Meow kitty! Statuses re-arranged, hierarchies toppled, the balance of power in flux, hair flying, hot lubed and shiny, chicks in spandex. What a sexy week of biking! Beckie and I rode together 3 days in a row for the first time in like…4 years since we went to Moab in 2005. The rest of the Harem got ridden too.
Tuesday a roadie round Usery.
Wednesday the Hei Hei around Pass Mtn.
Friday Beckie came out with me to Somo for the 1st time in 4 years. 4 YEARS!!!?!?!?! Well, Beckie is a runner and an XC girl first. With preggers, G, preggers, Alana…Hawes so close and sitters so expensive… I’ve never run a marathon, and she has run many in the past 4 years…I ran a half-mile with the dog home from the park and my legs were aching. My parents were in town to visit, and Beckie and the Hei Hei have been having their own girl-on-girl action lately. I drug her with only minimal kicking and screaming out for a spin on West Loop->Javalina->Mormon->National. I’d like to say she shredded like Durtgurl, but glad to say we had fun and she walked what she didn’t like and didn’t let it get in her head. And she got to cheer me on the high line for Bermuda Triangle and see up close what this gnar thing I’ve been doing without her is all about. I wanted to ride the Hei Hei down, I offered up the heavy Heckler after I’d drug it uphill to let her get nasty with Natty like she probably never has. But Beckie was dissuaded by the prospect of having to switch shoes, and after enjoying the climbs and the chunks the Hei Hei has become her top ride too.
Saturday we did another quick spin on the roadies round Usery, where she nearly buried me. I took her to the top of Power Road, but she was stronger overall.
Sunday we joined a big group of about 20 to ride Goat Camp, the out-and-back XC version. I did this route once about 2.5 years ago in terrible windy winter weather, with one other guy, neither of us knowing where we were going. I’d since been kinda pissy about that route, especially with the effort to get to there and the best gnarly downhill in the city taking top billing on the White Tanks’ marquee. I’d sold Beckie on the out-and-back being a fun spin with BIG views, but in the back of my mind I thought it would be a poor substitute for the double-black loop. I was completely wrong, and stoked beyond belief how much fun we had.
She took the Hei Hei and I rode the Blur, both of which made the climbing easy as we mostly led the group to the top, Beckie led for awhile but I to reigned her in an hour into the climb. We went all the way out to the gnar dropin, a mile or so further than most people doing the out-and-back choose since the last mile gets chunkier and has some extra climbing. It is so worth it! It lets you savor the top of the mountain, get a great view of Camelback and Squaw Peak that are otherwise obscured by the White Tanks, and have some flowy work at the top of the West Valley to break up the 1.5 hour climb and the hour long downhill. The flowers especially towards the top of the mountain were absolutely incredible, every color imaginable.
Some pics I ganked from Tim and Epicrider (Dale). They give a taste what it felt like riding through miles and miles of Skittles.
We smoked the downhill, passing by all the others riders strung out through the climb. There is a spring off the Ford Canyon trail that we bypassed on the climb out in favor of an easier, buffer route. We took this chunkier descent back, and though the spring was largely stagnant and disappointing, it added a little texture to the decent. The final descent is through the outward route’s 10 minute hike-a-bike. i think most of it is doable and I was sorta salivating, the scent of gnartopia was so close and I was all aflush from the descent, practically in heat. But I was afraid of my bike and no armor and unsure of the lines so took no risks, and having a big fat DH boner is simply not a smart game-face on an unknown trail. I’m told its all gettable — perhaps next time. A good video from Sam here.
Even with all that riding, the Superlight and the trainer managed to not get ridden. So many bikes calling my name. I might need some Cialis.
That was a really great ride! Had my doubts, what with all that hike a bike at the start. Good to get it in when we did.. just the right amount of breeze out to keep us all from roasting. Thanks for the post ride brew btw, was great seeing you guys out there.
-tim
yeah the HAB is a tuff blow to the psych at the start. I warned Beckie about it, like, in the parking lot so it was too late to bail. look forward to the next one with you.