Thursday Night

Good ride, got to turn my light on at 7 and see if it's ready for another season. Answer is yes, I love my jet lites A51. The trails were terribly slick again and it was so difficult to get traction and the fact these jerkies chose Punisher did not help anything. I need to start bringing gears to this ride apparently. I was still slightly unfulfilled and wanted a solo ride but convenience and daylight had be group riding again. I hope saturday I can go on a good ride, forecast is slightly grim but I think it a ride can happen. Next week new bike should be all ready to go, waiting to hear final details from Bob. Slippery hale at EveryTrail
EveryTrail - Find the best Hiking in Connecticut

Here it is

The steel horse is all done, all that is left is a sand blasting and paint. I was informed yesterday it will not be ready by next weekend but will be the following week which is fine with me. I already am thinking f building another one shortly in the future, so cool, hand crafted.

Crandy

Found some wiggle time for LuAnn to break from studying and take care of the little fella so off I went. I was not into riding Hale as usual and probably will be this Thursday so I was off on a short commute to Crandalls. It rained a little before I left and I was expecting a gloomy ride but luckily Tolland was spared from the rain. I got cranking with a purpose and really cruised through the trails nice and quick. So quick I was all done before 90 minutes so I explored a little bit, I hope the new trail addition adds in 10+ minutes of trail or more, options are limited.I love riding here, always have. Smokin crandalls at EveryTrail
EveryTrail - Find the best Hiking in Massachusetts

Salmon Goods

I set off on a mission for new trail after my meeting with Bob, I was going to add two or more new sections to what I was already familiar with. It's funny how long it takes to get familiar with a new place when your scouting it all on your on trip after trip. I can get a solid loop in but you know you always want to find new and better trails. I cruised on quick with the trails I had down pretty good and found myself low on energy and leg power, must have been from Thursday night's power ride and the two pieces of toast I had for breakfast. I found that I can ride on basically an empty stomach without a problem, it's usually after the ride when my body needs nourishing, stupid I know. Onwards with the ride, it was a nice August day and I had two hours to shred. I found myself done with a section and cruising down the rail trail to the next section. I got onto Pines trail and then rode across the river and took a wrong turn but not a big back track and then it was up to the rail trail. This was a pretty short section but new to me. I have ridden Pines before but not this section of it. I use strava map to locate my next stretch of trail and it worked out perfectly. Since I took my intended route I was climbing up Nemba switchbacks. Took a right and then found myself at a confusing fork and I went left since I hoped it would be an uphill route since climbing from the rail trail up sucks and I did not want to loose any elevation. Holy crap was that a good decision, I found what I believe is my favorite trail section, nice and smooth and twisty in a unique forest section. It lasted much longer than I expected which was great, soon I had more choices to make and unsure of exactly what was what, but they went uphill into the main network which became familiar. I still have more to explore but each time I get closer to the filling in the gaps in my head. Really great ride I can't wait to get back. Salmons goods at EveryTrail
EveryTrail - Find the best Hiking in Connecticut

Light at the end of the tunnel

I met with Bob the frame builder on Saturday not really cause I had to but I was excited to see it raw in person. I also wanted to ride Salmon Forest after my visit since there is still stuff I have not hit yet even after multiple visits. So I arrived to him working on it and took a look and fell madly for it. The frame should be off to paint on Tuesday and ready to install parts and ride on Saturday! Oh the excitement, the frame has really flew by since he started building. Just 12 months ago I had to back out of line with finances being minimal with Landon on the way. After getting back in line for the last 6 months the light is at the end of the tunnel. I hope it all comes together this next Saturday!

Thursday Night Fights

I am not sure why but I felt ready and willing for a Thursday night social/fast ride. I got on a good 30 minute pre ride which I always prefer and was enjoying myself so much I did not join. Quite a few riders turned up and probably 10 or so headed into the woods. Shortly we were on trials which was going to set the mood for the ride, tough slick n nasty. We got light rain a few hours before so things were ICY! Combo with balding tires and one gear it was a crap show for me all night but I just kept trucking on in my own shame. The ride was fast, I was not in the tail end but found myself guessing where the rider in front of me went so I could not let down the others behind me. Holy crap did I say things were slick, my goodness I felt like I was learning how to ride a bike all over again. The humidity was really bad too which was not helping the cause but none the less it was a fantastic night to be out on the bike. We rode Bi Polar and then a brutal trail named Scoliosis which is the toughest trail in the place that always breaks hearts. Sure enough we finally started moving good and then it was onto 40 bumps, another tough section for me and many others. I had to stop hard while on a rock and found myself hard on the front brake and handlebars turned slightly and felt my wheel bend in anger. It had a huge hop after that incident and don't know if it's toast yet. The crew was now split into three groups by now and I found myself in the middle with another rider in front of me, was kind of nice to have company I could keep up with. With the group split we voted to add a little more to the ride so we found ourselves on wiggle with Colin close behind. It was getting pretty dark and I had not found my light mount before the ride but it was just bearable. It was nice when we popped out at the cars I was spent and took a good whooping and with darkness set in I had to cancel a evening swim in the lake. Good solid ride, with LuAnn back to school and daylight riding coming to an end soon I will be riding with these guys from her on out probably and hope to be able to push myself a little faster so I don't get left in the dark. Good stuff Hale of a beating at EveryTrail
EveryTrail - Find the best Hiking near Hartford, Connecticut

Family ride no. 2

We pulled of an evening ride before Landon's bed time, he has begun teething so he can be a handful while he is not napping so we tend to have activities to get us through 3-7pm. This ride was great, we started in a different spot which provided much smoother terrain for the boy and after 4 miles we turned around made a good 8 mile ride. Landon did great as he always does and it was a great being outside and enjoying the last greenery of summer. I have noticed going in the woods the last few days that the forest has changed, it has already begun the dreary death of fall. No problem, once Christmas is over LuAnn will be done with school and rides should get plentiful again. Then we move and start life all over again. Not crazy about another nasty winter but anxious for next summer so bring it on.