|   Jim Thorpe 2002 - A Wagnerian Opera | Rev Bubba
Jun 17, 2002 5:45 AM | | Music and the weather often set the tone of an event. This year it was "Storm and Thunder." I set out with the "Ride of the Valkyries" on the CD as it was the most appropriate choice.
The weather alternated on Friday between rain, heavy rain and really, really heavy rain. Color choices were grey, dark grey, battleship grey, light grey and North Atlantic grey.
With my car seeming more like a ship plowing its way through 40 foot swells, I arrived at the Jim Thorpe Mountain Bike Weekend (MBW) around 9:30 am on Friday.
Quickly unloading my bike, I pedaled over to site 2 and met up with Dave and Jane, their daugher and two of her friends. As no one else was going to arrive any time soon, Dave and I elected to ride. We cruised the campsite looking for others to join us but there were no takers. While Jane and the girls drove to town, we headed up Lung Buster to the top of Mount Pisgah. A very swell named trail, it soon unseated us. Near the top, it turns distintly skyward forcing a climb where you searched for and hoped you found solid footing as you carried your bike.
Eventually we bested Mt. Pisgah and took some new singletrack towards the rim trail. This was classic eastern woods riding with not more space then a handlebar between trees, the route obscured by fog. Tires gripped and loosened. The wonders of fenders passed through our minds ans mud covered us, only to be washed away with each new downpour. The field grey forest pressed in. Like two wheeled legionnaires we waited for the Germanic hordes to spring upon us from the Teutoberger Wald. I stayed on Dave's tail as best I could.
The rim was an adrenaline rush. Visibility down to yards and a sheer cliff on our right.
Emerging from the rim, we crossed under the power lines and found more new singletrack. Eventually, the long climb up was repayed as the earth turned down. Cranking my Psylo to its full 125 mm from the 80 mm I normally ride with I turned my bike into a freeride beast. The 2.3 inch tirres on Rhyno Lites with full discs kept me on the edge of control for the boulder litered decent.
Ah, how sweet it was!
Saturday, TurboBitch (Sandy) joined us. Jane, her daughter Olivia and friends Emma and Sue plus Donna and Steve voted to go for the rim trail I had ridden the day before. Dave and other members of the Baltimore mafia elected a shuttle run to American Standard. Turbo was interested in the rim also so I was elected guide.
After two days of rain, the trails were slick. On the steepest part of Lung Buster we utilized a human chain to wench our bikes over the rocks and lend a hand to those in need of assistance. On Saturday there were many more people out, dispite the weather or maybe because of it.
At one point on the rim trail, we had to make way for a group of 14 riders heading in the opposite direction. Not the easiest thing considereing how narrow the trail is and the sheer drop on one side.
The ride was much the same as the day before. After the downhill run we headed fo the town of Summit Hill to explore. After about an hour in a setting that would do Stephen King justice (foggy, deserted streets and an old cemetary) we followed a sign back to the Switchback Railway trail. As if by magic, we ended up on top of the mountain once again even though none of us remembered climbing. The reward was a second fast downhill to camp. On this run Turbo stayed close to me even though she had a hardtail and I full suspension. She has become a much improved ridert his year.
As the festival progressed there was more of the same.
When I look back I think of the words in an Irish song sung by a group called Malarky on Friday night.
An old rover in traction turns to his friend and says with a smile, "Jesus, at least I tried....."
See you next year. |
| You mean valgar opera, right? | Bikebreath
Jun 17, 2002 6:21 AM | | Splendid write up, Rev. It sounds like you had a good time. Wish things had turned out differently, but that's how it goes sometimes.
Ain't ole Dave a super guy?
Bb, [ if people stop bitchin' at me, I'll stop with the excuses. ] |
| Maybe I meant, "Valgar". [ nm ] | Bikebreath
Jun 17, 2002 6:22 AM | | |
| Possibly, " Vulgar" | Bikebreath
Jun 17, 2002 6:24 AM | | More coffe please.
Bb |
| No, Wagnarian, definitely Wagnarian | Rev Bubba
Jun 17, 2002 6:36 AM | | Wood nymphs and all........ Saw at least one EWR bike in the mists and numerous spirits lurked amoung the tombstones in Summit Hill. All we lacked was a Viking Funeral Pryor on the lake.
I figured the real reason you declined to attend was to be the Baltimore Mafia's representative at the John Gotti funeral. An offer you could not possibly refuse. |
| nah........... | heff®
Jun 17, 2002 6:36 AM | | .........just show up NEXT year. You missed out on my famous Carribbean pork chops, grilled chicken, baked beans, and some killer singletrack. We have the primo campsite, right next to the showers. Ya'll are invited next year.
Oh, as soon as I get my film developed, and jd emails me, I'll have photos. The only thing that went really wrong was that I left my shoes in CT, so I had to buy a new pair. Oh well.........needed the cleats anyway. ;o)
heff® |
| yeah, it was wet.... | heff®
Jun 17, 2002 6:31 AM | | .........we were there Thursday, I thought I was gonna have to start inviting animals into my tent.........Noah's Ark, ya know.
Good ta meet ya, Bubba! I'll be there next year, and Pedro's this year. Too bad I missed Turbo.
heff® (finally mostly dried out) |
| Yup, good to meet you too. | Rev Bubba
Jun 17, 2002 6:38 AM | | Glad I was staying at the Inn in Jim Thorpe this year. Nice dry place to sit on the balcony for breakfast. I already have a room reserved for next year. "Turbo don't camp!" |
| ....next year??? | outdoorzen
Jun 17, 2002 6:40 AM | | nice write up, Rev.
But isn't all that riding in state game lands?...closed to bikes starting in 2003. |
| Can't answer that one..... | Rev Bubba
Jun 17, 2002 6:59 AM | | All I know is that the people who give the permit for the event have approved it through 2005. I'm aware of but not sure of the specifics of the game land issue. |
| re: Jim Thorpe 2002 - A Wagnerian Opera | SoulRider
Jun 17, 2002 6:41 AM | | I showed up Friday at around 9ish and proceded to fumble around looking for my friends who had already set up camp on Thurs. I found them and decided to set up camp because it was only raining hard. As soon as I got my gear situated the skies opened up and drenched everything. Tarps are a wonderful invention and saved our weekend from complete saturation.
I cruised by campsite #4 saw the V Dub(with the IF stickie in the back window)and some tents but no activity.
All in all we ended up doing a 20 miler Fri. and a 30 on Sat.I bagged on Sun. and beat a path home to a dry bed and warm shower(no line!). |
| One of the Baltimore people had the VW with the IF sticker | Rev Bubba
Jun 17, 2002 7:01 AM | | I had a VW but no stickers other then IMBA and JORBA. Seems lots of people were around but we all had trouble hooking up. Glad you got the rides in though. |
| re: Jim Thorpe 2002 - A Wagnerian Opera | The Weasel
Jun 17, 2002 9:01 AM | | Great write up. It was my first JTMB weekend, and from past tales, the great tradition of rain lives on. Our group still managed a few rides, including the long climb to Pycho Betty's Revenge and the aformentioned Switchback Railway trail. In a fitting manor, the skies cleared and the sun made an appearance Sunday morning, just in time...to start the drive home, ughgh. Oh well, it was still a balst and I got my first taste of the area. I'll be back. |
| Yes, Sunday was a nice one. | Rev Bubba
Jun 17, 2002 9:09 AM | | Turbo and I sat on the balcony of the Inn and watched the bikes and cars head out of town. After a nice breakfast, we did a quick ride to the camp site and back. A fitting end to three great days of riding.
We saw lots of trails to hit next year and Turbo even suggested we spend a week at the Inn next year so we can ride for 5 days.
PS: Did you ride Wagon Road down from the Switchback Overlook back to town? That's a brake burner. |
| Yes, Sunday was a nice one. | The Weasel
Jun 17, 2002 9:13 AM | | No, we did an out and back to the park. Yeah I need new pads now, and major workover. And what's with this staying at the Inn stuff? You're supposed to suffer with the rest of us. Also, what the Rim trail you guys mentioned a few times? |
| Screw suffering | Rev Bubba
Jun 17, 2002 10:25 AM | | I've camped east, west, north, south, winter, spring, summer and fall. I've had enough! The inn is the Inn at Jim Thorpe, a four story brick hotel in town that looks like it would be right at home on Bourbon Street. Anyway, starting this year and for every year to come when I attend MBW, that is where I stay.
Ah, the luxury of a hot bath and a dry bed.
Let's see, how do I discribe where the rim trail is. Well, you start by crossing the road from the park and heading towards Summit Hill on the Switchback trail. After you pass the 180 degree turn where the trail starts to climb, you go another hundred yards or so and verve right on Lung Buster. Climbing to the top of Mt. Pisgah will put you in the right area.
It would be best to have someone who knows the area with you at this point as there is some singletrack you need to find. The rim trail itself goes along the edge (rim) of what I think is an old open pit mine. It is only a few feet wide and on one side there is a drop of a few hundred feet with nothing to stop you if you go off. The trail, itself, is not very difficult but the consequences of screwing up are.
Next year at MTB ask for directions. It is worth finding. |
| I'm not sure of the status........well maybe you should know | VMB Joseph Transue
Jun 17, 2002 7:47 PM | | Just an fyi, MBW is a camping event, not a mtn biking event(promoter's words). MBW weekend has approval from the camping facility until 2005 but there is now agreement between the promoters and state game land organization. Not all of the land is SGL, but a lot of it is. Which attitude are you going to take 1. i'll just ride there anyway, 2. i'll just ride somewhere else. 3. I'll do whatever it takes to preserve riding in JT and in PA? I'm not blaming anyone just challenging the thought process and asking if we are all pro-active enough?thanks |
| |
