[AteMrYeats]

Drevil lead a group including myself and two other locals into the heart of darkness that is the Watershed today; it was a balmy 40 or so degrees with a little snow in places, and the trails were loamy and covered in leaf litter.

Right from the get go, there was a whole lot of tomfoolery going on such as riding the same absurdly rocky section over and over again. Let me be the first to say that I had a good time. David and Jason bounced around on their Blurs, and seemed to be having fun too. Drevil must have his new Chester all dialed in because he was kicking ass and busting heads even harder than usual.

The left over turkey is tasting good tonight.

 

[donkey]

Is your Wily brakeless?....it looks that way..

If so.....nutty.

B

 

[Guest]

Is your Wily brakeless?....it looks that way..

If so.....nutty.

B

I think I can make out a front rotor and a left b lever still pretty impressive in my book

 

[donkey]

I think I can make out a front rotor and a left b lever still pretty impressive in my book

The absence of housing is what got me curious...hmmmm.

 

[Guest]

The absence of housing is what got me curious...hmmmm.

You are right if there is housing it is stealthy. I guess I will have to wait and hear from the man himself.

 

[Drevil]

Is your Wily brakeless?....it looks that way..

If so.....nutty.

B

He has a front, but he's still a nut.

 

[AteMrYeats]

Is your Wily brakeless?....it looks that way..

If so.....nutty.

B

Man, that photo is cool, isn't it? Now that I look at it, the housing is invisible against the rocks. I do have a front brake, but no rear. I was forced into riding the fixie because of some gear "malfunctions" on my SS earlier this week (but that's a story for another thread). There were points on this ride that were so steep and technical that I was really just barely crawling downhill with my ass way behind the saddle, holding on to that brake lever for dear life. There was so much braking force, the wheel almost got pulled out of the dropouts a couple times. I blame some of this on the Salsa skewer.

 

[jace]

Great shots, Yeats. Missing the chance to ride with you guys this week is stinging!

 

[sslos]

When you get a new fork to match...

Man, that photo is cool, isn't it? Now that I look at it, the housing is invisible against the rocks. I do have a front brake, but no rear. I was forced into riding the fixie because of some gear "malfunctions" on my SS earlier this week (but that's a story for another thread). There were points on this ride that were so steep and technical that I was really just barely crawling downhill with my ass way behind the saddle, holding on to that brake lever for dear life. There was so much braking force, the wheel almost got pulled out of the dropouts a couple times. I blame some of this on the Salsa skewer.

Make sure you get forward facing dropouts. I got them on my Wily, and never a bit of movement. Pretty important for those of us who rely on front brake and back pressure on the pedals to slow down!
Nice lookin' bike there- color looks familiar...

the los

 

[JoeP]

Wish I coulda been there. Props for riding that stuff on the fixie. I'd never even consider it, no way.

 

[l-dub1]

I was forced into riding the fixie because of some gear "malfunctions" on my SS earlier this week (but that's a story for another thread). There were points on this ride that were so steep and technical that I was really just barely crawling downhill with my ass way behind the saddle, holding on to that brake lever for dear life.

You upped the ante by riding fixie out there! So was it doable? Did anyone die? You can ride a fixed anywhere in the mid-atlantic but all I've heard is that the Watershed is a no man's land. I'm still getting worked over at Patapsco / Avalon for now but this has sparked my interest. What did you run for a gear combo?

 

[Drevil]

You upped the ante by riding fixie out there! So was it doable? Did anyone die? You can ride a fixed anywhere in the mid-atlantic but all I've heard is that the Watershed is a no man's land. I'm still getting worked over at Patapsco / Avalon for now but this has sparked my interest. What did you run for a gear combo?

It's really scary on the rock dropoffs, but I've done it a handful of times on my Ute at 34/17. It tires me out really fast because of the downhills.

A.M.Y. did exceptionally well and as far as I know, didn't get banged up too much. He used 34/18. I know of at least a half dozen from this board that have done it also, so get out there and give it a shot.

 

[smudge]

I know exactly where the first two pics were taken, can't seem to place the second two.

The Shed on a fixie is impressive by my standards. That's such a great place to ride...one of those places I wish I could take with me wherever I go. I'll be back in DC on business next week, I might have to borrow a bike, take a day off and see what I've been missing.

 

[max-a-mill]

wow that looks fun terrain!

i need to roadtrip down there from philly sometime to check it out.

i never get further south than fairhill/midlle run/white clay.

that certainly don't look like the babys-butt smooth singletrack i have experienced so far down there.

 

[l-dub1]

It's really scary on the rock dropoffs, but I've done it a handful of times on my Ute at 34/17. It tires me out really fast because of the downhills.

A.M.Y. did exceptionally well and as far as I know, didn't get banged up too much. He used 34/18. I know of at least a half dozen from this board that have done it also, so get out there and give it a shot.

Oh, man... that's impressive: both the fact that there are that many luddites in the area and that it's been ridden in style no less. The gauntlet has been thrown, so I better head out West and give it a shot. Sounds like I'll have to swap the 38:17 out for a larger rear cog though. Cool looking terrain too.

 

[Drevil]

I'm not good with names, but I think it's called Salamander.

Shoot me a PM.

 

[AteMrYeats]

Make sure you get forward facing dropouts. I got them on my Wily, and never a bit of movement. Pretty important for those of us who rely on front brake and back pressure on the pedals to slow down!
Nice lookin' bike there- color looks familiar...

the los

This dropout configuration is definately on my list if I can ever afford a custom fork for the Wily.

 

[AteMrYeats]

Oh, man... that's impressive: both the fact that there are that many luddites in the area and that it's been ridden in style no less. The gauntlet has been thrown, so I better head out West and give it a shot. Sounds like I'll have to swap the 38:17 out for a larger rear cog though. Cool looking terrain too.

The 34X18 combined with the 170mm cranks was working me for sure, but I still managed to pedal over some stuff that I never considered possible before. If I remember correctly, you're riding a fixed cross bike, right? That would be taking the insanity to a whole new level.

 

[l-dub1]

Yep...

The 34X18 combined with the 170mm cranks was working me for sure, but I still managed to pedal over some stuff that I never considered possible before. If I remember correctly, you're riding a fixed cross bike, right? That would be taking the insanity to a whole new level.

My only fixie is a Surly XC right now, so I'm limited to 44c Mutano's to provide the footing... not that that is a hinderance, it's only my lack of bike handling in reality. I'm getting spanked on some of the valley sections over in Patapsco, so I'm sure that I'll get worked at the shed. You never know until you try though...

 

[crashmasta]

Drevil lead a group including myself and two other locals into the heart of darkness that is the Watershed today; it was a balmy 40 or so degrees with a little snow in places, and the trails were loamy and covered in leaf litter.

Right from the get go, there was a whole lot of tomfoolery going on such as riding the same absurdly rocky section over and over again. Let me be the first to say that I had a good time. David and Jason bounced around on their Blurs, and seemed to be having fun too. Drevil must have his new Chester all dialed in because he was kicking ass and busting heads even harder than usual.

The left over turkey is tasting good tonight.

Who is that good looking fellow in the first picture, He looks like a stud with skills!