|   A bag of chips can be just as bad as psychos (long) | Ska!
Nov 27, 2001 10:53 AM | | Night fell and, after several calls, it was official that I'd be riding solo. Undeterred, I prepared for what I knew would be a nervous ride. The trail I was headed to is an hour's drive away and it was dark, cold and on the verge of raining. Not a good combination if anything was to happen. I can be stubborn when it comes to things like this so nervousness and the threat of a down poor wouldn't stop me. In the back of my mind however, I know it's a little stupid but when you need to ride, you need to ride.
When I reach the trailhead I'm somewhat disappointed to find it pitch black. The entrance where we normally set up is a bit secluded to begin with but normally there are lights. This time it is very dark because of its lights being out and I think smashed. From inside the car I look around and think about finding another spot to set up but since it is already very late I decide to stay.
I get out of the car and struggle to get ready using only the light that shines from the interior of my VW. I hear the damp tall grass a ways behind me in the field hiss as the wind rushes through and gets closer. I mull over how it timed itself so perfectly as to finally reach me just as I remove my shirt to put on my jersey. The air is cold and strong enough to knock me a little off balance just as I begin to put my arms through my sleeves. I quickly pull my jersey down and shiver off the cold. I turn to face the field squinting to see into the darkness. I can still hear the wind blowing along the grass. My eyes follow the sound along. It's sounding cold and spiritual. "Man" I say to myself. It's creepy as hell. Being alone in the dark with only the sound of the wind to listen to can really send your mind racing.
After setting up and making sure my lights were good to go I make sure that I bring my wallet along and set the alarm on the car. That way, if someone breaks in, at least they'll have a bit of a challenge and they won't get my I.D. and cards.
After my last check and I reassure myself that this is a good thing I'm doing, I head out.
I drop into the trail after gaining lots of speed through the parking lot. My lights reach out into the night as far as they can, doing their job well. At this point I'm sailing for the wind is at my back. I know I should slow down for safety's sake but I just can't get myself to do it. Not only because it's fun as hell but because I always think there is something just behind me and not quite able to catch up. Blame it on the horror flicks we all love so much.
Eerie shadows caused by leafless branches can look very similar to the bony fingers of the grim reaper if you let your imagination take over. They slowly drift towards you as you pass but never actually touch. I wonder what would happen if they did!
I ride on letting my mind wonder but not wonder too far as I AM riding a bike. I've never had this before. I'm enjoying this "creepier-than-normal" solo ride and for some strange reason, try to freak myself out more. It's kind of a rush or maybe it's just stupid.
I pedal on, my pedal strokes only slowed by terrain that will not allow me to crank over. The leaves conceal what I wish I could see but it does add to the challenge. I think to myself of how surprised I am that my Conti Twister Pro tires are holding up and how well they have performed for me this season. I had serious doubts when I bought them. Little did I know that they'd soon let me down in a big way, or at least I thought.
I reach the top of a short climb and begin my decent down the other side. The trail here is quite narrow and goes between trees, some of which are marked by collisions from mountain bikers that have passed this way before. I know the trail well, even when covered in leaves, and fly down its twisty cut. I feel 100% confident and in control. I lean into the turns and absorb what my suspension cannot. I shift my weight and catch air where I can. I weave between the trees and launch off or over roots that are too big to be masked. This is what it's all about. I've escaped! At that point I was thinking of nothing but the ride. Complete bliss.
On the last turn before the next climb I lean hard and my front Conti slips on some leaves. My front end washes out so quickly there was nothing I could do. My bars turn and I fall forward landing flat on my stomach and chest. I remember hearing my bike slam the ground hard and saw it bounce once end over end before stopping in the brush along the side of the trail. Less than a second ago I was really moving and now I'm completely flat on my stomach at a dead stop. Ok. I hate it when this happens - I can't breath - at all.
I role onto my side and into fetal position hoping my breath would return. God it seems like forever when it happens doesn't it? Finally, after what seems like an eternity, I gasp taking in a lung full of sweet fresh cool air. You don't really appreciate it until it's gone. I role onto my back with my knees up and arms crossed over my guts. The normal rhythm of my breathing is slowly returning when I look over and notice that my bar lights are out. My helmet light reveals that my bottle battery is missing from the water bottle cage and the connection wire is just hanging there. "Shit." I now think of how stupid it is that almost (if not all) night riding equipment is BLACK. Yeah, that makes it REAL easy to find in the middle of the night if something like this happens.
I lay there for at least 5 minutes staring up at the cloudy sky. "All that needs to happen now is rain", I thought to myself. I could hear the wind rushing through the bare branches of the hundreds of trees that surrounded me, some of their branches scratching and bumping against one another as though fighting for a better view of what was below them. Many of the dead leaves that littered the forest floor were getting caught up in the gusts and rolling along with them. A large maple leaf brushed up and leaned against my face as I lay there. It tickled my cheek as it quivered in the breeze on the verge of moving on. I let it sit there a second before I picked it up and looked at it. It suffered a "fall" too but would it have been as painful? For some strange reason I decide to keep it and take it with me. I sat up and tucked it into the back pockets of my jersey. The wind is really blowing now and my sweat is starting to cool me down so I decide I'd best be moving on.
First thing's first. I get up and stretch feeling for pain. Aside from a slight cramp developing in my left calf muscle I'm fine. I'm lucky. Now it's over to the bike. I have visions of having to hike my stupid self out of there making me extremely late getting home, after all, I still have to pack and drive an hour back. This would surely make Mrs Ska! (who thought I shouldn't go in the first place) very happy indeed.
I reach the downed GT and she looks fine for the most part. There is a huge clump of mud across my shifters and break levers that I simply wipe off. My seat is slightly twisted off to one side so I pull out the old multi tool and fix that without a hitch. I check the whole bike over to be completely sure it's in good working order and it is (fortunately). The sound of my ride slamming into the ground then vibrating through the air after makes me think that this may have been one of my most serious wipe outs on a mountain bike. I was pretty lucky I thought.
I lean my ride against a tree and begin my search for my battery. As I walk back to where I slammed I notice a clump of leaves gathered to the side of the trail and just next to that are clear sign of the Conti's trying their best to hold on (sliding knobby marks) I kick the small pile of leaves and hear a funny sound. I walk over for a closer inspection and find a bag of %#&*ing salt and vinegar chips underneath! Garbage!! Garbage caused this whole fiasco! What a bunch of pigs. I cursed the culprits as I searched for my battery.
Just then I hear the familiar sound of chain slap coming from a distance. "Great!", I thought. I can get some help finding my battery now. I look over and see the bobbing of lights coming my way then suddenly stop not too far away. I look over and find this very odd. They are pointed right at me but the person had stopped. It was dead quiet too, no sound. At this point I can't see past the lights as they are shining directly into my face and the silence is freaking me out.
I yell out "WHO'S THERE!!" reaching my hand up to shield some of the light.
A girl's voice replies hesitantly and cracking "Hi"
I could tell she was nervous and seemed as though she was on the verge of crying. Now I don't want to sound sexist or anything but I was wondering WTF she was doing out here alone? I weigh my responses quickly in my mind. I didn't want to scare her for if she was in trouble I might be able to help.
I change my tone of voice and speak in a manner as though she was an old buddy and say "Oh. I slammed damn hard here and lost a water bottle battery" I begin to look for it again, "I can't find the damn thing anywhere!"
I hear a sniffle and I'm more than a little alarmed by this.
"Are you alright?"
"No" she says.
I slowly (nervously too since I didn't know what was wrong) walk towards her and gently ask if I can help. She's standing over her bike with what I'm sure was her strong leg clicked in and ready to dart off if I was a psycho. Tears were streaming down her face and she was definitely scared. She looked no more than 16 I'd say.
I flick off my helmet lamp so she wouldn't have to squint to see my face. I reach out and to shake her hand and introduce myself "Hi, I'm Steve but you can call me a moron. Are you OK?" I am a firm believer that humour is the best medicine.
A trembling hand reaches out and an introduction is made "I'm Meg and no, I'm not OK." She wipes her cheeks and actually cracks a little smile (out of nervousness I assume) "I can't find my way out of here. I've been riding around forever and my lights are going to die soon. I ride here all the time but the night changes everything!"
I try to comfort her with humour again "$hit yeah! Look at me! I didn't even see it coming it's so dark!" I point to my muddy chest and face. She laughs.
"Well Meg, looks like you've found yourself a riding partner. I can get you out of here no probs. If you don't mind of course!"
She smiles and says no. I encourage her to take a break and relax but she insists on helping me. After a few minutes she finds the battery about a foot from that stinking bag of flippin chips I kicked into the air. I was sure I looked over there but, whatever. I was just glad to hear a positive and secure tone come from her voice when she found it. I was just glad she met me on the trail and not some total maniac.
I plug the battery in and the lights fire up again. I ask Meg where she parked and she tells me. I know where it is and she was pretty far off course. It's clear to me that she's been here before but I had to ask what she was doing out alone so late. Turns out, there was a girls' ride and she parked at a different spot than everyone else. All she had to do was follow the trail a ways and turn off towards the lot she was in. The lights weren't hers at all but her boyfriend's who had given them to her just in case the ride went a little longer than expected. Smart kid if you ask me.
About half way back to her car the last of her lights went dead. We stopped and I gave her my helmet mount for the rest of the journey. I asked her about her tricked out new Trek and she talked about how she was going to start racing next season and this was the greatest sport she's ever been into. I was impressed with her attitude and positive outlook on her future racing endeavours.
Finally, we broke the last bit of tree line before the parking lot her car was in came into view. It was parked under the brightest streetlight in the area and was surrounded by a bunch of people. I hear an "OH!" and she cranked on gaining lots of speed. Obviously those people were her pals waiting to be sure she got back safely. I continue on at my own pace and come up after. Her friends look at me (she had obviously already discussed the whole situation) and I was introduced. They were all cool. Just out having a fun time. They were your typical 16/17 year old girls and the more nervous of the group seemed very pleased to see her back safe and sound. After all, she had been gone a long time. Meg thanked me. I could tell she was very thankful just from her face. I just said the usual "no probs." as I put my light back on. I split back down onto the trail for the journey back to my dark car lot.
Almost all the way back, my lights died. They didn't even go into the alarm mode where they dim out for 15 minutes as a warning. They just went "poof! out!". Getting so sidetracked wasted a lot of time but I didn't mind. The trail isn't in a vast area where someone could get lost and never be found again but psychos are everywhere. I didn't mind using up a couple of batteries up to help someone out. Besides, just before they went out I was starting to get a little too confident again. All I needed was to meet another bag of chips never mind the psychos.
Ska!
Hope to see you at the races next year Meg.
p.s. I just realized, I think I put that poor leaf through the wash ;-( |
| Excellent post... | 006_007
Nov 27, 2001 11:05 AM | | As for the black battery - I attach reflective tape to mine for that very reason! |
| Great read, Steve | Chip
Nov 27, 2001 11:08 AM | | I could relate to everything, except finding the helpless girl in the middle of the dark woods. Haven't come across that yet.
I too went from fast to stop this weekend, slamming hard on a wet bridge as the bike launched into the bushes. We both survived and will ride again.
Peace,
-C |
| wow. great story Ska! | Stick
Nov 27, 2001 11:11 AM | | great job!!!
-Stick |
| Good One! | KriZkit
Nov 27, 2001 11:15 AM | | Almost thought it was fiction. I'll bet she was scared. I ended up somewhere I didn't want to on a solo night ride once. It can be very disconcerting. I'm glad you could help her out of the woods. |
| This is an awesome read | cleatgrrl
Nov 27, 2001 11:32 AM | | Why buy a MTB magazine when you can read great stuff like this? Seriously, you should have sent this to Dirt Rag first before spoiling us like this. I love it--I can totally relate to all of it except:
1) Why don't you change clothes IN your car?
2) Why don't you hook up with the teenage girls next time? Did you get any phone numbers?
3) Why don't you just get a trainer?
Last night it was gorgeous and warm out, and riding home from work in the dark with Jon on the bike path I was thinking we should go off-roading a little in the park, but Jon was too hungry and didn't want to ride, so I had to go home and ride the trainer. Next time I'm going to brave the psychos that live in the park and go it alone. Inspiring. |
| Unlike Hughy, I enjoyed your recount! Thanks Ska! nm | JRinCA
Nov 27, 2001 11:32 AM | | |
| Thanks for the post Ska! | CraigH
Nov 27, 2001 11:47 AM | | Night riding is so much fun!
I've only been solo a couple of times, I try not to as riding NS trails solo is probably not one of the smartest things to do.
I do ride some easier trails solo on my commute sometimes though. |
| very nice (nm) | cburke
Nov 27, 2001 11:50 AM | | nada |
| re: A bag of chips can be just as bad as psychos (long) | Joegvr
Nov 27, 2001 12:02 PM | | Awesome story, Thnx!
Also, there is nothing like night riding with friends. Thnx to you I might try it alone, maybe.
Joe |
| I thought it was a Penthouse Forum writing... | Bonee
Nov 27, 2001 12:27 PM | | Great story, well written, but where was the gratuitous sex in the parked car?
Just kidding. Solo night rides can be freaky. I just constantly remind myself that the imagination is very powerful and that if I ran into someone else they would be just as freaked out as me. Oh, and if I do start to freak I just concentrate on my breathing.
Your a good man Ska. Not sure you had any other choice than to help her and, who knows, you may have saved a life. |
| great story | moschika
Nov 27, 2001 12:27 PM | | not into the night riding thing, but then again i've never really done either.
great story and it always feels good to help someone out on the trails. |
| Try it, you'll like it! | CraigH
Nov 27, 2001 12:35 PM | | Now instead of only being able to ride 8-15 hours a day, you can ride all 24! |
| good stuff, Ska! | *rt*
Nov 27, 2001 12:31 PM | | having been lost in the woods at night in the rain without lights accompanied by the idiot who got me lost in the woods at night in the rain without lights (don't ask), i can truely sympathize with Meg. even if you know you are close to civilization and are on trails you're familiar with, there is nothing more disconcerting than being disoriented in and by the dark.
glad to hear your encounter with the chips bag didn't result in anything worse than some mud and a few bruises.
rt - ended up covered (and i DO mean covered!) in poison ivy as a result of the above experience |
| re: psychos | Monte
Nov 27, 2001 12:40 PM | | Good one.
Someone put little reflectors on trees on some trails here and they get me everytime I see them off in the distance.
Monte |
| I pick up the pedal reflectors off the trail... | CraigH
Nov 27, 2001 12:49 PM | | and jam them into the tree bark.
On some corners, it really helps! |
| Made my day..... | mugg
Nov 27, 2001 12:57 PM | | Bike passion to the max. Thanks for the fantastic read, ska! |
| Ahhh.... just the Passion fix I (and this site) needed. | MtbIrv
Nov 27, 2001 1:06 PM | | Thanks. This site has been far too boring for far too long. Great story. :-) |
| Made my day..... | mugg
Nov 27, 2001 1:14 PM | | Bike passion to the max. Thanks for the fantastic read, ska! |
| Just the cure for Passion fatigue. | Jettstream
Nov 27, 2001 1:19 PM | | I burned out a few weeks ago from sifting thru tons of mindless drivel looking for posts like this one. Good story, great writeup, excellent karma to you. Thanx man!
-- Js (that poor leaf...) |
| Hands down the best post in months! | kristian
Nov 27, 2001 1:55 PM | | Once again Ska, you've spun a fantastic yarn. Serious props to you for helping the girl out and thanks for sharing your story! |
| a Blair Witch ride | spideysgirl
Nov 27, 2001 2:51 PM | | LOVED the tale, thanks! When we ride at Forest Park after work, it's creepy like that. I love the adrenaline rush too. :) |
| Im totally blushing
| Ska!
Nov 28, 2001 6:21 AM | | Seriously! I am so very flattered by all the comments, thanks! I really enjoy it when people like my ride posts.
And
006-007 Great idea!! I'll be doing that tonight. Thanks.
Chip I hear you on the bridge thing. I almost busted a finger on a wet bridge in a town called Hell. I swear, I'm not kidding, the town is called Hell. It's in Michigan. That ride has gone into my personal history book as THE craziest ride I've ever had. As for the helpless girl in the woods, I know you'd have done the same. Glad you weren't hurt on your "30 0 in less than 1 second" deceleration ride ;-/
Cleatgrrl - "1) Why don't you change clothes IN your car?"
I'm all for easy. It's much easier to change outside - albeit colder. ;-)
"2) Why don't you hook up with the teenage girls next time? Did you get any phone numbers?"
Heheheh.. No offence to 16 year old girls or anything but I really can't see myself giving them a call to hang out ;-) I'll ride with absolutely anyone but to call them up to chill out and such? Well, nah, I'll pass. Besides, I don't mind riding solo and normally there is at least one of my buds available.
"3) Why don't you just get a trainer?"
I have rollers but sometimes you just need to get out there, you know how it is ;-)
Bonee I know you were just kidding but the thought never once crossed my mind and wouldn't. Besides, I'm already married to the coolest chick on the planet ;-) I don't like seeing people in trouble and all I wanted to do was get her out of there. I did that. I was glad I could help. I didn't want or expect anything in return. I was more than happy with a smile and a "thanks Steve."
Moschika like CraigH said "Try it, you'll like it!"
rt That really sucks about the poison Ivy. Sheesh! Hope you kicked his/her a$$ when you got out ;-) j/k
Jettstream Yes, unfortunately the leaf did go through the wash. I'm still mad at myself for that ;-(
As for everyone else Stick, KriZkit, JRinCA, cburke, Joegvr, monte, mugg, kristian, spideysgirl thank you very much for the great comments. I'm glad you all liked the post and you've encouraged me to do it again sometime.
Thanks all.
Ska! (still blushing) |
| AWESOME! | GnarlyOne
Nov 28, 2001 8:24 AM | | Crashing is no fun, but everything happens for a reason. Imagine: no bag of chips, leading to no crash, leading to you not being there when Meg came by, leading to a search party having to go out to look for her (or worse)..... |
| Good going Ska! | skogan
Nov 28, 2001 11:53 AM | | Excellent post, like the others have said "keep 'em coming".
It may have been a small gesture on your part to help that young woman, but I'm sure she and her friends consider you a hero and a saint... |
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