|
|
Post by Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill) on Nov 24, 2008 20:13:26 GMT -5
I am up here camping at HKSP all week and am planning to ride most every day. Since FATS I assume will be closed due to the rain, could someone advise which of the following can be ridden after rain (don't want to mess up your great trails here but sure would like to ride since I drove 300+ miles up here and my wife towed the camper the same with 3 kids and dog):
Baker Creek
Modoc
Turkey Creek
Wine Creek
Lick Fork
Keg Creek
Bartram
Mistletoe
Two other questions:
1. How is Mistletoe - is it worth driving to as I have not read much about it?
2. I have my brand new Cannondale Caffeine 29er (kudos again to Bill Victor's California friends esp Morgan who fixed it after the E. bracket broke after the first 4 miles I put on it into Great Wall and then I walked the next 4 miles out. Bill, don't know what I would have done without you!) and my Cannondale Rush Carbon full suspension. Could someone advise what sort of trail Baker Creek is - would it be better to ride the Rush or the Caffeine 29er?
Thanks,
Bill from Jacksonville
|
|
|
|
Post by azdrawdy on Nov 24, 2008 21:36:33 GMT -5
Every one of those you mentioned can be ridden after a rain. Even after hard rain, those can be ridden after a 24 hour drain time. We are not suppose to get that much rain tonight, and FATS will probably even be rideable. We do however, appreciate your concern!
You are siting at HK, so of course make sure you hit that one. HT or FS. Irrelevant.
BCSP: FS since it is at your disposal. Rough and rooty in numerous places. Barbara and I will be riding that one Tuesday at 2pm if you want to join us. Pavilion.
Modoc: HT or FS. Irrelevant. Great trail.
Turkey: HT or FS. Irrelevant. In great shape right now. Lots of fun.
Lick Fork: I would recommend FS. Rode it today and yesterday. Love it.
Wine: Not rideable. Recommend avoidance maneuvers!
Bartram: Hard Tail, 29er HEAVEN! Spin fast and spin hard! Every time I hit Bartram I swear I am going straight to Chainreaction and buying that XL Caffein 29er!
MD
|
|
|
|
Post by Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill) on Nov 25, 2008 9:06:51 GMT -5
Thanks MD, I may meet you at 2:00 if I am back from Keg Creek and Bartram in time - plan to head down there after breakfast. One caveat - I will have my brand new 29er Caffeine with me - its the 2008 raw frame - Drew Johnson at City Cycle Jacksonville used to be the Cannandale SE rep and has the hook-up on anything Cannondale - he got me my Rush Carbon frame for $1,200 (yes, that # is correct!). My 29er was a left-over 2008 model that was a single speed bike that Drew re-built with gears. I actually will soon be selling the hub and crank to offset my investment (my wife is not real excited that I just spent another large $,$$$.$$ on another bike!). Drew got the bike from Cannondale (before I started messing with it) for $1,400. After you see my bikes, you likely will be infected with bike lust and will have to just head down to Chainreaction and buy one! If you want to test ride it, I might even let you it if you sign a repair waiver!
Bill from Jacksonville
|
|
|
|
Post by jtaylor on Nov 25, 2008 12:29:43 GMT -5
Mistletoe is an old school trail that gets lots of hikers in the summer. It is definitely worth riding; there are some features you will not find on any other trail in our area. It will be fine after a minor rain and some drain time. You will get your feet wet unless it has been very dry. Keg Creek drains well also. Either bike will work on those two trails, though I will never go anywhere without my full carbon Rush again.
MD- do you mean Thursday at 2pm rather than Tuesday??
|
|
|
|
Post by azdrawdy on Nov 25, 2008 13:41:24 GMT -5
Just walked back in the house. Had an appointment at 10am and expected to be out well before noon, but it was after 1pm when I left. BCSP is at least 45 minutes from the house, so I won't be able to make it by 2pm. Yeah JT, I meant today at 2pm. I have this week off. I am trying to pack a bunch of riding in with a bunch of need-to-get-done things. Thanks for the ride offer Bill. I have been lusting after a GF Hi-Fi 29er for several months now. Also a Stumpy FSR 29er. And a Caffeine 29er. I do need to get some actual saddle time on a 29er. I love my 06 Stumpy FSR Expert (26") but I wonder if all the hype about the 29er is for real. Plus, at my height it just kinda makes sense. Kinda. Just shuting up and riding makes more sense!  |
|
|
|
Post by Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill) on Nov 26, 2008 8:08:35 GMT -5
Michael,
I just realized yesterday that you are the guy who was parked next to me and helped me out with my flat tire and lost water bottle at the FATS grand opening. I did not make it to Baker yesterday. Keg Creek and Bartram took longer than expected and then I had a flat on my 29er on the new extension of the Bartram Trail. If I had known how lumpy that trail was I would have switched to the Rush, especially since I did not even have a 29er tube! Drew had never sold a 29er and did not have a spare tube to give me when I picked up the 29er last Friday before I left on Saturday at 8:00 AM. I actually had had enough of the extension and was riding out the gravel road loop around to the car via pavement when I had the flat so I just had to walk the last 1.5 miles. No big deal and that was all I was planning to ride yesterday anyway. Keg and Bartram were great, although Keg is in pretty bad shape, almost lost my drive train more than once and there are several trees down but the scenery was second to none. Since I likely will ride all the CSRA trails this week except Wine (per your advice) and the 2 trails south of I-20, I probably will update trail conditions on all the trails next week. If anyone has a question, just ask away. btw, Bartram also has a few trees down.
I am meeting the Long Cane folks for another ride today and Ashby Stokes is going to give me his spare 29er tubes since he has switched back to a 26er. Michael, I will be riding every day until I go back home Sunday so seriously if you would like to test ride my 29er XL and you are willing to change the tube, you are free to ride all you want. I am 6'2" and I think the 20er is "all that and a bag of chips" as they say. However, I just put 100 miles on that bike in 4 days and my rear end is ready to go back to the FS. Drew was pressed for time and did not have any hydraulic brake cables long enough to fit the XL frame so it only has mechanical disc brakes. I also will be upgrading to tubeless ASAP when I get back - Drew is pricing them as we speak. My cell is 904-652-5877.
JT, thanks for the Mistletoe review - I hopefully will be able to make it over there before I head home. The only issue is I have only ridden FATS once so far (only the 4 original loops incl walking half of Great Wall) so once I get back to FATS again I may not go anywhere else since I am experiencing withdrawal symptoms right now!
Bill from Jacksonville
|
|
|
|
Post by Mark Y on Nov 27, 2008 23:45:24 GMT -5
I have been lusting after a GF Hi-Fi 29er for several months now. Maybe we can get a twofer. I have my sights set on a HiFi Deluxe 29. |
|
|
|
Post by azdrawdy on Nov 28, 2008 8:47:16 GMT -5
Bill: Would have liked to get together for a ride, but family flew in Wednesday afternoon and they are here until Monday. May get a ride in today (hoping for BR, Tower and DS) but time will tell if I get that in. Looks like rain Sat/Sun.
Iceman: Brett has an XL Hi-Fi Plus. '09. Really sweet bike. I haven't convinced him to let me take it out for an audition on HC or TC. I want more than a parking lot impression. I like the two-fer idea though! What size do you need?
Michael
|
|
|
|
Post by Mark Y on Nov 28, 2008 10:01:12 GMT -5
Medium
|
|
|
|
Post by Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill) on Nov 29, 2008 8:48:03 GMT -5
Michael,
Rode 57 miles at FATS yesterday when I saw this rain coming - it started sprinking when I was packing up about 5:30 in the parking lot. I am coming up to SC for my brother's graduation from Winthrop and Commissioning in the Air Force 12/20 and since I will be staying in Lexington with another brother may head over here to FATS and/or Long Cane. If I do would be happy to let you test ride the bike if you would like; you really helped me out at the FATS grand opening and I would be happy to return the favor. It looks like we may be socked in for rain through tomorrow so I think we are going to pack up the camper and head home today.
|
|
|
|
Post by azdrawdy on Nov 29, 2008 10:11:28 GMT -5
Give me a yell in December and hopefully we'll get together.
We drove up to BR and Tower yesterday at 4pm and rode them with family from Tucson before rain hit. Like you said, the rain has socked us in for the weekend. Sounds like you had a good week of riding though!
MD
|
|
|
|
Post by Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill) on Nov 30, 2008 20:47:36 GMT -5
Yep, despite the bad weather I managed 218 miles in the 7 days I was there. One morning it was 26 degrees - way below my minimum acceptable 65 degrees, although I must admit I was getting more used to it. I am now starting work on a plan to move to McCormick County at least half the year within the next 2 years (splitting time between SC and Jacksonville, FL).
Will give you a shout - within the next three weeks I should have the 29er equipped with hydraulic brakes and tubeless wheels/tires - it will be a sweet ride. I don't have your phone number - please send me a message or call or I'll just post.
Bill
|
|
LIKE us on Facebook 
