"Beer is rented, glory is forever" - Just a
meaningless bunch of conjoined phrases I threw together
Sorry to disappoint, but I don't have anyone to Flame today
(except perhaps Brodiegrrl). However I do have a story to
post.
There were two offerings on the menu last night:
1. Go to NSMBA (North
Shore Mountain Bike Association) AGM and drink free beer.
2. Go for a ride on Mt
Fromme on a dark, cold, rainy late October evening.
I opt for door #2 , since
I have no desire to listen to the uncontrollable drunken
ramblings of Brodiegrrl at the NSMBA AGM.
I propose a night ride up to Upper Oilcan, between the 6th
and 7th switchbacks of Mt Fromme, at about the 2500 ft
elevation. The only taker is Alan, aka "The Bard". I begin the
climb alone in total darkness. I spot a fairly large party of
riders in the trees, weaving their way down the lower trails.
I am surprised to find it getting brighter and brighter as I
climb in the fog and rain, until I can see my shadow being
cast on the ground above the 6th switchback. I realize then
that what I am seeing is the reflection of the ski-hill lights
off the clouds and snow on Grouse Mountain. The forest is
illuminated with a ghostly, pale, diffuse light, an eerie
sight in the fog and rain.
Just above the 6th switchback, I spot Alan, who has
forgotten his contacts and is unable to make out the trail
signs. He is waiting for me at the trailhead to "Pile of
Rocks". I make a course correction, and we are soon pointed at
"Upper Oilcan".
I follow Alan as he blasts down Upper Oilcan, which is in
amazing shape.
Traction is great and my front Cujo 3.65 does a commendable
job, gently transporting me down a 4 ft wall of slick, gnarly
roots with no problems whatsoever
The only thing my Stinky needs is a better back tire. The
rear stock Tioga DH 2.3 that just doesn't cut it. I feel my
back end fishtailing all over the place. Need something fatter
and grippier (is that even a word?), like a Cujo or a Maxxis
Mobster. Otherwise, the bike is perfect for what I do (now
that I put a 700 lb coil on the rear shock in to suck up the
big hits).
I am not familar enough with the skinnys to ride them in
the dark, but I do manage a roll down the spanking new ladder
section.
We exit Upper Oilcan, and ride Kirkford/Krinkum/Griffin.
Alan, by now with eyeglasses completely fogged and blind as a
bat, insists we do no more skinnys. We take a long detour to
avoid "King of the Shore" and soon end up getting lost. We
trek along a creekbed for some time and as our hopes and
lights grow dimmer, we run up against someone's backyard fence
with an angry, snarling dog on the other side. I expect to get
sh!t from them for wandering around their back yard at 10 at
night. However, the lady who owns the dog is very nice and
invites us to cut through her back yard and onto the street.
We finally break free from the endless backwoods of North
Shore and ride up to our cars.