Ride 77
Ledgeview
Lower Ambi, Upper Ambi.
Rode from home today and left the house at approx 11:45. It never occurred to me that I may need to eat before, or during, strenuous exercise. I rode Upper Ambi clockwise this time and was enjoying it much more than counter clock wise. By the time I was nearing the top I was feeling finished. I sat down and ate an orange I had in my pack and headed for home. The sugar rush kicked in pretty quick and was done by the time I hit home. Lesson: EAT!
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
Bear Stare Down.
Ride 76
Vedder Mtn
Duck Farm Loop.
Headed up to the do the regular DFL. About half way down, where you hit the logging road for the second time, I came across a Black Bear....a BIG Black Bear. I'm going to say it was easily 6 ft from nose to tail...maybe more. We were about 10 m apart. I was up the trail and it was down on the road. I startled it as I came around the last turn into a clearing and because of this it ran down the road and stopped on the entrance to the last piece of trail about 30m away! Fantastic!
So there I am staring at this Bear, and it's just sitting there staring at me. After about 15 sec I get the bright idea to clap loudly to try and scare it off. Clap once and it bounds into the bush. Great! Claps two and three send it into a full blown run down the hill, crashing through everything in its path. That's when it happened. Directly behind and up the hill from me, something else was spooked and was crashing down the hill. This "thing" sounded just as big as the bear I just scared off. I jumped back on my bike and tried to find the pedals. Two attempts to find the pedals later, I was pinning it down the last of the trail; down the road and back onto single track.
Luckily the one I scared first was heading through the bush in the direction I wasn't going. I cautiously finished my ride and made it home safe and sound. I think I "saw" 6 more bears on the rest of the ride.....damn shadows.
Vedder Mtn
Duck Farm Loop.
Headed up to the do the regular DFL. About half way down, where you hit the logging road for the second time, I came across a Black Bear....a BIG Black Bear. I'm going to say it was easily 6 ft from nose to tail...maybe more. We were about 10 m apart. I was up the trail and it was down on the road. I startled it as I came around the last turn into a clearing and because of this it ran down the road and stopped on the entrance to the last piece of trail about 30m away! Fantastic!
So there I am staring at this Bear, and it's just sitting there staring at me. After about 15 sec I get the bright idea to clap loudly to try and scare it off. Clap once and it bounds into the bush. Great! Claps two and three send it into a full blown run down the hill, crashing through everything in its path. That's when it happened. Directly behind and up the hill from me, something else was spooked and was crashing down the hill. This "thing" sounded just as big as the bear I just scared off. I jumped back on my bike and tried to find the pedals. Two attempts to find the pedals later, I was pinning it down the last of the trail; down the road and back onto single track.
Luckily the one I scared first was heading through the bush in the direction I wasn't going. I cautiously finished my ride and made it home safe and sound. I think I "saw" 6 more bears on the rest of the ride.....damn shadows.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Sumas XC!!
Ride 75
Sumas Mtn.
Chadsey Lake Trail, The Way Out, Emma Peel, CYOA, Police Line.
I was late arriving for our 9 am start time. Turns out I had forgotten my bug spray and decided to back home to get it. I wasn't going to do another ride up there with out it. As I pulled up at the parking area, it seemed that Matt, Steve and Scott didn't have bug juice with them. They weren't too sore about me being 10 mins late as they lathered themselves in 23% DEET.
As I pulled the bike out of the truck Matt looked over and said one word..."Chadsey?" I'm always in for a Chadsey run. So began the long arduous climb up Sumas. Like I said with my ride with Tom, an hour up is me pushing it. The guys were nice enough to go at my pace. Matt even managed to get a tentative, sorta committed, semi-excited "yes" out of me coming to spin class with him on Tues and Thurs mornings. I know I need to up my intensity to boost my climbing cardio power, maybe this will do it.
We reached the top, had some snacky cakes and then it was on to Chadsey. The trail was wet, loose and slippery roots were abound. Scott was having a hell of a time as he still had his BC bike race SB8's on his bike. I think he ate root 3 times....they weren't pretty either.
We spat out of Chadsey and rode The Way Out. Matt's rear changer committed suicide and jumped into his spokes right at the road, so he coasted back down to the parking lot. Steve had to be back at the p-lot by 12:30 at the latest. So that left Scott and I to ride some sweet XC on Emma Peel. I half dropped the seat and turned the Pro-pedal on and gave it all I had. Once again it was a fantastic ride! It's nice riding with people.
Sumas Mtn.
Chadsey Lake Trail, The Way Out, Emma Peel, CYOA, Police Line.
I was late arriving for our 9 am start time. Turns out I had forgotten my bug spray and decided to back home to get it. I wasn't going to do another ride up there with out it. As I pulled up at the parking area, it seemed that Matt, Steve and Scott didn't have bug juice with them. They weren't too sore about me being 10 mins late as they lathered themselves in 23% DEET.
As I pulled the bike out of the truck Matt looked over and said one word..."Chadsey?" I'm always in for a Chadsey run. So began the long arduous climb up Sumas. Like I said with my ride with Tom, an hour up is me pushing it. The guys were nice enough to go at my pace. Matt even managed to get a tentative, sorta committed, semi-excited "yes" out of me coming to spin class with him on Tues and Thurs mornings. I know I need to up my intensity to boost my climbing cardio power, maybe this will do it.
We reached the top, had some snacky cakes and then it was on to Chadsey. The trail was wet, loose and slippery roots were abound. Scott was having a hell of a time as he still had his BC bike race SB8's on his bike. I think he ate root 3 times....they weren't pretty either.
We spat out of Chadsey and rode The Way Out. Matt's rear changer committed suicide and jumped into his spokes right at the road, so he coasted back down to the parking lot. Steve had to be back at the p-lot by 12:30 at the latest. So that left Scott and I to ride some sweet XC on Emma Peel. I half dropped the seat and turned the Pro-pedal on and gave it all I had. Once again it was a fantastic ride! It's nice riding with people.
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| Matt leading Scott and Steve on the Chadsey Lake Trail. |
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| Scott descending. |
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| Steve descending. |
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| You're not going to find this on the Shore! |
Saturday, July 16, 2011
a test ride for my back.
Ride 74
July 15, 2011
Legdeview
(up) 1:41, (up) Paper Route, Mixed Bag, Amy Fisher.
This was a simple quick ride up on the North side of Ledgeview to test out my back. Everything was feeling fine until the descent, where I was starting to feel the muscles in my back tense up. I must hunch over quite a bit while riding. As long as I consciously kept my back straight it felt good. I guess that means I need to start doing some regular training of my upper body....planks here I come!!!
No photos on this ride either. I started climbing at approximately 7:30pm and the way down was quite dark in the trees. I was losing light fast so I wasn't going to waste it by taking photos.
July 15, 2011
Legdeview
(up) 1:41, (up) Paper Route, Mixed Bag, Amy Fisher.
This was a simple quick ride up on the North side of Ledgeview to test out my back. Everything was feeling fine until the descent, where I was starting to feel the muscles in my back tense up. I must hunch over quite a bit while riding. As long as I consciously kept my back straight it felt good. I guess that means I need to start doing some regular training of my upper body....planks here I come!!!
No photos on this ride either. I started climbing at approximately 7:30pm and the way down was quite dark in the trees. I was losing light fast so I wasn't going to waste it by taking photos.
Keeping up with the Toms's
July 10
Sumas Mtn
Ride 73
Knob Gobbler, Holiday Sauce, Extra Sauce, Emma Peel, CYOA, Police Line.
XC ride with Tom. I pushed my self pretty hard on this ride trying to keep up with Tom on the climb. No matter how much riding I do, I cannot seen to become a good climber. I think it's the lack of intensity on the pedals up. Maybe I need to start doing some IHIT runs again....bleh. Anyway I did the climb in about 1 hr and 5mins, which isn't so bad considering my best ever time is an hour flat. The ride down is what killed me. Some time this summer Tom has learned how to shred that XC bike of his on the down hills! The only places I was faster than Tom was on a few sections of the Sauces where the Enduro was able to show the benefits of its slack angles. But as soon as the trail got twisty or started to point up.....Tom was gone. I blame the lack of a dropper post and his 6lbs weight advantage, rather than my physical short comings. No pictures as I was just trying to keep up.
This ride was tough on me. By the time I had gotten home my lower back had seized up and basically immobilized me. I spent the next 5 days hopped up on muscles relaxers and anti inflammatories.
Sumas Mtn
Ride 73
Knob Gobbler, Holiday Sauce, Extra Sauce, Emma Peel, CYOA, Police Line.
XC ride with Tom. I pushed my self pretty hard on this ride trying to keep up with Tom on the climb. No matter how much riding I do, I cannot seen to become a good climber. I think it's the lack of intensity on the pedals up. Maybe I need to start doing some IHIT runs again....bleh. Anyway I did the climb in about 1 hr and 5mins, which isn't so bad considering my best ever time is an hour flat. The ride down is what killed me. Some time this summer Tom has learned how to shred that XC bike of his on the down hills! The only places I was faster than Tom was on a few sections of the Sauces where the Enduro was able to show the benefits of its slack angles. But as soon as the trail got twisty or started to point up.....Tom was gone. I blame the lack of a dropper post and his 6lbs weight advantage, rather than my physical short comings. No pictures as I was just trying to keep up.
This ride was tough on me. By the time I had gotten home my lower back had seized up and basically immobilized me. I spent the next 5 days hopped up on muscles relaxers and anti inflammatories.
Getting to work.
July 8, 2011
Ride 72
Sumas Mtn
Time Killer, The Way Out.
The idea for this ride was plain and simple. Get photos for the Time Killer trail profile. I have the photo's, now I just need to do my write up. It's Coming!!
Ride 72
Sumas Mtn
Time Killer, The Way Out.
The idea for this ride was plain and simple. Get photos for the Time Killer trail profile. I have the photo's, now I just need to do my write up. It's Coming!!
Finally getting to it!
Ride 71
July 5, 2011
Ledgeview
Lower AmbideXCross, Upper AmbideXCross, Lower AmbideXCross, Lazy Boy, Tools of the Trade, Little Butt (up), Little Butt (down), Hidden Valley Connector, Flinstones, Spawn of BoulderDash, Autobahn.
Iam had read my previous post, and saw the photos, about the new-ish Upper Ambi trail and was excited to have a go at it. So we met at 11am on a quite a warm day and rode up for a grueling XC ride. Matt Scott is the brain child behind the south side Ledgeview trails. Matt enjoys pain. Matt enjoys suffering. More than that, Matt enjoys watching others suffering in pain. Upper Ambi, as is most of the south side, is true XC riding. Tight, twisty, bench cut single track with lots of ups and downs. What makes it sadistic though is the bloody up hill 270 degree switch backs! Matt makes them look very easy....I don't like riding with Matt.
Any way as the ride progressed it got warmer and warmer. By the time we were back at the vehicles, I was starting to feel the effects of the heat. On the drive home the thermometer in the truck bounced between 28-29 centigrade. I had to work the night shift after this ride and I think I had a little heat stroke. I started my shift at 7pm and kept the AC in the car on full pull until about 1am, after that I was feeling normal. Anyway on to the pictures.
July 5, 2011
Ledgeview
Lower AmbideXCross, Upper AmbideXCross, Lower AmbideXCross, Lazy Boy, Tools of the Trade, Little Butt (up), Little Butt (down), Hidden Valley Connector, Flinstones, Spawn of BoulderDash, Autobahn.
Iam had read my previous post, and saw the photos, about the new-ish Upper Ambi trail and was excited to have a go at it. So we met at 11am on a quite a warm day and rode up for a grueling XC ride. Matt Scott is the brain child behind the south side Ledgeview trails. Matt enjoys pain. Matt enjoys suffering. More than that, Matt enjoys watching others suffering in pain. Upper Ambi, as is most of the south side, is true XC riding. Tight, twisty, bench cut single track with lots of ups and downs. What makes it sadistic though is the bloody up hill 270 degree switch backs! Matt makes them look very easy....I don't like riding with Matt.
Any way as the ride progressed it got warmer and warmer. By the time we were back at the vehicles, I was starting to feel the effects of the heat. On the drive home the thermometer in the truck bounced between 28-29 centigrade. I had to work the night shift after this ride and I think I had a little heat stroke. I started my shift at 7pm and kept the AC in the car on full pull until about 1am, after that I was feeling normal. Anyway on to the pictures.
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| Ian riding under the cliffs. |
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| Lining up the shot on the tricky Lower Ambi Bridge. |
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| Showing you how it's done. |
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| In bloom. |
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Canada Day!
July 1, 2011
Ride 70
Ledgeview
Lower AmbideXCross, Lazy Boy, Tools of the Trade, Little Butt (up), Little Butt (down), Hidden Valley Connector, Flinstones, Spawn of BoulderDash, Autobahn, Upper AmbideXCross, Lower AmdideXCross.
Pedaled from the house today and went for an extended XC/AM loop on the south side of the Ledge. This is my usual route with a little twist. I decided to give Matt's newly opened trail a try today and what a trail it is. At first I was thinking the name should be changed from "Upper Ambi" to something like "Pain and Suffering" or "Don't be a P***y". The first half is a bunch of Matt's sadistic switch backs and steep climbs, but then you hit the bottom of the cliffs and the trail turns down. Fast, flowy, narrow bench cut single track. I was hooting out loud it was so much fun! Lots of little natural hips and booters to jump of off, with some nice exposure as well. I felt like Luke Skywalker on a Speeder Bike on the Moon of Endor. I took a couple pictures of the cliffs and some of the trail that followed. The first photo is from Little Butt if anyone is wondering. I think I may move Upper Ambi to the beginning of my XC loop as it kinda kills the flow that progresses from Flinstones to Spawn of Boulderdash to Autobahn.
Ride 70
Ledgeview
Lower AmbideXCross, Lazy Boy, Tools of the Trade, Little Butt (up), Little Butt (down), Hidden Valley Connector, Flinstones, Spawn of BoulderDash, Autobahn, Upper AmbideXCross, Lower AmdideXCross.
Pedaled from the house today and went for an extended XC/AM loop on the south side of the Ledge. This is my usual route with a little twist. I decided to give Matt's newly opened trail a try today and what a trail it is. At first I was thinking the name should be changed from "Upper Ambi" to something like "Pain and Suffering" or "Don't be a P***y". The first half is a bunch of Matt's sadistic switch backs and steep climbs, but then you hit the bottom of the cliffs and the trail turns down. Fast, flowy, narrow bench cut single track. I was hooting out loud it was so much fun! Lots of little natural hips and booters to jump of off, with some nice exposure as well. I felt like Luke Skywalker on a Speeder Bike on the Moon of Endor. I took a couple pictures of the cliffs and some of the trail that followed. The first photo is from Little Butt if anyone is wondering. I think I may move Upper Ambi to the beginning of my XC loop as it kinda kills the flow that progresses from Flinstones to Spawn of Boulderdash to Autobahn.
Dirty, dirty climbing.
June 30, 2011
Ride 69
Vedder Mtn
The Den, 2 cents, Skidder, Hidden Pleasures, Turd Ferguson, Ditch Chicken, Mexican Ninja, Electric Lettuce, Femur.
I headed over to Vedder with the intent of climbing all the way to the Den. The Den has recently become my favourite trail to ride and a trip to Vedder without it just doesn't feel right. The problem with The Den is that it damn near doubles the time of the pedal up, and really only gives you about an extra 5-7 mins of down hill. I am probably sitting at a 50% success rate when it comes to convincing myself to continue on past 2 Cents. On this ride I really wasn't feeling the extra elevation gain, but pushed my self through it knowing that the single track up there is so buff. A couple rain clouds moved in and cooled me off as I neared the top. All the trails where running well and the new section on Femur will be wicked once it firms up.
Ride 69
Vedder Mtn
The Den, 2 cents, Skidder, Hidden Pleasures, Turd Ferguson, Ditch Chicken, Mexican Ninja, Electric Lettuce, Femur.
I headed over to Vedder with the intent of climbing all the way to the Den. The Den has recently become my favourite trail to ride and a trip to Vedder without it just doesn't feel right. The problem with The Den is that it damn near doubles the time of the pedal up, and really only gives you about an extra 5-7 mins of down hill. I am probably sitting at a 50% success rate when it comes to convincing myself to continue on past 2 Cents. On this ride I really wasn't feeling the extra elevation gain, but pushed my self through it knowing that the single track up there is so buff. A couple rain clouds moved in and cooled me off as I neared the top. All the trails where running well and the new section on Femur will be wicked once it firms up.
A quick ride during a break in the rain.
June 29, 2011
Ride 68
Ledgeview
Paper Route (up), Mixed Bag, Amy Fisher.
It rained most of my 4 days on and late in the afternoon on my first day of it finally stopped. I threw the bike in the truck and heading up to the north side of Ledge in an attempt to beat the setting sun. The north side doesn't handle water that well and to say that the trails where greasy would be an understatement. Mixed Bag was so grown in with Stinging Nettles, that 24 hours later I could still feel my forearms tingling.
Ride 68
Ledgeview
Paper Route (up), Mixed Bag, Amy Fisher.
It rained most of my 4 days on and late in the afternoon on my first day of it finally stopped. I threw the bike in the truck and heading up to the north side of Ledge in an attempt to beat the setting sun. The north side doesn't handle water that well and to say that the trails where greasy would be an understatement. Mixed Bag was so grown in with Stinging Nettles, that 24 hours later I could still feel my forearms tingling.
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