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i was in n/w arkansas this past weekend and went for a ride on the trails of lake leatherwood up in the ozarks. absolutely beautiful area! i got a bit lost on the way to the trail after a late start while waitin for some locals to make contact. that never happened by the way. so durrin all this time it got hotter and more humid, both killers of old men at 1000' or more. 90 deg and 90 some odd % humidity. tough stuff but just out of my rockies trip i figured i was up to any task. guess again dumbass!
once at the trailhead i got some routes from the park ranger, a rider himself, and met up with bob and tori, a couple from pensylvania who agreed to ride along with me. not their best move on this normally fun, quite techy but somewhat flat trail that runs around a lake through the trees and over a 100 year old dam. turns out i was way off my normally very average game and struggled the whole ride to be honest. it was very rocky and the flow was tough to find in many spots but i kept doin my best for the day, stoppin frequently to cool off and catch my breath while enjoyin some good convo and excellent views.
the woman was quite good and showed me up on the short rock infested climbs. the guy was new and other than his constant skidding and strange lines, was quite good and again showed me up like his girlfriend did. for what its worth, she was on a old nrx and he on a newer 5" giant i dont recall the model of, and looked to be a size big for him. none the less they both ruined me. towards the end of the 1st loop, they decided to carry on while i opted to cut my losses, return to the car, tend to odus who id left behind and get back for dinner.
about a mile from the end, there was a nice hard up filled with rock steps and i was tryin to regroup and be a man for a change. right at the top i got caught up on a rock ledge and went down. and by down i mean down. way down. way down a hill into the trees. rollin over and over with the bike between my legs most of the way till a small tree stopped us from reachin the creek below. my phone rings. its candycorn.
"when ya commin home?"
"as soon as i climb back up this hill i just fell off of. got a rope?"
"oh gawd! you ok honey?"
"yeah, but it looks like i bent my seat. nope, its busted. ill be home in a hour."
"good. will ya pick up some garlic toast, spaggetti sauce and parmisan cheese on yer way home?"
boyfriend intact and shopping list provided, she bids me well and hangs up. i scramble my way up and out, nurse my way back with a busted saddle to a happy dog, share a frosty beer with a very cool biker couple on a road trip from oaklahoma from their saddle bag and pack up. did i mention the drive was excellent? if in n/w arkansas in a fun car after a less than stellar ride, try 62 from rodgers to eureka springs. its a apex lovers dream come true, even with a dog in the back and a rfx on the roof rack. even though i suck as a rider, my drivin skills are still there. want proof? i didnt spill odus water bowl and this aint no flat and straight country road kids. so i got that goin for me, which is nice.
ps: dinner was great! thanx baby.
once at the trailhead i got some routes from the park ranger, a rider himself, and met up with bob and tori, a couple from pensylvania who agreed to ride along with me. not their best move on this normally fun, quite techy but somewhat flat trail that runs around a lake through the trees and over a 100 year old dam. turns out i was way off my normally very average game and struggled the whole ride to be honest. it was very rocky and the flow was tough to find in many spots but i kept doin my best for the day, stoppin frequently to cool off and catch my breath while enjoyin some good convo and excellent views.
the woman was quite good and showed me up on the short rock infested climbs. the guy was new and other than his constant skidding and strange lines, was quite good and again showed me up like his girlfriend did. for what its worth, she was on a old nrx and he on a newer 5" giant i dont recall the model of, and looked to be a size big for him. none the less they both ruined me. towards the end of the 1st loop, they decided to carry on while i opted to cut my losses, return to the car, tend to odus who id left behind and get back for dinner.
about a mile from the end, there was a nice hard up filled with rock steps and i was tryin to regroup and be a man for a change. right at the top i got caught up on a rock ledge and went down. and by down i mean down. way down. way down a hill into the trees. rollin over and over with the bike between my legs most of the way till a small tree stopped us from reachin the creek below. my phone rings. its candycorn.
"when ya commin home?"
"as soon as i climb back up this hill i just fell off of. got a rope?"
"oh gawd! you ok honey?"
"yeah, but it looks like i bent my seat. nope, its busted. ill be home in a hour."
"good. will ya pick up some garlic toast, spaggetti sauce and parmisan cheese on yer way home?"
boyfriend intact and shopping list provided, she bids me well and hangs up. i scramble my way up and out, nurse my way back with a busted saddle to a happy dog, share a frosty beer with a very cool biker couple on a road trip from oaklahoma from their saddle bag and pack up. did i mention the drive was excellent? if in n/w arkansas in a fun car after a less than stellar ride, try 62 from rodgers to eureka springs. its a apex lovers dream come true, even with a dog in the back and a rfx on the roof rack. even though i suck as a rider, my drivin skills are still there. want proof? i didnt spill odus water bowl and this aint no flat and straight country road kids. so i got that goin for me, which is nice.
ps: dinner was great! thanx baby.
