FIRST RIDE:SMDLB SINGLE TRACK ROSSLAND

The weather outside was frightening, the sky was full of lightning, but the Holy Wow Gang thought it was brightening, so we headed out to sample a new piece of supposedly prime single track. Fourteen riders showed up for the Gang's regular Tuesday night ride.

The outing started slowly, with everyone milling about waiting for Mother Nature to finish with the rain. True to our age (we behave like 12 year olds), especially in a larger group, we shamed each other into going on the ride. Just as we left, the sky started falling and the temptation to call off the ride was as strong as the thunder and lightening that was battering the Malde Creek ridge. But, ride we did.

We were all soaked by the time the climb up Malde Creek forest service road started but the effort required made us warm in spite of wet. This climb is usually hot and uncomfortable so some guys thought it was more tolerable this way. For the rest of us, the lightening strikes and resultant thunder all around us took away any feelings of comfort. Maybe we should call this off.

Ahh, wet already, most of the climbing done, let's find this new trail head. The constant rain made us antsy and waiting for each other took a back seat to pedaling madly and in random directions. As a result (mostly my fault) we ended up in two groups and in two very different places. Both groups finally figured out where to go and the Super Mega Death Lightening Bolt trail began to yield huge amounts of voltaic fun.

The trail surface was surprisingly tacky considering the rain. The trail dished out one amped berm after another and threw in resistance in the form of tapered jumps and hips all over the place. HOLY WOW!!! it just kept getting better. This is the longest piece of single track in the area with the exception of the Seven Summits Trail and perhaps the BEST ten miles of total mountain bike riding you might ever experience.

Finally, one group caught up with the other. We were very wet and cold but the grins on our faces warmed the air. Super Mega Death Lightening Bolt had given us life and warmth. Everyone agreed that this was one of our best rides ever.

It all ended too quickly even though the ride was very long. Can't wait to do it again. Sorry for the lack of picture quality, but the poor camera had been dealt a heavy dose of moisture and it was also very foggy.

We loaded up the truck and headed back to the warmth of the shop and a cold refreshment.

Super Mega Death is the trail builder's name for his masterpiece, but Super Mega Death Lightening Bolt will always be the trail name for the HOLY WOW GANG. If you want to ride this trail, you may have to bribe Gang members with bike swag or amber refreshments in order to get them to take you because sometimes you just hate to share something this shocking with others for fear that they might be electrocuted by SMDLB.