The trail choice is still a little limited but it is improving by the day. With that said, the gang usually like to ride some of the XC type trails that we do not ride regularly during the year. This usually turns into a training ride. Tuesday night's ride was exactly that, a workout. How can there be more uphill than downhill?
We started in lower Rossland for a change and rode the Louis Joe trail down to the golf course. This is such a great addition to the trail system. Such a gem. The switch backs close to the club house are a blast. So much fun that we rode past the turn off to the Rubberhead (our intended route) just to be able to swoop through the turns at the bottom. Now turn around and ride back up to the Rubberhead.
The Rubberhead is one of the vintage bike trails that has been around forever. It was the go to trail in the 90s when many of the Holy Wow Gang first started riding. It is still a very cool piece of single track which skirts the golf course. When they built the golf course, they made a good effort to preserve this trail and it paid off. Nice ride but hey it has uphills on it. Did you say training ride.
From Rubberhead we took the Railgrade back to Malde Creek Road and then CLIMBED up the old road to the top of Dukabor Draw and headed back UP towards Drake's. Still some patches of snow but we did our best to bust them up so they should be gone soon. Probably nearly melted from all the heat the ten of us were generating.
Drake's is UPHILL in this direction. Who's idea was this anyway? WOW finally at the top of this ride and the next reward(no not cold beer yet), just really swicked single track dropping back down towards the Lion's Campground. FUN.
Guess what UPHILL to get to @TheShop where there really is cold beer waiting. In the end nobody complained about the ride. It was an excellent spring workout and it will make the rest of the season better because we will be in just a "little" better shape. Time for a car drop on Thursday.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
HW TRAIL RIDE: PALE ALE- MILKY WAY
It finally feels like the season has started. A dozen riders showed up for the Tuesday night ride. The boys are slowly crawling out of their winter cocoons and kicking the Moab moths out of their bikes. For the biggest turn out of the new riding season, we decided to ride Pale Ale.
Now Pale Ale is actually a Holy Wow creation, so it is always interesting for us to ride it after the snow, and take stock of improvements or maintenance needed. The trail surface is always smoother after the snow melts and Pale Ale was no exception. Smooth and tacky with no evidence of skidding and sliding. It would be really nice if all riders of Pale Ale made it their goal to descend without skidding. IT CAN BE DONE!!
The trail needs some re-routing and root extraction which we will get to in the near future, but all in all Pale Ale lived up to its name, cool, smooth, refreshing and perfect after taste. A perfect kick start to what is bound to be a great riding season.
The flowing stream of riders headed down Milky Way and enjoyed the banked turns and scoots through the trees. Props again to the KCTS, for keeping us in great single track. Not meaning to be greedy, but banked turns all the way down the field to the left would be awesome.
Said goodbye to Kim at this point. His seat came unglued from his seat post and he was worried that he was going to get a hemeroidectmy before he needed one. Sent him back to get the beer and ice and prepare for his retirement celebration. Retirees have nothing but time on their hands anyway. CONGRATS ON YOUR RETIREMENT KIM, welcome to the world of busy.
Milky Way was it's usual beginning of the season sweet chocolatey self and there were grins all around. Once again the trail surface was perfect. NO BRAKE RUTS OR BUMPS! This trail can be ridden smoothly without heavy braking and skidding. Let's try and keep it that way all year.
What goes down must go up, so up Green Door we went with a stop at the Roger's view point and a traverse to Happy Valley through the Old Cemetery. Kim and Tracy put on a great spread at their place in celebration of Kim's retirement. This capped of a perfect evening. THANKS KIM AND TRACY.
Now Pale Ale is actually a Holy Wow creation, so it is always interesting for us to ride it after the snow, and take stock of improvements or maintenance needed. The trail surface is always smoother after the snow melts and Pale Ale was no exception. Smooth and tacky with no evidence of skidding and sliding. It would be really nice if all riders of Pale Ale made it their goal to descend without skidding. IT CAN BE DONE!!
The trail needs some re-routing and root extraction which we will get to in the near future, but all in all Pale Ale lived up to its name, cool, smooth, refreshing and perfect after taste. A perfect kick start to what is bound to be a great riding season.
The flowing stream of riders headed down Milky Way and enjoyed the banked turns and scoots through the trees. Props again to the KCTS, for keeping us in great single track. Not meaning to be greedy, but banked turns all the way down the field to the left would be awesome.
Said goodbye to Kim at this point. His seat came unglued from his seat post and he was worried that he was going to get a hemeroidectmy before he needed one. Sent him back to get the beer and ice and prepare for his retirement celebration. Retirees have nothing but time on their hands anyway. CONGRATS ON YOUR RETIREMENT KIM, welcome to the world of busy.
Milky Way was it's usual beginning of the season sweet chocolatey self and there were grins all around. Once again the trail surface was perfect. NO BRAKE RUTS OR BUMPS! This trail can be ridden smoothly without heavy braking and skidding. Let's try and keep it that way all year.
What goes down must go up, so up Green Door we went with a stop at the Roger's view point and a traverse to Happy Valley through the Old Cemetery. Kim and Tracy put on a great spread at their place in celebration of Kim's retirement. This capped of a perfect evening. THANKS KIM AND TRACY.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
HW TRAIL RIDE: FIRST TUE NIGHT RIDE
The first Tuesday night ride is in the books. Five riders showed up, I think the rest are in Hawaii. At least they will be used to the heat when they get back.
We rode the usual Spring Training ride down to the Old Golf Course Road and then down Bones to the Wagon Road. Trail surface was good, a little wet still in places but very ride-able. Now for the up.
The Wagon Road is the Wagon Road and any time you can leave it out of a ride, it is a good thing. Cut to the Golf Course Club House and there starts a little piece of heaven. The KCTS has put in a beautiful piece of trail that winds it's way up the creek. This trail is very scenic in comparison to the Wagon Road. The climbing is still there, maybe even more vertical, because you end a ways up on Thompson Ave. Pain and suffering of the climb seem to vanish because of the sights and sounds of the creek and surrounding forest act as an anesthetic. Great switch backs, wide bridges and multiple small water crossings(probably spring time only) provide the entertainment.
Well that was good, let us try another route up to town. Ahh not so entertaining. There is a trail that leads to the back of Ferraro Foods but up is up and this trail is a steep grunt. Trail still did the job, and Columbia Avenue was had without travelling on too much pavement, but man what a workout. Sure must be fun going down.
Interesting evening. Going to use that up track more often. The fund provided and the night was grand. Tuesday night never disappoints.
We rode the usual Spring Training ride down to the Old Golf Course Road and then down Bones to the Wagon Road. Trail surface was good, a little wet still in places but very ride-able. Now for the up.
The Wagon Road is the Wagon Road and any time you can leave it out of a ride, it is a good thing. Cut to the Golf Course Club House and there starts a little piece of heaven. The KCTS has put in a beautiful piece of trail that winds it's way up the creek. This trail is very scenic in comparison to the Wagon Road. The climbing is still there, maybe even more vertical, because you end a ways up on Thompson Ave. Pain and suffering of the climb seem to vanish because of the sights and sounds of the creek and surrounding forest act as an anesthetic. Great switch backs, wide bridges and multiple small water crossings(probably spring time only) provide the entertainment.
Well that was good, let us try another route up to town. Ahh not so entertaining. There is a trail that leads to the back of Ferraro Foods but up is up and this trail is a steep grunt. Trail still did the job, and Columbia Avenue was had without travelling on too much pavement, but man what a workout. Sure must be fun going down.
Interesting evening. Going to use that up track more often. The fund provided and the night was grand. Tuesday night never disappoints.
Friday, April 20, 2012
HW TRAIL RIDE: BLUFFS TRAIL IN TRAIL
Time to clean the dust off this blog and put some miles on the bike. I took the Nomad off it's winter hook and put it on the back of the truck for a trip into the valley. The snow is gone and the trail system is growing in that neck of the woods. Norm, Dan and I decided that we should check out this new Bluffs trail that everyone is talking about.
Early season, so no camera, riders are looking a little ragged after a long winter anyway. We parked at the JL Crowe high school and rode from there to Mural Heights. Once you enter the sub division you have to climb to the very highest point of the pavement, this is where the trail starts. If that girl is still looking for her dog please help her find it.
The trails in the valley are a lot sandier than up in Rossland, but very pleasant when there is some moisture in the ground. Wouldn't want to be here on a 30 degree Celsius day, just too hot. After a short ride up an old road bed we came to some new signage common to KCTS trails. Blue square but one says easier, so we take the other route. What a way to blow the cob webs out of the lungs. Definitely a challenge.
Couple of lung cough ups and 3 or 4 mud crossings and we reached the top. Nice trail. Great rock work. Fabulous view of Trail and Granite mountain. Should still be skiing on that mountain. Time for the downhill (kind of like skiing). We decide to take the easier route down and it is fun and muddy but probably a lot easier to climb on. Did someone say another lap?
Up the easy route and down the hard route, yeah that should do it. The hard route flows really well going down. Super fun with some huge flowy corners. Very nice.
Quick turn right and we are scooting down the old trail that leads to the hairpin turn on the hospital hill and puts us at the truck parked at the school. Not a bad ride for the first of the season. Bikes are five pounds heavier due to mud but that is the way of spring.
Refreshment at Norm's was exceptional. First post ride bevi. Post ride shower was good too. The season has begun.
Early season, so no camera, riders are looking a little ragged after a long winter anyway. We parked at the JL Crowe high school and rode from there to Mural Heights. Once you enter the sub division you have to climb to the very highest point of the pavement, this is where the trail starts. If that girl is still looking for her dog please help her find it.
The trails in the valley are a lot sandier than up in Rossland, but very pleasant when there is some moisture in the ground. Wouldn't want to be here on a 30 degree Celsius day, just too hot. After a short ride up an old road bed we came to some new signage common to KCTS trails. Blue square but one says easier, so we take the other route. What a way to blow the cob webs out of the lungs. Definitely a challenge.
Couple of lung cough ups and 3 or 4 mud crossings and we reached the top. Nice trail. Great rock work. Fabulous view of Trail and Granite mountain. Should still be skiing on that mountain. Time for the downhill (kind of like skiing). We decide to take the easier route down and it is fun and muddy but probably a lot easier to climb on. Did someone say another lap?
Up the easy route and down the hard route, yeah that should do it. The hard route flows really well going down. Super fun with some huge flowy corners. Very nice.
Quick turn right and we are scooting down the old trail that leads to the hairpin turn on the hospital hill and puts us at the truck parked at the school. Not a bad ride for the first of the season. Bikes are five pounds heavier due to mud but that is the way of spring.
Refreshment at Norm's was exceptional. First post ride bevi. Post ride shower was good too. The season has begun.
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