I had my gym bag with me at work on Friday, getting ready for a post work run that I wasn't really looking forward to. I'd had a few mediocre runs recently and this seemed (at least in my head) to be shaping up for another. At 2:00 PM Monica texted me that she would throw the bikes on the car and meet me at Great Brook Farms if I wanted to go for a mountain bike ride instead. That sounded better for my disposition and my legs, so we agreed to meet there around 5:45 for some playing in the mud.
Aside from both of us making wrong turns on our way to place we'd been to many times we arrived without major incident. Monica brought all my biking clothes I changed in the restrooms and we started riding. After a quick loop to warm up we headed to our favorite single track loop. This was my first time at Great Brook on my new bike and the difference was pretty significant. I'm finally beginning to let the bike do it's job, and concentrate on doing my job. I can pedal just fine, keep the bike pointed in the right direction, and trust that the suspension will absorb the impacts. The best example was the narrow bridges on the Tophet Loop. In the past I was constantly adjusting the steering, worried about dropping off the side into the mud. Now, the bridges just seemed wider. I could look ahead and plan for the dismount and keep my speed up.
After the Tophet Loop we did the more technical Keyes Loop which has a few rock walls to scale. I gave up on the first one, and after making it over the later ones on the trail I really wish I had tried it again. Next time. Then we explored a new area, trying to follow the map and find more single track. Aside from a lot of dogs barking at us and getting turned around once we found some good terrain that we'll return to. It was getting a bit dark as we finished that loop so we decided to head back to the cars rather than fight the dusk. There's one section that we rode a long time ago where we both had to walk and even carry the bikes that I'd like to try again.
A great Friday alternative to heading to Applebee's for a beer and potato skins. Can't wait to explore some more.
GPS track of the ride
Aside from both of us making wrong turns on our way to place we'd been to many times we arrived without major incident. Monica brought all my biking clothes I changed in the restrooms and we started riding. After a quick loop to warm up we headed to our favorite single track loop. This was my first time at Great Brook on my new bike and the difference was pretty significant. I'm finally beginning to let the bike do it's job, and concentrate on doing my job. I can pedal just fine, keep the bike pointed in the right direction, and trust that the suspension will absorb the impacts. The best example was the narrow bridges on the Tophet Loop. In the past I was constantly adjusting the steering, worried about dropping off the side into the mud. Now, the bridges just seemed wider. I could look ahead and plan for the dismount and keep my speed up.
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| Over a rock wall |
A great Friday alternative to heading to Applebee's for a beer and potato skins. Can't wait to explore some more.
GPS track of the ride
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