Brown County State Park

I finally rode some of the new stuff at BCSP. It has been a few years since I was last there. The original two loops are a blast. They are the closest thing I can find to a trail being down hill both directions!! That is hard to do, but this trail is as close as it get's. Nothing but smiles and smooth lines.

But, the trail workers have been very busy since then. They have added Hesitation Point Trail, Campground connector trail and they are trying to finish up the expert loop. Let's just say I was not disappointed with the new stuff. Both directions of Hesitation Point and the campground trail are a complete blast!! There are some wood bridges, rock gardens and rock bridges thrown in between the smooth ups and downs just to keep it interesting. So much of the trails here are just like riding a roller coaster. You can pump the back sides of the dips and curves to keep enough momentum that it seems like you never pedal.

The new expert section is like nothing I have seen in the area. Technical sections and very tight singletrack sections that have big consequences. This section is not done, but what is done is great!! This section is not reccomended for beginners. There is some true bike skill that is needed to make it through this part. Even with skill, I am sure there will be more then one *oh shit* moment.
Here is a link to a video that is some of the expert section Some areas were not completed yet.

Expert Trail Video

Note: Don't be fooled by how easy Ron makes this section look.

The picture above is one of the rock bridged that are optional sections of trail.

The complete trail with Hesitation Point and the campground trail rode both ways, the ride was 35 miles of smiles.

Damn you Ike!!

I took the 1x1 out to Ferdinand on Saturday for a quick ride. I was not sure of the condition of the trails, but I really needed to ride. The ride didn't get off to a good start. The first section of singletrack had a tree down right away. I moved it out of the way and continued on. Not too far down the trail I found another tree down. I moved what I could and noticed that just up the trail was another one down. So, instead of riding, I just pushed my bike a few feet and proceeded to work on the next tree. I could not clear everything, but it was down to only a few sections that you actually had to get off. So, back on the bike and rolling again it looked as things were starting to go good. Then I felt something and noticed my front tire going flat!! Probably all the debis that I was plowing over. I worked my way to a little clearing that was just up the trail, but not with out moving more sticks as I went.

I made quick work of the tire and was off heading down the trail again. Still plenty of sticks all over the place. The next section of fire lane was not too bad, only a few more big trees down. I still moved the bigger stuff out of the way that I could not ride around or over. It was a good ting I had my SS since I did have one stick that stuck right in the back stay and surly would have ripped a derailleur off. I was then bombing down a hill with clear sailing ahead. Something grabbed my bike and slowed it down a lot. I found myself up close and personal with my front tire and both hands off of the bars. I looked around a little bit waiting on my big crash, but after it didn't happen right away, I figured I should just sit up and grab the bars again. I felt real lucky with that one!! I felt even luckier after the pain started to settle in where I hit my stem. I then realized that 2 more inches lower and I would have had my bits scattered all over the trail. Sheesh!

I proceeded to cross the road and head down fire lane 7. Not too far down the trail there was another tree down, but I could clear it with out too much problem. The trail was in fair condition after that. Still a ton of limbs down, but only one or two places I had to do a lot of work. Right near the end of the newer section of trail that ends up at the house, I ran in to a wall of trees. That section was in real bad shape. Probably 8 to 10 trees in a real short section of trail. Good thing it is close to a parking area.

After I worked my way around all of the trees and down to the shelter house, I figured out that it took me 2 hours to go 5 miles. How is that for some good average!! I was on somewhat of a limited time schedule and was wore out from moving all the big trees that I decided to take the dreaded road back to the car. So, I was greeted with the nice and steep road climb toward the camp ground and then the gravel road back to the car. Over all it was great to get out even with all the hastles. Next time I will have to pack a folding bow saw in my pack.

I am sure there is still plenty of work to be done on the other trails, but they will have to wait another day.

Wind blew the weekend away.

Well, the wind from IKE really messed up my plans for a ride. The schedule was to ride Ferdinand on Sunday with the SS and see if last week was a fluke. Now I guess I have to wait another week to find out. I could go out Wed. night, but I still have a lot to pick up in the yard. Tons of sticks and limbs laying all over the place. If my yard is like that, I am sure there are more trees down across the trail. If so, that will make the next ride really suck.

I have gone and done it. I am signed up for the Brown County Breakdown. I registered for the 100 miler, but we will have to see how the day ends up. We will need to keep the pace to finish in the allotted time. Also, I am still kicking around the idea of riding the SS. I know there are a few places with some hills, but it is all just riding.

Single again

Well, after the bike crying in the corner for so long, I finally felt guilty enough to take the 1x1 out for a spin. Sunday I took it to Ferdinand for what I thought would be one heck of a suffer fest. I have not been off road more then then twice in the last two weeks since Feb. Taking the SS to a place that is not the easiest was probably not as good of an idea as it could have been.

Well I started out and not too far in to the trail I was still in agreement that I was in for some serious pain. But, I really wanted to get that bike out and I was in for the long haul. I decided to hop off and walk up a short but real steep washed out section because I know how much it normally takes out of me to climb it. I was liking my shock being back on the front. It is not much, but I was riding better then with the rigid. As I finished fire lane 6/keyana section the smile was still going strong. But, I was not sure how long the legs would last. That section hurt more then I thought it would. The good thing is that fire lane 7 section is a blast!

I decided to just take it easy when I needed it and stopped for a breather a few times too. When I got to the top of the new section I decided that I should head up fire lane 1 for my favorite fire lane out there. This section is not part of the trail, but I really think it should be. I know it takes out the one technical section, but it is too much fun to miss.

At this point I was done with the easier stuff and came down to the field where the Dino races start. I really hate the section right after the field, so I decided to do it old school and head out over the dam and enter the trail section there. I wimped out and skipped the real steep trail section and took the fire lane around, but that is nothing out of the ordinary. I really surprised myself on the back side of the lake by not walking anything!! There are a few hills in there that were not easy at all.

I then dropped in to Foxey hollow feeling good about the ride so far, but knew the end was not easy either. I rode the first part with out a problem. After the creek crossing section and was not sure how I would fair on the next hill. Being a two stage hill, I took the time to catch my breath in the flat section and shocking myself, I climbed the second section of the climb. I am not sure if I have ever climbed the second section of that climb all the way. I kept climbing everything and was feeling really good about it. I hit one section that I know I never climbed on my 1x1 and thought this might be the time. Well, I did make it up most of the hill and just about fell over. So, I had to walk the very last part of the hill. As I was walking I looked at the trail and said to myself, what the heck are you doing walking this section when you just climbed that hard section? So, I hopped back on and climbed the rest of it.

I actually only had to get off of the bike two more times and one was a root section where the bike stopped while climbing. I felt really good about how I rode and looking forward to the next ride to see if I can do it again.

On the road again....

I was back on the road last weekend. I knew I was running tight on riding time and since I would much rather ride with someone then by myself, I decided to join a group that I heard was going out. I am not sure how good of a decision it was, but it was a decision. It was good to ride with some of the guys I have not road with for a while.

Over all it was a great ride. I did end up with a little sunburn and very tired legs, so it must have been a good one! I knew going in to this, the group I was joining usually rode faster then my normal group. That is not always bad. In fact, next year I want to spend much more time with these guys and my legs will be even stronger. The ride ended up being right at 60 miles. We also climbed a little over 2600 ft of elevation gain. Those two numbers alone define it as a good ride, but the fact that my average ended up just under 20 mph means we were flat out flying. If the road didn't have some of those hills, I would not be that shocked about the speed. But, on some of the flats I looked down when I was pulling and we were running 23-26 mph. That is way faster then normal. But, I like it!!

The 1x1 has been calling me lately. Enough that I have put the shock back on the front, the new seat post and changed seats. It looks sweet and ready to hit up the trail. I still have not put in too many miles on the carbon bars I put on there this winter. I hope to get out on it this weekend. We will have to see with all the soccer games scheduled.

I also see that I am slowly getting close to 1000 hits. Some times I feel like I am the only one reading this. So, if you are reading, please take the time to post a comment and tell me what you think or at least give me some encouragement to keep putting stuff on here.