Ok, where to start.. rain? mud? flowing rivers?
Game on, the ride started a few minutes after 6pm tonight, in the rain. I am still baffled at why people were under trees trying to stay dry while it was raining and the group was getting ready to roll out.. I am still a bit fuzzy on that one..
We rode out of Talcott Plaza .. to West Hartford Mud Pit in the pouring rain... I am ok with that
Anyhow, not much to say here that hasn't been said. The place doesn't drain well, or at all from the looks of it. A few guys who are apparently regulars up at the Rez claim it was the worst they have ever seen it.
From my point of view.. it was a bit spooky riding. Given I had a lot of trouble with slippage early this season I was a bit shy on pushing over certain terrain.. that changed by the middle of the ride.
My confidence levels are climbing in the wet.. I slipped a bit sure.. but I am able to stay upright.. keep the bike from flying out from under me.. it's pretty kewl. I fell over once tonight due to slippery ledge rock.. that was early on.. and a slow motion fall that twisted my right ankle a bit, but 5 minutes in I forgot all about it.
Anyhow.. I found a group of 4 other riders that I hung with. Good guys who explained to me that they are step below the fast group.. but they don't mind playing on climbs.. waiting for each other and helping out/waiting for flat repairs. -- I found my Monday night gang to ride with good stuffage.
Prior to those guys I was basically riding solo.. between a couple of groups. I kept catching up to the above 4 guys and then falling back.. stuck with them once I joined them...
Like last week, I found myself doing some terrain that I might not have done 3 weeks ago.. Some simply, very wet and slippery downhills that I was going pretty fast on(for me at least).. couple up and overs.. rollers.. small drops.. some edgy stuff especially given the conditions out there tonight.
Climbing.. I am definitely learning some tricks/techniques to steep climbs.. and keeping traction.. there seems to be a sweet spot.. for both positions and gears. I used to think Granny it up and go.. then I would slip out.. but seems to be an issue in too low of a gear with slippage.. perhaps combined with my previously very poor saddle position.. anyhow.. went up some stuff I had really thought I would slip out on.. no slippage.. good stuff... learning continues.
I didn't like the conditions, the ride over all however, was decent. Decent again, because I am skilling up a bit.. getting better... meeting new folks to ride with... but I would chose to ride elsewhere given those same conditions again.
I have not been this muddy since I was a kid.
Special sighting of the night -> Man OTB into river. You can laugh neither he or his bike are hurt.. it was a site to see.. cleaned his bike off at least.
Game on, the ride started a few minutes after 6pm tonight, in the rain. I am still baffled at why people were under trees trying to stay dry while it was raining and the group was getting ready to roll out.. I am still a bit fuzzy on that one..
We rode out of Talcott Plaza .. to West Hartford Mud Pit in the pouring rain... I am ok with that
Anyhow, not much to say here that hasn't been said. The place doesn't drain well, or at all from the looks of it. A few guys who are apparently regulars up at the Rez claim it was the worst they have ever seen it.
From my point of view.. it was a bit spooky riding. Given I had a lot of trouble with slippage early this season I was a bit shy on pushing over certain terrain.. that changed by the middle of the ride.
My confidence levels are climbing in the wet.. I slipped a bit sure.. but I am able to stay upright.. keep the bike from flying out from under me.. it's pretty kewl. I fell over once tonight due to slippery ledge rock.. that was early on.. and a slow motion fall that twisted my right ankle a bit, but 5 minutes in I forgot all about it.
Anyhow.. I found a group of 4 other riders that I hung with. Good guys who explained to me that they are step below the fast group.. but they don't mind playing on climbs.. waiting for each other and helping out/waiting for flat repairs. -- I found my Monday night gang to ride with
good stuffage.Prior to those guys I was basically riding solo.. between a couple of groups. I kept catching up to the above 4 guys and then falling back.. stuck with them once I joined them...
Like last week, I found myself doing some terrain that I might not have done 3 weeks ago.. Some simply, very wet and slippery downhills that I was going pretty fast on(for me at least).. couple up and overs.. rollers.. small drops.. some edgy stuff especially given the conditions out there tonight.
Climbing.. I am definitely learning some tricks/techniques to steep climbs.. and keeping traction.. there seems to be a sweet spot.. for both positions and gears. I used to think Granny it up and go.. then I would slip out.. but seems to be an issue in too low of a gear with slippage.. perhaps combined with my previously very poor saddle position.. anyhow.. went up some stuff I had really thought I would slip out on.. no slippage.. good stuff... learning continues.
I didn't like the conditions, the ride over all however, was decent. Decent again, because I am skilling up a bit.. getting better... meeting new folks to ride with... but I would chose to ride elsewhere given those same conditions again.
I have not been this muddy since I was a kid.
Special sighting of the night -> Man OTB into river. You can laugh neither he or his bike are hurt.. it was a site to see.. cleaned his bike off at least.
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