Two Wheel Blogs

Last night the trails were still a bit soft, but about 95% good (I walked the other 5%...and I wish the others would too). The whole time I was out there I really felt back in the zone! I had a great time. The bike was taking flight at every opportunity, and the soft trails were tacky, but unpredictable (that made things fun).

At one point I was on a section that was quite fast and comprised of firm tacky soil in a higher and drier area of the trail network. I came into a swooping turn and that was when it happened. The soil type changed from hard and fast to hard with a veneer of soft stuff on top. As I entered the turn, I felt my tires start to give a little...you know the way an under inflated tire feels?...anyway, I stayed with it and gave it just a hint of over-steer. The bike entered a two wheel drift as it hit the apex and the over-steer resulted in a rooster tail of dirt/mud bits flying up off the front wheel. It would have made for a neat photo if someone had been there. Just as the slide started to get really fun, I felt compelled to get a foot ready...a split second later I dabbed. It was a check dab, and I didn't loose much speed, but it was clear that I was pushing the limit of that particular situation.

That little drift really stuck in my mind. It was quite a neat feeling.

There was something else that was REALLY cool...There was wildlife moving around everywhere. Squirrels were running like crazy, rabbits were all around, and I must have seen 15 deer. Here is a photo of 5 deer that were starting to bed down. Unfortunately, I rousted them. They stared at me for a few minutes then ran off. I can really only see one doe in this photo...and even then I can really only see the eyes reflecting(2 green dots in center of this photo)...trust me there are 4 more, but they were hard to capture in the lens with all the brush. Something has happened to the resolution of the image too...sorry about that.

I put in about 2 hours of riding, and I really can not say enough good things about the experience. The temp, the weather, the calm breeze, most of the trail conditions...all good.

Sure there were a few downers: the motorcycle damage in the fields (illegal), the trail damage from people riding the wet sections, and the repairs that resulted in a mud hole and a jump being torn out...but I am not going to focus on those.

I need to talk 2-Old into visiting this weekend for a ride...I think the trails are going to be fun.