September 3rd (Afternoon)

Suddenly the weather is a whopping 32° today! After a week of jacket weather riding in the morning, and low 20’s in the afternoon, this was a bit of a shock. Not too hot, really, but enough to keep a good sweat going!

The ride was good, but the new brakes were noisy. I stopped a few times and tried to make some small adjustments to try and center the pads around the rotor, and I think I did finally get it close. At least the noise was subdued…

Phil and I had planned to meet up at the gulley trailhead and he was going to take me on some of the Upper PC and Sticks and Bones trails. However, I got there around 5:10 (he usually would be there around 5:05) and waited ‘till 5:25 until I decided to leave and continue on home. Not sure where he ended up, maybe he was mad that I left him in the dust the last ride?

From there, the ride was really a lot of fun. I had a good section down the two gulley trails, but my forearms were sure sore at the end from squeezing the brakes so much. My legs hurt too. Obviously I don’t do much in the way of extended and steep downhills, as those muscles are quite up to par yet!

I met up with the Rocky Mountain guy (haven’t actually talked to him yet, so I’m not sure what his name is). He rides off and on for fun along these trails. Well, not that I’m not riding for fun, but I mean he’s not commuting…

Coming into Juniper, I caught up to a lady on the main trail riding the same direction. She was going quite slow and tenderly, so I thought it odd that she was riding by herself. Most people beginning in the sport would ride with someone, but hey, it’s cool she was out there riding! She had a nice Specialized full suspension though!

Corrie picked me up a new derailleur cable today, so I should be able to get the bike tuned up properly this weekend. It’s labour day weekend, so I won’t be riding ‘till Tuesday now, so have a great weekend all!

September 3rd (Morning)

The ride this morning started off pretty well. I felt really good physically. With a bit of cloud cover, it was a bit darker (dimmer I guess) than normal, so I had better find some clear glasses soon as even these yellow ones I am using are a bit too dark.

I installed some new brake pads on the front last night, but did not have the chance to break them in properly so I tried doing a bit of breaking in as I left the house. By the end of the ride, they were grabbing really nicely. These are Jagwire pads instead of the Tektro’s that come with the bike (as I got last time for the rear), so we’ll see if I like them better or not.

Going down into Peterson’s Creek was good. However, things started going awry when I started climbing up out of the creek. I made the first section, but then ran too wide and jammed the handlebar into some bushes and had to bail. No worries, I have only made this once before so I wasn’t too worried. Then I started the climb up past the gate and didn’t get my 2nd foot clipped in and thus had it slip off in a hurry, just about causing me a lot of pain. Frustrated, I started the climb again and then completely lost traction and control about half way up (I rarely don’t make this climb, so I was quite frustrated to say the least).

The next section I struggled with was the boardwalk. Yesterday I hit my handlebar on the left railing twice, but it wasn’t a big deal as I was able to keep pushing up and made the climb. However, today my handlebar hit on the right side and actually dug in, and I was barely able to get my feet down in time to save my face from eating the railing…

Finally, I continued on and made the first sandy section, but the next one I veered way left, overcorrected and went way too far right and then couldn’t bring the bike back in line and AGAIN had to dab.

It was very frustrating, as physically I felt really good. I didn’t get even close to my maximum heart rate the entire ride, and my legs felt like I had lots left in them. But technically I just didn’t have it this morning.

I am hoping to meet up with Phil today for an extended ride up on upper PC trails, so I do hope that I snap out of it for that ride as I will need to be more alert and responsive than normal with new trails that will probably be technical and tough. I wish myself good luck!!!

September 2nd (Afternoon)

Not too much to report today. The trail was VERY busy with hikers! I did have one cyclist behind me on Summit drive, but he never caught up (never really lagged behind though either). After I turned down into Peterson’s Creek I never saw him again, so he must’ve continued on down Summit. Too bad, could’ve been another commuter partner!

The ride down into Peterson’s Creek was good, but I was not happy with the brakes. They were grippy enough, but too squishy and didn’t contact ‘till well past half of the lever pull. Still, they worked so that was good. There were about 3 ladies at the creek taking water samples with all their gear, not sure what for really? What do I know about that sort of thing anyways…

I did make the section down into the creek, through the creek and back up the first root section on the other side. However, while I made it over the second root, I didn’t have enough jam to make the steep section afterwards…

The rest of the trail was good. The two new trails through the gulley’s were sweet, although I did just about bite it pretty good through the rock garden and had to put a foot down… Oh well, with better braking meaning more confidence, I should be clearing these trails like nothing soon enough!

I finally rode the pipeline trail into Juniper. I haven’t ridden this section for quite some time, with missing about 2-1/2 weeks of biking and the rest of the days I’ve been pushing the big gear on the main trail. It was fun, but the weeds that are still somewhat over the trail have now since died and become piles of stiff, scratchy little sticks that were quite annoying! But, they were further back off of the trail than they were before, so that’s good at least!

As soon as I got home, I jumped in the truck and drove down to Taboo and picked up a new set of Jagwire brake pads and 6ft of cable housing for the rear derailleur. Of course, I forgot to grab a new cable as well, so I only installed the brake pads tonight. I’ll have to grab a cable tomorrow or Saturday and finish that up over the weekend. Hopefully the cable that’s there now lasts! With the housing being to short, it has been sitting at a 90° angle to the entry port on the derailleur for about 3 weeks now or more. Somehow I’ve still been able to get the shifting to work pretty decent, but it just isn’t what it should be. Not to mention the extra wear and tear on the cable to have to make that bend like that… Uff da!

September 2nd (Morning)

I was positive that I read 15° this morning on the laptop before leaving. But, I stepped outside and immediately turned around to get my jacket! Turns out it was about 9 or 10°, NOT 15°! But, the sun was bright and the sky was blue. I did notice out the bedroom window when I got up, though, that the street lights were on… Granted, 10 minutes later they were off, but still that morning darkness is creeping in sooner than I’d hoped. I suppose this is one year I will actually AGREE with daylight savings time!

The ride was really good, but man the ride to work is tough! I get a bit of flats here and there, and a couple of downhills, but really about 75% of the way I am grinding out a climb… Ugghh… I don’t think I’m doing any more climbing on this new route than before when I took the Billy Minor North trail through Peterson’s creek, but I am doing more climbing on trails whereas before the majority of the climbing was on streets. I think on a street, I can just get into a zone and go. On trails, however, I’m constantly bouncing, hitting sudden steep sections, corners, etc. Harder to get into a zone that way. But, I still won’t change it. It hasn’t killed me yet!

Going through Peterson’s Creek was way better this morning than yesterday. More controlled down, and I focused on my line up the other side before I even really started through the creek. I managed a good speed through the creek and made it pretty much to the top of the west bank (I’ve only ever done this once yet). I thought I was free and clear, and ready to whoop out in excitement for making this tough, technical section when suddenly I veered too sharply, pushed too hard on the downstroke, and popped my front wheel up high and fast, all of this causing me to lean back and over and I had to dab and grab on to a nearby tree to not fall over (and, of course, got sap on my glove in doing so). Dang it, I had this!!! Tomorrow I guess… The good news is that I’m getting consistently closer every time, and in both directions. There’s also a section prior to descending into the valley where I have to traverse down and around a tree that’s across the trail. I would constantly have to dab or walk it, but I’ve been able to consistently pull it off in a smooth and controlled motion, which is exciting to see the progress.

I’m very happy to have discovered this new trail. The physical challenges are still there, but now with these technical challenges, I feel that I’m really starting to improve my mountain biking skills. There are a couple of sections of the trail that I still cannot beat, but with time I think I will get there.

September 1st (Afternoon)

Boy I’m sure glad I chose to ride this morning! It may have been a bit of a wet ride in, but the sun was bright and the clouds few as I rode home in 22° weather! I would’ve been mighty annoyed if I was driving home with weather like this…

As I started down into Peterson’s creek, the front brake started making a strange “click” noise when I pressed it. I’m thinking my pads are done maybe? The front was pretty loose, so at the bottom I tightened up the cable and moved the wheel-side pad in a bit and that seemed to get rid of the noise and the braking was good. I did, however, phone Taboo when I got home and they do have a pair of pads in stock so I’ll have to go and pick them up soon.

The ride down, through and back up Peterson’s Creek was pretty good. I had a tough time on the climb, both out of the creek bank and up the hill. But the rest of the ride went well. Of course, I continued to head up Frolek’s upper road to the new gulley trails that Phil showed me. As I came to the gulley trailhead, I caught up with two bikers (a father and son I think), but they kept going straight up the road. I didn’t talk to them, and the older biker looked like Brian? It wasn’t the same Brodie bike he rides, though, but I suppose he might have bought a new one maybe?

The new trail was sweet. Not nearly as steep as I remembered yesterday, but steep enough still!

Rather difficult to really capture this new trail with a cell phone camera. But you can sort of see how the trail banks up in front of the bike, then drops down to the left behind the trees and continues down. This part will be SWEET once I get used to it! At the lower bank, the trail goes under that fallen tree.

 

Glancing back over the trail as it winds and banks it’s way down.

 

Not much for steep here or anything, but still a cool, winding trail shot I guess?

 

The bike is just off to the right of the trail, just short of a bit of a drop (only about a foot) over some rocks, and then the trail drops and twists to the left. This is probably one of the steeper sections, but, again, tough to capture on this phone!

The rest of the ride was good. As I got to the top of the last hill at the Rose Hill pipeline section, I stood there catching my breath and noticed another biker coming behind me (quite a ways back). I thought about waiting around, but figured I just wanted to get going so I continued on. As I came down the main trail through to Juniper, I came across a bunch of riders (I think it was the beginner’s womens group called the “Chicklets” but I’m not sure). At one point, I had just passed two of them (going quite slowly), and noticed another girl going around a corner up ahead. Figuring I had the time, I threw the bike into the big gear and cranked the straight, only to come around the corner and find about 5 or 6 of the bikers stopped on the trail! Oops! I managed to slow down and not run any of them over, so that was good…

I ordered a few smaller things from MEC today (like a new bite valve for my water pack, and a new tube and repair kit) and I will try to get to Taboo soon to pick up the new brake pads and a new derailleur housing and maybe the tire if he ordered it in? Sheesh, putting this many miles on this bike is getting to be a constant expense… Still! Not as bad as driving by far, so that’s OK I suppose!

September 1st (Morning)

Seriously??? SEPTEMBER??? Ahhhh!!! We’re into the “burrrrr” months, Septemburrr, Octoburrr, Novemburrr and then Decemburrr!!! Basically, this means spending money on lights, jackets, pants, gloves… Ugghh… Corrie is saying I need to spend the money on a truck to start commuting with instead of biking, but I’m not sure I’ll have that kind of money to spend!

Anyways, this morning I laid in bed from about 5am listening to the rain coming steadily down… So, by the time 6am came around, I had consigned myself to taking the truck today (I didn’t think Corrie needed it for anything today). From 6:00 to 6:30, I laid in bed listening to the rain and then suddenly at 6:30 I decided to just get up and ride! Granted, I normally am getting my gear on and heading out the door about this time, but whatever! I managed to get out the door by about 6:50, so I knew I’d be getting to work just in time. The first stretch up to Frolek’s gate it rained, but after that it finally stopped. The brakes were LOUD. Thankfully it’s mostly uphill, so I don’t need the brakes much on the way to work!

Going down the last little short, steep descent into Peterson’s Creek was sketchy. I slid sideways left, then right, fighting for control. As such, I sort of bounced through the creek and didn’t have a hope of making it up the other side! In fact, the first steep climb after that I even screwed up and had to jump off… Not sure what was going on this morning! But, I did make the rest of the climb up to Summit, even both sandy sections, so it wasn’t all a loss!

It was a good ride, and by the time I got to Summit drive, the sun was starting to shine and the clouds were disappearing! Wow, so glad I rode! I would’ve been very annoyed looking at the blue and sunny skies knowing I wasn’t going to get to ride home in such great weather! I hope the weather stays like this today for my ride home, I really want to try those new trails Phil showed me yesterday and get some pictures for my next blog entry!

August 31st (Afternoon)

A GREAT ride home! Not just physically, although I did feel good, but I made and cleared some sections and found new trails AGAIN! Yay!

First of all, as I was coming around the corner on Summit drive, I noticed another biker going down into the Peterson’s Creek trails ahead of me, although it seemed he was going faster than I normally do. I had to stop for a dog part of the way down, cleared the two sandy sections, and didn’t see the rider again for a while. I did, however, notice his tracks in the soft dirt (it had rained a while during the day today). If I was reading his tracks right, I would say he was either going faster than me, due to the way the tracks got deeper and then lighter on certain sections. Anyways, as I came down the final descent, I glanced down the bank and noticed him just clearing the creek at the bottom. By the time I came around the bend and through the creek, he was sitting at the top of the other side catching his breath. Of course, it was Phil after all.

So, now that I had an audience, I cleared the creek with great speed, bounced up and over the first root, then the second and made it just about to the top of the steep little climb to where Phil was waiting. We chatted quickly, and he said I might as well go in front as he didn’t feel like he had much in him this ride. So, I did, and as such (not knowing if he was right behind me or what), I powered up the climb faster than normal and made it right up to the washed out section where I have to carry the bike over. This was the furthest I’d made it yet! Of course, I glanced back and noticed he was still a ways behind me, so I didn’t have to push that hard…

The next part of the trail is cut across the hill, with a bit of climbing, and a couple of rocky sections that I have trouble with usually. But, of course, with the thought of Phil right behind me, I cleared both sections! After that, where I normally head left down to my usual single-track across Frolek’s land, Phil wanted to go right. I did and am I ever glad I did! We rode up a bit (nothing too hard) and he asked me if I ever took the trail down the gulley. I said no, that I was the kind of guy that found something that worked and didn’t change it! When I go to a restaurant,  I get a burger… That’s just who I am, I’m not into branching out too much! Anyways, he took me down this trail and it was so sweet. There were some pretty steep sections, and the trail just banked up and down both sides of the gulley, under some fallen trees and over some knarly rocky sections. At one point, Phil stopped and said for me to “just roll with this next section, both up and down” Ok, whatever that means! And then, as he started to pedal off, he says “It’s pretty scary at first, but just follow me and be careful!” GREAT! Thanks, Phil! Well, it was AWESOME! I came over this steep hill, dropped down and back up another one, and then was sitting over an even steeper section with rocks all over the place. As I started over the crest, I realized this is my usual trail, except I take a trail that forks off rather than trying to climb this (obviously)! So, knowing what was at the bottom and around the corner, I was much more confident to make the downhill. Wow, that was so much fun! As we then continued on my regular trail, Phil asked me at one point which way I went over the next little hill. “Ummm, straight… Is there another way?” I asked… Well, it turns out there is another trail, again going down through a gulley. This one is not nearly as well travelled, so the trailhead is hard to really see. There were some crazy rocky and steep sections, mixed in with a couple of rock garden portions even. It was every bit as sweet as the other trail, and as we came out onto Frolek’s lower road, I was pumped! Tomorrow, I will take the trail again and try to find some spots where I can stop and take some pictures. What a great trail! I really have nothing to help my steep and technical descending skills, so this will be great to gain control and confidence and skill.

After Frolek’s road, Phil again let me lead saying he was fading. I went through the Rose Hill pipeline section fast, but still didn’t make the last hill (just couldn’t hook up through the sandy portion again). After that hill, we took off and I noticed that by the time I crossed Rose Hill, Phil was already a ways behind me. I think it was a bit “jerkish” of me, but I kept going as I just love pushing the big gears on this final trail. I was hoping he’d keep up, but by the time I got through the Juniper trails, he was no where in sight… Oops, sorry Phil! We’re planning, however, to meet up on Friday and he’s going to show me some of the Upper PC and Sticks and Bones trails. That’s the plan anyways, so that would be a cool ride for sure!