While the hardcore among us (or the rather insane, as the case may be) headed to Tennessee for the Cohutta race, Ali and I loaded up the truck this morning for a spin around Lake Crabtree and some other nearby trails. It was truly a beautiful day to be on the bike: clear skies, temps in the 70s, and the trees in the first leaves of spring. We weren't out to put up any big miles or record-breaking speeds, but instead contented ourselves with a nice spin in the woods.
That's not to say that there weren't obstacles, some inanimate...
Others a little more, well, ill-tempered:
Over on the Crabtree side we were able to spend a little time on the newly-built pump track. I'm still not entirely sure that I understand the point of this particular exercise, but it's definitely well-built, and was fun to do a few laps on while others coached from the side.
As Ali was in prime photog mode, here's a series of yours truly getting medieval on the pump. Like I said, I'm not at all sure that I've got this down, but here you'll see me rocking from side to side...
Then entering the turn...
Whipping it around...
And then popping out...
Hell if I know if I was doing it right. After a half-dozen laps or
so I was definitely a little winded, which is odd since you're not supposed to pedal while you're on the track. (And yes, I think I am turning over a pedal in the last picture, but we'll ignore that for the time being.)The day was not without it's casualties, though, as I was able to send an unaware Ali into a teeter-totter that I'd tripped, leading to the day's only injury. Not bad, though: his prognosis for recovery is good.
Here's hoping Brian, Dave, and JD are rocking it out in the volunteer state.
Edit, 3:17 pm: I just got word that JD has finished the 65 mile version of Cohutta. He had no info on the whereabouts of either Dave or Brian, but it's a little early to get worried. Rescue personnel will be dispatched at the appropriate hour.
Edit, 7:12 pm: All Cohutta warriors are now accounted for. Alive, at the very least.
3 comments:
Pirate, you have a look of intensity in all of those photos. Great photos, by the way. Who did you say took those?
Ali did. They turned out pretty well, I think. I kept missing him when I was behind the lens, and I couldn't convince him to do silly stuff on the elevated skinnies and the like -- I was hoping to capture carnage.
I've started riding with my tongue out, MJ-style a lot, which makes me look much more intense than I am.
Heres to Trips For Kids Triangle's numero uno volunteer Dave Bryan for his fantastic feat at Cohutta! Go dave go! Congrats to all the BCC boys!
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