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Post by Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill) on Jan 30, 2009 19:12:46 GMT -5
Brianw- that was me late Friday on BW, although I must confess I do not recall what I was wearing (guess that's what happens when you turn 40) but I was on it 4-5 PM going CCW.
After two people walking out in front of my car today, when I have a few extra $$$, I have decided to make some "I'm with stupid" T-shirts (some with arrows pointing up) to give out to worthy individuals. May also print some "I'd rather be destroying FATS" rain-resistant sheets to put on FATS poacher windshields.
I sure am in favor of the "put a chain across the parking lot" option. I have seen that done at other parks.
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Post by Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill) on Jan 29, 2009 6:20:39 GMT -5
It is really sad to see people continue to ride FATS when there are a dozen signs saying it is closed and tape across the trail. I was up there for 6 days (275 miles one way trip) and only got one FATS ride in and then only 2 days on other trails due to rain most of it not in the forecast. Yesterday just before I left there were two cars in the parking lot - one a Colorado tag and another from Georgia. And Vic and I chased several away on Saturday. I think the CSRA should print "I'd Rather Be Destroying FATS" non-removable bumper stickers and put them on any car in the parking lot when it is closed... While at it, print some "I'm With Stupid" shirts. I was on Great Wall trying to finish my last loop before dark (since I knew rain was coming) at the tight turns at the pine trees heading CW when I encountered a man with no helmet heading CCW with a lady, who I begged to turn around advising her that they had 5-6 miles before they would be able to get out and that if they turned around they would struggle to get out before dark. Don't know if/when they ever turned around (I walked the last half mile out due to lack of light) but their cars were gone Saturday morning.... Some trails in Florida such as Ft. Clinch State Park the park service actually enforces a "must wear helmet" policy...
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Post by Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill) on Jan 17, 2009 4:49:53 GMT -5
Hey, I see y'all mentioned Sir Bikesalot. Does anyone know how to contact him? I led their group out to Tower and Big Rock on the day they filmed at FATS the Friday after Thanksgiving but he did not post any of the video that included me. He told me to contact him somehow through the website (which I have since forgotten) but do not see any way to contact him on the website. Link below for FATS footage in case you have not seen it. Thx for any help. Bill from Jacksonville www.sirbikesalot.com/entry.php?fid=230
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Post by Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill) on Jan 15, 2009 20:23:17 GMT -5
You may want to check out Hickory Knob State Resort Park just west of McCormick - beautiful place but 30 minutes north of FATS. They have hotel rooms available now off season for $47.25 a night and have a wonderful restaurant right there that serves 3 delicious meals a day very reasonably. There are even several nice mountain bike trails right there in the park. And you are staying on Lake Strom Thurmond. If you go to the restaurant and see Sarah the server, please be nice to her but tell her Bill from Jacksonville, Florida sent you; she will hook you up with great SC cooking (I am getting hungry just thinking of the bacon, eggs and grits even though I just ate a delicious dinner!).
There you are also about 30 minutes from the Long Cane trail, whose Fell Camp to Big Rock portion of trail was built by the same people who built FATS and is, in my opinion, arguably the best piece of single track I have ever ridden. Only Razorback in Reddick, Florida, FATS and Tsali come close in my book considering my personal tastes.
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Post by Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill) on Jan 3, 2009 10:43:16 GMT -5
Unless you see that I have my light on the bike!....... ;D
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Post by Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill) on Jan 3, 2009 7:08:18 GMT -5
What I did that really prepped me for any riding but primarily was to get in the best shape of my life prior to surgery last month was to ride road 30 miles a day M-F before work (4:50 AM to 6:30 AM) and 50 miles road on Sunday before church (5:30 AM to 8:30) AM and then add all the mountain biking I could on Saturdays and any other evening. By November, I could ride as long as I wanted any day of the week and never get tired and I am 40 years old.
This riding schedule did not disrupt work since I do not have to be there until 7:30 AM and did not disrupt family (I have a wife and 3 kids ages 11, 13 and 15) because not one of them was awake during my road rides. But I know everyone is not fortunate like me to have 25 miles of lighted 4' wide bike lanes (with another 25 miles currently under construction) available almost immediately outside their driveway to do this.....but anyway that is what I did. The other amazing thing about this is that all the doctors and nurses noted that when I came out of surgery my color looked the same as before the surgery as if nothing at all had just happened.
Unfortunately, I have not been on the bike since 12/19 at FATS but the doctor cleared me yesterday for road riding starting 1/5 but no mountain biking until 4 weeks after surgery (1/20/09) - an amazing recovery considering the type of surgery I had.
So my advice, get on the road bike as much as possible for training and add as much off-road as you can but if I were you I would stay off the roads up there (too dangerous given one cyclist killed on SC roads every 17.4 days) and stick to the rail trails or greenways.
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Post by Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill) on Jan 3, 2009 6:50:22 GMT -5
I was being very planner'ish and uncharacteristically engineer'ish, by rounding to the nearest 5 or so miles rather than going to the 27th decimal place as any good engineer would do (esp those from GA Tech like me - BCE '90) but since I practice in both transportation planning and traffic engineering as well as multi-use trail planning and design, I should be at liberty to round and I hope y'all won't crucify me for it....I basically included all known trails in said counties but please note some of the distances were taken from published information since I have not ridden all of them yet - not that I have not tried but unfortunately I was stopped by bad weather. Columbia included 20 mi for Bartram system and Mistletoe each and 10 for Keg Creek (yes I know it is just over 9 miles as I did ride that one). I also rode Bartram, enjoying the walk out of the extension after having a flat on my brand new 29er. So I am sure you have more accurate distances.
I just like to use the 175 miles number (nice round number multiple of 25) - which I use a lot when people ask me why in the world I love to go to McCormick, SC so much......
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Post by Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill) on Dec 24, 2008 19:45:10 GMT -5
When I was last out there last Friday, Brown Wave, Deep Step and upper Skinny were OK. Skipped lower Skinny when several out there said it was bad. Had I known how bad Great Wall was, I would not have ridden it. I also looked like Bill Victor when I came out.
To put my 2 cents in, I would be a fan of closing individual trails when they should not be ridden. The conditions made the trails not near as fun to ride as they were when I was up there at Thanksgiving. But still it was a nice "last ride" since I am now off the bike for several weeks after surgery yesterday that went very well.
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Post by Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill) on Dec 18, 2008 19:18:17 GMT -5
Thanks for the input guys - exactly what I needed - now decisions, decisions - take the 5 mph gas mileage penalty and load the 29er on the rack or just bring the Rush inside....which trail to ride....
Then there is the Sunday morning weather forecast - 31 degrees in Lexington - unacceptable conditions for a Florida boy who considers 65 the minium acceptable temperature......
Definitely will ride FATS Friday and play it by ear for Sunday AM
Michael - I totally understand - family is #1 with me too - I wish I could interest more of them in cycling...will try to hook up with you another time.
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Post by Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill) on Dec 18, 2008 19:11:31 GMT -5
When my wife figured out how good and cheap the food was at HKSP lodge, she stopped cooking! I was afraid to look at the status of the Visa card for a couple of weeks...
Bill, you are correct - $1200 is a smokin' deal for 5 people for a weak of food, gas and campsite at HKSP, especially considering the quality of the food and hospitality - I wish you could have been with me on my trip to South Florida last week to experience the rudeness as a comparison. I swear HKSP is hiding my deceased grandmother in the kitchen doing the cooking (she was a great cook having learned on the family farm from my great-grandmother in Jasper County 120 miles down and on the Savannah River).
I'm sure everyone in CSRA knows McCormick County, SC is not the most economically prosperous county in SC .... they need to market to mtn bikers ..... my count:
50 miles of trails in Columbia County, GA 55 miles of trails in McCormick County 40 miles of trails in Edgefield County 30 miles of trials in Abbeville County
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Post by Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill) on Dec 18, 2008 12:10:21 GMT -5
My last bike ride prior to being out for orthognathic surgery next Tuesday will thankfully occur at FATS this Friday afternoon and hopefully Long Cane Sunday morning since I will be in SC for a meeting in our Beaufort office Friday morning staying at my oldest brother's house in Lexington and then to youngest brother's graduation from Wintrop Univ. Saturday and Commissioning into the Air Force in Charlotte the same day. Could anyone opine on the following trails as to whether I should skip FATS and/or Long Cane for them:
1. Leroy Springs/Anne Springs Close Greenway in Fort Mill, SC 2. K3 in Sumter County, SC 3. Lynch's Woods in Newberry, SC 4. Harbison State Forest in Columbia
One issue I have is that I have never ridden 1-4 above and need to be careful since I can't affort a hard fall that could jeopardize my surgery next Tuesday.
Finally, Michael D., I have the overhauled Cannondale 29er size XL (has every bell and whistle except tubeless tires-Drew will have to build me a set, which has timing/funding issues especially since I am presently out $1,200 for my 15-year old's brand new Gibson Les Paul Studio guitar Christmas present) that I am bringing with me so if you would like to test-ride it, meet me at FATS Friday afternoon.
Thanks in advance for any opinions/help.
Bill from Jacksonville
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Post by Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill) on Dec 18, 2008 11:55:22 GMT -5
In case anyone is curious of the economic impact FATS and the other trails within a 30 mile radius of McCormick (175 linear miles by my count) have on the local economy just consider that my family and I (me, wife and three kids ages 10, 13 and 15) spent $1,200 in McCormick County and Sportsman's Corner (Edgefield County) on our trip staying at Hickory Knob State Park from 11/20/2008 to 11/29/2008 and would likely have spent more had we not left a day early due to the rain. Every one of us had one of the best vacations we have ever had.
Many around the country especially in Florida are waking up to the economic benefits of road cycliing and mountain biking. The above certainly should help in the CSRA area.
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Post by Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill) on Dec 8, 2008 12:30:00 GMT -5
Wish I could have made it - missed Turkey Creek at Thanksgiving due to the monsoon that sent me home to Jax early. Instead I was in South Florida this past weekend riding after my trip to our Vero Beach and Ft. Lauderdale offices last week - count your blessings as anything you have in CSRA beats anything presently in South Florida, although I must report the weather for my drive to Key West yesterday was 79 degrees and sunny.
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Winter
Dec 2, 2008 12:25:39 GMT -5
Post by Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill) on Dec 2, 2008 12:25:39 GMT -5
After recovering from my surgery 12/23, I'll come up and help for a day if someone will give me a place to stay. I have shovels.... Might even convince one of my boys (ages 13 and 15 - they need service project hours for school and are big and strong - the 15-year old is taller than my 6'-2") to come help, although last week I could not get the 15-year old out of bed to ride FATS even being enticed by AUCE breakfast bar at HKSP and/or fresh BBQ at Sportsman's.....
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Post by Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill) on Dec 2, 2008 12:18:32 GMT -5
I can't believe the number of people on Long Cane and FATS last week not wearing Orange....especially with the number of guns going off nearby.....
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Post by Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill) on Dec 2, 2008 12:15:08 GMT -5
Paul, Thanks for the SORBA membership info. Will let you know if I do not hear from them in the next week or two. Bill from Jacksonville
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Post by Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill) on Dec 2, 2008 12:10:54 GMT -5
I have a couple of pairs of Crank Brothers Egg Beaters C pedals I have almost worn out that you can have for free (one pair may need some TLC). Too bad you did not post this last week or I could have given them to you while I was up there. If you are interested, let me know. I may be back the weekend of Dec. 20th. All you would have to do is buy the cleats, which are about $20. I only use Crank Brothers pedals (Egg Beaters mountain or Candy for my road bike and will soon be testing a pair of Acids I bought on E-bay) and love them. Wouldn't use anything else.
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Post by Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill) on Nov 30, 2008 21:51:30 GMT -5
At the FATS grand opening 9/13/2008, I signed up to join IMBA/SORBA but my check has not been deposited and I have not heard anything regarding my membership. Could anyone advise on what happened? Not only am I anxious to make sure I am an IMBA/SORBA member in good standing but it is all the more important with my new professional sortie into multi-use trail planning and design here in Florida and soon into SC. Our company, Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. just won a rail-to-trail feasibility planning study for the 26-mile abandoned rail line from Yemasee to Port Royal, SC that I used to walk on and go crabbing on one of the trestles as a kid growing up in Beaufort (had a close call with a train once) and now have the opportunity to work on. KHA is doing paved and/or off-road trail planning and/or design work that I know of at least in FL, SC, NC, NV, TX, CA and VA. Pretty cool stuff! Florida Office of Greenways and Trails just won the first ever given national award as "Best Trails State in America" presented by American Trails 11/17/2008 in Little Rock, Arkansas. See our website at www.FloridaGreenwaysAndTrails.com.
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Post by Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill) on Nov 30, 2008 20:47:36 GMT -5
Yep, despite the bad weather I managed 218 miles in the 7 days I was there. One morning it was 26 degrees - way below my minimum acceptable 65 degrees, although I must admit I was getting more used to it. I am now starting work on a plan to move to McCormick County at least half the year within the next 2 years (splitting time between SC and Jacksonville, FL).
Will give you a shout - within the next three weeks I should have the 29er equipped with hydraulic brakes and tubeless wheels/tires - it will be a sweet ride. I don't have your phone number - please send me a message or call or I'll just post. Bill
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Post by Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill) on Nov 30, 2008 20:40:16 GMT -5
From now on I am going to bring a stack of spare maps with me. Every time I am there people are asking me about the new trails. Friday I did 57 miles - it was a blast except I rode Tower and Big Rock CW for the first time - nearly kicked my behind! I always forget how much work they are as I originally planned to do them both in each direction but nixed that after the first time and did another loop of Deep Step and Great Wall instead.
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