karlfitt

Just thought I'd share,

I have been doing mostly road stuff lately, but decided i needed to get my MTB out yesterday. I have not really been on it since i moved to Colorado (7 years) except two years ago I went to Steamboat and bought a lift ticket....


Anyway,
I went to a local trail, which i of course have never ridden, Devils Backbone. I used to think I was pretty good at bike handling. But not after yesterday.

It is a nice singletrack, but with a lot of very technical sections because of rocks. I have never had to thread myself through so many.
i walked some uphills because I did not have the momentum (or leg streagth) to make some starsteps they had. I walked some downhills because of the rocks I would have had to thread.
So of the sections i did ride, I was bashing my pedals on the rocks. I can't imagine what would have happened to me on the tougher sections.
I also crashed twice. Got some nice bruses on both shins, and destroyed both water botlle cages (I have a Cannondale Super V and my legs did that).

But in the trails defense, I was standing and talking to a couple of people who were running the loop in the other direction when this Guy on a Kona came riding by (opposite direction of me) and was handling it all quite fine.


I guess I need to get out in the dirt more to keep those bike handling skills up.

ALSO, i was reminded of one fact "Look where you want to go because you are going to go where you are looking" Don't focus on what you want to avoid, recognise it, then move your vision to where you want to be, or you will ride right into that trouble you want to avoid.

Maelstrom 

Sounds like a fun ride. Dirt and concrete go hand in hand to make the best all round riders. Sounds like a fun trail

a2psyklnut

I know what you're saying. Due to my schedule and all the dang hurricanes we had, plus trail closures I hadn't ridden off-road in 2.5 months. The littlest climbs were making me huff and puff like the Little Engine that Could!

Legs were sore and I too was surprised how quickly my handling skills degenerated. I think it's an all around fitness thing. The better in shape you are, the more control you have.

trekkie820

I really hate to track off topic, but in the many trips to Florida (Siesta Key, btw) I have had to endure with the folks, I did not see one single hill once we got south of Savahnna(sp?). I'm not doubting you, I just would love to know where they are!

a2psyklnut

Mostly the Ocala area. NO hills around here unless you included bridges.

The areas that we ride are all reclaimed phosphate mines so all the climbs are man-made. Nothing compared to the climbs in "actual" mountains, but that are usually all VERY steep and VERY technical.

Reggie

sounds like a nice trail to ride, nice and bumpy was it long?

loadedcarp

Don't feel bad. Devil's Backbone is a tough ride for probably 80% of us. It kicked my tail pretty good the first time I rode it.

karlfitt

If I remember correctly the trail guide says total distance is 7 miles, so not real long.

But you add riding to and from the trail head it is a good days ride (not day long, but for that day. Oh you know what I mean!)

Including the ride to and from and my stop to talk to the couple I met on the trail it took me right at two hours total time.


The thing that really bugged me about the trail was the fact that on the sections i did pedal on that I thought were tough, I was banging my pedals on the rocks, kind of scetchy in my opinion. But yes fun. Maybe if I keep it up, I'll be able to ride most of it one day.
















Did a road ride today

Maelstrom 

Spinning isn't always an option. Gotta learn to ratchet.

-Stretch-

ive been practising that on my bike, the ratcheting the pedals, you can get some pretty good speed out of it. and its fun