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Looking forward to a big year of rides, races, and supporting cycling initiatives in Maryland. Huge thanks to our sponsors: Race Pace Bicycles, Trek Bicycles, Bontrager, Frisco Taphouse and Brewery, Betty Lou's, The Pediatrics Center and MORE.
More trail fewer train tracks to link together the good stuff in Patapsco. Dan, Jon, Tony, and Pat got to watch Ed work his magic.
To celebrate Black Friday, avoid shopping, and know we’d be supporting our favorite bike shop after Massanutten ate up some parts, we rode up Signal, down Bear Wallow, crossed the valley, up Sherman, north on the Massanutten Trail and then down Shawl.
Pleasure to have Jed and Sue along for the ride.
Rolled a sweet loop on the north side of Patapsco this AM with Patrick Miller. #SpaceJump #DanielsLoop #RidingBikesInTheWoods
Gettin’ Comfortable on The Worst Ride Ever
Tony and I hit the woods of Patapsco yesterday morning for some party pace trail riding. It wasn’t too early which is probably best considering the prior night’s late into the evening Team Meeting. Big things are in the works!
Tony managed to sample the soil a few more times than he had planned, causing him to remark, “This is the worst ride ever…but I do enjoy the company.” Aww shucks, thanks Tony.
After a few hours of the worst ride ever we went our separate ways. I told Tony I would be heading down to old town Ellicott City for some coffee and pastries before hitting up a few more trails. Tony noted that’s very ‘Colorado’ of me. Apparently it’s not very Maryland to get “comfortable” and then head back out into the cold and grey nastiness. Well, call me crazy, but after a latte and solid 500 calories of coffee cake, what once was a grey nasty day sure felt pretty “comfortable.” Cheers.
Terror of Teaberry 2012…
It’s races like this that make me forget about racing others and think more about surviving the course. The usual nerves about racing don’t make an appearance at Michaux. There is no point in worrying about anyone else but yourself, Michaux will take care of the rest. Need to pass someone? Sure, go right ahead, no blocking here, no waiting. Just you versus the trail.
I highly suggest everyone who mountain bikes to participate in at least one Michaux race. Then you will understand what I am talking about.
The typical fuss about where you are on the start line, looking all fresh in spandex, having a shiny bikes and nice tires wrapping a set of blinged out wheels usually look real intimidating. The thing is, none of that is going to get you to the finish line in one piece at Michaux.
So what makes a finisher a finisher?
Luck.
I don’t care who you are and how good of a rider you are, pro, whatever, chances are you won’t bat 300 at Michaux. Sure if you race at Michaux once in a while you may have luck on your side and finish without incident but soon enough you will find yourself in one of many scenarios turn into an episode of Macgyver. Thinking to yourself that “a paperclip can be a wondrous thing. More times than I can remember, one of these has gotten me out of a tight spot”. Except this time a paper clip isn’t going to fix that broken rear derailleur or that 6” laceration on your shin. If you are inventive enough like TJ Platt, you’d know that shoving a stick into your punctured tire will get you home.
As luck would have it, Chad and I had a solid race and one, two-ed the SS class.
Next year I am going to try to finish all 3…if I’m lucky.
