Ride Log: 8-22-2010

Rode the Highland state rec area today with Brian. We were planning on riding all the loops for a total of 16.5 miles, but the hills caught us off guard. We wound up shortening the trip to just under 10.

The ride was very technical in places, including climbs. By the end of the ride, Brian's crank arm was loose (it has a bad habit of doing that) and my head set had worked itself loose( i suspect it was a little loose to start though). We'll be back on Tuesday to try it again.

Anyway, it was easily my favorite trail I've ridden South of the Mackinaw Bridge.

Until Next Time,

Chris

Summary

Lately I've been riding my mountian bike with Brian. He's one of the guys who lived on my floor freshman year and happens to live in the area. It's awfully nice to have someone else to ride with. I put a new suspension fork and front brake on and it's been a real treat learning how to ride a bike that feels brand new.

Being a resident of suburbia, I've been feeling a need to go into wilderness lately. I've decided I want to find a place where I can practice survival techniques in a relatively controlled environment. Basically I want to find a place nearby where I can make fires, build shelters, hunt small game, etc where I can easily walk back out to my vehicle/ safety if I decide I need to. It might be a pipe dream in this area, but I'll keep looking. I'd really like to find someone to go practice with, but that might be asking a bit too much.

Until next time,

Chris

Ride Log: 8-2-2010

Lakeshore Park

7.5 miles

48 minutes

Not a good ride today. Was hungry before the ride and definitely felt the effects of being low on fuel. My legs were sluggish, but the larger effect was a lack of focus and concentration. I wasn't able to watch the trail ahead of me and as a result I found myself having several close calls. I even had my wheels slide out from under me due to a lapse in concentration. I shortened the ride to avoid an injury or even a repeat of yesterdays wreck.

Notes:

the mind needs fuel as much as the body does. Eat before riding.

Ride Log: 8-1-2010

Lakeshore Park

10 miles,

58 minutes

Tire Pressures: 40/45 psi (f/r)

Good ride. The rain last week is finally dried out for the most part so the trail was typically good smooth hardpack. A few muddy spots and the sides of the trail were soft. Spent the ride working on trying to stay in my largest chainring and accelerating before hills so I could get up them easier. Things worked pretty well for the most part. I noticed that I still have a tendency to look right in front of my tire rather than down the trail. I was able to go much faster when I was looking where I wanted to be going rather than where I was already.

Prior to the ride I lowered the spring rate in my fork (Rock Shox Judy J1) for a little more compliance. Turns out that it rtracks much bettter in the turns, but on some of the obstacles(logs), it absorbed all of my forward momentum. I guess I just need to unload the front in that case to get it over whatever it is I'm going over (logs, rocks, woodland animals, etc). I like it where it is and may reduce the spring rate even more for Lakeshore park. Not a lot of big bumps there.

Had a good crash at about mile 9.5. The front wheel drifted oof the trail and sunk into some soft stuff. I flipped over the handle bars and managed to knock the handlebars out of alignment. No serious damage to myself or the bike.

Notes for next time:

1) Focus on looking ahead and accelerating at every opportunity

2) Lower spring rate if riding lakeshore park, leave if going to brighton or pontiac