Going home

Didn't ride yesterday. Partially too much muscle fatigue from the adventures of the previous two days - when did I become a weekend warrior? - and partially because I had other matters to with which to help out. Actually, the muscle fatigue carried over into today. So this holiday weekend, I guess I chose to go home instead of go big. 

In the absence of my physical and mental ability to ride yesterday, I share this image from an evening spent at Green Lakes State Park a week ago.

Something old, something new...

Nope, I am not getting married. But I am getting out to places I've ridden before and places I haven't put rubber to trail but I did help build to some degree. The past two days have been fairly cycle-centric. Yesterday was forecast to be the nicest of the days on this Memorial Day weekend - thankfully summer has arrived - so I took off for what I had hoped would be an epic day at Shindagin Hollow. Well, epic in as much as a load of time riding with few worries. 

As it turned out, there were some worries. First, I figured out what was part of the problem with my rear derailleur - a misfed chain... Seems in my jubilation of getting the Power Link to function, I failed to make sure the chain was properly routed through the derailleur. This lead to approximately 8 miles of grinding away on one of the tabs designed to keep the chain in place. Big oops. Not sure if it hurt the derailleur but this error probably shortened the life of the chain. Lesson learned.

Damage inflicted to the derailleur by my inattention to detail...

The next worry/issue was I just felt flat. I was glad to be at Shindagin (haven't been there since last summer when I did have an epic day) but for some reason, just wasn't feeling it. I decided to explore some new trails, rediscovered some oldies that I hadn't ridden in a while, but overall, just a mediocre day. But any mediocre day on single-track is better than being in the office (for the most part). One of the new trails I rode was an alternate to a pretty much impossible rock covered climb that goes straight up. It was nice to have this alternate route and riding down it is pretty great as well.

Let's talk bugs for a second though. This was the other sticky spot for the day. It seems the tent caterpillars (?) and inch worms are calling Shindagin Hollow home this season. They were EVERYWHERE in an unavoidable sort of way. Riding down the trail, I was quickly covered with their silk (if that is the right term). If I didn't have riding glasses on, it would have been much worse. I could tell which trails had been ridden that day by the abundance of silk with which I was being covered. It wasn't being covered that troubled me though - it was the leaf litter that I noticed they were producing. It was everywhere, little shards of freshly cut leaves - on the trail, on the roads, on the streams. I wonder what this will mean for the trees as the season progresses. 

This doesn't really begin to capture the magnitude of the issue with the worms. I should have taken some shots of them crawling on my and my bike...

I did make it back to the car just before the clouds opened up. I spent some time de-worming my person and chatting with some riders who were from Binghamton. Sounds like I need to check out Chenango Valley State Park - a bit of PA riding in NY.

Today was a two for one deal. I was supposed to meet up with one of my VT professors earlier in the day but plans changed slightly which freed up time to ride at Ontario County Park. I'd done some trail work here a while ago but never ridden them so I was interested to see what had become of them. I only had about an hour and no map so I was pretty excited to see the course marked for the upcoming Hard Core 24 race. For the most part, I was able to follow the course - it's probably the closest I'll get to doing a 24 race, at least for the foreseeable future. The trails were challenging and fun - good climbs, descents and a few log crossings through in to keep you on your toes. There were some interesting turns and dicey terrain changes that I envision being the demise of a few tired riders during the race... I also felt better today than yesterday so that made it a more enjoyable ride. I saw one of the Geneva Bicycle Center crew riding with local Gary Fisher sponsored Jason Hilimire. I also stopped at Traiblazers Bike Shop in Victor to pick up a new derailleur hanger - I pounded the one I have back to "normal" but expect it to be weaker now and only a matter of time before it needs to be replaced.

I dig the reflective tape so one can find the trail easier by headlight at 3am in a mentally and physically deprived state...

This sign is a bit disconcerting... I turned around here but then got turned around in the trails and approached it from the other direction - I guess I am a survivor.

A view toward Rochester from the top of Gannet Hill at OCP.

And for the final session (so far), I met up with my professor for a short greeting with his family and then a ride along the Erie Canal tow-path from Pittsford to Fairport (almost). He rented a bike from Towpath Bike and we set out at a nice relaxing pace. We used the time to catch up on things at VT, NVPC, and other odds and ends. Some how we managed to get a headwind in various places in both directions... Coupled with the dust, it made for an interesting ride. By the time we returned to get the bike back before the shop closed, both our bikes were covered with cinder dust.

The extent of the dust isn't well captured by photos. Really.

Depending on how plans unfold tomorrow, I might try and get in some miles at Harriet Hollister... I just might need the work week to recover from my weekend (warrior).

Passing...

Of a family friend of over twenty years

Of an opportunity to say more than hi to brighten a stranger's day

Of a beautiful woman on a mountain bike

Of emails and phone calls that just don't quite connect

Of a chain through a not quite-right derailleur

Of opportunities to weigh in on important topics

Of a gorgeous day in a fine setting

Of the unknown into the known

Of time

Rippin' apart twitch muscles

Today was a filled day of bikin', cleanin', repairin', and recreatin'. Among other things, this morning I cleaned the full-squish mtb from the buildup of mud and detritus accumulated during the past few rides. I gave everything a good scrub-down, even got the PowerLink to work. I usually am unable to do so and wind up using the chainbreak tool. I didn't take before and after pictures but should have... next time. While I was doing this, I got to thinking about how some people take their bikes apart to clean them. While this is probably good for getting the grit out of those hard to reach places, I wonder how much stress it puts on the parts to keep taking them on and off. Maybe I don't ride enough to notice the difference between a clean and really clean bike - I do notice the difference between a clean and a really clean chain though. 

I was invited to play soccer this afternoon and decided to ride my bike to the field. This was my first bike commute of any significant length in the city. It was a 7 mile round trip, the return done on very sore legs into a decent headwind. I am glad I took the road bike but wished I had taken the time to properly inflate the tires. The city streets are in need of some paving and sweeping (fortunately, I think I avoided most of the glass). Drivers seem to be somewhat tolerant of cyclists. The topography will certainly whip me into shape in no time if I have to go from hill to hill much. 

The soccer was a good compliment to riding but it makes me realize how good biking is for some things but not so good for others. I was definitely able to run around for quite a while (what I lack in skill I make up for by running around alot) but the constant sprints and stops really wore me out. I read in the biking mags about doing sprints as part of training because it helps build twitch muscles (or something like that) that are good for short bursts of activity. Maybe a few weeks of soccer will also help. Definitely a fun time but very different from what I am used to - probably played soccer last in high school and we shall not be talking about how long ago that was or that the last time I played it in any organized fashion my wrist wound up in a cast... Let's see if we can avoid any injuries both on and off the bike. 

Bear Swamp Version 2.0

Today's forecast was again misleading when I first crawled out of bed - it was raining although there wasn't supposed to be any rain until the afternoon. I threw caution to the wind and I packed up the car to head to Bear Swamp again to get some riding in before the afternoon t-storms and other commitments. I was going to ride the Highland Hex, not so much race as just get some solid hours of riding in, but I couldn't swing the entrance fee. It rained off and on during the drive down but by the time I pulled in and set up the bike, sunshine.

This time I parked at the top of the big hill of 41A, meaning I would have ~280' of climbing on very tired legs at the end of the day's ride but it would be worth every calorie and ache. I bombed through the first sections of single/double track - so much so that my water bottle would get dislodged from its cage and sit waiting for me to get it 2.5 hours later... Fortunately, I had another one in my pack (thankfully). I felt pretty decent right up until the end of the ride. After I learned of my missing bottle, I looped back to find it but didn't so I continued on with the plan of looking on the downhill at the end of the day. 

Patiently waiting.

There were some runners stretching in the horse parking lot and I passed two guys on a dirt bike. I got to explore the ridge trail, which I skipped last weekend in order to not be the tallest metal object in the middle of a t-storm surrounded by trees. The private land owner next to the forest logged their property, making for a very different experience along the southern boundary. It'll be pretty hot this summer grinding my way up that hill, for sure. 

I learned why there is the new trail I discovered last week. It is to reroute the upper and lower portions of a trail that go through some pretty wet areas we used to ride through regularly. The state (or someone) even went as far as to remove a wooden bridge built over a particularly wet and mucky area. I'll miss riding that but the downhill I remembered being scary-steep was much more tame. 

This is why the trail is rerouted... Buried almost up to the hub.

I also met a rider from Auburn who had lived in England. He was exploring the area for the first time and enjoying it. Hope he made it back to his car before the skies let loose. I found my water bottle and ground my way up to the car just as the first rain drops fell and thunder echoed. By the time I reached Skaneateles, the skies were flashing with lightening and rain was pouring down soon thereafter. 

Overall, a great day in the saddle. Just shy of 20 miles, around 2.5 hours of riding, not technicals, crashes or otherwise. I didn't take too many pictures but found some time to play around on a teeter totter someone created. Next major stop - Memorial Day weekend. Where to go, what to ride? Decisions, decisions. 

First, though, I need to clean this bike...

Can't we all just get along?

Two recent occurrences are getting me to think about where we stand and who we argue against. The first of these is the ride I took last Saturday at Bear Swamp. The second is the recent vote by the Monroe County legislature to permit a trial period for mountain biking in a couple of the county's parks. 

First, Bear Swamp. This is one of the first locations I really experienced mountain biking at that was close to home. I remember riding there with my brother and friends back in the early 2000s. Many of the trails were double track created by ATVs, snowmobiles and dirt bikes. We never grumbled about the trail erosion or poor routes created by vehicles that can go straight up or down steep hills. We didn't know better but we were appreciative of a great place to ride that was close by and not off limits. Since this time, I have learned about the less than sustainable consequences that occur due to motorized off road vehicles. 

The legalization of a trial period for mtb'ing in Monroe County is the result of nearly two years of consistent, organized, and level-headed advocacy on the part of many biking enthusiasts in the area. Some are labeling the biking community a special interest group and chastising lawmakers for yielding to their wishes while also infringing on the rights of hikers and others. Now these other special interest groups will have to find new places to recreate or risk being run down by out of control, inconsiderate bikers.

These events make me think about how quickly the biking community turns from trying to be inclusive to exclusive. Many times, I have heard how "bad" ATVs and the like are and that they should be prohibited from riding in places where we cyclists like to ride. I question this because if it weren't for the ATVs, would we have the privilege to ride where we do? Did the ATVs presence make hikers and other pedestrian users write off the area a loss and move to other less impacted places to preserve? In the winter at Bear Swamp, it appears the xc-skiers and snow mobilers are able to coexist. In the summer, the bikers and ATVs coexist for the most part - I did see a barrier intended to keep ATVs from getting on to a trail constructed out of logs. These barriers do nothing but encourage ATV riders to either knock them down or destroy more by finding another place to access the trails. In all the years I've ridden at Bear Swamp, I've never seen an ATV. And in the other places where I have, the riders have always been friendly - I've never been ridden down or forced off the trail.

Yet we argue from the opposite side of the fence when fighting for places to ride. We ask hikers to understand that the biking community is given a bad name by a few rogue riders who disrespect everyone, barreling down trails, skidding, and otherwise riding recklessly. Why are we, then, surprised when the opposition is, well, in opposition? Aren't we (like the ATVs) creating a change in the status quo that causes fear and uncertainty? Shouldn't we be more understanding of their position? I am not saying we shouldn't challenge the archaic laws prohibiting off-road cycling. What I am saying is that we should be more understanding of all our fellow trail users and work together to find ways that everyone can recreate in a way they enjoy. This may mean we have to give up things occasionally - like the super-flowey trail I found last week that had a few very fun but erosion-prone sections. Maybe the ATV community would be interested in learning about sustainable trail design and create a advocacy group like IMBA that travels around the country showing local clubs how to improve their favorite riding spots. And mtb'ers will need to respect the locations where they are allowed to ride by slowing down when they see hikers, maybe even stopping to say hello. A smile goes a long way, I find. 

However, don't get me started on horses... no, that's not fair. I choose to ride in places that have horse use - if I didn't want to endure the mud pits and "horse exhaust" I should look for other places to ride.

Getting Reacquainted with an Old Friend

Bear Swamp State Forest's namesake, Bear Swamp. Anyone want to paddle this? I do.

Saturday was 75 and sunny. Can I tell you how happy I was to have a (mostly) free day with warm weather? Very happy. Thunderstorms (and ensuing colder temps) were predicted for late afternoon/early evening on weather.com... by now I should know that this is only their opinion and the forecast really isn't accurate until about one minute after weather has occurred. But I'll get to that in a minute. 

After taking care of some things in the AM, I packed up the car and started my journey to Rochester via Bear Swamp State Forest. The last time I rode there was 2005 although I have always enjoyed this place. It lives up to its title even in the driest of months so trail erosion is a consideration but overall I think it is a great place to ride. After setting everything up, it was about 2 when I got rolling. Excellent, perfect for a nice long afternoon in the saddle, right? 

A harbinger of spring - the Trillium framed by an Eastern Hophornbeam.

I started down the main dirt road looking for the turnoff to the beginning of the looking for the loop I usually ride. Spinning along, working out the kinks from the ride Friday evening and an hour car ride, I was reacquainting myself with an old friend, noticing the changes three years had brought. New areas of private land logged, larger potholes, and - what - A NEW TRAIL!?! Most excellent. I turned around to try it out. It headed up - not exactly the way I had hoped to start - but still it was fun stuff. For the most part, the ATVs seemed to be leaving it alone so it was pretty tight singletrack. I continued to climb and topped out at a trail I was familiar with, heart pounding and legs burning. As I was climbing, I was thinking "Man, this'd be great in reverse." Not being someone who deviates from habit much, I decided to not do the normal loop in reverse but rather try the new trail in reverse and continue on to the normal loop's start. Oh, what a fun downhill that is - pretty good terrain change for maintaining a good speed, well banked turns, a few bumps to "jump" - I like keeping the rubber in contact with the ground as much as possible - overall, great flow. She's a keeper. 

Picking up some mud - but not as much as I expected.

Back out on the road, I continued on, passing a pickup who must've thought I was a semi because the driver pulled way off to the side to let me passed. I waved a hello. Finding the turn, I descended into the singletrack and my memories from rides past. Mostly, these consist of watching my brother pull away from me on downhills such as this while I think "Please don't let me find a pile of flesh and bike as I come around the bend." Thinking further about this, I realize most of his crashes happen when he is behind me... What does that say?

I reconnect to one of the dirt roads and decide to grind up the major climb in the forest. It is one of the steeper, longer climbs I know of so I enjoy it a lot, especially from the sense of accomplishment I get knowing I did it without stopping. Again, I remember my brother doing laps on this hill once when I wasn't as well versed in climbing. He rode to the top, then back down to meet me, then beat me to the top again. This time the burning lungs/legs and stitch in my side were my only competition and while they bested me near the end, it was still fun. I took a turn off to a trail I thought I knew but managed to take a few wrong turns. I did finally find the correct trail to lead me where I needed to go. I popped out in time to see the truck I passed earlier returning. Again, wide berth and a smile hello. 

Young Pitcher Plant distracting me from the incoming clouds/storms.

So remember how I said the storms were forecast for late afternoon/early evening? Well, I guess they decided to now show up mid-afternoon because it was clouding over and getting more windy. I decided to continue on after a quick half a Powerbar, hoping to finish the loop. I got distracted many times along the way by snapping some photos of the evidence of spring so I never quite made it... well, even half make it. I got to bomb down a few more hills before it became very evident that if I didn't turn around here, I would be on a ridge in the middle of a t-storm. However, at this point, I was the farthest I could be from the car even though it was a straight shot down the dirt road. I started bookin' it but after a few minutes and the start of the rain, I knew it was a lost cause. Hoping the Ipod and camera were resilient enough to handle a serious drenching, I sat up and enjoyed biking in the rain. The tree canopy had leafed out enough to soften the downpour but I was swiftly soaked through. The front brought a chilly wind and cooler temps so I started to cool quickly, taking me back to the hypothermic-esque rides of past. 

I made it back to the car just as the rain let up (go figure) with enough time to take down the bike and get in the car before the next cell arrived. My drive to Rochester was in all sunshine so I think I was in the only place in NY with cloudy skies and downpours. Don't worry, I'll be back for a longer stay - and maybe a few trips up the hill for some training...

Post first-down pour - the clouds were a lot more ominous in person, I swear.

Dropped then caught again

A remnant of previous times at Green Lakes - not from today's ride...

This article was a downer today so I needed to find a quick spin after work. I headed out to Onondaga Lake Park and explored the trail that wraps around the northern end of the lake. It wasn't terribly long/challenging but much less crowded than the last time so I could go harder. I didn't have the road bike which kept the speed down but it was still good to get some miles in, clear the head, refocus, or whatever it is that happens when I ride. I've been thinking about a lot of different things lately so leaving them in the wind was helpful - that is until they caught me back at the car... I guess an hour and 14 miles isn't enough to have them get completely lost. 

Gettin' my fix

An old stone foundation, probably from a barn.

Not the safest self portrait I've ever taken - both hands on the handlebars is usually a good idea.

Stone wall - looks like Green Lakes SP used to be farmland. I wonder when the state purchased it to be a park? 

Looking north - I think the body of water is from the Erie Canal. Many cherries and apples were in bloom.

There were lots of titles I thought of for this post on today's ride but this is the one I settled on. After looking at the weather forecast for the next few days, I decided it was high time I get out on the trails. I blitzed home after work (ok, it takes me four minutes but I walked faster today), changed, crammed a peanut butter Power Bar down the gullet and hopped in the car to Green Lakes. I had left my bike in the boot after this weekend just for a case like today. I pulled in the parking lot at about 6:15, which meant I had about an hour and a half of good riding light with an extra half hour of "um, should I really be riding in the woods right now - watch out for the tree" dusk to carry me through. It wasn't pretty but I managed an hour and 25 minutes of riding time, finished just after 8. Since I haven't done any cycling to speak of this season, I was really hurting. There is a good climb shortly out of the parking area and I was CRAWLING up it, the taste of blood rising in my mouth as I pushed myself well beyond what I am physically capable of right now. Since this was 3 minutes in, I decided I needed to tone it down some and not die on the first climb. Once I settled in, I explored just about every trail open to biking in the park - and a few that probably aren't or at least are likely not NYSP sanctioned trails. These were by far the most fun though... I saw lots of wildlife (deer, rabbit, turkey, pheasant) and enjoyed exploring a new place. I discovered a back way in to the park so when it comes time to have to pay, I think I can avoid having to do so. I know this isn't the right thing to do but being this is the closest place with any significant riding, I am not sure I can afford the $7/day and $65/year access fees. NYS will have to make it up some other way - who knows, maybe I'll get a ticket for parking somewhere I am not supposed to... 

Overall, I felt great - sluggish and out of shape - but great. It was excellent to be on the bike and working out the spring time kinks. I felt refreshed and exhilarated bombing down trails (I hit 29mph) and powering up others. At about an hour, I felt in a groove and realized how important it is for me to do this - being on the bike keeps me fresh, eases the stress that accumulates daily. I know I say this all the time, but I need to do this more, lots more. Sooo, here's to more mtb'ing this year. 

After finishing up, I had a great conversation with a woman from Germany who was interested in MINIs. She owned one years ago when she lived in Italy and was thinking about buying a new one before she bought her new Mercedes. According to her, our conversation rekindled the MINI flame. I told her to buy one, she wouldn't ever regret it. But you might say I am a bit biased...

This last picture might be a disturbing for some but I found it interesting - death captured in a couple of different ways.