Thunder!

My MTB skills need work.  I know it's something I should concentrate on yet I'd rather do intervals.  That is until I have a compassionate crew to ride with.  A crew willing to wait while I hesitate on the simplest obstacles.  Willing to offer advice in a friendly manner, and allow me to ask questions while they patiently wait for me to catch up.

Wait, they don't do that.  But they do graciously accompany me while I attempt what I call skills training and they call just riding.

Last weekend it was Red Bug in a direction I don't normally ride.  Because it has three climbs that have either roots or rocks.  I hadn't done the rock one since before THE CRASH so I was looking forward to getting that demon behind me.  On the approach W. B. starting singing AC/DC "thunder!".
I balked the first run but cleaned it the second time.  It felt like a weight had lifted off my shoulders.  I've been back since and was able to ride it with only one freeze up.  Unless you've struggled with this type of thing you don't understand.  I am pumped to be almost 62 and still able to do stuff that scares me.

Not Red Bug, but this is how it looks to me

The Holiday

Too much food and alcohol.  We did go to church.  We also saw family.  I like the time off.  I have a friend who once said "Christmas and Thanksgiving ruin the best part of the year".  I don't go that far buttttt. 

I didn't do my strength training on Christmas day, the first time I've missed since starting base.  I think I handled it pretty well.

The Kid will be home until January 7.  It's a pattern we should be getting used to.  We will be accustomed to having him around then he'll be gone again.  I guess we should be grateful, when he gets a job he sure won't have this much time off. 

Another Year

After New Years it will be a while till I take some time off.  This stretch used to go by slow but nowadays, not so much.  This is also the time I schedule all my annual checkups.  I try to be more consistent about this stuff since my doctor almost culled me from his patient list because I hadn't been to see him in 2 years.  Walking out of his office with a clean bill of health feels almost as good as getting over the rocks on Red Bug.

This is what the section looked like right after it was built

Winter's Coming

So I have to dress warm.  I know it looks a little odd, but not as odd as Silk's pose.  I actually thought I looked pro when I left the house.  Apebike just couldn't stop laughing though.  I did regret the jacket and booties later as we hit the single track.  Still had a great north side crew ride.  I wish we did more of these.  I ride so much alone lately I've almost forgotten what it's like to ride with others.

Training

I'm in week 6 of base.  Haven't had to skip much at all, just reschedule some workouts.  Been doing all the yoga and roller stretches the OMTP prescribes.  I am surprised how sore some of this makes me feel the next day, sorta sorry I'd been skipping them.  I've had some great rides along lake Jackson as the sun goes down.  If I hadn't been on a plan I probably wouldn't have even gone riding.  Look what I would have missed.

Winter and Christmas

Both cause me joy and some melancholy.   

 

 This old church is located in the small town of Waynesboro Tn.  My father's family had a hand in founding the church in the mid 1800's.  His family had their own pew and we spent many a Christmas eve here.  Of course for a kid from the suburbs of Jacksonville it was all kinda hokey.  We used to walk to church from my grandparents house on those cold nights.  All I wanted to do was to get back and open presents.

Now I look forward to The Kid coming home from school.  We have our traditional golf game on Christmas day.  He's really happy about it as you can tell from the photo above.  I guess for a big college guy it all seems kinda hokey.  Funny how things come back around.

Attacked

Yes we were riding where we were not supposed to.  No way to rationalize it.  We were in the wrong.  It's kinda of like having 12 items in the 10 or less checkout lane.  Or just riding in the left hand lane on the interstate at 5 mph below the speed limit.  How about not using a turn signal.  All of these are against the rules, if not against the law.  All of them make me angry.  I wonder what would happen if I decided to physically challenge the offender?

The Hiker

Dressed in a blue long sleeve shirt, blue shorts, a blue stocking cap, and carrying a water bottle, the gentlemen was coming toward us.  We were strung out, there were 4 of us.  As the first rider passed him The Hiker said "This is an orange trail, bikes aren't allowed".  I don't remember if Rider 1 made a reply or not.  When Rider 2 met The Hiker things got a little more interesting.

The Hiker stood blocking the trail, mind you he had plenty of sight distance.  Rider 2 and Rider 3 were close together.  When rider 2 slowed and moved off the trail to go around The Hiker, The Hiker shoved him, causing Rider 2 to fall over.  This is where I rolled up.

At this time there were 3 of us and one of him.  Rider 2 explained that what had just happened constituted assault and he would be calling law enforcement.  The Hiker walked past Rider 3 and then me yelling as he went.  I attempted to get my phone out and take a picture but wasn't quick enough.  I may have hurled a few expletives his way also.

The Aftermath

Nobody was hurt but the adrenaline was pumping.  We all continued the ride.  We went back by one of the parking lots to see if we could find the guy, no luck.  After we cooled down we went from anger to disbelief.  None of us are fighters, far from it.  But in the moment I was mad enough to pick up a stick and go to war.  If it had been me or a family member I might have crossed that line.  I can be just that stupid.

So when do we get to enforce the rules ourselves?  Should I push every dog walker whose dog isn't on a leash?  Maybe I should shove those butt heads with 12 items out of line?  I have mentally beat the idiots in the left lane many times (if you've ever ridden with me that doesn't come as a surprise).  Obviously we don't do that.

Rationalization

We weren't hurting anything.  We were in control of our speed.  I don't think what we were doing was against a law, just against a rule.  It's all public land, even though another user group maintains the trail.  The traffic is normally very light, the trails are underused.  They ran a zero turn mower over them which caused more damage than 50 bikes would.

Anyhoo, this is the first time this has ever happened to me.  I've had people block the trail but never actually touch me.  In today's world this type of thing could escalate into something really bad really quick.  So peace out!