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Post by txr on Jul 21, 2009 22:21:52 GMT -5
Wow... talk about demoralizing! Seeing some of those times really hurts the ego a tad. I rode yesterday and rode Skinny CW in 40 minutes and 20 sec felt good about it seeing as how late last year I was in the mid 50's stopping a couple times. How many of those 30 minutes time guy weigh 270+lbs? ;D I hear ya talking! Skinny is typically a 50 min ride for me; GW 70-75 including a couple of stops to catch my breath. I guess if I rode more than twice a month I could get better eh? Thanks Mark! Your post just made me feel MUCH better ;D I did Skinny today at about 45 minutes with a stop to offer help to a few riders in need and a pause for an oncoming uphill rider. Total time was about 50 minutes from parking lot and back (with the stops included). And yeah I am no lightweight LOL. Working on that by riding as much as possible lately though so maybe those times will come down. And I agree about that with a hardtail you have to watch it or you will fly if you do not want to on the whoops. But that pretty fun too to get a litte air....and I mean a little lol Tom
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Post by txr on Jul 21, 2009 10:39:38 GMT -5
I rode today at FATS and while riding Skinny CCW I came up on two young riders who I saw leave the parking lot on a BMX bike and a mountain bike. Well, with about two miles left to the parking lot I came up on them pushing their bikes. I stopped to ask them if they were doing ok and turns out the BMX bike had a flat. I offered help to change out the tube but as it turns out I did not have an adjustable wrench in my pack to take off the axle nuts. Go figure, I got stuff to help myself out but not anyone else. I felt bad I could help them so when I got back to the parking lot I drove down the FS road to where it crosses above the SKULLS on the stump on the connector and gave them a lift back to the parking lot. Just made me wonder what people carry with them to repair/fix trailside. I carry two extra tubes, tire levers, a handheld pump (frame pump in the camelback), a tire guage and a Park Tool MTB-3 multi tool, and regardless of the ride length I carry a full 100oz of water just in case. Anyways, what does everyone carry on their rides? Me, I will be seeking out a lightweight adjustable wrench now. As well as a small first aid pack which I will get from work.
Tom
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Post by txr on Jul 18, 2009 22:40:21 GMT -5
(Beginner Rider) Rode Mistletoe for the first time today with a friend. Very enjoyable. Met jtaylor and another rider (sorry, forgot name!) at the trail head as we were headed in. Luke the Lab gave me a pine cone tossing workout! The trail was in great condition after they had cleared it, including the spider webs. In the embarrassing department, I biffed at 2 mph climbing the side hill rocky section. As I was laying there swearing to myself, knee bleeding, pride hurting, a witness appeared, kindly advising me that there was "technical sections ahead". Ouch! I know everyone loves the FATS, for good reason, but I put this trail on par with Modoc (my fav) as a technical challenge for my level. A very pleasant butt kicking for a rookie. Ozy....i agree totally on the pleasant butt kicking. That trail is great and a good challenge. Loved the ride and the company I had this morning. Tom
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Post by txr on Jul 18, 2009 11:28:26 GMT -5
Just wanted to thank John, Dustin and Brian for allowing me along on the ride this morning. Also for putting up with my less then blistering pace. Very cool trail for sure. Also shot this short video of Brian making a quick stop at a creek crossing ;D. OK now that you have seen it I must extend my apologies to any crooked necks out there. Didnt realize I cant rotate video on photobucket Also a breif explanation of this is in order. As Brian was coming across this rock he was expecting Luke the energizer dog to move. Go figure this may have been the only time I didnt see this awesome dog not in constant motion all morning ;D That is why you see Brian making a rather unexpected departure from his saddle. We all had a good laugh at this and no one was hurt so all was well. Just made for some good comic relief on the ride. Thanks again guys for a good ride. Enjoyed it. Tom
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Post by txr on Jul 13, 2009 18:16:54 GMT -5
And again sarcasm/tongue in cheek/etc doesn't always set as well in the written word and folks may or may not know who the people vollying back and forth are or what their relationship is.........this forum is read by a wide variety of folks and many are new to this sport and just trying to figure things out. What to do, where to ride, who to talk to .........it should be a friendly message with a positive tone in my opinion. As far as the armoring (and I've done my share) at times the ground has just been so hard trying to get the armoring set well has been difficult at best. If the armoring is viewed as an obstacle - a rider approaching might opt to go around it at the last minute particularly if they are tired. A harsh line should be reserved for the most extreme cases not for folks who are just trying to learn what to do, ride their bikes, and meet other bikers. No one needs to feel like they are getting attacked because of a simple statement or comment they make. Folks should be able to expect a civil response to a comment or statement they make even if everyone doesn't agree with that statement. This forum should be fun and informative and the members of SORBA-CSRA should be friendly and welcoming and willing to share what they know respectfully - it doesn't always come across that way on this forum and to be honest I find that increasingly disturbing. Angela, you have stated what I was trying to say in a much better way than I did Like you have stated, many folks read this forum and not all understand the banter. Again, I have not tried to start anything, just wanted to state what you have said above. New riders will be joining this sport and may turn here to find information. Anyway , just my opinion. And I DO appreciate all that give of their time to maintain the trails. Tom
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Post by txr on Jul 13, 2009 15:44:47 GMT -5
Tom, So you are saying that it is reasonable to think someone carried a bunch of heavy bricks/concrete out into the woods, put them into this muddy spot....for me to ride next to? I could see someone doing just that, who doesn't think, but just rides. I can see doing this in July. Or any other time of the year in which the ground next to the bricks is as firm as the bricks. I am amazed to see 4" deep tire ruts in mud right next to a pefectly placed set of bricks that one won't sink into. But I see them each season at FATS. I saw them this winter at Brown County in Indiana as well. So, it isn't a local condition. It is widespread. Call me crazy, but if one stops to think about why the bricks are out there, it is crazy to actually think the armor is to ride next to. Our job is to get people to think. I agree that informing is the goal. I try to do that with everyone I talk to on the trail or elsewhere when talk comes to riding trails. I agree with you in every aspect. I can only speak about myself and say I ride the bricks, wood skinnies, rocks and even the pallets whether it is wet or not. I may reconsider the pallets in dry conditions now knowing that there are nails sticking out. Guess that makes sense eh lol. Anyways, like I said informing is the key and I was just concerned that some folks may read this thread in a different way....especially the thread starter. No offense intended and none taken on your response. Tom
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Post by txr on Jul 13, 2009 15:24:47 GMT -5
OK forgive me for how this may sound. But I believe this post was started a little tongue in cheek as to riding around those "obstacles". Who am I anyways but some people do come on here who are not SORBA members (I know I know..I am not) that may not understand what those bricks, rocks and yes even those ill placed pallets are and why they are there in the first place. Some may think they are there due to the trail eroding etc. They may NOT understand that they are intended to be used as a safe place to ride to save the trail bed. Just saying that some people may take this thread in the wrong vain. Not trying to start any problems, but just an observation of a sort of newbie to this forum. Feel free to disagree with me. I wont take it personally
Tom
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Post by txr on Jul 13, 2009 14:00:06 GMT -5
When I got my new bike I had two flats on one ride at the Canal Trail. I feel your pain here. I was frustrated to say the least. I installed a no flat tube (the ones with sealant in them already). Also I went and talked with the good folks at Chain Reaction and they enlightened me on tire pressure. Doh!!! LOL. Get yourself a good floor pump with a gauge or a pressure gauge and make sure your tires are always at the proper pressure for your weight. Once they went through a little math they figured my optimal pressure and since then with a little diligence in making sure my tires were at proper pressure I have had no problems with flats.
Tom
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Post by txr on Jul 8, 2009 17:34:20 GMT -5
WOW is all I can say.....OK maybe not. As I am not a SORBA member I do my best to talk up the good folks of SORBA that I have met and have followed this forum for a while. I am a manager at the Sports Authority and when someone is in my bike department I talk up the area trails and the "group" that takes care of them. So far everyone I have met has been class. To not join (I know I have not either) for the reason you stated is just short sighted. Trust me, there are more folks out there that I will not agree with than there are that I will agree with. But that is life.
Anyways, I am rambling and as I am not a staple of the biking community by any means I know I am happy to have met the few folks from SORBA and this forum so far.
Now as far as the taking what SORBA has given......WELL two things: 1) I am glad you do what you do so that we in this area have this great resource of trails. I am not a member but I do take a moment and move stuff off of the trails if it needs to be or give a heads up on here if I can not do it myself. 2) Thanks for the guilt trip LOL Have to consider joining one of these days I guess if that keeps up
Anyways...my two cents
Tom
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Post by txr on Jul 6, 2009 11:42:56 GMT -5
Since we had some weather overnight I decided to go to HKSP and ride the Lake View trail. Great trail ! Very different. Not a trail you can rip at high speed (OK so I really dont ride fast anyways but hey...) and definately a trail you need to keep your eyes open at it gets tight and a few technical spots as well. Decided to just go for it over the rock ledge drop even though I was just going about .5 miles an hour. Also hit the rock drop after that (CW) at a decent speed. I dont ride fast and this was the first time riding this trail so I took it pretty easy but that second rock drop was not one to stop before it and walk.....just got back a little and let it ride ;D . Anyways glad I took the ride and found another great trail in the area and gave FATS a break.
Tom
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Post by txr on Jul 3, 2009 19:49:05 GMT -5
PICS ARE UP !!! Hope you all enjoy viewing. I have posted them to my photography site. I invite all to take a look and hope you enjoy the pics as much as I did shooting (however....taking a lap would have been cool too ;D ) As I am new to this forum it was cool to put some faces to the screen names from here. Anyways check em out and feel free to PM me with any questions. Here is the site: www.backprint.com/TXRPhotographyTom
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Post by txr on Jul 2, 2009 22:41:34 GMT -5
First ones were unedited out of the camera. Here is one after editing it. Basically I shot in RAW, which is just pure image captured on the cameras sensor. After that I load it into Photoshop and make color, saturation and a number of other adjustments to come up with the final image. Basically a digital darkroom if you will. Anyways enjoy. Tom
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Post by txr on Jul 2, 2009 21:32:59 GMT -5
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Post by txr on Jun 29, 2009 11:44:13 GMT -5
Saw two snakes in Skinny today. The first one was about 1.9 miles in going CCW at a small switchback. It was about 3 or 3.5 feet long and stretched out across the trail. Not a herpatoligist but I think it was a King Snake (black with chain like markings). A constrictor. I did not see him until I was on top of him almost. As this was about my 4th or 5th time clipless I got a good acid test of clipping out quickly. I think I did ok since I had to break to a full stop and had the rear wheel off the ground as I clipped out. I ended up about 2 feet away from the bugger and slowly backed up a bit to give him space. He NEVER moved. I threw a stick off to the side of the trail to the side of him to see if he would move on...NOTHING. He finally moved on and went just off the trail. I got my camera out of my camelback and when I looked back up to snap a shot he was not to be seen. Hmmm oh well. Back on the bike I went. About 2 miles later I noticed a large turtle on the trail on a small uphill section and was focused on the turtle thinking...wow the trail builders sure do add some nice trail features and heard Alex in my head saying....can we add this trail feature to the "how well do you know the trails?" game. As I chuckled to myself and my lunacy I realized a small (about 8 inches long) snake strike at my pedals as I rode towards the turtle. OK I think the turtle was working with the snake here ;D Yup..the heart rate went up a bit there. Anyways...just a reminder to all riding the trails....just keep your eyes open and watch your speed as these guys are everywhere and as someone said earlier its not that they will be aggressive as the first one was totally tame but its when you come up on them going fast they get startled and defend themselves if they have to. Just a thought but thats my story and I am sticking to it ;D Tom
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Post by txr on Jun 21, 2009 21:17:00 GMT -5
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Post by txr on Jun 21, 2009 20:44:31 GMT -5
Great shots!!! Keep 'em coming! Any chance you'd be interested in taking some pics at the upcoming time trial at the canal trail? When is that? Would love to if I can make it. I am a retail manager at the Sports Authority and well I work alot LOL and many weekends. Let me know and if I can swing it I would love to. That is a fairly easy place to cover I would think as I could find a good place like the big dip in the middle and get some cool shots. Might even be able to swing a second photog to cover other areas. Let me know Tom
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Post by txr on Jun 20, 2009 21:18:58 GMT -5
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Post by txr on Jun 20, 2009 10:08:29 GMT -5
Hey all. First off what a great turnout this morning at the commons. I was wanting to ride but I figured I could be usefull in another way. I was the bald guy with the camera I took over 200 pictures and will be posting some shots probably tonight. I do some photography as a side endeavor and am happy to lend my camera to this event. I was able to look through the shots and there are some that I am psyched to post up. Sorry I just didnt have enough time to post right now but I promise you will see a bunch soon. Hope everyone enjoyed the event as I did. Tom
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Post by txr on Jun 18, 2009 16:37:14 GMT -5
OK well I am no doctor or medic but isnt this a great reason to have a snake bike kit in that first aid bag from another post? :-)
Tom
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Post by txr on Jun 18, 2009 14:50:54 GMT -5
I actually figured my pic would be guessed pretty quick, and my pleasure to offer a pic up as I always carry my point and shoot with me for a pic op. I do not however carry my full camera set up as that stuff is too expensive to crash with LOL. Again, my pleasure in submitting the last photo. As I have said before this game has definately given me some reason to explore more trails and increase my saddle time as well. Love this game its a lot of fun to follow.
Tom
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