Get Off My Trail
Speed Mountain hosted the Pivot demo fleet this week at Providence Canyon. I can’t resist smashing other people’s hardware into rocks and I signed up for a morning test ride on a Mach 4 SL and a Trail 429 for the afternoon. At 9am I did two things I almost never do. First, I drove to the trail head. Second I left the Ripmo in
Rode in the morning shade of Green Canyon all the way up and hit the top just in time for the sun to warm my downward journey. Green is pretty perfect and some kind, trail hero cleared the log jam at the top. The ride – Green Canyon The bike – Ibis Ripmo
Sometimes it is about the numbers. I was so close to 50 miles as I got closer to home that I couldn’t help but throw on a few miles. The problem is that all the roads are torn up or covered in mud because they were recently torn up. After dodging the junk I scored an extra mile and crossed the 50 barrier. Then I
I could not drag my butt out of bed this morning. There are consequences to laziness. In the summer being baked by the Utah sun is my punishment. Of course, the beauty of Logan Canyon is the reward. The ride – Logan River Trail The bike – Bianchi Cavaria
Another, “watch your head” warning. In spite of my body’s inability to produce any significant power I decided I missed Providence Canyon too much to not try a quick up and back. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m still not processing information correctly or if the trees really are starting to lean into the trail more than they used to but I managed to
I’ve been recovering this last week which means sleeping and generally living in a foggy haze. Fresh air and a nice slow ride helped to clear my brain a bit. Still, only a bit since this virus leaves you feeling unable to push hard. For the next few days I imagine I’ll be lollygagging along the highways. The ride – Paradise The bike – Time
Coming into Paradise I stopped at the stop sign to wait for an oncoming car. I’m on a bike so I barely take up any space at all on the far right. Lucky for me I don’t unclip. Instead I hover and wait my turn. The white mini van turns my direction. When I say turns my direction they turn straight at me as in
The Ripmo ran into a twin at the top of Providence. They quickly exchanged pleasantries as we finished the top loop. As we dropped into the creek I was reminded that by the time August rolls around usually the trails are inches deep in moon dust. This year, with copious rain, the trails are packed and the creek is still running. The Ripmo has a
Passing through Hyrum, Utah the air is frequently thick with unpleasant smells as it is the home of a large slaughter house. Proceed south from Hyrum to Paradise and the air changes to cut hay. Keep on going and make the climb up raspberry hill to where Weeks raises their crop of the luscious little berry and you can’t gulp in the air fast enough.
The Ripmo enjoys ripping, tearing, screaming through the forest throwing rock and mud and debris everywhere. The morning after summer thunderstorms the trails are moist like a cake take right from the oven. Then you bit into bits filled with molten chocolate. The mountains are like that but instead of chocolate we return home caked in dirt with a few weeds and probably a bit