WRONG, MisterC...ya see Gambrills is pretty resilent in inclement weather...EXCEPT when it turns into an "ice skating rink"...BUT...even then it turns out to be a BLAST...Sanders and I got up there only to go around ONE turn and say "OH SH**" the road and terrain went to total ice...the trees bushes EVERYTHING was covered in ice...went by the parking lot at the yellow trailand only 3 cars were there...we did see 3 bikers heading into the woods...we got up top and I pulled over just to get a picture, couldn't believe the ground cover it was or looked liked ICE CUBES from your ice tray...it was very incredible...welll we headed on down the road to the Towers...as we rounded one corner there was a cop in the road and a car off the road into a tree...three guys standing on the road all looked okay but the car was "demolished"...the roads sucked...we got to the parking area or shall I say another skating rink....
Well Sanders and I were shocked...we decided to take a hike down the trail...man everything and I do mean EVERYTHING was covered in ice, on the ground was ice in the shape of tree limbs and leaves...the whole trail was covered by these chunks OR was simply a smooth sheet...very hard to walk on very slippery...
We hiked quite a ways down the trail all the way to the first 4 way intersection and man...the rocks look wet but were solid ice over them...the log climbs, holy cow were nothing but solid ice too...damn if your going to ride this...
Then all of a sudden my phone rings and it's Crackerass wanting to know where we are he's at the parking area, sees our bikes on our cars but no us...so we started heading back and he rode down to meet us...when he caught up he convinced us to give it a try said it was easier riding then it was walking...OKAY WHAT THE HECK, I'M ALWAYS GAME FOR A NEW EXPERIENCE...when we were getting ready Nate and a couple buddies came riding up via the power line route, thats when we recognized them form earlier as we were driving up...so hey 3 XC guys, so why not give it a go...after they left we finished getting ready then started out...very strange...a little slow start but then started getting the feel for letting the ice and rocks and obstructions kind of slide and bounce ya around like a pin ball and it worked...before long we were breezing right through...very cool...a few time felt a little "sketchy" but we all managed...now we didn't go up over a couple of the big log rollups cause they were covered in ice and worse so were the rocks on the backside...when we got down to the "jump park" only the top jump was doable, cause the landing area was not icy, the second BIG hit was way to icy and so was the landing...made it down to the bottom, then we turned around and HIKED 2 miles UP...what a *****!!!
half way up 6 guys on DH bikes came ripping by...AWESOME...things were looking up, the bottom half was starting to get just a little softer...by the time we got up top we decided "yep lets keep playing"...so we shuttled the cars and went out for another run...was faster and alot more fun this time...Sanders will tell ya about his fun ride down...:) When we got to the car man we found the mud...it was definenetly softer in the bottom half adn the bikes and our butts really showed it, they were covered in Mud...weeehhaaawwww what a frickin blast were having now...the inside of my car is a MESS now...:)
We did our shuttle thing, and decided one more run would be good...have to bring LOTS of food next time and a PU truck then we can stay till dark...this last run was again faster yet, and softer, and sure alot more fun too...I got a flat in the exact location as last week, Sanders bent his hanger and rear derailuer jsut like last week, then at the bottom just as we were coming to the creek crossing near the car Crackerass broke his chain just like David did last week...weird karma...but man that last run was the best...really feeling it and just runnning in a groove felt GREAT I'm lovin this DH stuff!!!! And Man MUD is what mountain biking is all about...
Made it to the car, went up and got Sanders, then headed into town for a great Mexican dinner...yep Mexican Jason, it's a great meal to fill ya quick...:)
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