Bedrock & Paradox

I dream of a hard and brutal mysticism in which the naked self merges with a non-human world and yet somehow survives still intact, individual, separate. Paradox and bedrock.

Gettin’ whooped

I’m gonna be hurtin’ Monday morning. This morning I got out to test the fitness for the Wahsatch in two weeks. Went up 62 in 38 minutes, a good 90 seconds off my best. It wasn’t easy, but it’ll do.

This afternoon I rode Granite with James and Paul, folks I’ve known on the net for a while but never ridden with. The leisurely two hour ride started out well, with a hard climb. James likes to start his rides by climbing 37, probably because 6″ of coil sprung Turner can roll over all the waterbars at .5 mph without being knocked off line. I on the other hand felt like an ass trying to ride in granny gear, falling over twice at very slow speed for no real good reason. My sense of incompetence was compounded by getting seriously dropped descending 40, though bringing up the rear on descents is something I’m used to. Once we headed over to Mint things started clicking, and I was able to use gears and suspension intelligently to clean things much easier than ever before. I was further impressed with James climbing “the groove” on Mint via a very aggressive line, with ease. My training provided an ego prop at the end of the ride, however. These days, it takes two hours to feel warmed up, and climbing up to and out of the OHV area was just fun, playing with the differences between granny ring and middle ring.

All this, and I get up early tomorrow to meet Chad Brown in Flag for an epic Elden tour. He’s never been, and after such a strong showing at the AZT 300 this year, he needs the full tour. Pack lots of water.

DaveC

4 responses to “Gettin’ whooped”

  1. Enel Avatar
    Enel

    James is strong like bull. 170mm of travel does not suck when the trail turns down either. he knows how to use it.Paul ain’t far behind.They both drop me soundly when things point downhill.Chris cleaned that same ravine last night in the dark. He took a High right line. I flubbed it for the first time in quite a while with a more centered line. I have cleaned it a few times on the SS. Very gratifying when it happens.You’d catch them in the fourth or fifth hour of any long event :)

    Reply
  2. Dave Avatar
    Dave

    I gotta have something, right? ;)I’m very impressed you’ve cleaned that on the single, though I am starting to get suspension and it’s uses.

    Reply
  3. Enel Avatar
    Enel

    I will say, the Ventana SS blows my mind with what I get up and over at times. For a hardtail it is simply untouchable in rough situations. Unless it is straight up, I have a chance. It is the “rule Mint Wash with an aluminum fist” bike.I cannot clean 37 on it, however. Too relentlessly steep.Sounds like a great weekend all around.

    Reply
  4. Chad Brown Avatar
    Chad Brown

    Dave,I wish I could have done the race with you guys. I looked at the pictures on the forum. Wow! I was doing Sublime Point in the GC and busted my front fork and cable for my derailer. Anyways, I was a few hours away from a bike shop and had to pull the plug.

    Reply

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