At the end of July I headed out of roasty toasty St. George, dropped the kids off at Grandma Kathy’s and caught a flight to Atlanta, Georgia! The ASCLS National Convention was being held at the World Congress Center and Omni Hotel.
View of Atlanta from the Omni Hotel.
Walking over to the World Congress center I ran into Micky and Vinnie from American Chopper. They were there with Paul Jr. unveiling a custom built bike for Cepheid.
Met up with Van Aston and his family for dinner and a Braves game.
On Saturday for kicks and grins because I really think I am addicted to the sport I rented a 29'er and headed to Woodstock, GA to ride Blankets Creek approximately 20 miles of single track cut into the woods next to Lake Alltoona. The parking lot was JAM packed when I arrived. I was surprised! It was really hard to find a place to rent a bike so I assumed it wasn’t as popular activity like it is in Utah. Oh no mountain biking is alive and rocking in the South!
Just out of the parking lot and down the connector trail I came across a guide pole that pointed to Fruita, CO.
For the first ride I chose the Dwelling Loop, 4.2 miles rated intermediate. Previous to this bike ride I have only ridden two mountain bikes my original Specialized Hardtail and my baby Ethan (Specialized Safire). Initially, I liked the 29'er (Trek, hardtail) I found the trail to be well suited for the bigger tires it was smooth and flowy, like a roller coaster. The bike rolled right over large roots with barley any effort. I struggled with the heat and humidity, at one point I had to stop.... and I don’t know.... I guess cool down I seriously about passed out. But there is no cooling off in that heat and humidity which was near 100%!
After Dwelling I played around for a split second on the wall ride. I wish I knew how to corner better or that I had my bike which I am more comfortable riding. I really wanted to play around here but was a little intimidated by the thing.
The intermediate ride only left me craving more I wanted to see what an advanced trail had to offer. Next I rode the South Loop 4.5 miles of sweet single track. It was very different riding you could not see the forest for all the trees! It is nothing like riding here in Utah, were often the trail opens up to beautiful vistas. You catch glimpses of Lake Alltoona here and there it wasn’t until I walked down off the bike trail did I realize how big Lake Alltoona is.
On the South Loop ride, I was desperately wishing for my bike! The 29'er was harder to navigate through tight corners and over jagged rocks. Plus the components on the bike were not as nice as I am use to and it really seemed to start bothering me on this second ride. I took a hard tumble and left some skin and blood mixed into the red southern soil.
SORBA has done a great job with this park. The trails range from beginner to advanced so it is a great place for families or to start the noob rider on. I think the best part was that the trails are directional Sun, Mon, Wed and Fri are clockwise. Tue, Thu, Sat are counter clockwise unless you are hiking or running they must go the opposite direction AND bikes have the right of way at all times. SWEET!!!! You never run into a downhiller and you never scare the shit out of a runner with earbuds in. It was like a bike Utopia! I was pretty tired after South Loop and packed the bike back into the car. As soon as I was in the car the gates of heaven opened and it DOWNPOURED! So see I wasn’t fibbing when I said the humidity was near 100%. If I had not quit when I did, I would have been drenched. Wait a minute….. I was drenched, as the sweat NEVER evaporates in that kind of humidity. Seriously disgusting! It may be as hot as Hadees in St. George and you still sweat buckets of water but at least you dry out quick unlike in Atlanta where is stays with all day. I left feeling satisfied and wishing I could ride the trail again on Sunday.
