|   Cool Ride today + Hard Work Pays Off... | Blue 'Goose
Sep 29, 2001 8:49 PM | | Today we helped a friend move from their house to an apartment until his new place could be
constructed. Afterwards, I felt pretty good and the weather was nice. I'd been out on bikes over
50 times this season, but have been off of the bike for 10 days due to a cold and work related
things so I was eager to go riding. I still felt like I had a cold, but the season is getting shorter
and I was chomping at the bit to ride.
Since my riding buddy and I both live in Bloomington we decided to hit the River Bottoms and just
do the whole thing west of Lyndale all the way, past the raft, past the TC&W swing-bridge, all
the way to the end of the line until the western terminus, which can be around 15 miles or so
if you take the long ways back there.
We left the parking lot and headed west and my friend was keeping up a good clip on his
M2 Stumpjumper- he'd been unemployed all summer and had nothing but time to do
mountain biking and rollerblading (and look for jobs) and was in pretty good shape.
We were going about 17 mph and I was right behind him and after a while he said "I can
tell you've been riding" because I was keeping up just fine. I said "Uh, yeah, a little."
I've so far done over 255 miles more than I did last season and my legs were showing it -
even though I helped my friend move I was feeling great. I decided to expend some energy.
I passed him and picked up the pace to 20-22 mph or so and kept it up all the way to the
trailhead and we then slowed to take in the view. I think that the time off the bike actually
let me rest my legs a bit because I'd been riding about every other day since July.
We hit the bottoms in their fall prime - lots of fall color, lots of interesting
singletrack to ride and surprisingly few people out for the weekend. Reds, golds,
yellows, greens and oranges adorned many of the trees - many haven't changed yet
but they're getting there. One tree had no leaves on it at all. Get out there soon since
you'll miss it if you're not careful.
We hit the raft and crossed nine mile creek and noticed the creek was very low right
now - had to rock the raft a bit to help move it along on the west side of the crossing.
We continued riding and started to encounter more riders, some joggers and a kid on
a BMX bike heading in the direction opposite to our way of travel. We even had some
folks going our way as well.
Eventually, the section that was very sandy/silty re-appeared and in no better shape
than when I did my videos a bit earlier in the season. I used the opportunity to try and
ride the sandy sections as long as possible without dabbing. I dabbed alright, but I was
able to go a lot longer than usual.
Ran into some log sections, went over some fine, tried others and dabbed on one. Next
time I'll get that one.
A bit later we encountered a weird phenomenon - several riders with $1200+ bikes
who had all the gear, but no helmets. Wtf? I mean, it's your brain but some of these
guys were nuts. I came within feet of a guy who had to be going 20+ mph and I hit
the brakes in excess of 17 mph - it would have been an ugly collision. No helmet.
It's his loss if his XTR equipped bauble gets crunched. Or his melon. Sigh.
We got to the Western terminus in record time and ran into a weird sight: a dad and
his kid, both on BMX bikes. The dad on an adult size BMX bike, the kid on a kid size.
The weird thing: the kid had thinner cross-bike-like-quasi-roadie tires on his
yellow Mongoose bike. Weird, never seen that before on a BMX.
We spent some time on the pedestrian bridge overlooking the river for a minute before
turning around since the sun was starting to set.
We got back to the lot unscathed and all was well as the sun started veering low on the
horizon and riders were either returning (or heading out with lights) to their cars
and that was that, about 15.25 miles.
Now, after dinner and some sitting still I find I'm kinda stiff and sore, but I think from
the move - not the ride. My legs feel great. Sad thing is, I have to help my friend for an
hour or so tomorrow too. Oh well.
-t |
| Nice post! | Red Ascent
Sep 29, 2001 9:01 PM | | Sometimes an enforced layoff helps the ol' legs recover some, so that the first ride right after is amazingly fast...but you may feel it tomorrow!
Thanks for the write up.
Phil |
| Nice write up. | berrywise
Sep 29, 2001 10:21 PM | | I'd be guessing the dad was riding a "cruiser" (24" bmx) and the kid had a "mini" which is more of a racing setup with really narrow wheels.
bw |
| From a former BMX racer.. | Crazy Bitch
Sep 30, 2001 10:56 AM | | If I get what you're describing,the adult BMX'er was riding a cruiser,which has 24" wheels but is otherwise equipped much like an average 20" bike.However,the tyke was most likely riding a mini.Usually,these bikes have 24" wheels,but REALLY narrow tires(1.5" or less).In between the high speeds,wimpy tires,and the clipless pedals,it's no wonder why the junior-class competitors crash so much.
Anyway,nice post dude.
-CB |
| |
