Off road SE of San Ysidro, NM, a tyro's experience.

[PATRICK MOORE]

Only a few times have I ridden true singletrack, and the last time I did so (Aspen) was 12 years ago, and, with most of my road riding being on a fixed gear, my bike handling skills are rather pathetic. So grunting the lumbering Fargo over true 7/10 singletrack (10 being experts only) was quite an experience for an old tyro.

There is a state recreational area some 5 miles south of HWY 550 just a few miles south of the little corner village of San Ysidro with typical high desert terrain and fauna: more ground cover than Albuquerque (my iPhone showed 5600-6400 feet for the ride) and terrain more rugged and rolling; small, bent pinions with cactus; pinions more common as you rise north and west of ABQ. We drove out to the trailhead for a brief late afternoon ride, me on my Fargo complete with front and rear Tubus racks, dynohub lighting and Big Apples on SnoCats, and brother on his new KHS 29er. 

The trail follows a ridge with steep dropoffs on each side for a loop of nine miles; we bailed at about the 4 mile mark thanks to my incapacity and made the return on a rutted, sandy jeep track at the bottom of the spine. Given my inexperience, the lack of tire knobs, and the newly revealed fact that the Fargo is not by any means the ideal bike for technical singletrack, I walked about a quarter of the ridge, mostly rutted, steep, rock-obstructed downhlls and one frightening 1/4 mile section of slanting, narrow, loose-surfaced trail on the side of a 45* slope.

The Fargo, especially with 42 cm Noodles, does not respond quickly to fast steering inputs; doubtless the soft, wide tires also affect this behavior. Riding on the flats with the interrupters was even more frightening than riding the hoods -- bars are about level with saddle and lower than ideal for technical riding. Still, I was pleased by the way that the fat tires absorbed small stones and floated over sand, tho' I can easily see how suspension would be desirable for the big pits, ruts, and rocks. I did notice that the Fargo floated over deep sand that sent my brother, with 50-55s at 40 or so, fishtailing as he powered through to keep his momentum up.

God willing we'll go back next weekend, and I'll install 60mm Weirwolfs in place of the BAs and take off some of the weight: probably the front rack and some of the lbs from the 4 lb kit bag.

I meant to take more photos but we were rather rushed and I was too intent in clearing obstacles, making uphills, and surviving steep dropoffs. 

--
"Believe nothing until it has been officially denied."
                                                   -- Claude Cockburn

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Patrick Moore, Albuquerque, NM, USA
For professional resumes, contact Patrick Moore, ACRW
http://resumespecialties.com/index.html
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[Jim Mather]

Any ride you survive is a good one, eh. When you slap on the Weirwolfs, don't forget to add 700mm mountain bars, and you'll shred the gnar for sure.

I've had some great rides in NM, made even greater by the thought of green chile anything at the end.

Cheers
jim m
wc ca

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[Michael_S]

sounds like a good time to me. Snap a photo on your ride with the Weirwolfs next week.

~mike

Carlsbad Ca.

[PATRICK MOORE]

The place is the White Mesa trail on BLM land: 

http://www.singletracks.com/bike-trails/white-mesa-bike-trails.html

The attached photo shows y'all why I was scared.

I'll try to remember to bring a camera next time. The scenery is beautiful in a sparse, northern-high-desert way. The photo posted was taken with my iPhoe.

Yes, wide bars really do have their place off road -- the 42s feel much better than the 46s they replaced when I am riding on road or road-like surfaces, but for quick singletrack handling, they are lousy. Really should get a dedicated MTB. (And a derailleur road bike, and a fat bike, and another trike, and and and and.)

May not make it next weekend -- may have my daughter to entertain; but hope to return before too long.