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Post by dgaddis1 on Nov 7, 2011 7:15:28 GMT -5
They are primo! Had a fantastic ride out there yesterday, possibly the best ride of the year. The weather was just amazing, and the forest is full of color right now. Go ride these trails. They're awesome. seenvic took us on a new-to-me route. 5hrs chasing these guys thru the woods ment I went home exhausted  Taken at the Key Rd crossing. It's great out there right now. Color everywhere.  |
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Post by seenvic on Nov 7, 2011 8:25:18 GMT -5
That was a great ride. I felt like I went mountain biking on a modern day bike but it was like a ride from 1993.
About 26 miles from 23 to 283 via Modoc, Turkey and Wine on a version of the old connector. Then 13 miles back via an "all new" connector route (3rd time I have ridden it now). Hard to believe you can get from 283 to 23 in 13 miles and only 7 are paved. Harder to believe it took this many years to figure it out.
That was a semi-adventure. I like rides like that. Good group of riders on a great route.
These trails need wheels. Especially Turkey and Wine. Modoc seems to get alot more use than the other two from what I saw yesterday.
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Post by dgaddis1 on Nov 7, 2011 8:35:24 GMT -5
The highlight of the ride, to me at least:
We spooked a pair of buzzards, they took off out just in front of us maybe 10ft off the ground and regurgitated chunks of whatever it was they were munching on. Closest I've even been to one, and only time I've had to consider dodging bird puke. Ahhh, nature. ;D
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Post by mudonthetires on Nov 7, 2011 18:34:32 GMT -5
I had to take dgaddis' advice and rode Modoc today after work. He was right and the trail is in great shape. This is the first time I have ridden Modoc in its' entirety, the frist time I tried I only got in about 1.5 miles before some technical issues sent me back to the truck. There were a couple of sections where I actually lost the singletrack in the leaves, but most of that was just not being familiar with the trail. Modoc is a real pleasure to ride and can really test some of your technical skills, especially if you are used to riding the Canal, Bartram, or FATS. We have a lot of opportunities around here that I don't think get taken advantage of when it comes to trail diversity. There are a couple of trees down that are non-riders due to the tops being on the trail. One is approx. 3.5 miles in and the other is around 4.25. I tried to move them but they were too large (or I was not strong enough), but they can be taken out with a hand saw, or be very quick work with a chain saw. There are a couple of bridges out there that made me nervous. One of them has actually already caved in and there is a prominent ride around to the left (heading away from the parking lot), and a few others that made me nervous. I am a little over 200lbs and my bike is a solid 32+, and if either of us weighed any more I don't know if some of the planks could hold us. Maybe a project for the future. All in all it was a great experience and the trail is in prime condition. Thanks for the advice dgaddis!
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Post by Angela on Nov 7, 2011 21:19:09 GMT -5
For those of us who started riding in the area before FATS or Bartram there are some stellar memories associated with those trails - there was a time that Turkey was most people's favorite trail and Wine was as close to a beginner trail as you could find around here. I remember our friend Marco swearing he had seen a black and white cow while riding along Wine Creek near the big dip - he took some teasing for that one until we had other reports of a rouge black and white goat squaring off against riders there at the big dip! For me learning to ride certain parts of Wine, Turkey and Modoc were a rite of passage into mountain biking (from the 283 side of Wine the two creek crossings followed by the rocks and the big gully), Turkey - the old bridge with the steep ramps, the gully with the steep climb up and to the left, a switchback after the bridge that always required planning coming and going, the two big dips past the 4.5 mile mark and Modoc - never even attempted to ride the big rock leading down to the first stream crossing but the second one was easy and loved the switchback just before the bridge to nowhere, Jaws was a big challenge but a good sense of accomplishment once mastered.....all along Modoc were spots that you just had to ride and/or execute well.......they won't give the instant gratification that Fats does .....they are very different ....but they will all leave you better riders and I am so glad I cut my teeth on the Canal MTB trail, Turkey, Wine, Horn Creek, Hickory Knob, etc ,  |
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Post by seenvic on Nov 8, 2011 10:36:09 GMT -5
Modoc is a great place to gain some skills. (If you get tired of riding over that log you set up in your backyard.)
And it is beautiful out there.
I'd agree with both mud.....and AA's above posts.
I'll be back out there this Sunday. Modoc - Old Connector - Turkey - Wine. Going to try to do it both directions this time. I haven't completed the full route both ways in a long time....I can't remember the last time.
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Post by oddcouple on Nov 8, 2011 20:35:52 GMT -5
Modoc is a great place to gain some skills. (If you get tired of riding over that log you set up in your backyard.) And it is beautiful out there. I'd agree with both mud.....and AA's above posts. I'll be back out there this Sunday. Modoc - Old Connector - Turkey - Wine. Going to try to do it both directions this time. I haven't completed the full route both ways in a long time....I can't remember the last time. Tired of riding the log in my backyard,NEVER.I am working on the most awesome trail in the CSRA.I will have two logs,a rock garden and I think I can get a switchback built too.I will never have to leave my yard. |
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Post by wooglin on Nov 10, 2011 20:02:03 GMT -5
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Post by mhanna on Nov 10, 2011 21:29:35 GMT -5
Yep. That'd be it. Awesome right now.
MH
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