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Pick your costume…

BK pancakes, wet socks, a broken derailluer hanger, a converted singlespeed, rocks all over the place and leaves covering everything make for an adventure to talk about. The day started out at BK where I was to meet the other riders of the group brought together by a community website, MTBNJ. The day started and probably ended for me at that meeting place. I made a mortal mistake of chowing down on BK pancakes 15 minutes before ride time.. Its one of those things you just don’t do… $1.59 for a trio of pancakes looked like a good deal, but cramps and the feeling your about to barf was not one I would have bargained for.

In any case, the day progressed through some really nice trails and although I rode like I was hauling rocks all day, it was a good time. For all those people that bailed at the last minute you missed a good day to ride in Wawayanda State park.

Broken derailluer hanger required on the trail emergency surgery.

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Group rides!

2006 “How Rob stole Christmas” ride was a disaster when one guy (you can guess his name) that started with the group disappeared mid-ride during what was billed as “Santa’s sleigh ride to Hell and back” all mountain group ride.

We had just finished climbing this long hill and we at first thought he was slow to climb it. After waiting 45 minutes on top of a ridge with cold wind gusts, our frozen group spent another hour scouring the trails and back-tracking to make sure he wasn’t jumped by a bear or picked off by a mechanical, or even worse, a crash. We couldn’t find him and realized he must have turned back. After stopping and searching for so long the group ride was cut short and we made a shortened version back to the cars. People traveled from far away (covering multiple states) for this ride, and it was a huge disappointment for everyone. Eventually we found the guy having a jolly good time in another group he met when he decided we were going too fast for him and he would split away without telling us.

So the moral of the story for all those group rides… 1) Your on your own if you choose, just make it clear at the beginning of the ride 2) Keep up, 3) If you want to drop off, tell someone 4) Don’t ride with Rob.

MTBNJ is organizing a few rides for the next 2 weeks that I will attend
http://www.mtbnj.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3723 – October 28th at Wawayanda State Park. Hammer head ride?

http://www.mtbnj.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3353 – November 3rd or 4th at Blue Mountain in Peekskill NY. Being billed as a “death loop”. 30 mile loop that is going to hurt alot of people. The group looks big.

With all the fires around some of my local trails I made a point to contact trail advocacy groups and sign up for any rebuilding help they may need. Watching the trails I ride and hold close burn up in flames is hard but I realize nature has a great way of bouncing back but it needs a little help from time to time. I hate to get all preachy on doing your part but if you ride a lot and partake in the joys of riding mountains and pushing through singletrack lined woods you should really consider in donating a day to maintaining your local trails. If you rather not put in the labor at least consider donating some money to IMBA or your local trail advocacy group. IMBA has played a huge part in keeping our trails opened and maintained. If you live in SoCal check out SHARE or reach out to the Warriors Society. You could also contact your local IMBA chapter and pitch in.

Most trails in the North East are now covered with leaves. You can check the foliage report at http://www.foliagenetwork.com/reports/northeast_us/

Ringwood State Park, NJ – (Japanese Trail)

(Dan S riding a steep section of chutes)

If you live in the SoCal area you know how harsh it is right now. Thousands of acres have burned, half of a million people are out of their homes and even worse people have lost their homes. The above pictures were taken months ago in Santiago Oaks other wise known as Chutes. Santiago Oaks was hit by fire and caused major damage to the surrounding park. It will take years for it to recover. We wish all those battling flames and those misplaced by it all the best. Here’s some linkage if you want to help.