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Post by dsquaredmsquared on Oct 28, 2012 14:06:58 GMT -5
Outstanding weather today for a little ride around FATS. If you see JP3, congratulate him for completing his first 6 loop ride of FATS, then ask him about the scrapes, cuts, bruises, stings, rashes, and any other ailments that he acquired today. Good job Mr. JP3!
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Post by beckyl on Oct 28, 2012 15:37:16 GMT -5
Great job JP3!! Very impressive! I hope you didn't get hurt too badly but I suppose someone has to make a sacrifice to the trail gods. ;o)
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Post by dgaddis1 on Oct 30, 2012 8:01:15 GMT -5
Great job JP3!! Very impressive! +1 - nice work John! You keep getting faster and fitter man! All six at FATS is a good ride. What's the fastest anyone's done it? I've done it a handful of times and it always takes me right around 4hrs including the pit stop. Never really tried to 'race' it though.
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Post by seenvic on Oct 30, 2012 12:01:13 GMT -5
That is awesome.
I saw John and Julie the very time they ever rode at FATS. I ran into them on Deep Step Rd, where Deep Step crosses on the way to Big Rock.
They were pooped. And borderline scared, I think. I knew I was talking to two people who had bit off more than they could chew....that day. I told them the easiest thing for them to do now is to pedal up Deep Step Rd back to the car and they did. I thought I'd never see either of them again.
And I don't think I did until the next work party. And there they were.
John and Julie have become key cogs in the SORBA CSRA machine. And damn fine riders as well.
I doubt I could spin around all 6 loops at FATS right now without a seriously slow pace and a lot of determination. I say FATS is easy, and it is. But it is still almost 40 miles to ride, and that is rarely easy.
Congrats to John Pilcher. And thanks for all you do.
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Post by jp3 on Oct 30, 2012 15:27:02 GMT -5
Thanks everybody for the kind words. And that's a true store from Seenvic, Julie and I were whipped puppies that day. We had bit off a lot more than we could chew. I'm glad we didn't give up mountain biking that day. It keeps me in pretty good shape and I gained many new friends that I have enjoyed riding many miles with.
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Post by kconner on Nov 1, 2012 19:44:20 GMT -5
Rode Skinny and Brown Wave today; 5 trees down between the two trails. 3 on Brown Wave (can't remember locations), 2 on Skinny. Only one should require a chainsaw, and it's located on Upper Skinny and if I remember right, it should be easily accessible from Crafton Cemetery. All the other trees are small and can be easily removed with a hand saw. I plan on trying to get out sometime next week and remove what I can with a hand saw unless someone beats me to it.
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Post by will on Nov 2, 2012 8:58:41 GMT -5
We cleared 4 of the small logs last night.
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Post by kconner on Nov 2, 2012 13:06:28 GMT -5
We cleared 4 of the small logs last night. Rode it again today to find that all the logs on Skinny & Brown Wave had been cleared, including the big one on upper Skinny with the walk around. Thanks, we had a great ride!
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Post by Angela on Nov 5, 2012 7:34:39 GMT -5
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Post by dgaddis1 on Nov 10, 2012 11:52:32 GMT -5
Fats is rocking right now.
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Post by brianW on Nov 10, 2012 17:22:43 GMT -5
The early morning cold makes it even better. Great pic Dustin.
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Post by Angela on Nov 11, 2012 9:38:49 GMT -5
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Post by Angela on Nov 12, 2012 16:51:48 GMT -5
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Post by Angela on Nov 15, 2012 6:44:23 GMT -5
Heavy rain lasting over 5 hours (so much for the predicated 30% chance of rain just leaving the area. We have been very dry for weeks now so it should dry off fairly quickly but again cooler temps and slower growing season might slow that down. Proceed cautiously - it will certainly help the trail maintenance this weekend but it might be Saturday morning before the trails are dry enough to ride!
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Post by Angela on Nov 16, 2012 8:00:38 GMT -5
Will have work crews in the woods on Saturday from between 9am through about 1pm and then again on Sunday from 1pm until about 5pm. On Saturday more than likely the crew will be on the top of Skinny and on Great Wall (there will be nearly 20 volunteers in the woods) and on Sunday probably Lower Skinny (with about 10 volunteers). We will have the SORBAcsra tent set up to facilitate the work party but we will also have FATS decals and membership material as well. If you have been meaning to join please stop by and see us or if you have been unable to help at one of the work parties you can still help support the effort by buying a FATS decal - we use the money to help support trail maintenance! Or just stop by to say hi!
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Post by Angela on Nov 18, 2012 9:51:42 GMT -5
Progress! Brown Wave was completed earlier in the week by Steve, Rich and Steve....work crews finished upper Skinny and Great Wall yesterday. We'll have a crew out today between 1pm and about 5pm working on lower Skinny. Met lots of people in the parking lot yesterday...received donations for 6 more FATS stickers, possibly picked up 2 new members, and picked up another 4 volunteers for today's work party! One of the best things that happened yesterday was some of the Greenwood guys brought long time SORBAcsra member and friend Milo (home for the holidays from Colorado) down for a spin on FATS - he's been out of the area now for many years but has remained a member.....priceless! If you are out there this afternoon, stop by our tent!
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Post by Angela on Nov 18, 2012 14:00:40 GMT -5
We had a great turn out of volunteers again today - just disbursed twenty volunteers out onto lower Skinny .....shorter mileage so anticipating a shorter work day! Have representation from the local trail running and hiking community as well!
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Post by Angela on Dec 9, 2012 20:53:14 GMT -5
Been traveling so this weekend was the first weekend we've had to get out and check out the handiwork from the work party. Great drain/dip cleaning by the volunteers! I am sure it will pay off over the coming winter. Usually we are all moving at a quick enough rate of speed at FATS to miss some of the cool things along the trail but I noticed this fungi yesterday on upper Skinny and brought my camera today. There are quite a few places out at FATS that has some of this same fungi!
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Post by wooglin on Dec 10, 2012 13:34:10 GMT -5
Played hooky and rode FATS with some other folks from Cola on Friday. Definitely noticed the drain-work.
On a less positive note, sitting at the junction of Skinny and Great Wall I watched two guys coming from the direction of the parking lot lock up the back wheel and skid it around every sharp turn they came to, even though they weren't going fast and weren't scrubbing speed. So its probably worth saying that skidding is poor form. It takes vegetation off trails, creates channels and ruts, which in turn increase the effects of erosion. Sometimes it is unavoidable, but it is not something you should do on purpose.
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Post by kconner on Dec 10, 2012 16:37:22 GMT -5
I went for a ride the other day and also noticed skid marks in several spots, most notably in turns. I can't help but wonder if these are caused by people wanting to sling some dirt around...kind of like what you see in a lot of these awesome MTB videos on YouTube and such. Regardless, hopefully a remedy is found that can solve this problem.
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