mzeffex 

So today I did my first serious mountain biking expedition. 10 miles there, 15 miles at the place, and then 16 miles back.. my friend and I got lost.

So, started off sunny. Cycling pants were AWOL, so I wore my usual pants/underwear. Mistake number one. I am quite sore now as I am sure you can imagine.

Next, about 2 miles into our trip, around 2:30, we went to taco bell and had a burrito, two tacos, and a drink. Mistake number two.

So we were about 5 miles into our trip there, and it starts raining. Hard. Now even though this is not my fault, I should have checked the weather previously. Mistake number three.

So we go, get about ten feet into the first bit of the singletrack and fall. I did not know there was a good (at least) 6 inches of sand. Stood up, got back on, clipped in, moved 3 feet, fell again. Mistake number four.

From here on it was all uphill, figuratively and literally. SO, MUCH, UPHILL. But there were the downhills, and the "bowl" as its called, with curvey singlepath all the way down, at an angle. I flew off the edge. Mistake number five. You know, my friend on his full suspension was taking those quite well and it was his first trip too. I suppose a hard tail does not have the proper control to fly down there.

So my pedals were clogged with mud. Mistake number six. So I clip in, start going down a hill, pick up speed, still can't get the other foot in. Accidentally unclip the first foot, go through mud, can't get either in. So now come the rocks. I'm going a good 20 mph, with hard soles and clipless pedals, feet flying everywhere, over tons of medium sized rocks. Somehow I managed to stay up right, but it was scary.

Well, for a first trip it was great , but now I discovered I have poison ivy. Wonderful.

Oh and, if that's not enough, the last 12 miles of our trip home, we were stuck in pouring rain. And got lost.

mbiker33

well i hope you had tons of fun for the poison ivy and bug bite are going to be a bit**, especially if you keep biking but sounds like it was a great experience,

mbiker33

mzeffex 

Yeah I'll continue to bike, it was hot today too, around 95. Rain cooled it a bit luckily, but it was still very hot and humid.

mbiker33

i imagine, today its was only 25 here and it was humid and i almost became unconscious by biking to much, but im in cr@ppy shape and would die in your mountain biking expedition. so atleast your in good shape

mzeffex 

Haha, well, anything in time. My legs itch so much now :[

Siu Blue Wind

I wanna see pics.

mbiker33

i second that.

joetronic

Where in DC were you riding?

Siu Blue Wind

Just checking to see if he posted pics. Guess not. *moseying to another thread*

mzeffex 

Pics of my injuries? Maybe later.. but for now a horrible quality (cell phones all I had) photo from on top of a small hill at the single track. Yes. Non drive side. I know. Also, not the greatest place I should've photographed, but you know, s'alright. Single track goes off the the side into the woods, and although you can't tell, the first bit of dirt in front of the camera is followed by a 2 foot drop, then single track through 2 foot grass. Fun stuff.



And as to where it is, Wakefield Park in Annandale - Hooray for almost getting killed after getting lost and ending up on I-495!

mzeffex 

The bowl:
random:
Photos courtesy of www.singletracks.com

born2bahick

Bug bites, poison ivy, bloody ankle. Sounds like a good ride, hope you had a good time.

mzeffex 

Oh yes quite, thank you. Several people today have questioned the look of my legs, though, two of them thinking I had fallen down stairs

mbiker33

well the pics look sweet , hope ya have fun,

mzeffex 

Especially going down the bowl (picture 1), until I over did it and went flying off the edge and going 20 mph through 2 foot grass. Haaaa

Zan

pretty fly doing a rock garden at 20mph on first try. more guts than me! i usually can't hit those speeds on the techy stuff. maybe i need to stop being so lazy.

johnnytheboy

Yeah.....20mph through a rock garden on a first ride sounds.........a little exaggerated.

mzeffex 

No, not exaggerated, but as I said I flew off the side. I had a cyclocomputer which tends to be quite accurate.

Siu Blue Wind

I still wanna see pics of your owies.

mzeffex 

mmph, maybe later... do you have an interest in blood/bug bites?
Edit: on the way

mzeffex 

Not sure why they are extremely different colors o_O

Top left: poison ivy
bottom: nasty cut
top right: regular cut

telebianchi

Ha ha ha. OK. Enough with the fake baby boo-boo pictures. Show us the real pictures of the injuries and poison ivy you're talking about. If you can cover a scratch with a plain band-aid, it doesn't count. If you can wear khaki pants without them turning dark on the outside from the puss and drainage on your leg then you don't have poison ivy.

Siu Blue Wind

This is poison Ivy.



Here's a gross pic of it, click at your own risk.

No I don't have an interest in bug bites, I just call it as I see it.

mzeffex 

o_O is that real?

Siu Blue Wind

Yep. You are very very lucky.