My after-work adventure was surprise, surprise, mt biking again. The weather's just been so good! How can I not tear up some trails?? So my buddy and I went to one of the usual biking spots that has plenty of up-hill grinders and some short, fast, and dangerous single-track declines. Ok, so I'm still building my biking confidence, AND i'm rolling on a low-end mt bike (I just don't have the 2500 bucks to spend on a bike I really want right now. So the old girl will do :D), so I get a little timid on some of the trails. But it doesn't stop me. So after some crazy downhill section with ruts, sharp curves, and loose dirt and gravel, it ends with a crazy 45 degree angle decline. Dammit. I puss out and pause at the top and start sliding down uncontrolled and almost eat dirt... best part is, another biker (cool guy) is filming it with his camera. FAIL. haha. But, I regained my composure, angled straight down, hopped on, tucked my butt back, and took it like a champ. About 5 minutes later I lose control and eat dirt on the next section. Twice. haha! Cuts, scrapes, bruises at the end.... but a smile on my face.
That was only about 6 miles worth of trails. Saturday morning up north in the redwoods, I'll be tackling a 17 miler. Here's trails.com description...
Ever met a living organism that’s more than 2,000 years old? What better place to meet these ancient ones than biking through a portion of the 52,000-acre Humboldt Redwoods State Park? Grasshopper Peak Loop, 17.2 miles of mildly technical dirt fire roads, leads you through some of the world’s oldest old-growth redwood forests with trees fatter than a Volkswagen Beetle and taller than the Statue of Liberty. But be forewarned: This is a challenging ride. The first 10.2 miles is an unrelenting uphill climb, severely steep in some places. After that, even if you pushed your bike some of the way up Grasshopper Peak, you will have indeed earned your right to enjoy a fast seven-mile descent without cranking the pedal much, if at all.
EFFIN SWEET!
So, whatever your fave activity is, I hope you get to enjoy it over the holiday weekend! Have a great and safe 4th of July!
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