Sometimes you Eat the Trail>>>

Sometimes the Trail eats you....

That's exactly what happened to me last night when I went to the Bikeworks Thursday snowhill night ride.

Previous ride, I parked at Barr st. Ended up doing a face plant into the creek, it was a couple of weeks before the Cohutta.

This time, War Machine and I made our way to the Jones east trail head. I wanted to scout a trail that I want to use for the 3rd stage of the SS race that I am going to do, and I wanted to get the extra work out and miles. The trail has some very technical sections and with the big gear I'm pushing on the machine, I was puffy buttin most of the trail. On top of that, I was supposed to meet the guys by eight o five and I didn't want to keep them waiting.
Point is, I was riding hard.

Got to the lot, to see Jason's Brand spankin new Specialized Stumpjumper 29er. I'm not big on specialized bikes, but this thing was BADAZZ. On top of that this was going to be his first exploration into a geared 29, the only 29 he had ridden previously was his single speed Karate monkey on which he killz. Trevor was there as well and he had his geared bike, how funny, I bring the single, they bring the gears, usually its the other way around.

Most of the time, this is a nice easy paced ride, but today, Jason wanted to test his gears and I wanted to test my gear, so it was on. Early; barreling down the fire trail; Jason is putting down the big ring attack, I am hanging on, spinning my legs off and decide to just go ahead and make a pass. Unbeknownst to him, I was silently sneaking on his right and he drifted right and almost took me out, any other time and you would of thought it was intentional, but the SS is so quiet he never even noticed my counter attack. Well, once he noticed that I was right on his heel and not off the back, he really put the hammer down. Man, I tried to hang on, but backed off and counted to ten, once I got to ten, then I started spinning a steady effort hoping to reel him back in.

Eventually we ended up back together, and from then it was each one of us trying to take advantage of the front. And trying to shake the other, it was good times, but right around my mile 9 which was there mile 4, I almost ate it in a corner and manage to step out of it and bail. Ok, then, my front light falls off, not once but twice. Mental note, I need to put my Stella on the head and my miniNewt on the bars, for some reason the Stella mount doesn't work on rough terrain. Especially on this night, I couldn't see shit, the light would sometimes end up shining right on my face, and I'm here trying to chase and the light is simultaneously blinding and searing my retinas.

In the middle of the back section, going thru the deep rooty whoops, I miscalculate and end up trying to ride up the Root wall instead of the nice smooth well worn in spot. I end up, compacting like if I had ridden straight into a wall. Luckily, I went with the impact, and shifted my weight to the left and crashed as smooth as I could into a rooty cradle. I laid there for a minute then picked myself back up. My wheel looked a little funny, but it was still rideable so ride I did.

After a quarter mile, we ended up at a spot, where I knew I could ride about a mile of fire road then do two miles of singletrack or so to end up back at the lot. Or, I could continue trying to chase Jason, truth be told, I was smoked and decided to cut out about 6 miles and ride 3 straight back in the woods instead of the road.

As I pedaled thru the woods, I was feeling the effects of my efforts. I really had not ate too many calories all day and the calories I ate before the ride were plenty but I'm now sure it didn't cover the calorie deficit I had acquired from the day. I felt run down and tired but kept a modest pace back to the car.

Once at the car I packed up, made it home, ate and fell out, woke up, feeling tired and Hungry. Followed that up with a 14 hour work day, O how yummy life can be.

enjoy,
Laters,
LOS

Addendum:
17+ miles is what I rode that night. Not bad for a Thursday Night off road ride.
Jewel of the Night, I came across a PACK of Wild Boars like 8 to 10, everywhere Boars, it was a lil intense. But charming regardless.

SundaY:Nayl's TraiLs

Lately, I have just continued to have a blasts while riding the bike. Just great rides. All my rides lately I have been doing with my wife. She is really getting into riding and she does so good and rides so hard for a beginner that its simply amazing. On this day we did 18+ miles at Nayl's trails over near the Land Bridge Trailhead. 18 miles to me is a nice little warm up ride, but if I think back to my beginner days I know for a fact I could not have ridden 18 miles without stopping for like ten minutes and resting. Self portrait. We start on the Wagon trail from the land bridge trail head, hit the 49Th st trails and then we hit Nayl's and do the ten mile loop taking the wagon trail back after we are done. At one point the wagon trail crosses over 75, right before the climb up the land bridge over 75 there is a nice long climb on the wagon trail. This is a shot of me waiting at the top. And then a shot of Paloma single speed slaughtering the climb. Now that I am a lean mean fighting machine, I can ride 3 times longer in the puffy butt position then I used to be able too. Love it!!
Her endurance is already at an excellent level for a beginner. Her speed, is good, but can get better. But, when it comes to technical terrain, she is still very apprehensive, understandably so, she has maybe 3 trail rides or so under her belt. She still made the trail and hiked a biked the sections she was intimidated by. I thought Nayl's was tame, but my idea of tame is skewed by years of technical trail riding. She will get the skills though, she has me as her coach.


Here is a shot of her finishing the trail. For the everyday MTBeer, no big deal, for her, a great feat.

On the 49Th st blue trail, there is a section of big whoopty doos that leads to a Lil downhill and a log bump at the end. Here is me doing the very end section of it on the war machine. I think all I'm going to ride in trails for the next couple of months is the war machine. I am considering showing up to some of the FSC single speed races and seeing what I got against the pro's who race single speed XC.

Laters,


LOS

TodaY!: ReVengE RidE>

One afternoon, My lady and I did what I would label as the middle section of the NK ride. Well, she made it about 25 miles into the 28 mile ride before she surrendered and requested to be picked up. It was a hell of a ride for an experienced rider and she surprised me with how long she lasted, she is lucky, she is a natural.
But.
Since she didn't finish it, It had become what I call a "REVENGE RIDE". A Revenge ride is a ride that you attempted, got your ass kicked and now your back to get REVENGE. I had it happen at the ORAAM when I got my ass kicked and I returned the next year and kicked it in the ass, etc. Well today, with two single speeds we went out to get REVENGE!!!!
Candid shot of my lady. I was outside, she was inside and I snuck a pic without her knowledge. She is an amazing cyclist. Her father was a champion road cyclist from way back; she some how has his skills genetically, its an amazing thing to observe.
The dirty drop into the pits from the NK ride. Its cool, we park our car at the Gemini springs lot and we start mountain biking after a half mile of road riding. It has been raining for the past couple of days so conditions were the best I have seen them in months. It was NICE.



Ladies and Gentlemen, I present you Lake Konomac. We went to a vista spot and ate some chocolate covered cashews and enjoyed the view. I honestly thought we were going to get rained on. The entire ride we were riding with either distant thunder or distant lightning, it was actually a fantastic sound track. It was very poetic out there today.



Someone took my camera and took this shot. Take notice, I have a huge head on my shoulders.
Dutchman trail from the NK ride.


Bridge rails section from the NK ride.

My wife on a bike is probably 5 feet 10 inches tall, compare that to the bridge, pretty tall. Ya the NK ride has some cool sights.


After riding the grueling rail road section we got onto the bike path and noticed it has now become official and it is no longer illegal to sneak rides on it. I have a great access point and everything is working out real well. Even better when we got to the end we discovered some sweet BUFF single track. We explored for a little bit but bailed cause we were running out of sunlight. I had brought my lights, but in retrospect I should have brought both, I have enough equipment to do it, I should do it for safety's sake. Heck, once we finished exploring the single track we had officially completed close to 18 miles and still had another12 to go before we were back at the car.
We rode on the road Stella on front of the train and my kick ass white LED blinky light on her bike, and stopped into Angelina's for dinner. We had some great food and even better conversation and rolled out. By the time we finished riding, it was eleven PM.
The REVENGE RIDE is done.
Way to go Baby, You are a beautiful and delicate MONSTER!

Laters,
LOS

The New ride: War MachinE!

REfLections: The NK100.

I just realized that I didn't take a minute to say what I thought about the ride.

Funny.

Regardless.

It was my first time sharing and showing my adventurous pursuits. My first time throwing a "RIDE" so to speak.
Well, I give myself a solid C+.
Of course I'm going to be critical. The price, was perfect, absolutely free. What was promised was definitely delivered. After all it did come together at 50 plus miles, heck, I have a legitimate 50. I can "OPEN" it up next time. On top of that, I already know what I can add to make it even LONGER. 60 plus mostly off road.
The conditions unfortunately were as bad as I have ever seen them. I tried to speed the date of the ride since it is so easily influenced by weather. But unfortunately I think in that regards I did the ride 4 weeks too late.
Usually, the loop is Solid, and rideable. And I still managed to ride 99% I didn't walk much that day. I TRAIN in ridiculous conditions at time, so I know the lines, I know when to stand, I know every little grass patch, so if you followed my line, we were working as if we were climbing but only riding the slightest incline or flat terrain. The stuff we rode, is actually pretty amazing when you consider that its a loop and it has a little bit of everything.
There were times, where we were near populated areas, only a few miles from homes, but you experienced that feeling of remoteness. I think that is one of the sole desires of endurance riding, is to feel that Remoteness, to feel that you VS. the world feeling. Well, you felt that on the tracks, it felt like we were in the middle of now where.
That's why I owe a huge thanks and big recognition to all the riders that made the first ride. I look forward to even more adventures that I can share.
As we speak I am cooking up some long mostly off road rides in the state. I am not working alone, so don't be concerned, and I am always looking for more info, so if you think you know something, please share.

Bottom line, I will do this ride again at the perfect time for the terrain to be in near perfect conditions and mark it 100%. LOL.

The cue sheet, I give myself an A +, it was ridiculously detailed and if you knew the start point you could totally do the ride alone anytime.

Finally, Because of the success and experience I had; I am going to go ahead and throw down a single speed race. Its something that needs to be done. Its something that this part of the nation needs. It will be completely Underground and at your own risk. It will borrow ideas, I'm not trying to reinvent the wheel, I'm just trying to put existing ideas and existing methods, and tweaking them and adding a Lil Beer and a lil adventure.

Stay posted.

Laters,

LOS

Team bike works Orlando

Wins at TSALI once again. For the Third time in four years we have brought the Team racing trophy back to Florida.
Congratulations to all my teamies and everyone who rode up there on your spectacular performances.

ROCK ON!!!

PiXaDumP!

Thursday evening, a great day to take the family out for a ride, hit the local pizza spot then ride back in the dark. There are my two boys off the front!

My eldest son. Had to convince him to come ride, he didnt want to wear shorts or any riding gear, heck I didnt care, I was just happy he came with!

Me and my son, rolling shot!

Now a back shot, killer 5 year old and my lovely wife!

Here he is passing me.

When my girl stands up and pedals she puffs out her butt. From now on I will call standing up and pedaling, "Puffy Butt".

My boys carving up the urban singletrack. We invited the neighbor kid to join the fun.

O ya, this kid is the ILLEST!

Ok these Kids are the ILLEST!!! My family knows how to have a good time, its obvious.

The previous sunday for mother's day, I took my 2006 winning season Fetish cycles bike and converted it to single speed for my lady. She wanted it single, and I had to oblige. Here is a shot of her carving up the single track at wekiwa springs state park in apopka. I had a lot of fun on this trail, we plan on going back.

Big buck camp, accessible by bike or canoe.

LOL, I dont even recognize myself in this photo. I am skinny. LOL.

Me on the new frame replaced by Raleigh for the cracked headtube. The new bike as named by my wife, the WAR MACHINE!!

Magii coming out riding and enjoying, no helmet, he's too cool for that stuff. If anyone should be wearing a helmet, its this guy!!!

Nature. I dugg all the different habitats we rode through. My theory is, if you can hike it, you can bike it.

Now this shot dont look like much, but in this particular area, the terrain was rolling. I was on top of one rolling hill peak and I took a picture across of my girl and Magii riding off. Now magii is climbing to the top of the other rolling hill, my girl was at the top.

Here is the cropped up shot, can you see magii, can you see my wife. Pretty cool, that they were in the other shot, but it was such a vast expanse that you couldnt even see them.

Nice trail right, there are jewels all over the place.

More shots of the trail.

Eventually we had to roll out after 12 miles. While on the road taking a shortcut back, the park ranger pulled up next to us while we were rolling to ask us what was up. For a split second I felt like I was in the tour de france. Here is us flying downhill.

back to front.

I love this shot. Her dress, the colors of the store, it looks so Tuscanny Italy.

Me and my sons all dressed up, I am a very honored and proud father. Its a burden of love.

Je-Lou-sey!

I'm so, Jealous.

For the past several years, Team bike works Orlando has dominated the 12 hours of Tsali, till 2007 when we did not three peat as expected.

This year, The team is back to fighting the good fight and I am confident that one of our teams will win today.

I'm so jealous. Although, Tsali is a very touristy and easy trail to ride. It still offers some stress free riding and some great views and some good back road dirt road and trail riding in the area.

I wish I was up there, but circumstances are what they are, and here I am.

I was planning on winning the 12 hour sport category, Next year, I WILL for sure.

Cant wait to hear what happens.

O well, I'm a go out and ride, and send my positive vibes my teams way.

Laters,

LOS

Hundred mile trail.

In florida. Feedback anyone?

Cause and Effect: NK 100*

Words yet to come.

Here is the Edge Data. How pretty, I love loops!Check the elevation profile, never climbed too high, but there sure were lots of little ups and downs.

Sandpine and Trebor from the MTBflorida forum, thanks for coming and believing in my crazy ride.

Up close Trebor, aka Rob.

Brian, my good friend and manager of Orlando Bikeworks West. Also, the only man I let work on my bike.

The entire group. I invited alot more then this, but only like 9 responded either way. Its OK.

My teamies, Trevor on the far side and Jason on the front side.

El Sandpine, dude is a lot thinner then he looks in pics.

Its not what you think, OK maybe it is, Making a train on the urban singletrack (sidewalk) towards the first dirt section.

Brian, in the train.

In the first dirt section, getting our hammer on. We rode hard and fast most of the day.

We came around the corner on the first stretch of dirt roads and saw this Peacock out with his feathers in a full on fan, we came right around the corner and Rob almost could of crashed into him. This was the best pic I could fire off.

Finishing the first dirt, waiting for stragglers, it was shortly before this that the riders learned what simulated climbing was aka, soft sand slogging.

More waiting.

Into the second dirt section we stopped to wait and this guy just walked up to the fence.

Jason doing some heavy petting.

Then it was my turn.

Jason showing off how to get something out of your camelback as you ride at the same time, impressive insn't it!

At the first "sag" stop, we ate a little, refilled on water, others drank some soda.

Into what some people called their favorite section, the Rail Road Track service road. The pictures don't do it justice. Its a lot harder then it looks. There that small dot, is Sandpine fixing his flat.

Up close shot, I hate getting flats, hey Sandpine, next time put two and a half scoops of stans in your tire.

There is Brian, making his way to the downhill turn off the rail road service road. Dude is relatively new to long rides. And he still came out and did close to 40 miles on his single speed.

There you go, how nice, it goes forever, its actually fun, especially at night, can anybody hear the rocky theme music, I do, every time I ride this.

Off the tracks into Blue springs, waiting for everyone to consolidate again.

This is the little downhill off the track, Sandpine, chose the careful way down, if you ask me its more dangerous to walk it then to ride it.