Looking back at 2010, and forward to 2011

[dgaddis1]

A recent post on the Salsa blog got me looking back on this year, and wondering, what was my favorite riding moment of the year?

2010 has been a good year for me, I've done a decent amount of riding, about 1200 or 1300 miles I guess, which is a lot for me. But what was the best moment of it all.....I'm not really sure I could pick a single ride or moment that was the best.

I've had lots of fun rides and aventures with Drew and the AJBW group on the Weds night canal rides.

It was really cool seeing how the Canal Crown TT has grown, and more people are trying it and really pushing themselves.

Done quite a few big fun rides with Bill, Ted, Mark, Chris, and a few others. We didn't always finish the intended ride, but that didn't make it a bad day.

Raced all three Snake Creek Gap TT's, and enjoyed every wet, freezing moment of it.

Went on my first bikepacking ride.

We had the IMBA Summit here!

We got a new pump track!

The new section of Bartram opened, and with it created several options for really big mile, lotsa singletrack rides.

Rode a few new trails, plumb branch, boyd pond, long cane, and the Tanasi and Brush Creek systems.

Did some trail work here and there.

Helped put on the SMC, which I really enjoyed.

Had a good ride at both the Black Bear Rampage and the 6hrs of Dauset.

Had a really tough ride at Fools Gold. Not exactly fun, it was certainly memorable!

I didn't have any major crashes.

If I had to pick a highlight of the year, it would probably be the Canal Crown. The first race in '09 had ten racers show up, and zero spectators. This year we had 39 total participants, and more than 20 racers at almost every race and lots of spectators - we nearly ran out of room! Best of all, there were lots of beginners and non-racers who came out to give it a try. I really had a good time and am looking forward to keeping it going.

2010 has been a great year. I enjoyed riding with all of you! And if we haven't ridden together yet, hopefully we can next year.

As for 2011, I hope to keep doing more of the same. Keep doing the big rides, do a few endurance races, and I'd like to get out to more new trails. I've never ridden Pisgah, or DuPont, or Tsali.

So what about you guys, what was your favorite mtn bike moment of 2010?

[breynolds]

Great idea!

I've logged 1059 miles this year, should be over 1100 by the end of the year.

The Summit was obviously a big highlight.

I'm with you Dustin on the Canal Crown, it was a great event! My first (and only so far) racing. I did all four races and was pleased with my performance.

I did a couple of big rides and hope to expand on that in the future: FATS epic, Bartram Epic (all of Bartram + LS loop), some failed attempts at the Thurmond Epic and the Modoc/Turkey/Wine connector.

Building the bridge on the Canal trail.

Joined Sorba!

Went on many of the ETTR rides, got to meet fellow riders and got to try out some new trails (Long Cane, Mistletoe, Boyd).

Looking forward to more great stuff next year! Some rides at out-of-town trails would be cool. Does Sorba-CSRA ever do trips? Seems like we could get some group discounts for lodging and such.

[dgaddis1]

Dec 14, 2010 9:29:06 GMT -5 breynolds said:

Building the bridge on the Canal trail.

+1 - I had forgotten about that, that was a cool project. Almost a year later it's still solid as can be too.

Anyone have the stat's on how many volunteer hours SORBA-CSRA has for the year? Gotta be a ton.

[seenvic]

I had a good 2010. So far about 1350ish miles, average is slightly over 20 miles per ride.

Best ride: Snake Creek Gap TT
Worst Ride: Fool's Gold mud fest.

Best local ride: All summer on Plum Branch until it got the timber cut and then it sucked. Many rides on LCHT a close second.

Had fun at SMC.

Hosted the post IMBA Epic party at our house on the last day of the Summit. Great food and kinda weird to see a bunch of semi famous MTB folks eating BBQ in my backyard. Overall was great to have the IMBA Summit in Augusta.

Met Mark H and Ted S and really ramped up the riding with them and Dustin. And I thank Dustin for the intro to both of these fine gentleman.

Took a few trips to Pisgah...had been years since I've done that.

Went bikepacking for the first time w/o the bob trailer. Will do more of that.

Cut my FATS riding diet to less than half the miles I rode in the year. I think I was around 80ish % in previous years.

Did some work at FATS in the winter of 2010, almost died working at Wine Creek in June, built 600ish feet of the trail thru Wildwood in Feb, I think.

Did my first cross race. I am not very good at that.

Discovered a crack in my 26er SS frame
Ordered a 29er SS and will build it up when it gets here. ;D

Put my house on the market. Kinda makes me sad and glad depending on the day.

[wooglin]

Meh. ~3000 miles on the year including 1000 on trails, but nothing really exciting. Mostly lots of saddle time on the same local roads/trails hoping for the opportunity to do something fun and memorable that never happened. A couple of local centuries and the connector were my biggest days I think.

[Ted S.]

2010 has been a big year.

Moved from Syracuse NY, to Augusta GA. in Feb. Arrived the day after your 'big' snow storm down here. Couldn't really see what all the fuss was about??

For the previous 10 years or so I hadn't mountain biked at all. I had some how turned into a runner. I preferred the longer events, half marathons, 10 milers and 15ks. In Oct '08 Stella and I went to Ireland and I did the Dublin Marathon. I began to ache. Knees,ankles,back, ibuprofen and Ice became my best friends.

So when we moved here I decided it was time to get back in to Mountain biking.Not as hard on the joints. I rode a lot in college and for a while after(mid 80's to early 90's) I still had my '94 proflex, so I hit the trails.

It didn't take long to realize that a 15 year old mountain bike wasn't gonna cut it. Especially with out dated discontinued tech. Try buying new elastemere springs.

We moved to Georgia for Stella's career, she excepted a post doctoral fellowship in the physiology department at MCG. Not a very well paying position, but an extremely well funded lab, the science will want for nothing and they use techniques here she wants to learn.
I was, in April ,hired per Diem at MCG I am a MRI tech. When I was hired I was told not to worry, there will be more hours available than you will want work and initially this was the case.... So with the income picture looking good and a deep burning LUST for a new bike, I pulled the trigger ordered the Cannondale,and Joined SORBA.

I have rode a lot miles, at least for me, especially considering in '09 I may have rode 200 miles total.

mileage for the year ~3000 miles. between the 2 bikes.
90% single track, I would guess.

Joining SORBA turned out to be a great move. I have met a lot of great people and the friendships and associations have taken me to amazing places I wouldn't even known existed otherwise.

My first non solo ride was with Dustin, Chris, D Squared, Brian and a few others. I think that first attempt at the Thurmond epic is the hottest day of exercise of my life. Message recieved 'welcome to the south' toughen up, or stay home in the A.C. you pansy.... and plan wisely or you will die out here.
From then on I began to meet a lot of different riders, seems for a while there I would run in to Barb and Mike AT LEAST once a week on the trails. They always had a smile for me and some friendly chat. Thanks.

Highlights of the year:

Mark H, Dustin, Bill V, Ross and Chris. Proud to count these guys as friends.

ORAMM went in with high hopes and great expectations left humbled but determined, 2011 will be a stronger performance.

Learned sometimes it may be wiser not to ride. Fools Gold!

did well at the SMC

Mark H introduced me to a place called heaven, I mean PISGAH.

The Snake pre-ride. Last 8-9 miles of which is EXCEPTIONAL single track.

the canal time trials, only able to make it to 2 of them but it was good times for sure. Thanks Dustin and Drew and AJBW.

No major injuries, lost some skin here and there, a few good bruises from 'brushing' trees but nothing to write home to mom about.

The fine folks at chain reactions, Jimmy,and Todd always go the extra mile for me. Thanks fellas. Phil you run a great shop and I appreciate all your excellent service,and camaraderie.

I had a whirl wind affair with FATS. We started out hot and heavy and I just couldn't get enough. Yup she's fast and Fun and easy but after a while ya need a girl with more personality,deeper character and a more refined charm.

THANK YOU to every one at SORBA, I am proud to be a member of this organization. Y'all have welcomed me in, and its appreciated.

[azdrawdy]

Favorite riding moment of the year: Bombing (OK, creeping) down the rocks and switchbacks at Ft. Mountain, so thankful for large front disc brake rotors. WOW. We will go back in spring of 2011 for more of that fun.

Now, “What I am thankful for”:

- A spouse that enjoys mountain biking as much as, if not more, than I do.

- A spouse that enjoys and encourages vacations that revolve around mountain biking.

- Nearly 2k miles of injury-free, single track riding this year, again (with a smattering of pavel thrown in!).

- Living in the SE, with hundreds and hundreds of miles of trails within 1 - 3 hours drive.

- Having top-notch bike shops in our area.

- Good jobs and a location that enables us to enjoy cycling, pretty much year-round.

- My health.

[stumpbumper]

A great year for me as well. Looks like I will be around 800 miles on my mountain bike and about 5200 on the road.

The highlight of the year for me was mountain-biking a section of the Iditarod Trail in Alaska. We flew into the Eskimo village of Unalakleet which is located on the shore of Norton Sound of the Bering sea (southeast of Nome).

I was actually there on assignment for the publisher I work for and while it was a business trip, I am always on the lookout for cycling opportunities when I travel. There were plenty of mountain bikes in the village so I simply could not resist going for a spin or two.

The temperature was well below zero. Interesting things happen when it is that cold. When you bite into a Snicker's Bar it shatters like glass. Try drinking a Coke outdoors and it soon turns to slush and if you don't drink fast enough it goes solid right before your eyes.

I was there in April only a few weeks after the 2010 Iditarod sled dog race. Little fabric booties worn by the dogs prevent ice from forming between their pads and they lose many of them during the race. I picked up several and they are very nice reminders of a memorable adventure.

The ice on Norton Sound was about 10 feet thick for some 30 miles out to sea and except for the occasional pressure ridge, the mountain biking there was much smoother than on the Iditarod. I am fortunate to be able to say that I have actually mountain-biked on the Bering Sea,

I expected to see a bunch of fat bikes with tires four inches wide but all were the same types of rides we see at FATS with the exception of studded tires.

About 700 Eskimos live in the village and most have their own commercial fishing boats. Many are well educated. The one I mountain-biked with had mastered five languages and his wife who had received her education in New Zealand was the village dentist.

I have many other things to be thankful for, including a wonderful wife and excellent health but that's enough for now as I have already bored everyone enough.

Happy Trails one and all in 2011.

[kconner]

This year was the first year that I rode on a regular basis. I bought my first decent mountain bike a few years ago, but my riding was sporadic at best. This year I decided to finally get my money's worth out of my bike and also get into better shape at the same time and started riding with a co-worker on a regular basis (1-2 times a week). Just as I began to notice some weight loss, I was sidelined for 3 months due to a work injury. The silver lining to the broken foot was that I spent a great deal of time on the internet and learned a great deal about what goes into the sport....that trails don't magically appear out of thin air. I ended up joining IMBA/SORBA and look forward into becoming more involved, especially in work parties and possibly the Mountain Bike Patrol. I was cleared to go back to work and get on the bike in late November and have re-started the weekly routine, even though I am usually riding solo now. Luckily, I gained very little weight (if any) from my injury and the weight loss continues....soon I'm going to need to buy new clothes Anyways, the capstone to a injury shortened season was today's ride at Ray's MTB in Cleveland, OH....if anybody is ever in the Cleveland or Milwaukee, I strongly suggest spending a day at Ray's! A .5 XC course, pump track, log rides/skinnies, foam pit, etc. all indoors allows you to push your personal boundaries and learn new skills as well as perfect old skills in a climate controlled and relatively safe environment. It would be neat to have something like this in the CSRA

Anyways, I look forward to continuing my routine next year and continuing to improve my skills!

Merry Christmas!

[Angela]

Dustin thanks for starting such a great thread - I think it has become my all-time favorite thread and I love reading about everyone's experiences and adventures (I would love to mountain bike on the Bering Sea)!

[brianW]

Had a good year with some memorable rides and what I would say my toughest ride (failed Sumter Epic 1.0, that heat is a ....still a fun ride) I put in over 60 hours on the local trails patrolling (NMBP), having the World Summit in our backyard, had 9 more new miles of singletrack open up, seeing friends on the trail and meeting new ones. Started taking the camera on rides (blame that on Goo) and now look at the trail in a different way. Enjoyed seeing the Canal Time Trial growing. Great race and even better time. Had around 1100 miles

two rides stick out as just different
Bartram Trail in the snow. This was the first time we had snow since moving to GA from NH 5 years ago.


the other was riding Modoc a week after a control burn. The forest floor was charred black with a few stumps still smoldering. After 4 miles of riding I come across this stump (4' high) on the side of the trail,

[wala]

I had a good year on the bike. I rode more in 2010 than the previous 10 years combined, about 800 miles.

Highlights from the year were competing in 4 adventure races with my wife: Challenge Four AR in Woodstock, Palmetto Swamp Fox near Charleston, Seige on Fort Yargo, and the Augusta Canal/Savanah River AR. My hopes for 2011 are that more locals will broaden their horizens and try some AR's.

I did my first bike-only race at the 12 hrs of Dauset- 40 miles and then competed in the SMC the following week. I was just hoping to finish it, but came in with a decent time at 6:23. I also enjoyed the Canal Time trials and the Wed nite rides with AJBW.

I met a lot of great people on the trails and in all 3 local bike shops. Thanks for all the help and good service.

Hope everyone has a great 2011.
Matt

[Mark Y]

383 miles according to my GPS, though I didn't take it a few times. I suppose that is better than zero miles. It sez those rides were worth 50,000+ calories; so I take heart that those are fewer lbs on my rump.

[kconner]

@ Mark Y.....just out of curiosity, what brand/model GPS unit do you use?

[Mark Y]

Dec 23, 2010 20:25:38 GMT -5 kconner said:

@ Mark Y.....just out of curiosity, what brand/model GPS unit do you use?

Garmin Edge 705. Way more than I need; but after buying a couple of different < $100 computers that broke I decided to go for it.

[kconner]

Dec 24, 2010 7:58:49 GMT -5 Mark Y said:

Garmin Edge 705. Way more than I need; but after buying a couple of different < $100 computers that broke I decided to go for it.

I have an eTrex Legend, one of the older models that I bought before they came out with the "high sensitivity" receivers....and it only receives in the woods if you are standing still in a clearing I would eventually like to upgrade to something that I can put on the bike and use topo maps, make tracks, etc. so I was just wondering what others were using. Thanks for the info!

[Mark Y]

Dec 24, 2010 9:11:18 GMT -5 kconner said:

Dec 24, 2010 7:58:49 GMT -5 Mark Y said:

Garmin Edge 705. Way more than I need; but after buying a couple of different < $100 computers that broke I decided to go for it.

I have an eTrex Legend, one of the older models that I bought before they came out with the "high sensitivity" receivers....and it only receives in the woods if you are standing still in a clearing I would eventually like to upgrade to something that I can put on the bike and use topo maps, make tracks, etc. so I was just wondering what others were using. Thanks for the info!

If you ever want to try it out, just meet up with me somewhere and you can look at it/ride with it to see if it suits your needs.

[kconner]

that's a little out of my budget for now, I'll stick with Google Maps on the Blackberry But if I ever run into you on a trail I would love to check it out!

[onmybike]

2010 was a write off for me hopefully, usually get several thousand road miles in and a few hundered MTB miles. Brain tumor had other plans for me with surgery in April then radiation, plus chemo for most of the later fall. No Leadville this year, no Swank, DNF at SMC but felt pretty good for the first few SAGS with Dan and TedS. Just hoping I get some quality of life back soon so I can get on the bike. I think I did do one of the TT and got a decent finish, although not 1st...which my son is teaching isn't everything. He was out on the canal trail with my wife riding one day and said "hey mom, stop and look at that view." That is a perspective I have lost on the trail as most of the time I just want to see how fast I can go and these days that isn't very fast at all.

Best memories were probably the Wed nite AJBW rides on the canal if I had to pick something.

JT

[Angela]

For what it is worth your amazing family and your own personal spirit and heart have really had an impact on me. Every time I want to pause for just a second and entertain the thought of complaining about some minor inconvenience or anything else that simply does not matter in the big scheme of things.... I try to banish them quickly (and I am not really a big complainer by nature anyway) so thank you for helping me focus on what matters! I hope 2011 has you back in the saddle at whatever rate of speed and distance pleases you!