Breezy cool beautiful Case

The weather has finally subsided, the heat and humidity and most the biting insects have finally took it down a notch or two. A Tuesday ride I was planning on making got rained out unfortunately so that led to me posting up a ride for Wednesday night. Sure enough Paul thankfully posted up and wanted to ride, so we set off for a dry Case with strong legs and no gears and a dog. Wanted to take a different approach as usual to the trails so I headed around connecting some variations to mix it up and worked great. We climbed up mountain and headed through the middle of the common trails. The goal was to hit behind the reservoir hillside and that was where we headed. Ripped up to the top of the hill and descended in fashion. Lifted off a little rock and came down with not enough time top spare hitting a very sharp rock that I didn't think I hit all that hard but it was enough to send me flat on both tires which took me too long to fix. Got back going and began climbing up to tinti and sure enough the back tire is going squishy....I patched two holes already on that tube and was not going hunting for yet another, so I borrowed pauls tube to assure no more delays and off we went. Got to the top of tinti and down the power lines and back home we went. A very very good ride witha good mix of trails and some 15.1 miles was a good pull, I still had plenty left in the legs but it was time to shut the engines down.

Case of flats

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Nemba Gay City to Case

I decided to join in on a event that N.ew E.ngland M.ountain B.iking A.ssociation was hosting at Gay City park called fall fiesta. I had heard from John that he was attending the expert ride at 8am this morning and it encouraged me to get there and ride. I woke 6:30 in the morning on the fiesta and looked for signs of rain since it was expected that day at some point and the roads were dry so it was on. Got the car loaded up and off we went. Shortly after getting on the road little drops were falling on my windshield and in denial I was blaming it on the dew falling from the trees but soon as I got close to the park it began to rain steady. I drove by the tent and saw only 8-10 people and was suprised how little people were there. I spotted John and went into the tent to seek refuge from the cold an rainy. It began to downpour soon and I had no hope for the ride. 20 minutes later the rain stopped and the sun was out, it then went to mostly cloudy skies on and off but the ride was on. Everyone got geared up and off we went, 10 minutes into the ride I was caked in mud and dirt which would accompany me the next three hours of riding. We were off on a loop into Case to ride whatever dry friendly trails we could find, all 7 of us. After a mechanical we lost one and the six of us contiued in the nasty conditions. I hung in the back of the pack having a terrible time with singlespeed and my new tires that weren't broken in. Going down tinti I got bit by another stupid bee, this is my third one in the last two weeks and it really really really really pissed me off. I retained my anger and pedaled on despite slick rocks and walking spots I wanted to ride. It was a really frustrating ride for me but none the less I was happy I was there and riding somehow. I think we were going to do much more miles but I think due to weather and trail conditions we ended up back at the tent after 16 miles which left me somewaht relieved from spending another hour in the mess. I hopped into the car to quickly get home and relax the rest of my sunday, I had plans do some trail raking at nearby hale but due to laziness it never happened........

Nemba gay city to case

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Hale

As always a good ride. Met up with Paul and Pat and we decided to do a reverse loop throwing in a couple of good trails in between which was recipe for a great ride. We started on wiggle and it was very tricky in the opposite direction but a fun challenge. Pat had said he had not been riding much and said he would be hurting but it was quite the opposite, me and paul played catchup most the ride while Pat lead us onto some great trails. A much larger amount of leaves were on the ground than expected, the weather has been far from fall with little wind and 80 degree weather. I am going to buy a rake this week and start raking some trails to give back to the other guys that do a good job in most the places I ride. Anyway back to the ride, halfway into it Pat snapped his chain, with some repair he got it back going and shortly after the chain going once again where he called it and walked back to the car. So me and Paul rode on and made our way into the north end of the park. Light was fading in the thick and the lights went on and man it was tough for a little bit with some overgrowth and not getting a good eye on the trail ahead of me on the rigid. It soon opened up where I was able to see my tire, and the hapiness continued. We were losing the trail from time to time which was a bit frustrating but all the more reason to get in there to rake. Across the road and the last stretch of single track ahead of us. All went well and back to the parking lot we were where I parted ways and rode home. Two great rides in the last two days and can't wait for the next! Got new tires coming today, I can't wait for the rain to stop to get back out there!

Hale goody

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The Mix At Case

Tuesday night ride pulled together at 6 and yet again it was Derek Paul Bentley and myself. I got my 29er back rolling and it was good to be back on but only had like 20% of my rear brake which made the evening tricky but still doable. We set off at 6 and headed uphill, things were going well and I was getting used to the one gear in back which I can't wait to replace with a 22 tooth. We looped up n around just about every trail without crossing the bridge. It was a great mixup of trails thatI really enjoyed. Got stung crossing one stream yet again, it was dark but that sucker found me and really pissed me off. Lights went on and I had much better success with my junk Lights and motion strapped to my bar with my combo headlamp which made riding much more easier on the eyes and brain. Still I would like something twice as bright but my setup definitely works. We ended our second to last trail on a difficult par 4. Gears would certainly come in handy on the last climb to the fire road. All in all another fun sweat, mosquito filled evening of good fun! Got some new gear on the way can't wait!

Twisting at case

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Quiet Time

Set off on yet another venture to Case sunday afternoon. I was lounging around all day saturday and enjoying it, John posted up a ride for 9:30 but I was feeling quite lazy still and I knew I would have alot of work to do chasing him around for 3 hours. So I took care of all the stuff I needed to do in the morning and even got the car waxed! I wasn't really planning on riding but it was in the back of my mind. By 1:00 I was thinking more and more about it and by 3:00 I was on the trail with bentley. We Got alot of rain friday so Case was the plan which didn't matter to me cause I love the place. We got started at the pond lot and made our way uphill. It was very warm out being 80 degrees and humid but the bugs were out but not as bad, I did put 100% deet on myself since I am so sick and tired of getting hit. The legs felt great, probably from giving them good rest after wednesday and thursday beating but they were strong on the geared squishy kona. I made my way to the viewpoint where I came upon some familiar faces so I followed them down to line st where they were parked and I set off on my own again. Took a silly spill when my front tire washed out on me suddenly, it's a front suspension kind of thing I wasn't prepared for which sent me off the bike whacking a good bit on my ankle. I shook it off and wondered if I could continue riding and as I rode it felt funny but it did feel better. Bentley got spookled by some guy with a huge walking stick, he either defensively aimed it at him or something because I have never seen him so spooked, Bentley struggled to find a way around him so he ran past him as fast as he could barking ahead of him in intimidation it was quite hysterical watching the whole thing go down. Made my way over to the side of ther reservoir where there is a hillside with singletrack popping up and I am liking it. Around the reservoir and up to the water crossing. Over onto blue and to the car we went. It was a really great ride at my own pace, a slow 5.0 average mph was not very fast but it was nice to be out on a great day and I was extremely glad I decided to get out and ride. I am doing pretty good at averaging 3 rides a week and I hope I can keep it up.

Case hippy

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Case Fall Fakeout

Just when I thought it could not be warmer or more humid and buggier, it got even worse! It's not a huge deal because ti still beat the crap out of sitting on the couch. It was another Case ride after a rainstorm and this time it was a little slicker than the day before but that was not stopping this fella from getting out. We all met at 6:00 and got to cranking, my legs just about went numb from climbing the first hill, I had full on charlie horses all the way up and considered shutting the engine down but they warmed up luckily. My legs have been acting funny this week I seem to be more sore and feeling different since I have been riding less. None the less I still kept John and Paul in my sight as they sped off ahead of me. Bentley as loyal as can be enjoyed running by my side was we strolled through the woods. I got a flat after launching off a rock and I paid the price dearly. The mosquitos were absolutely terrible as they bit my unprotected back where I can't reach with the bug spray. A speedy repair but not fast enough. John mixed the ride up a little bit and took us through a good playground of rocks where I at least got to play a little. Things were going good and legs felt better than the day before. Off around the reservoir and back we went. A very good ride as usual and as always can't wait for the next one!

No pics so you get ones of my doggys

Case fall fakeout

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Case Mixing it up

This wednesday Derek posted up a wednesday night ride which I have gotten to attend for the second week now and I was very glad I did. The ride was set for 6:00 and it was derek, paul, bentley and me. I was lacking energy from the start which was troublesome with the rig and it unfortunately lead to me not being able to keep up with those two as I would have liked but it really was no big deal as long as they didn't mind waiting for me from time to time. I forgot to start the gps in the begining but I imagine it was off for a mile or riding. We did recieve rain earlier that day but sun and clouds made it a great start to the ride. It was way warmer than I liked but the ride was going on regardless. We climbed up mountain and I felt it heavily on my legs, they were already sore and weak for some reason but I was going to power through it and try to keep up. We started to take quite a different route from any other ride Derek has lead which made it a good change from the standard routes. We went and rode a really good piece of trail abover the reservoir that I really enjoyed. I probably like it so much because its smooth and twisty down the hill and not very rocky at all. I wish that area was bigger so that more trails could be in there but I am happy with what it has. Lights went on and up tinti we went, another tough climb for me with bentley at my side. Downhill to blue and at the bridge where we cranked in the darkness back to the car painfully for me. I was slow the whole ride but stayed consistent, I really hope I can get another light for night riding, it is proving difficult with just a headlamp I don't find myself looking ahead nearly enough. Mighty good ride and finished it up with nice couch time and the new season of modern family. We will see if tonight's ride happens.

Case mix up

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