses, Pete was asking where the singletrack was. I kept telling him
"about three or four miles", which became a subject of jest after
being repeated about three or four times. The first time I had ridden
this trail, I was a lot fresher and the conditions were about as
perfect as they get for so early in the Spring. This day was
obviously a different scenario and I think all of us were at least a
tad off-kilter at this point. It really didn't matter though because
as we cruised down the fast and twisty atv tracks, we were treated to
a spectacular sunset and pretty solid trail conditions under clearing
(though darkening) skies. The only thing that bothered me was how far
the atvers had illegally pushed their way back in on the singletrack.
In the three weeks since I had ridden up there, they had gone another
two to three miles beyond where previous atv scofflaws had stopped,
lessening our singletrack mileage even more. I'll never understand
the mindset of those who perpetrate such deeds.
We rallied-up right before it gets rocky and hard to follow and I
noticed that Matt was MIA. I was informed that he had jetted ahead at
one point, which might have been reason to be concerned. However,
I've known Matt for about five years or so and have ridden some pretty
big rides with him and know he is a man who knows his limitations
well. Pete suggested I lead from this point and I agreed because
following the cairns in the daytime on this section was difficult
enough and it was now dark. Right after starting, Pete announced "Man
Down!" and we all paused to see if whomever crashed was ok. It was
Craig and he wasn't hurt badly, but had now crossed the threshold to
the point of walking more as an act of self-preservation. That seemed
to be a consensus as everyone filed down the first difficult section.
I decided to let the front runners go after Craig's crash and caught
up by riding a cool switchback series that I had cleaned on my rigid
singlespeed in the daylight. Pete had said that nobody needs to be a
superhero, but if I can clean it on a rigid in daylight, I can ride it
in 3/4 moonlight on my fully. Call me a freak (and many do), but I
don't mind finishing a ride in the dark with no lights sometimes and
have done it on occasion with success. The group was waiting at a
reroute and it was insisted that I lead from here on, so I dropped the
double switchbacks to a steep traverse into more rocky moves. I had
my miscues with dabbage, as did everyone at this point who decided to
ride the more difficult sections. Pete and Rich were right behind me,
meeting with as much success as anyone was having.
That difficult series ended in a meadow on a bench, where we all
rallied up and paused for a couple of group photos in the moonlight.
The flash on Pete's camera would normally have left me blind for at
least 20 minutes in the darkness, but the Moon was shining brightly by
now and the trail was unbelievably visible. The call to continue was
made and I led across the narrow strip of singletrack that snaked
through the moonlit desert meadow. Back in the rocks and on the final
descent, the ranch house we had parked across from became visible by a
light in the window and we all knew this was the home stretch.
I continued the lead with a few dabs here and there and one walked
move until I reached the cattle fence. I made sure it was completely
out of the way and warned each passerby to squeeze to the right at a
visible right turn around a huge boulder below me and of some pretty
big waterbars to the finish. Everyone filed by and then Brian C and
Scott who were making sure Brian S made it out ok were the last to
pass and we were all esentially out and unscathed. As we rolled in to
the parking lot, I hurried with my pack so we could get to Scott's
homebrewed pale ale in my truck and make a toast. Toast we did and we
were all pretty toasted from nine hours and three minutes (as noted by
Pete) out on the trail.
JD
bomba
> Well, compared to some I am. I don't think you have THAT many years on me,
> old man!
>
> Matt (always a kid at heart!)
You know you're getting old when you start writing / saying things like
"always a kid at heart!"
p e t e f a g e r l i n
> > accounts stack up...
Nice perspective.
My account includes more nudity, gratuitous sex, and is all about sporting
the Pink.
And carrying/pushing, and every now and then riding, a fucking 100 pound
bike with wheels that rarely moved.
Oh, and White Cheddar Cheezits, Raisinets, and dried papaya being the best
foods on the planet.
Anthony Sloan
You forgot all about my sunglasses you miserable sod.
A
G.T.
You guys divied them up and ate them?
Greg
MattB
Papaya?
It was Mango!
Matt (such is...)
p e t e f a g e r l i n
Papaya and Mango must be in the same family, the Mana family.
John Spann
Glad to hear y'all had a good time.
John Spann
Craig Brossman
The food was less important to me than snuggling up with Pete for
warmth. Glad he shaves his legs and ...
P e t e F a g e r l i n
<craigb...@starband.net> wrote:
>The food was less important to me than snuggling up with Pete for
>warmth. Glad he shaves his legs and ...
What goes on in Colorado, stays in Colorado.
p.s. http://forums.mtbr.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=14133&stc=1
JD
Definitely, along with Raisinettes.
JD
G.T.
Damn, Pete, you're looking mighty fine and lithe there. Kind of makes me
wish I had been there for some snuggling.
Greg
Notaknob
>
> >
> >
> > JD wrote:
> >
> >> Be glad you weren't there and be bummed that you missed it. The cast
> >> of characters from AM-B included MattB, Craig Brossman, Anthony Sloan,
> >> MTBBrian, Pete Fagerlin, Notaknob, and yours truly. Tales of mud,
> >> rain, snow, darkness and other adversities to follow...
> >
> > accounts stack up...
>
As I heard one person say, this was the worst ride ever. Then it
started to rain.
I'll wait until I'm comfortably home before I make any remarks on the
FFTF, but I can say that the ride Sunday was probably the best ride
I've ever had. Next time I hear some Euro bragging about how RAD the
riding in Garda is, I'll just reply with two words... Moore Fun.
nk
JD
I just dragged some dudes over that today. It's in the best shape
I've ever seen right now.
JD
Notaknob
> > > >
> > > >> Be glad you weren't there and be bummed that you missed it. The cast
> > > >> of characters from AM-B included MattB, Craig Brossman, Anthony Sloan,
> > > >> MTBBrian, Pete Fagerlin, Notaknob, and yours truly. Tales of mud,
> > > >> rain, snow, darkness and other adversities to follow...
> > > >
> > > > Well, I'll be the first. It'll be interesting to see how various
> > > > accounts stack up...
> > > http://www.anthonysloan.com/fruitadeathmarch.html
> > >
> >
> > As I heard one person say, this was the worst ride ever. Then it
> > started to rain.
> >
> > I'll wait until I'm comfortably home before I make any remarks on the
> > FFTF, but I can say that the ride Sunday was probably the best ride
> > I've ever had. Next time I hear some Euro bragging about how RAD the
> > riding in Garda is, I'll just reply with two words... Moore Fun.
>
> I just dragged some dudes over that today. It's in the best shape
> I've ever seen right now.
I figured it was about time I rode it. I don't think it was done when
I was last there in 2000.
Thanks for the guidance JD.
My wife was thinking I was coaching people on what to say since
everybody has the same story and said almost exactly the same thing
"It wasn't his fault" After doing moore fun with Pete on Sunday, I
really wished I'd taken some "bruce" time and gone on the Icaraus ride
on Monday. Gives me something to look forward to the next time I get
out there. Those rides along the Kokepeli trail and the Bookcliffs
are (yawn) really lame compared to the fireroads and short double
track I'm used to. I've recently heard great things about exciting
technical trails in Florida.
Bruce
JD
I thought some German wrath was going to be incurred upon me, but when
I saw you two on Saturday she seemed to have forgiven me. I *did*
promise to bring you back alive before we left in the AM. I'm glad
you made it out Bruce and look forward to riding with you again. BTW,
what did you think of the Locomoto?
JD
NotaKnob
craigb...@starband.net says...
> Before the whole story comes out, the funniest, most telling moment for
> me was with the Albuquerque boys, Rich, Brian and Scott.
> We had all stopped somewhere during the middle of the slog to the water
> tank, the four of us waiting for the rest of the group to catch up,
> perhaps hoping that someone would suggest we turn around.
> Sometime during the break, Rich pulls out the baggy, all our eyes light
> up. Within seconds, a chorus of "yeah, I'll do some" breaks the silence.
>
> I didn't even use any water to swallow my Advil, they went down real
> nice. I told my wife about it, she says we should submit it as a
> commercial suggestion, it was classic!
>
Bastards!
I knew you were holding out. Clif Bars and dried mango were all I
was offered. Now I'm glad I didn't share my hold-out Chivas Regal
shooter with anybody.
The only reason I was behind is (a) I was enjoying the scenery. (b)
Altitude sickness. (c) Jet Lag. (d - stolen from Pete) Fitness and
Technique.
nk
NotaKnob
pete1...@petefagerlin.removethis.com says...
> And carrying/pushing, and every now and then riding, a fucking 100 pound
> bike with wheels that rarely moved.
>
>
Don't forget dragging.
http://forums.mtbr.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=14865&stc=1
Bruce
NotaKnob
d...@usafcct.com says...
> > My wife was thinking I was coaching people on what to say since
> > everybody has the same story and said almost exactly the same thing
> > "It wasn't his fault" After doing moore fun with Pete on Sunday, I
> > really wished I'd taken some "bruce" time and gone on the Icaraus ride
> > on Monday. Gives me something to look forward to the next time I get
> > out there. Those rides along the Kokepeli trail and the Bookcliffs
> > are (yawn) really lame compared to the fireroads and short double
> > track I'm used to. I've recently heard great things about exciting
> > technical trails in Florida.
>
> I thought some German wrath was going to be incurred upon me, but when
> I saw you two on Saturday she seemed to have forgiven me. I *did*
> promise to bring you back alive before we left in the AM. I'm glad
> you made it out Bruce and look forward to riding with you again. BTW,
> what did you think of the Locomoto?
>
Nice bike, but is quite heavy when packed up with mud. The shifting
sometimes jumped when climbing. I had lots of trouble getting it into
the small chain ring.
Since it was a rental I never got into the details of tuning it.
Probably should have spent a little more time with the shocks as I never
seemed to use the full travel on them. I'll have to come back and give
it another try.
I've eyeing the switchblade for quite some time though. The Locomoto
wasn't my primary choice.
bruce
Notaknob
> I saw you two on Saturday she seemed to have forgiven me. I *did*
> promise to bring you back alive before we left in the AM. I'm glad
> you made it out Bruce and look forward to riding with you again. BTW,
> what did you think of the Locomoto?
Actually after thinking it over a little more, the Locomoto had a few
things that are desirable for me in a FS:
Never really noticed it working, but it did - even at speed.
Light. Stiff.
Worked even while jammed full of mud.
Very little bob while pedaling that I noticed.
Went where I wanted it to.
Shimano RF shifters - didn't have to learn Sram stuff.
I'd never ridden a single-pivot suspension before and was pretty happy
with it.
BTW, I think I fell into the category of rider who's had *bad* rides
before. I didn't mind the whole thing ad it was only nine hours AND
there was *free* beer at the finish. It was great to travel for
9+hours and have a couple great rides with an adventure thrown in.
Bruce
JD
Mountain biking is an adventure to those who dare to make it so occasionally.
JD
Craig Brossman
No holding out, we were on to post ride beer conversations when the rest
of you guys made it up.
Good meeting you Bruce, and of course, the rest of you guys.
Let me know if you ever get to my area, I can't promise you mud and
snow, and we would probably have to ride most of the time, but at least
the beer sucks.
Craig Brossman
>
>
> Mountain biking is an adventure to those who dare to make it so occasionally.
>
> JD
And I have to say JD, despite the veiw some have of you here online, you
are a very good host and kept it light and fun. Thanks!
JD
> JD wrote:
> >
> >
> > Mountain biking is an adventure to those who dare to make it so occasionally.
> >
> > JD
>
> And I have to say JD, despite the veiw some have of you here online, you
> are a very good host and kept it light and fun. Thanks!
De nada, Craig. Expect a freakish visit to the area as soon as things
open up down there.
JD
Bob Rogers
"JD" <d...@usafcct.com> wrote in message
news:ebf270c9.04051...@posting.google.com...
> Mountain biking is an adventure to those who dare to make it so
occasionally.
>
> JD
So is parenting, but we won't see you there.
Bob
Bob Rogers
> I've ever seen right now.
>
> JD
Hugged your kid lately?
Shawn Curry
Fucking save it will you?