Another day, another ride!!

j williams

j williams

Joined
Nov 14, 2005
Messages
11,135
I just couldnt leave this weeks mountain biking with a long hike and a flat. So, we went out today to do it right!! With all the gear loaded up(including spare tubes, and patches!) we headed out on a hunt to find this special trail that is awesome and not many people know about. Its a couple hour drive frm me, and waaay out a gravel road, then a 4mile bikeride down a little goat path till you reach the trailhead(that is really easy to miss). We set out on a sceamin down hill tat stops abrubtly at a bluff overlooking a deep spring fed pool. You then cross a couple creeks, and the trail picks back up with some gnarly whipping singletrack through the woods and an insane climb back out. Its like a 10-12 mi ride not counting the gat path to the trailhead.. Great time. Hot, sunny, and Humid. My buddy actually blew a tire on this ride, and today it wasnt an issue, we had him rolling again in no time.... I got to ride my ass off, then got to take a dip in the ice cold springfed pool. It cooled me off immensily!

The trails were pretty muddy in spots, and pretty rough as they are also horse trails I guess by the tracks on the trail... The bikes got muddy, we got muddy, and then capped it off with some Mongolian BBQ and beers at a cool local resturant where they grill it up in front of you...

All in all a great day!!


The trusty steed....
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Yours truely enjoyin some quality dirt time.
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Creeks we had to ford. Wasnt too bad, even with the recent rains...
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The bike chillin while we were coolin off in the spring..
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My buddy puttin the finishing touches on his repair.
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Trail shot looking back to the parking lot.
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A cool cave in the bluff. I need to come explore it sometime...
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Gear dump! Minus my spare tube, and tools...I LOVE THIS PACK!
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I love drowning knife pics.... The Gunny!!! It has become a great companion, its already seen lots of places, and lots of use.
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Jake,

Cool pics. That's a great way to stay in shape. How does the Havoc differ from the Hawg?
 
Hey buddy, tell me about your bike. I am looking to get a new one....my old one is 19 yrs old! Served me well for many years. I trail ride mostly...
 
Thanks Bro. Its my first love. Im soo zen when im on the bike.

The havoc is a 1400 ci pack, with a special helmet pocket on the front(that can also be used for a jacket, or flip flops, or wet cloathes.. Its the official pack of Whistler Mountain Bike Park.

As far as the Hawg, I dunno, Ive never used one. I am planning on doing a review of the pack soon, and Ill snap some pics of its layout better.

I chose it because of versitility, whith the compression straps, it shinches up good, and holds a ton of stuff. It goes from a biking pack, to a great ultralight hiking pack flawlessly. It rides just right, and is very comfy. I cant say enough good things about it.
 
Rockywolf said:
Hey buddy, tell me about your bike. I am looking to get a new one....my old one is 19 yrs old! Served me well for many years. I trail ride mostly...
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Oh...My baby?? ;)

Its a Surly 1x1. I built it from the frame up. Steel frame, Avid brakes, full rigid, and 1 gear. I love it. Its asy to ride, no shifters and deraileurs to worry about, and every part I hand picked, and installed myself. The bike feels like a big BMX bike, a urban and off road Gorilla!! It is also my solo bugout vehicle with the racks I have to put on it.
 
Looks like a great time and a great area! Thanks for the pics. Looks a lot like some of my spots around here.
 
ejes said:
Looks like a great time and a great area! Thanks for the pics. Looks a lot like some of my spots around here.
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Oh man, It was a stellar day. I really enjoyed the sun, the scenery, the riding, the swim, and the post ride beer and stir fry. :thumbup::thumbup:

Ive been pretty lucky lately. Have been getting out ALOT! :)
 
Great pics Jake - Glad to see you were a bit more prepared this time.

Been meaning to ask you - How do you like riding with platform pedals instead of clipless pedals? I've always ridden clipless but have never ridden SS before other than BMX when I was a kid.
 
If youre used to clipless, you can easily stick with em. I just dont like mountain biking in clipless pedals. I used to race BMX in my youth, so I guess they kinda just stuck with me. I see ALOT of SS guys rockin platforms...

Hows the SS coming?
 
j williams said:
If youre used to clipless, you can easily stick with em. I just dont like mountain biking in clipless pedals. I used to race BMX in my youth, so I guess they kinda just stuck with me. I see ALOT of SS guys rockin platforms...

Hows the SS coming?
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The bike is in my trunk. I was supposed to hit the bike shop today but I ended up having to go back to work. :grumpy:

I'm heading down the shop tomorrow to drop it off. I know we chatted about me doing it myself, but I just don't really have an interest in trying to do the swap myself.

I'll pick up some platforms while I'm there too and see which I like better. Any reccomendations?

I'm thinking it'll be a lot easier to jump off the bike for a steep hill when rolling with platforms.
 
heres another pic I snapped today. All along the goat path in were hhuge fields of blooming wildflowers. Not only was it gorgeous, but it smelled amazing through there...

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myright said:
The bike is in my trunk. I was supposed to hit the bike shop today but I ended up having to go back to work. :grumpy:

I'm heading down the shop tomorrow to drop it off. I know we chatted about me doing it myself, but I just don't really have an interest in trying to do the swap myself.

I'll pick up some platforms while I'm there too and see which I like better. Any reccomendations?

I'm thinking it'll be a lot easier to jump off the bike for a steep hill when rolling with platforms.
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Youre right it is easier to bail on IMO. Id go for a set of BMX platforms. Maybe some poverty, or some easterns. If youre wanting a super nice pedal, I love the Crank bros 5050X platforms I rock. Pins are interchangeable, and so are the flats on the pedals...
 
Looks like a good time and a good place to ride. :thumbup:

j williams said:
If youre used to clipless, you can easily stick with em. I just dont like mountain biking in clipless pedals.
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I guess it all boils down to personal preference. I can't imagine riding without clipless pedals and real cycling shoes unless it's just around town.
 
BlackHills said:
Looks like a good time and a good place to ride. :thumbup:



I guess it all boils down to personal preference. I can't imagine riding without clipless pedals and real cycling shoes unless it's just around town.
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I feel the same way about road bikes, but for mountain, I just dont feel comfy in Clipless...:o:thumbup:
 
Ok, I just have to ask this question. If it's a single speed, which gearing do you choose?

The last single speed bike that I had was a beautiful gold Schwinn Stingray with sissy bars and a banana seat that my Dad bought for me from the PX in Okinawa in 1967. No joke. I still miss that bike...

I'd feel lost without at least 9 more gears!
 
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