70 at 7 and 80 at 8...

...are the kind of temperatures I really HATE.

And yeah, yeah, yeah...it's not the heat, it's the humidity. Well whatever the hell it was, I tanked in the heat AGAIN.  So bad, that I felt I should retire my bike for the summer!  I really need to turn down any hot weather rides, I just can't handle it.  We couldn't get to the Carr Pond swimming spot soon enough.  Once I hit the chilly water, I felt human again, re-energized (at least enough for the climb back to the parking lot). 

Riders were Bruce, Paul, and Skip from the Hopkins Hill Lot at Big River.  Although they claimed they were impacted by the conditions, it didn't seem to affect them at all.

Good news is... a great little technical route from "The Maze" to "Down and Out".  I will definitely ride this route again...next Winter.

Happy hot, 87 in the shade, Trails,

OMMB

Jesse and me, a few miles at Village Park...

"Fabulous ride...yes fabulous."

Happy Trails,

OMMB

A Romp Through The Swamp

• Place: Village Park
• Trailhead: Library
• Miles: 7-ish
• Weather: wet
• Trail Conditions: wet

Notes: Went up to Swansea on the way home from work.  Luckily there was a break in the clouds, but of course the remnants of the last 12 hours of rain were apparent.  Made for some plush pictures of Spring.

And in the end... a mud fest...

Happy Trails,

OMMB

Route SR = Perfect 10

• Place: Big River
• Trailhead: Burnt Sawmill
• Riders with OMMB: none
• Miles: 10
• Weather:  cloudy with a threat of rain, lucky only a threat
• Trail Conditions: damp, no dust, not slippery
• GPS Track:

Notes: Off on my own today for a pretty enjoyable ride...at my pace of course. I hadn't tracked Shoot the Moon in a long time so I started my loop from Burnt Sawmill, down Shoot The Moon over to Al's Nature Trail, across to Dead Shed and out to the Hopkin's Hill Parking Lot, where I caught Bruce and Tom at the end of their ride.  Left HHPL down Big River Expressway, and over to Out-n-Back to return to Burnt Sawmill.  A good flowing loop...perfect 10 miles.

Happy Trails,

OMMB

And the Pussy Award goes to...

...wait for it...




...wait for it...



...you got it...



...ME!


Royally SUCKED today.  The slowest, whiniest, overcooked rider in the group!  Why?   Oh lessons learned are...

1) don't eat 2 burgers the night before a ride
2) don't forget to hydrate BEFORE the ride
3) if the temp is over 70 at 7am, it's most likely going to be 80+ at ride time
4) if temp is 80+ on a ride planned for Arcadia, don't ride
5) DON'T ride the Breakheart Trail in reverse direction (clockwise), too many climbs

Of course the other riders, Tom, Bruce, John, Skip, Rex, Mark, and Alphonso were gracious enough to put up with Mr. Slowpoke the Baby!  Thanks guys, you are too kind. 


The route...

Happy Trails,

OMMB

Another One

Notes: Another nice loop on the Carr Pond side with Bruce, Richard, John, Paul, and Rex.  Unfortunately John blew out his rear tire, loudly I might add, on Foster's Folly.  Right through the sidewall.  They patched it up with some sort of plastic or rubber.  We assume he made it back to the trailhead, haven't heard from him since.  ;) 

Happy Trails,

OMMB

Dr. John's Loop

Notes: Joined John at Hopkins Hill lot for an enjoyable spin around Carr Pond.  We ran into the NEMBA crew over on Slab Rock Trail, which parallels the "contested" trail where someone has been barricading the entrance.  They were out measuring a route for the upcoming Big River Fun Ride. Well, wouldn't ya know, the Slab Rock Trail was blocked midway by some pretty big trees and branches.  Go figure.  It's not private property, so the mystery continues.  We helped Steve O's crew move the stuff aside. 

Happy Trails,

OMMB

...and then I went over there.

(trails are not very clear "over there")

Happy Trails,

OMMB

I went over here...

...with Jesse, perfect riding weather.

Happy Trails,

OMMB

Big River Double Shot Tens

Shot 1: Burnt Sawmill Road. A 10-ish mile ride on 9 May with Tom and Greg, plagued with thunder, lightening, and downpours. Yay mountain biking!

Shot 2: Hopkins Hill Parking Lot. Another 10-ish miler on 10 May with Bruce, John, Richard, Remi, and 2 others. Perfect conditions. Perfect loop. Perfectly tired.

Happy Trails,
OMMB

Arcadia Rock Gardening 101

Notes: So after a little "loosen up" ride yesterday, I figured I'd try riding with the group again.  I figured Tom, Alphonso, and John would go easy on me, considering my rib aches and pains.  I figured wrong.  What I got was a brutal 12+ miler on the hottest day yet.  Wow was I wiped, but what a great loop.  We started from Rte 165 lot but instead of riding the North side that I'm familiar with, we crossed the road and jumped into some real nice single track.  After some climbing, made our way over to the Browning Mill Pond area, all new to me.  A lot of real technical rock gardens and stream crossings to maneuver.  Especially on the "95 Trail" where Alfonso climbed to the top of one boulder only to endo and header into the next boulder.  Ouch. 

Happy Trails,

OMMB

Shake Test

• Place: Village Park
• Trailhead: Library
• Riders with OMMB: Jesse K9
• Miles: 5+
• Weather: perfect
• Trail Conditions: perfectly dry
• Whoops, Yikes, and Oh Sheets: no no no, that would HURT 

Notes: After a week of limited mobility and lack of sleep from that slam down on the ribs, we went for a short, easy ride to see how things would hold together.  Some extra pain when huffing and puffing or when on the bumpy stuff, but not too bad.  The Park trails are in excellent condition, clear and dry.  Get out there before the bugs do!!

Happy Trails,

OMMB