Forrest is coming down from the wilds of Alaska to ride The Front Range, then Moab. Here's some more trail he may or may not ride. In fact, I did ride it today! Lair of The Bear. Nothing technical, except in spots. The way I rode it's a 12 1/2 mile out and back but it can be connected to other trail systems for mucho more mileage. Another gorgeous cool day. Sorry, I was on the Superlight...the Burner is in "the shop" getting its Elixirs checked out.
I parked next to a fisherman (Bear Creek was 20' feet away). We talked fly fishing. He said, "yeah, I'm trying to get back into shape". I asked how does fishing get one into shape, no matter how hard a guy in waders stands out in the water? He was referring to reading the water, reading the bugs, all the things that separates a fat guy with a cooler casting from the shore from a guy who knows what he's doing. And it turned out this guy knew what he was doing, taught fly fishing, was in expert-type fly fishing books. He was the real deal. I really enjoy talking with experts in any field. Wish I'd gotten a pic of him out in the water, stalking the wily Brown Trout.
I followed a vintage MG up the canyon. Love those old cars. LOTB is the trail we ride when it's hotter than a sumb!tch out because it's nothing but singletrack in amongst the trees. Lots of shade. There are some rocky short climbs (that I've given up trying to make) but all in all it's just a climb/descend/climb spin, all the way to Pence Park. That was my turn around point. The pic of a switchback with a long log on the right---this switchback can kill you. LOTB is really tight in spots and what this pic doesn't show is the 60 foot straight down tumble a rider can do if he attempts this switchback and doesn't quite make it. I put my foot down a few years ago, fell over and DIDN'T tumble the 60 feet. Man, talk about dodging a bullet. I walk this switchback down now.
And my first Columbine of the year. You know it's summer when the Columbines (state flower) are out.
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I parked next to a fisherman (Bear Creek was 20' feet away). We talked fly fishing. He said, "yeah, I'm trying to get back into shape". I asked how does fishing get one into shape, no matter how hard a guy in waders stands out in the water? He was referring to reading the water, reading the bugs, all the things that separates a fat guy with a cooler casting from the shore from a guy who knows what he's doing. And it turned out this guy knew what he was doing, taught fly fishing, was in expert-type fly fishing books. He was the real deal. I really enjoy talking with experts in any field. Wish I'd gotten a pic of him out in the water, stalking the wily Brown Trout.
I followed a vintage MG up the canyon. Love those old cars. LOTB is the trail we ride when it's hotter than a sumb!tch out because it's nothing but singletrack in amongst the trees. Lots of shade. There are some rocky short climbs (that I've given up trying to make) but all in all it's just a climb/descend/climb spin, all the way to Pence Park. That was my turn around point. The pic of a switchback with a long log on the right---this switchback can kill you. LOTB is really tight in spots and what this pic doesn't show is the 60 foot straight down tumble a rider can do if he attempts this switchback and doesn't quite make it. I put my foot down a few years ago, fell over and DIDN'T tumble the 60 feet. Man, talk about dodging a bullet. I walk this switchback down now.
And my first Columbine of the year. You know it's summer when the Columbines (state flower) are out.
