FATS Fundraiser ride report
How does it feel to ride with a knife in your back? Well let me tell you, it sucks. It hurts. You can't climb well, you can't ride technical stuff well, and descending on a rigid fork hurts.
OK, back on topic:
Today was the FATS Fundraiser for the FATS trail in SC. Since Eddie was busy with bike fits all day, I thought I would hop in the car with Clifford & Lisa and check out these trails I had heard so much about.
5:30 am: Alarm! Yes, I actually got up at 5:30am. It was not pleasant.
6:00 am: Find out that FATS is actually NOT on the itinerary. Instead we would ride 4 other trails linked with roads..a total of about 25 miles of trail and 25 miles of road...not exactly what I had in mind but I had already committed.
6:05 am: Pull a muscle in my back while carrying buttload of stuff to the car, plus my bike. :(
6:45 am: Leave the Robertson/Rolf residence
9:00 am: Arrive at Lick Fork Rec. Area..load up the SAG wagon with my bottles and then stand around and freeze. Wooglin, Tomato and BrouSSard were there too! I was told that the $25 donation gave us a nice map and use of the food drop..however they were not bringing the stuff back for us from the food drop. HUH? So we planned to either stuff my empty bottles into all three of our pockets, drive back to the food drop after the ride was over, or just sacrifice my bottles as part of the cost of the day. I take 2 Aleve and hope my back feels better, because I feel like I have a knife stuck in it.
10:00 am: Ride starts. We started on the old Bakers Dozen trail...
10:05 am: Clifford pulls off the trail with his foot unclipped..crank arm attached. D'oh.
10:10 am: Rolling again
11:00 am: Clifford's crank arm is off again. He says he is not going to make it the entire 50 miles with this mechanical. The knife is still in my back, unfortunately.
11:05 am: Lisa makes the executive decision to follow Clifford on the pavement shortcut back to the car, where he will wait for us to then ride an out-and-back on the last singletrack section, the Modoc trail.
12:00 pm: After a painful flat SS ride on pavement we finally arrive at the Modoc trail parking lot. I only have one bottle since we never made it to the food drop. I'm quite bitchy and have spent the last hour being PO'd. Mostly because my back hurts like hell and riding is extremely uncomfortable. I can't climb out of the saddle..and I can barely lift my front wheel.
2:00 pm: Finished! I am glad we at least got to ride the Modoc because it put me in a way better mood. It was fun, and challenging at times. My back still really hurts, though, and I am worried I will not be able to move in a few minutes. The trail was a bit rough (think mountain biking on an old hiking trail)..with technical creek crossings.
5:00 pm: Back in Atlanta. What a day..not perfect, not even close. However, it was 60* and sunny, and I got to ride. I even got to see Tomato and his cool socks. Now, I should go ice my back. I am really happy I have tomorrow off from working out! I need some rest.
I hope everyone had a good weekend. I start my clinical rotations on Tuesday..so I will not have a life for the next 5 weeks..I hope my training does not suffer too much, but I just have to get through this. The Croom 50 ride is on for next weekend in FL! I can't wait to go back there!
OK, back on topic:
Today was the FATS Fundraiser for the FATS trail in SC. Since Eddie was busy with bike fits all day, I thought I would hop in the car with Clifford & Lisa and check out these trails I had heard so much about.
5:30 am: Alarm! Yes, I actually got up at 5:30am. It was not pleasant.
6:00 am: Find out that FATS is actually NOT on the itinerary. Instead we would ride 4 other trails linked with roads..a total of about 25 miles of trail and 25 miles of road...not exactly what I had in mind but I had already committed.
6:05 am: Pull a muscle in my back while carrying buttload of stuff to the car, plus my bike. :(
6:45 am: Leave the Robertson/Rolf residence
9:00 am: Arrive at Lick Fork Rec. Area..load up the SAG wagon with my bottles and then stand around and freeze. Wooglin, Tomato and BrouSSard were there too! I was told that the $25 donation gave us a nice map and use of the food drop..however they were not bringing the stuff back for us from the food drop. HUH? So we planned to either stuff my empty bottles into all three of our pockets, drive back to the food drop after the ride was over, or just sacrifice my bottles as part of the cost of the day. I take 2 Aleve and hope my back feels better, because I feel like I have a knife stuck in it.
10:00 am: Ride starts. We started on the old Bakers Dozen trail...
10:05 am: Clifford pulls off the trail with his foot unclipped..crank arm attached. D'oh.
10:10 am: Rolling again
11:00 am: Clifford's crank arm is off again. He says he is not going to make it the entire 50 miles with this mechanical. The knife is still in my back, unfortunately.
11:05 am: Lisa makes the executive decision to follow Clifford on the pavement shortcut back to the car, where he will wait for us to then ride an out-and-back on the last singletrack section, the Modoc trail.
12:00 pm: After a painful flat SS ride on pavement we finally arrive at the Modoc trail parking lot. I only have one bottle since we never made it to the food drop. I'm quite bitchy and have spent the last hour being PO'd. Mostly because my back hurts like hell and riding is extremely uncomfortable. I can't climb out of the saddle..and I can barely lift my front wheel.
2:00 pm: Finished! I am glad we at least got to ride the Modoc because it put me in a way better mood. It was fun, and challenging at times. My back still really hurts, though, and I am worried I will not be able to move in a few minutes. The trail was a bit rough (think mountain biking on an old hiking trail)..with technical creek crossings.
5:00 pm: Back in Atlanta. What a day..not perfect, not even close. However, it was 60* and sunny, and I got to ride. I even got to see Tomato and his cool socks. Now, I should go ice my back. I am really happy I have tomorrow off from working out! I need some rest.
I hope everyone had a good weekend. I start my clinical rotations on Tuesday..so I will not have a life for the next 5 weeks..I hope my training does not suffer too much, but I just have to get through this. The Croom 50 ride is on for next weekend in FL! I can't wait to go back there!
posted by Namrita O'Dea at
4:03 PM
6 Comments:
You totally need to come ride FATS with us sometime (sans knife in back). It's sooo much fun you almost feel guilty for not having to work harder to get around the trail
Ditto on what el Jefe said. Did you ride the new Baker's Dozen trail? IF so, what's it like?
mallie, no we didn't. someone did tell me that the new course is way more fun than the old one..so i guess that is good!
Maybe we'll have to plan another trip out that way, so we can ride both. I have been planning to do a early morning trip up, ride, and back. Maybe we can find a weekend that fits into your crazy schedule.
Nam,
Too bad about the back, feel better. Nice to see ya out.
I am a living fashion statement . . . 8-)
Ouch, that ride sounds painful. Hope your back feels better!!!
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