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Post by kconner on Mar 10, 2011 19:59:19 GMT -5
I'll be at work If anybody is going out for an informal workparty at another date and would like another set of hands, let me know.
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Post by kconner on Mar 6, 2011 13:52:58 GMT -5
Best way to train....ride a lot. Ride up hills a lot. There's nothing around here to prepare you for the Snake really. Both the climbing and the 5-mile rock garden, there's just no terrain around here like that. You just need to be ready to spend up to 4hrs on the bike if you do the 17, and 5 or 6hrs if you do the 34. After looking at the topo map with the elevation graph on the website, the climbs, combined with a lack of elevation change locally, is what has me worried the most, and I didn't realize there is a rock garden that long. Oh, and add in the fact that I can't afford to break a bone and be out of work Anyways, I've got almost a year to prepare.....
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Post by kconner on Mar 5, 2011 22:47:30 GMT -5
Looks fun! While I wouldn't care to do this event as a "race" it looks like it would be fun just to go up there and see how well I do....maybe next year What's the best way to prepare for an event like this?
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Post by kconner on Mar 4, 2011 17:55:57 GMT -5
I didn't ride it either way, as I wasn't expecting it and I stopped to take a picture, therefore messing up the flow. Anyways, it looks to me that riding the drop (CCW) wouldn't be a problem, especially if you have any kind of speed coming into the drop. As far as riding up the rock, I wouldn't know where to start. I still havn't mastered the skill of riding any logs more than 3-4" but I would think it would be roughly the same idea as riding a large log, as far as first lifting my front wheel then my back wheel (kinda like a single 2 part move if that makes sense). Any tips would be appreciated
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Post by kconner on Mar 4, 2011 12:02:14 GMT -5
awesome.
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Post by kconner on Mar 3, 2011 18:30:39 GMT -5
Rode Great Wall today for the first time, and so far it's my favorite loop (although I've only ridden Great Wall, Skinny and Brown Wave). This loop, in my opinion, has the most character and variety out of the 3 loops I've ridden so far. I really enjoyed the rock gardens and rock features, but sadly I too was suckered into the ridearound at Shrimpers Rock and didn't realize what I did until it was too late. I look forward to next time The rock bridge was also pretty neat ;D As far as the actual Great Wall portion (which I also enjoyed!) it sounds like, from what seenvic said earlier in the thread, that there are meant to be 2 lines (a high line and a low line), is this correct? Also, I saw this rock, about 2 miles in, give or take, traveling CCW (sorry for the poor quality, the picture was taken on a phone): When traveling CCW, it appeared at first that this rock was flush to the ground, but once on top of it, I found that it had a 9"-12" drop. While I thought the natural line was straight down the middle of the rock, which would be very ridable CCW, there were 2 fairly well defined lines around it, one on either side. Which line is the intended line? While traveling CCW, it would be awesome to go down the middle and take the drop, but I'm not sure how to ride it going CW. Anyways, awesome pics Brian! (even though I'm a couple months late commenting )
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Post by kconner on Mar 2, 2011 19:10:03 GMT -5
The real question is who wants to do a night ride right after they re-open it? I'd be interested, pending my work schedule and whether I could get my hands on a light ;D Speaking of lights, I have my eye one a light...do any of the local shops demo lights?
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Post by kconner on Mar 2, 2011 11:12:16 GMT -5
just out of curiosity, do you have the link to your personal website?
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Post by kconner on Mar 2, 2011 11:07:06 GMT -5
dgaddis:
There was a 4-way stop sign with multiple vehicles stopped at 3 of the 4 signs. The biker passed at least 2 cars (on the wrong side), and blew through the intersection without even slowing down, as someone (who had the right of way) was attempting to turn left into the lane he (the bicyclist) was traveling. The scary thing was that the bicyclist appeared out of nowhere, and if something would have happened, it would have been his fault.
I was just thinking that it was unfortunate that someone who should know better would take such action, as it makes the rest of us look bad and doesn't help our cause of educating the public
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Post by kconner on Mar 1, 2011 21:05:04 GMT -5
Funny that this was brought up today. I was out running errands today when I saw a SORBA-CSRA member and employee of a local bike shop out on the road, but the funny thing (well, not really funny) was that this person was not following the rules of the road. Kinda hard to complain about the attitudes of drivers towards bicyclists when the bicyclists (especially ones who should know better) have the wrong attitudes as well
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Post by kconner on Feb 22, 2011 9:04:48 GMT -5
Ill be there! Don't have a wheelbarrow, but do I need to bring any hand tools?
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Post by kconner on Feb 17, 2011 21:59:48 GMT -5
Finished running errands today earlier than I thought I would, so I took the bike out for an impromptu spin down Skinny and Brown Wave. It was great to see how much the trail work that was done a couple of weeks ago has improved those two loops from what they were. Great day for a ride! 72 degrees, partly cloudy with a slight breeze made for a great spin! This is only my second trip to FATS, and I've only ridden Skinny and Brown Wave, but so far this is one of my favorite features of this trail system I know this probably isn't proper trail etiquette, but it cracked me up to turn the corner and find someone has staked their resting spot on Brown Wave This is my preferred resting spot on Brown Wave ;D Too bad I left my collapsible fishing rod in the truck.... Found this next to some trees between the parking lot and restrooms....nice to see that vandals haven't gotten all of them
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Post by kconner on Feb 4, 2011 23:13:41 GMT -5
i couldn't make the big work party but it looks like it will be to wet to ride tomorrow, does anybody want to work on the Lower Skinny or just let me know where ya'll left off? I'd love to help, but I'm working Saturday & Sunday, out of town Monday thru Friday, back to work Saturday, busy Sunday due to a birthday. After that, I'm definitely up for some trail work.
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Post by kconner on Jan 27, 2011 11:02:36 GMT -5
Awesome.....I looked on Google Earth and followed the old railroad bed but lost it in the subdivisions just north of I-20.....
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Post by kconner on Jan 25, 2011 20:07:51 GMT -5
I made it about a mile past the gulley....I decided to be hard headed and walk around the mud and press on even though time was running short Can't wait for the trail to completely dry out and ride the entire length!
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Post by kconner on Jan 24, 2011 21:15:06 GMT -5
Just received an email advisory through work advising that the Department of Defense will be conducting testing on the GPS system from January 20 through February 22 and will be impacting civilian users throughout the entire southeast (a signal may be unreliable or unavailable). So, if you are like me and use a GPS unit on a regular basis and encounter any problems, there's nothing wrong with your equipment, but you may have to tough it out for about a month It may be wise to go "old school" and carry a map with you if you're venturing into unfamiliar territory (on bike or car)
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FATS
Jan 24, 2011 10:54:02 GMT -5
Post by kconner on Jan 24, 2011 10:54:02 GMT -5
If anybody is going out for an informal workparty, let me know. While I'm new to the maintenance stuff, I'd like to learn more about the maintenance/upkeep side of mountain biking and can be an extra set of hands if nothing else I only work every 3rd day on my first job and only sporadically on my second job, so chances are (especially with a day or two notice) I can help out if wanted/needed. Let me know.
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Post by kconner on Jan 21, 2011 21:10:16 GMT -5
went out today with the wife on the Greeneway and noted that they appear to be building an extension at the north/west terminus....does anybody know when this new section will open and how far it will go?
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Post by kconner on Jan 21, 2011 20:24:05 GMT -5
I figured the two lines were built for a reason....while I think the steeper line is definitely rideable, I'm not going to try it just yet And while I think the rock bridge is awesome the way it is, I don't see why it can't be narrower, given how smooth it is and how narrow the next rock feature is. It's probably a good idea to have it wider in that more people will be willing to try it instead of being intimidated. I was only able to make it to mile marker 12.5 from Petersburg due to me getting a late start and taking pictures, but I really look forward to riding the entire length of this trail when it dries out....hopefully there's more surprises in store!
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Post by kconner on Jan 21, 2011 13:28:34 GMT -5
My first time on New Bartram. AWESOME! Only got to ride the first 6 miles, and there were a couple of short stretches that were unrideable due to wet conditions, but I look forward to riding the full length when it completely dries out. I typically ride Old Bartram, but I figured I would try something different. Had I known that parts of the trail were as wet as they were, I wouldn't have tried it, but I'll know next time. The first mile or two were not wet enough to show puddles, but wet enough to slow you down. I REALLY enjoyed the more technical feel of this trail, kinda reminded me of the one time I rode FATS, it's nice to break up some of the fast flowing sections with something "different". I thoroughly enjoyed the whoops. While I thought some were spaced close and at the bottom of a couple of gulleys, I think they can be fun once I get used to them. Nice to have something different. Really enjoyed the rock wall...while not especially hard to ride, it nice to have something different and fun Another rock feature Nice views! It's a shame the lake is so low... Yet another rock feature New Bartram Pump Track?? Is this a ride around, or was it meant to have 2 lines? Limbo in the woods Nice berm! Mud Pit The large gulley and up to about 100 yards after (travelling west) along with another 100' section were the wettest sections of the trail, both pretty heavily rutted. The other wet sections were only damp and wet enough to slow you down. There were a couple of minor puddles between whoops. Can't wait to ride again when it's bone dry!
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