Quick Rip TM ride

On Thursday's RbW I found some additional blowdowns that weren't there on Tuesday.  Funny because I don't remember it being windy Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday.  None-the-less, the Gussy Trail was blocked at the end of the ROW just past the intersection with the blue trail (that comes up from the Echo Valley Parking Lot) and I know if I didn't get to it a massive go around would have formed and that wouldn't have been good.  There was also another tree down after you make the dog leg and go through the second rock store (stone wall).

It had rained the night before but the weather was holding so I headed out around noon.  I didn't have a lot of time because I needed to be back by 1 PM but I wanted to get a good ride in, too, so I started pushing and found I had no legs after Friday's commute.

Looks like the The Drinking Club with a Running Problem is visiting Upper Paugussett this weekend.  This is not made by an alien, rather the Hare setting the running course.  It means you have to check the routes from this point.  Checks are put at intersections to make the FRBs (Front Running Bastards) run extra looking for the true trail.  Clearly the Hare was taking the pack down the Mulikin Trail because there was check back sign at the intersection with the Gussy and they were staying off the Gussy Trail completely.

I found a way to carry my big loppers on my hydration pack and they made short work of the tree blocking the trail further down the trail and also helped with clearing the blockage at the end of the ROW. 

 

 I still needed to use my handsaw for two larger branches.

Right of Way (ROW) looking north

An ice cold Pale Ale awaited me for a job well done!

TGIF Singlespeed Bike Commute

What a fantastic spring morning!

A little misty but surprisingly nice.

Trying new bars on the Qball.  I had these trekking bars laying around for a few years thinking I might use them on a fixie project but never found the right opportunity.

What I like about them is that they are like bull horns only with an additional hand position.  This third position is just like a bar end and perfect for out of the saddle climbing.  The only draw back is that when I am descending big hills I like to have a finger on the brakes and on these bars it means holding on the flat position but I would rather be in the second position, or low profiled holding the bar end position.  Using a drop bar you can descend holding the bars in the curve, thus keeping a lower profile, while still keeping a finger or two on the brakes.

Braking and Cruising position

Sprinting, hammering, descending or climbing while seated

Climbing out of the saddle.

I wanted to try the 20 mile route home but I was short on time and had the laptop with me.

An Oblique Approach

It's been awhile since I have ridden the forest road from this direction mainly because I prefer riding up the Mulikin Trail rather than a gravel road.  I was able to make the whole climb, without hitting my heart rate max which tells me that I have finally gotten into shape.  

I tried something new this time around.  I usually wear a pocketed jersey for my camera and camel back, etc... but today I put the camera in a frame bag and wore an undershirt and a blaze orange shirt.  Besides a water bottle and a bell I was in woods without any repair tools figuring if I get a flat it's just a quick walk of shame.  I felt freer.

With everything damp and greasy from the previous day's rain it made for some interesting riding.  The droopy leaves are a good indicator that a lot more cutting back needs to happen and I found that some of the up and overs need a little more tweaking.  However the big surprise came with a couple more blowdowns at the end of the ROW completely blocking the trail here and another one further down blocking the trail even more.  I am going to try and come out on Saturday to take care of these.

RbW: Turkey Hunters and Trail Maintenance

Decided to hit Upper Paugussett early Tuesday morning to do some clearing of a blow down on the Gussy.  It's funny but when I first started riding, it seems like I was impervious to the cold but now that I have been riding for almost 10 years the thought of riding on a crisp, cool morning somehow doesn't seem so appealing anymore.  However, despite freezing my ass off while riding to the trail head, I realized that this is one of the best times to ride.

Entering Upper Paugussett State Forest from the Echo Valley side I was surprised to still see the logs still in the parking lot.  I would have thought by now they would have been removed.  Hmmmm, might have to make a skinny or two.

Further up the Poly Brody I met up with a Turkey Hunter.  Good thing I was wearing orange.  None-the-less, until the hunting season is over, which is on May 25th, I need to start wearing the bells again.

The Spot is riding so nicely and the new wheelset is great!  However, I think I am in need of a new bottom bracket.

The task at had was to clean up this blow down.  I got all the little stuff cut out but might try to come back and do the bigger stuff with my hand ax the next time I come riding through.

After cleaning this up, I continued riding until for some reason, probably going to slow, my front tire caught on a rock and I slomo'ed into an endo.  Good thing I had pads on.  Nothing appeared to hurt so I continued riding.

Down at the Sandy Reroute, I pulled the chain out of the ground only to find that a root had grown through it.  That's pretty cool and I think I am just going to leave it there for now.

 

"We May Die, but Never Will Surrender"

Does anyone know what Cinco de Mayo is all about or do we celebrate this day because a Mexican beer has turned it into a reason to drink more of their beer?  Ironically, it has huge significance for another country and a famous military organization:  Légion étrangère, but it seems a lot of that is lost in commercialism.  Well, I wasn't yelling Camerone while riding today but the way I was feeling, maybe I should have been.

Well, before I cracked open a beer today, I headed out to Upper Paugussett to check on the trail conditions seeing that I hadn't been on the trails for almost a month and I don't think I have ridden the Mulikin Trail at all this year.  Found some hoof prints on the Mulikin, which is a good sign because the Equestriennes are always complaining about going up the Poly Brody is too hard on their horses hooves.  The Mulikin makes a great alternative and I am surprised there are more tracks.

Looks like some trail gnomes have been tweaking the trail.  It definitely looks like it's getting a lot of use by the way it looks ridden in.  I fear when I get around to building the new reroute it will be hard closing this section of the trail.  Of course, what I have planned might just draw everyone's attention from the old trail to the new trail.

This is the first time on Spot in about two months and I am finally riding the new Alex wheelset in Pimp Red. The only think I might add at some later point is a red saddle but I like the plush Terry saddle that I have on the bike right now.

There are some new blow downs on the Gussy.  The one pictured above occurred right where I took care of another one post Hurricane Sandy.  A route around it has already formed but the tips of the branches still stick out into the trail and need to be taken care of.

Since everything was clicking for me today and I was padded up, I first hit the log ride short before the Sandy Reroute and then this little roller and I found that it's really smooth.  Didn't stop to pull the chain out of the ground but might do that later in the week when I come back to do a little TM.  I did notice that someone moved the rocks that I had previously used to try to armor the last turn on the Sandy Reroute.  I admit that it was a rush job and the rock store wasn't selling any good flatties.  Granted, it's so dry right now that it doesn't really matter.  We'll see if that changes in the fall.

The 3 Bears roller also took a hit with three real big branches down on top of all three rollers.  Someone created a new roller just to the right of Papa Bear but I wasn't comfortable with the run out so I didn't try it.  Looks like I will be coming back Monday to do some Trail Maintenance.

Just down from the 3 Bears I met another rider by name of Keith from Southbury.  Looked like he was riding with his son.  He said he loves the trail and thinks that more people aren't riding it because of all the climbing, according to Strava I climbed 1000 feet.  Not bad when you think about it, riding up the Mulikin to the Gussy, down and back is a 6 mile ride.  It will get even better, and longer, with the new reroute I have planned.