|
Post by Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill) on May 2, 2011 22:41:06 GMT -5
You may remember that Bill Victor posted info about the Allegrippis trail system near Huntingdon, PA some time ago. Since I have moved to Virginia from Jacksonville, FL and can't get my FATS fix so easily now, I finally made the 3.5 hour trip up there this past weekend and amazingly rode every mile of their trails in both directions Saturday + 3 miles for a total ride of 75 miles in 8 hours 52 minutes. Off course all on my 2010 Cannondale Scalpel Team Edition (suuuuper sweeeet bike). Allegrippis is definitely the FATS of the north. It is soooooo sweeeet - I had a blast - only negative is it rained Sunday so I couldn't ride it again before I had to return. When they built it I was told is was buttery smooth single track just like FATS but now some shale rocks (PA is full of shale) have surfaced on the trail so it offers more resistance than FATS but there really are not many roots. They are still building trails. The trails are built with a wider machine like the original 4 loops at FATS. At first I thought like Bill Victor would likely say that they should use a narrower tool but since the rocks have appeared and you have to pass two-way some, they really are awesome trails as is. There is more elevation change than FATS I think and there are all kinds of trails but they have some whoop-de-doos that are as good as Deep Step CCW or maybe even better. Some nice climbs and switchbacks and some awesome downhills. I plan to go back up in a couple of weeks for another dose... Hope to get to FATS again and try to ride the whole system in both directions in one day as well - I have dropped 20 lbs and 3 waist inches riding my road bike on these VA upper Piedmont hills and am in great shape - Phil at Chain Reaction told me that climbing hills would take the fat off and he was right! See web site below: allegrippistrails.com/If you are ever in PA or nearby, they are definitely worth the trip but be sure to bring your own food because they are out in the middle of nowhere.
|
|
|
Post by Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill) on May 12, 2010 2:56:16 GMT -5
Just my two cents worth on vines. I was riding the Croom 50 in Brooksville, FL a few years ago when a vine grabbed my helmet at medium speed and nearly took my head off (fortunately for me my helmet was all that the vine took off and I crashed out in sugar sand).
That is why I told Lowell about a similar vine on Tower last year in hopes that someone could remove it. I do not recall if it was gone when I rode it last weekend but I hope it gets removed before someone goes down. When riding CCW, it was on the downhill section along the gorge below the tower.
|
|
|
Post by Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill) on May 12, 2010 2:45:36 GMT -5
I second the Deep Step Comments - it is now hands down my favorite at FATS again because of the improvements.
|
|
|
Post by Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill) on Apr 16, 2010 5:32:01 GMT -5
While I was in Atlanta last weekend, I had the chance to do a 6-hour 52 mile mountian bike ride on the Blankets Creek (Woodstock), Gaineville College and Chicopee Woods (Gainesville) trails northwest and northeast of Atlanta. Y'all have got to get over there and ride these trails - they are sweet. Blankets Creek's (Woodstock SORBA) Dwelling trail flows much like FATS with a little shorter ups and downs. Chicopee Woods' (Gainesville SORBA) recently redesigned Flying Squirrel trail is just like FATS - fast, smooth and flowing - I rode it 3 times on my 29er - what a blast! If you remember the old Chicopee Woods - forget your memory and instead remember your future of flying through the woods there on the completely redesigned trails. ;D
|
|
|
Post by Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill) on Mar 30, 2010 4:04:20 GMT -5
btw, I rode all the FATS trails this past Friday and Saturday and, with the exception that Great Wall is still a little soggy, they are all in great shape. Definitely worth the trip now!!!!! I'll be back soon!
The trees are budding so I would expect great wall to be dried out soon.
Great work y'all this past winter especially on some of those eternally muddy spots on Brown Wave. If I could only move up there, I could help more - although I did help Bill Victor on Brown Wave last year. My 14 and 16 year old boys will need community service hours so I would have them working if only I were there....
|
|
|
Post by Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill) on Mar 30, 2010 3:58:10 GMT -5
Well, you have me thinking now...I lived in Atlanta 22 years, Beaufort, SC 7 years and Pickens, SC 6 months so I know the area and most of my family is from SC. My kids are on Florida Virtual School so we technically could go to school anywhere there is an internet connection and phone service.
Now if I could just find a job...If anyone knows of any transportation/mobility planning and/or traffic engineering opportunities for someone with 20 years private consulting and public agency experience and a Georgia Tech Civil Engineering degree with highest honors...well please let me know. I have recently been doing some really cool cutting edge stuff in Florida related to multimodal transportation planning, mobility fees, linking land use and transportation planning and vehicle miles traveled/greenhouse gas emissions reductions - please let me know.
|
|
|
Post by Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill) on Mar 30, 2010 3:49:39 GMT -5
Last Friday I found a key in the FATS parking lot. If it is yours, please describe and I will return it. The only problem is that I forgot to give it to Bill Victor before I returned to Florida but I can mail it or bring it up next time I am there, which could be in a couple of weeks.
|
|
|
Post by Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill) on Mar 23, 2010 17:45:18 GMT -5
Just my 2 cents worth - I love FATS so much that, when I am sure it will be open and worth riding (sometimes it is open but not worth riding due to the sogginess that greatly reduces the "fun factor;" Bill Victor historically has been a great help in determining if the trail is "worth riding"), I have been known to leave my house at 3:30 AM, drive the 275 miles driveway to FATS trailhead, ride 50-60 miles at FATS and jump back in the car and drive the 275 miles back home the same day (after stopping at MOT's BBQ in Martinez for dinner, of course). And I think it is worth every minute and mile.... ;D Unfortunately, I cannot find a decent paying job closer to FATS or get the family to agree to move there if I found one... Some people say I need help.....
|
|
|
Post by Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill) on Mar 23, 2010 14:03:31 GMT -5
Bikepacking First time I have heard of such a thing but since I love biking and camping, sounds like fun! Maybe I'll have to make schedule one of my trips north when y'all do this.... ;D
|
|
|
Post by Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill) on Mar 9, 2009 11:39:18 GMT -5
Since I have ridden Dausett, Macon and FATS, I'll try to answer. I personally like FATS best because it is smooth and very fast with a lot of undulation, much like the last run on the Scream Machine at Six Flags. I don't think you want to try Arrowhead right now - it was wiped out by a tornado last year and I ran into a guy from Macon at the IDIDARIDE in White Springs, FL at the end of January this year and he said they were still trying to dig out. Pig trail in Macon is good but not near as good as FATS. Dausett is an excellent trail system but more technical than FATS in places and not as smooth. You can also ride the 1996 Olympic Trail in Conyers and Ft. Yargo in Winder see website yaba.homestead.com/ - both excellent. I would not drive all the way to Augusta if FATS is not open, although they do have some excellent other trails - check out the list on this website. The best in my opinion are Long Cane and Hickory Knob but they are even farther away than FATS.
|
|
|
Post by Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill) on Mar 8, 2009 13:17:24 GMT -5
I would like to participate but it would have to be on a Saturday or late on a Friday as I would have to drive up from FL leaving about noon on Friday; however, if FATS is open, I might just come for the test and then ride FATS before heading home. I am just about in good enough shape again that I could do an all-day at FATS.
|
|
|
Post by Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill) on Mar 8, 2009 13:12:36 GMT -5
I've been watching your posts and decided to try the 30 minute test Dustin described at Hanna Park Jacksonville yesterday but ran into a problem that I could not reach peak physical output due to trail limitations - I was hovering at 185-186 bpm when I slid out on a combo of sugar sand (no rain here the last few weeks) and live oak leaves (live oaks drop their leaves this time of year, thus the name "live" oak) and I was still not maxed out physically. I know what to do though - this summer I am going to retry it one of our summer days where the dew point is 80-85 degrees (those are the nights in FL when you go out at midnight and nearly suffocate) and the temperature is 90-95 degrees - it will be easy to conduct the test in those conditions - as long as I don't die doing it!
Yesterday I rode 2 hrs 52 minutes with average HR 164. During summer, I regularly ride 50 miles off-road 5.5 to 6 hours with average HR 168-169 bpm and am not totally worn out - I usually have to drive a 100 miles or more home afterward. It seems from reading your posts that this is not typical for a 40 year old but since this forum appears to have some doctors/medical techs I would be curious of any opinion on what that means physically. I know my strength is endurance while I really stink at climbing (being a flatlander from FL doesn't help) and speed. I once rode an 18-mile race in Tallahassee, FL in 97 degree 90%+ humidity - I was the slowest time to finish but still beat out all the guys I passed walking and throwing up or layed out on the ground next to their bikes half dead.
|
|
|
Post by Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill) on Mar 8, 2009 12:04:10 GMT -5
Rode mine for the first time Friday on my Cannondale 29er. I really love the extra pressure point you get during cornering and climbing - greatly improves handling. Like Michael Drawdy I took my wrentch with me and adjusted them a couple of times to get the right angle and I agree these things are great. I say thanks to all as well. I can't wait to find the bar inserts for my carbon bars so that I can put the other pair on my Rush.
|
|
|
Post by Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill) on Mar 3, 2009 12:42:22 GMT -5
One more thing - its good to see positive feedback on the work Vic and I did in January.
Hope I can get back up there soon but Florida is better right now. Last Saturday I was at San Felasco Hammock State Park near Gaineville, Florida doing 35 miles in 75 to 80 degree weather.....
|
|
|
Post by Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill) on Mar 3, 2009 12:39:06 GMT -5
Dustin, One thing you may want to check out is how your HR monitor actually monitors. I used to use a HR monitor that regularly said I had HR >200 bpm - then I found out it only measured every third beat and lost accuracy >175 bpm. I now have a Polar HRM and it appears to be much more accurate and consistent with where I should be considering my age (40 years). Bill
|
|
|
Post by Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill) on Mar 3, 2009 12:22:56 GMT -5
Wow Vic - are those pics the same creek we rode along in January? That is amazing. But believe it or not I've seen worse after hurricanes in NE FL in 2004.
|
|
|
Post by Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill) on Feb 15, 2009 8:15:20 GMT -5
Thanks everyone for your incredibly helpful advice. This is the best forum I have found with the nicest people not to mention representing what are now my favorite trails. I am going to test the GP1's on my 29er first while looking for the bar inserts so that I can put the GC2's on my Rush. If anyone knows where I can purchase the bar inserts ("HS100 handlebars plugin" as they call it), I would be interested to know. The Ergon website says "available Spring 2009." Anyone ever used the Ergon TP1 cleat installation kit? Although website again says "available Spring 2009." I wonder if the kit would work with Crank Brothers products ... the bottoms of my feet often get sore when I ride 30+ miles in one ride. Many times it is just an issue of adjusting the tightness of my SIDI shoes. I historically have used Egg Beaters but bought a pair of CB Acid pedals for longer rides on the Rush but have not had a chance to use them yet.
|
|
|
Post by Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill) on Feb 14, 2009 14:41:17 GMT -5
I looked on the website and saw those - thanks. I can't wait to try these out.
|
|
|
Post by Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill) on Feb 14, 2009 12:35:33 GMT -5
Dustin and Michael, Thanks for your insight/responses.
I think I am going to keep the two grips I have and put the ones without barends on the 29er and the ones with barends on the Rush because the 29er bars are much wider and I am concerned similar to MD about catching something with the ends and crashing - I nearly had my head pulled off by a vine on the Croom trail in Brooksville, FL several years ago when a vine got caught in my helmet strap - pretty scary - it pulled both me and the bike off the trail due to clipless pedals. Plus my intent is to ride the 29er on smooth trails for shorter rides 25 miles or less so shouldn't need the ends for climbing. The Rush has narrower handlebars and should be safer with the ends plus the package says you can adjust them to any angle - Dustin I have not seen yours but I assume I can adjust them to a "vine-friendly" angle unless I think I am going to be climbing. I think I will have Drew at the bike shop put them on with a wrench that measures the force - if he will - he has discouraged me thus far from putting anything that clamps on my carbon fiber bars. Then will just have to monitor the handlebars for cracks.....
Anyone have any insight/comment on my logic feel free to respond!
"Grab-ons" are the name of a grip that has been around since the 70's that is flexible and absorbs a lot of water while still maintaining a firm connection between skin and grip/handlebar. No matter how much I sweat I have never lost tracktion between hand and grip. The problem is they are not very durable - crashes often are the end of them requiring replacement. At least they are cheap - only $10-$15.
Michael, what kind of 29er did you end up getting?
|
|
|
Post by Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill) on Feb 13, 2009 17:57:06 GMT -5
Based on this thread and talking to Bill Victor, I just bought a pair of GP1-L and a pair of GC2-L Ergon grips on close-out at Performancebike.com. Before I send them back, I would appreciate any thoughts anyone might have on the following three issues:
1. My Rush has carbon fiber handlebars that are rated for a clamp tightened to no more than 3.9 Nm pressure and these grips are rated at 5 Nm. Anyone using these on carbon fiber bars? Will they crack the ends of my handlebars leading to an "unsafe riding condition?"
2. My 29er has metal handlebars. Since I started riding in 1998, grab-on grips are the only ones I have found that my hands don't slip on during the summer when heat and humidity combine with my extremely high sweat factor. Can anyone opine if you have experienced sweating/slipping during the summer? I would hate to put these on and then have to throw them out in June - just like I have done with every other pair of grips I have owned other than grab-ons.
3. I have been "testing" them in the recliner and like the feel but cannot understand the utility of the "mini barend" on the GC2's. I thought these were supposed to be for a better grip during climbing but I cannot "get it." How do the GP1's do in climbing and what is the use/benefit of the "mini barends" on the CC2?
Thanks in advance for anyone who might be able to help.
Bill from Jacksonville
|
|