SUNDANCE SUPER (mud)D(y) Mess

This year Guthrie is getting more into racing (In other words he rides fast everywhere and I play catch up). The Utah Gravity series' first race was being held on the Sundance trail system  at 5:30 PM.

Around ten that morning we arrived to pre-ride the course, which we did, twice. The trail was fairly smooth, very twisty, and actually a blast to ride. 

Around 12 it started raining, then dumping. It was as if the heavens opened and in a scene perhaps only re-created during Noah's flood, the skies opened and a river poured out.  Riders ran for cover and we all tentatively stood underneath what little cover there was and waited. 

Realizing our situation was only worsening, we questioned whether the race would still be held, and when they answered affirmatively, returned home for some hot chocolate, a change of clothes and then came back around three...it was still raining, only lightly.

The race sponsors were still running the race and so I offered to pre-ride the course.  It was snowing and windy at the top. 

Within the first 20 feet of singletrack I was carrying my bike. I wrestled it to the road and instead descended down the grassy runs to the trails near the bottom that weren't as muddy. 

This was taken after one ride. Even my pink (yes, I-get-comments-but-they-were-on-clearance) glasses wouldn't stay on straight. 

Now, I know some are thinking, you never ride muddy trails...however, sundance was still running the race and others were out there riding, walking wrestling their bikes down too. 

My second run down (Yes, I did it again.  I figured it was still biking and I chose my trails more carefully) I saw Guthrie heading to the top on the chair lift. When he exited the  lift the attendants informed him the race was cancelled. Apparently they couldn't get the trucks to the top with the timing material...it was too muddy...genius.

So we hosed off our bikes and left.  The race was moved to this Saturday...sunny and 89 degrees. 

In retrospect, even with the mud, rain and Hail, we still got to ride

...one trail at a time. 

AF Canyon

For those who ride American Fork canyon, particularly the ridge trail, there is a yearly event which is looked forward to with the same anticipation of the coming of a new born baby; the official trail openings by the forest service. 

In the past bikers, motorcyclists and horseman have ridden the trails when they are still wet, causing a multitude of not easily fixable problems. To remedy the solution the forest service now places trail closed signs until that particular trail is ready for riding. 

In perhaps April, although admittedly it seems much earlier, the local bike forums (MTBR, Utah Mountain Biking.com) begin to turn discussion from winter riding (or training) to the upcoming spring and summer. Those involved with the opening of the trails begin placing teasers like; two feet of snow at the summit, one foot of snow at the summit. Then comes the tantalizing first pictures of a trail slowly emerging from the winter thaw with its tacky hero dirt waiting for its first tire rubber of the year. The anticipation heightens more when memories of past riding are conjured as people begin to place photos online of memorable rides last year and discuss what new loops they want to attempt this year. 

When it was finally announced that the trails were open, but the canyon road was not (road construction) , we knew this was a perfect time to get out and beat the crowds. We parked at the Pine Hollow trailhead (where the trail was closed) and with other thrilled, more hard core bikers, began our ride up the road to the Timpanooke trailhead. Normally we hate riding roads, but for this, we make exceptions. 

And in May of 2012, this was the first time our tires touched the sacred dirt of the AF canyon trail system...a pause of silence is needed... 

We rode up Timpanooke to the Ridge 157. Trails were tacky, primo,  hero dirt (MTB for nice and not dusty). You can see Timp still has snow, but everything else was fantastic. 

From Ridge 157 we climbed and then descended down to Elk camp (otherwise known as deer creek south fork). That downhill was greatly anticipated and true to form was flowy, twisty and a joy to ride. 

From Elk Camp we climbed to the summit parking, further up to Horsetail flats (which also hides a fantastic fast and twisty descent) then down to Timpanooke (again think fantastic downhill) and finished with a high speed road cruise down the road to the car. 

We only ran into a few other riders. When we did the conversation went like this.

Us: How's it going?

Bikers: Man this is sweet!!

Us: Indeed. See Ya.

Bikers: Have a good one. 

We came to ride, not to chat. It seemed others felt the same. It was a phenomenal start to the year. 

Keep on Riding...one trail at a time.

Weekly race series at Sundance

Yesterday was my first XC race of the year. First off, I am not really a racer and I don’t consider myself a full on cross country guy. I wore baggy shorts, t-shirt and a dakine session pack with my water, tubes and tools. I also ride a 150mm bike with 26” wheels that weights 30 lbs.

At the start of the race I was looking around at all the lycra wearing skinny dudes, 22lb bikes and big wheels, I felt a little out of place. I decided my strategy was just go slow with the goal of enjoying the trail.

The two expert categories went first and a minute later, it was our turn. As the racers started off up the paved road, in what I would call a sprint, I just relaxed and tried to stay with the last few people in the pack. As we climbed the paved road, I kept thinking, “I thought this was a mtn bike race?!?” After some more climbing on the road, we went on a dirt road and I kept thinking, “I thought this was a mtn bike race?!?”. Soon thereafter, I saw the singletrack! It went down for a minute then it went up...and up... and up.

Normally, I don’t really mind climbing, but I am not used to riding so close in a group like that. My instinct was just to get off the trail and let them pass. I asked a few times and they said they were okay, so I stayed with a group that was going at a perfect pace for my lack of climbing strength and endurance. As we climbed, for what seemed like an eternity, we started nearing what I was hoping was the top. I could hear the other riders breathing pretty hard and gasping for air, then I would casually say things like, “So, when does the climbing start?” and “Has the race started yet?” This just helped the atmosphere of our group.

We finally reached the top and started coming down, I stayed with the same people for a while then passed a couple and started back up the half lap. This one I tried pushing it harder and caught a few other people in my class. I was pretty even with one guy on a 29er and I told him how the 29er was just a fad and I think it will go away soon. He started laughing, his chain skipped and my super human legs, put me in front...

When it started going down I wanted to try to make up a few seconds, so I sped up and drifted around a few sketchy corners wondering if I was going to eat it. I didn't. The end was coming and I had a bit of energy left, so me and another guy were on a dead sprint up the last hill. I went from 9th to an awesome 8th place finish with 17 racers in my class.

I was pretty happy with how I did and hit my goals of the race. Enjoy it and go slow. I don't consider myself an XC racer, but that race was actually pretty fun.

I am looking forward to the next one up there in a couple of weeks with the same goals as last time.

It is always good to ride.

Saturday night around 6:30 Guthrie called to see if I wanted to go biking that evening. He had done a long one in the morning and I had gone on a run then lifted weights, but as we were bored,and quite frankly had both over eaten that day, we figured we would just go mess around. Big Springs up Provo canyon was sounding nice, so we couldn't resist. We climbed the trail reaching the bridge over the springs about dusk and then headed down.

With the sun quickly setting, taking pictures proved difficult.

However, one bit of advice, when taking flash pictures at night, stay a little farther back from the subject. After the flash went off in the above shot, Guthrie was blinded, lost the trail, ran into my bike and hit a tree (smallish bush, but tree sounds better).

Coming down we were messing around on the corners, sliding, carving and spraying dirt. This controlled slide, turned into a controlled slideout down the hill.

I smashed my stupid Tifosi glasses I had just placed in my pocket. I Learned a valuable lesson; even Grilamid 90 cannot stand up to 202 lbs landing on them.

As we returned to the car, a bit more slowly than usual, the lights were on at the park and as I looked at the rising moon I thought...It is always good to ride.

BRAAAAAP!

In teaching my little girl about animal noises, colors, numbers and all the essential things. I soon realized there is one other thing that every kid should learn. Watch to find out.

A bit blurry, but that was my fault...