Been A LONG Time

It's sure been along time since the last post...and it seems to be very little about MTB'ing...it appears it will be that way for the rest of the summer too (unless a healing miracle takes place).

You see from some of my earlier post you'll have read that I am getting into DH riding...yes it is an absolute blast, the best riding on a bike I've ever had...unfortunately it can also be somewhat painful when you crash (as some of my recent reports have displayed so graphically). Well, I've gone and done it again...signed up for my first downhill race, the 8th/9th of May in Massanutten Va. I also signed up for a DH clinic to help learn some of the specific skills needed since I have literally been just flying by the seat of my pants. Well on our first practice run I was just 100 yards into it and in the boulder garden went down...reflex, I put my hands out and shattered my right wrist pretty good. A very nice "little old lady" (literally) saw it and help me drag my bike out of the woods onto the fire road and she walked it down to the chairlift for me. The first aid guy was waiting at the bottom for me, they splinted me up and found a ride to the nearest town hospital...got the most painful xrays done, and half cast, some killer pain pills called my GP and then got ahold of a buddy that was on his way to race also...he came and gave me a ride back up to the mountain, where I had to wait for Jennifer to drive 4-5 hours from Baltimore with Mike so they could drive my "stick shift" GTI home. Was Jennifer mad...nope...she just laughed, said it wasn't a case of when but what was I going to break that weekend, so she knew it all along...on Monday went into my GP who referred me to a ortho surgeon, who met me at the hospital, where he was already in surgery, he looked at my xray and said I REALLY needed a specialist, said I really scrambled it up pretty good.
Saw the specialist late that afternoon, who then scheduled surgery for the following week...surgery went off beautifully on the 19th, plates, screws, cut out tendons, some fusing, and half cast...follow-up June 1st....but any biking plans are on hold for awhile...SUCKS!!!!!

So it will be many hours at the gym working abs and legs...the summer schedule starts tonight...500 abs and 1-2 hours stationary...work up from there, mix in leg workouts (ie, lunges, squats, presses, etc)...then as soon as possible back on the "horse"...gotta hit the DH parks before they close this next winter...

I'll be seeing alot of you at races taking pics and cheering you on...went to the US Open of DHing in Vernon New Jersey this past weekend, it was incredible, what a place to ride...WOW!!!

Everyone warned me this would happen, but hey, just made me stronger, wiser, and more experienced...did in both collar bones so far too, and learned how to avoid them but also strengthen up the shoulders too...it's been killing me being so in-active...and yes I really only enjoy adventurous challenges, so please don't suggest golf...sorry not knocking it just not my cup of tea..

Check out my flickr site for pictures of the US Open and the progress of everything else.

Introducing Shaun Edward McDaniel

Yes our new Grandson, born April 4, 2009, to our daughter Devon Rose and his sister Lexus Elena...he is 20" and 7 pounds 4 oz. you wouldn't think he's that size when you see his HUGE hands...the boy can easily be either a basketball player or a pianist. Jennifer arrived in San Diego on Monday and got to bring them home on Tuesday...Mom and son are doing great, the young man has an unbelievable amount of jet black hair, just like his big sis, (who BTW is gowing up so big now) and Lexus I'm told, is being a great big help to mom...loving and taking good care of her little brother...I wonder when she's going to ask to take him to school...LOL.

Devon will be coming out our way in June so we all can see our new addition...Devon once again is very blessed with a quiet child...Lexus was the same way, hardly ever fussed and I guess the "little man" is the same way...

Introducing - RILEY!

Well I got the new pup this past week. He came home on the 7th of April at just barley over 8 weeks, weighing in at 14.2 pounds...and BTW had his first Dr. appointment 3 days later and on that day weighed in at 15.4. The Pup is going to grow fast...Jennifer happens to be in San Diego at this time too, we have an even bigger news event happening there...OUR NEW GRANDSON was born on Saturday the 4th of April...Handsome young man too...WHEW what a week.

So I'm here alone with a new puppy, I have a hard enough time getting up in the middle of the night with Jen here waking me, now it's up to me on my own...pitty the poor puppy....LOL...we survived, just three nights together and he's making it through the night, he runs to the front door first thing in the morning, good boy! Really keeps me occupied...up and playing non-stop for 1.5 to 2 hours, then he's out for about the same amount of time, ahhh nap time...my time to get things done...

Needless to say, have only ridden the bike this past Sunday, and no gym visits since a week ago Sunday. Really need to get to the gym, miss it...when Jen gets back we can share the load...I know she'll think differently though...LOL.

Riley is such a suitable name, he has really grown into it...he shows signs of stubborness, definently trying to be the Alpha, already alpha over our Daughters dog Leo, it's hilarious...he's very much a puppy, constantly chewing...have lots of toys for him to help distract and substitute for all the blankets, chair legs, clothes, carpet, etc....but the toys just aren't as fun....I know he can't replace Sweetie, we sure still miss her, but Riley is filling the quiet space we've had, he is going to be special too...and keep us on our toes for sure...Jennifer comes home late tonight, can't wait to introduce the two, I think she's really going to love Riley and visa-versa....

Video of my "Clean-Up " after the wipeout

For Riders Association

For Riders Association

It's Been Awhile

It's been sometime since the last post...was not fun losing Sweetie, we will always have a very large and warm spot in our heart for her...and yet this past weekend our new Golden Retreiver male puppy was born (the day after Valentines)...we'll be able to bring him home in approx. 8 weeks, and we are very anxious to have a pup running around the house again...His dad placed 17th at the Westminster dog show this past month, and mom is a gorgeous champ herself (looks alot like Sweetie)...thats the pictures...

It's been awhile since posting what this site is about...MOUNTAIN BIKING!!!...
And looking at my last post, you all have missed out on my spectacular bloddy crash...all is okay now, but ya gotta check out my Flickr site (located in the side bar)...and look up DHing in Gambrill..check out the video...my son-in-law did a good job at capturing my clean up in the creek and the cracking noise as I straightend my nose back...not for the weak stomach though...:) Been really loving the down hilling though and am looking forward to all the traveling and racing this summer...I did sign up for a XC race at the end of March...I will take it easy with NO expectations other than just participate and have fun...It is at Patapsco the local stomping grounds we all ride at every week...Yes the doctor hasn'e givin the okay yet, but I will ride it like it is just a normal "fun" ride...I can do it, the competition won't "pump" me up...I know the risk invloved, and certainly don't want that outcome...it's just that it is on the trails I ride constantly so I just have to do it!!! Those of you that ride "might" understand...

But this summer should really be fun...it takes stamina, but not that cardio blast for such a long extended period like XC...

Sad News Today

Today is a sad day for us...Our beloved "Best Friend" had to be put to sleep...she has had a few seizures over the last few years and unfortunately she had one just a couple weeks ago and then this past evening she had another one. This morning she couldn't move, so I took her to the vet...sadly she had alot of cancer and therefore because she was such a vibrant outgoing girl it was just to hard to allow her to have to go through alot of surgeries and suffering...she went very peacefully in my lap (one of the hardest things I've ever had to do) but I was glad I was there for her...She will be missed very dearly by Jennifer and I, our day to day world will be very out of sync for a bit, but we will manage...even though she was "just" our pet...we were just like what I used to laugh about when I was younger...the old folks replacing the kids when they left home with a pet and they treated their pet better than the kids...YEP THAT WAS US!!! So she was a BIG part of everyday...heck Jennifer always got up every morning earlier than I just to take Sweetie for a walk...Jennifer will probably get me up tomorrow and want to walk me...:), there are countless routines that invloved Sweetie that we are sorely going to miss...thanks to all for your prayers and the affection you used to show Sweetie, we're going to miss her...God Bless!

AWESOME Winter Ride Today

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...:)

WOW I've been missing out on this!!!

Yep got the Down Hill Bike out on a true DH run this past weekend and it was a total blast...It is truly amazing how a bike can REALLY make a difference. First off we (Sanders and I) headed out to Gambrills...we drove seperate cars so that we could shuttle...well we got up there to the mountain and parked my car at the bottom then headed up to the trail head...as we pulled into the parking area a couple guys there were getting ready to head out...we made intros and they suggested we ride with them, they had a PICKUP truck at the bottom of the Mt. Yeah!!! the bikes go in the bed and we all can ride up together the easy way...

Well it was very cool these guys knew the route and their not killer banzi leave ya behind kinda riders...the top 1/4 we already knew but then as soon as we went past where I am accustomed to turning it really started to become fast and fun...we then "bermed" up out of the culvert we were flying down and headed into some sweet single track...a couple little jumps, then the flow....STOPPED...a friggin tree had blown over and stopped the flow, and to bad cause just on the other side of the tree was the run down to some sweet BIGGER jumps...so we had to start there and pour it on to hit the first jump then it hits a big right hand smooooth berm towards a LARGE jump..the biggest I've done to date in my short riding history...wow the bike makes the diff...it landed like I just dropped off a curb...on the sites and through write ups I found that the Perp is a top notch bike for "Big Hits" and it certainly proved itself today...after the big hit it was a short stretch down to another little jump which dropped you into a culvert that you then shot up the other side...but wait....dont jump it unless ya got alot of speed....you see...there is a step up on the top, so ya have to have speed to get up on it or fly over it...well MOST come out of the culvert and merge to the right around the "step-up"...oh I didn't do that...I had about half the air I should have NOT had or should have had MORE...consequently I ran straight into the "up" ramp and went flying over the bars and to the right into a big hole...NO PROB...ya gotta love all the body armour and full face helmet, not a bruise, scratch and best of all NO BLOOD...

We played there a bit then continued on down the steep hill to the end...on the way down the "steep", Sanders caught a stick and bent the hell out of his rear derailuer. We got it bent straight again and it continued to work the rest of the day...well one of the "new buddies" David lost his chain so we made a line and all of us climbed the hill slowly looking for the chain...no chain, so we headed down looking again, I couldn't help think its probably right back at the bike at the bottom of the hill...well....yep there it was 3 feet from the bike right in the middle of the trail...Murphys Law...:) Then we loaded the bikes in the truck, and there began my conversion to "The Dark Side"...wow WE RIDE BACK TO THE TOP...now that is riding bikes...funny the only strain today to my heart was due to excitment not the usual strain from pedaling uphill...my Doctor might really appreciate this new venture of mine....:)

Well we spent the reat of the day trying different trails and shuttling back up...we all had so much fun the last run ended at the bottom just as it was getting dark..got off the mountain at 5:30pm...so it was a GREAT DAY and I'm looking so forward to this coming weekend to do it again...for that matter this entire spring/summer has BIG plans for some exciting mountain bike park riding and racing... Check out the Flickr site for pics of the riding...this coming weekend I am going to mount my video camera so that should be fun to watch....

Happy trails...If Ya Hit It...Hit it Big!!!

AHHH Almost another year gone by

Figured I better post since it will be the last one for 2008...amazing how quickly time goes by...it is so true what was told to me and everyone else when we were young "time flies as you get older"...damn if it isn't true...looking at my poor little puppy laying on the couch sleeping all curled up she has white hair on her face now...she turned 9 yrs old this month on the 3rd...I'm going to be a "GRANDFATHER" again this coming April, my third grand child, amazing...I always remembered and imagined and actually experienced "grandparents" as OLD...they have gray hair, wrinkles, missing teeth...DAMN THATS ME, I'VE GOT ALL THOSE, HOLY COW, I'M A REAL GRAND PARENT...Yikes...HAHAHAHAHAHAHA....See the picture above...sure looks like it to me!!! Funny the last few days of every year they always talk about who has left us this past year...now this is when you start really thinking (trust me young guns, this will hit you sooner than you think, so quit thinking I'm "waxing" ridiculously)...and realize a number of the popular famous people are ones that you have grown up with, some are your age, yikes...MORTALITY sucks....so what does this have to do with biking....

hmmmmmm....

Well, as some of you have followed all this stupid writting I do and for those too that know me well and hang out with me...I have had some experiences this past year with my health that has lead to a "re-evaluation" or better way of looking at it "re-discovery" my skills have not wained just my physical well being...the harder I try the weaker I get...So I have learned a new avenue and/or approach to riding....and that is "when in doubt (when the heart starts to pound to hard), dismount". I have been having a real great time meeting alot of new friends and having a blast with our rides...I just now take it a little more easy especially on hill climbs or when everyone wants to "hammer" I just have to settle into my rhyteum and "let go and let god"...thats my speed now. So far so good...

BUT....there is another way to bike that can give you a rush like nothing else...and that is going down...yep DOWN HILL/FREE RIDE...I picked up a Downhill bike in hopes of learning and experiencing this excelleranting speed riding...this is definenetly a concept I can grasp...crazy, fast, fun, and no uphill pedaling (or very little) then shuttle via truck/car/chairlift back up to the top...I am very pumped about getting into this more...have only been out a few times and it is SO MUCH FUN!!!!! Looking forward to a whole new group of friends this spring/summer to meet and hang with, even figured to keep the racing spirit going by maybe giving a try at a few DH races...

You know even though riding is such a love, I believe the gaining of friends fullfills our lives more so than what it is were doing..it's simply a common denominator that brings us all together, at least for me it is...and a HUGE thanks goes out to EVERYONE OF YOU...thank you for being friends I appreciate how you all can tolerate me at times...(another beauty that comes with age, the older you get the more of an asshole your allowed to become HAHAHAHAHA)

Happy New Year to all of ya...I appreciate everyone of you and hope we all can enjoy a super year coming up...Pray for us all.

Ed

The fate of winter.....

IT SUCKS...the time has changed and as we all know it gets dark early...and earlier yet right now...at least on the 22nd it starts going the other way...and it can't change fast enough for me. And now the weather is screwing with the routine weekday rides...trying to find a day to ride was a pain last week with all the rain...I know there is the trainer (yuck)... riding is more than just pedaling...it's about time spent with your friends, being outdoors (preferable soaking up the natural vitamin D, which the doctor tells me my blood is lacking and has me taking supplements) and seeing beautiful places you've never been...WELL WINTER IS REALLY MESSING WITH ALL THAT IS DEAR TO ME...I wish I could click my heels together 3 times and make it all go away...I know I NEED TO GO BACK TO CALIFORNIA FOR THE WINTER...god that was perfect timing last year...then when we all have the time to ride, and the weather wants to cooperate...along comes what they call hunters!!! We all have our personal opinions and since this is my blog...
...oh well..I didn't start this blog to get into things like that or political points of view so back to the weather....again IT SUCKS...so nothing I can do about it...but take advantage of the days when I can ride...I really went out and messed myself up too...I got a DH bike in winter...yikes not good timing, the DH/Freeride parks are now ski runs...WINTER...BAH HUMBUG...Its nice during the late spring or early Fall when the sun is warm, the days are long, the choice to ride is almost everyday or at least pretty much anytime you want to...So it's back to the Gym...I'm going to drown myself at the Gym...I've been away for awhile, and man it feels like it...
Happy Trails everyone.

First Ride on the New PERP

The first ride was close to home at our back door spot of Patapsco State Park...not a real big DOWNHILL area but it did have a few good little ones...

First off I KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE A bitch TO PEDAL THAT BEAST UP HILLS...and the beast was for the most part out of its element...BUT...I stayed with it for the day, and enjoyed MYSELF...the group of course (as I totally expected) raced off to do their thing...again we were on different bikes and different missions...)

1. Its' brand spanking new and how exciting is that to take your new bike out for a ride...besides needing to get to know it.

2. The Dam run (which I did 3 times, hiked up it)...has some of our favorites jumps and NOW they are definently jumps...and at the bottom I cleared from the trail 4' down right to the asphalt trail...HA...If I feel like playing on some DH, I can park at the Hilltop lot and play for awhile on the 2 dam runs....

3. Funny I still did at least half our usual loop (adding the additional up and downs multiple times) and hiking up the blue trail to the top on the south/west side of the bridge only to run into the gang again...and rode down (stopping twice for the XC DHer's...:)

4. I found some kids with the same interest and they showed me some incredible riding skills as we walked up Vinyard and FLEW down, these kids race DH and have some amazing skills...told me a thing or two about the hows/whys/and the really big advice...TRUST YOUR BIKE, IT WILL DO AMAZING THINGS FOR YOU... they aren't kidding....it was incredible how this bike hooks up and rails the corners...surprised the sh** out of me a number of times...one time I dove into a corner to hot, hit the brake, it slid around, foot stabbed the ground and I kept rocketing around...amazing...surprised me.

5. The rock garden DH from the tire park was SOOO smooth...just blasted right through it all...but then I had all that damn uphill from there...Jason you know the trail thats shoots across/under the power lines where the vine caught me...wow this time I hit that berm, caught air right where I landed was that slight up to the right then left wow it was all so quick and smooth...for going down this is what it advertises it to be...an incredible, precise, smooth, capable, RAIL MACHINE...YEEE HAWWW...can't wait now for spring/summer...going to hit all the different parks...probablly do some beginner Dh races too...

In conclusion, for Patapsco...damn heavy machine...fun on the DH's...YEP...but there just to short there...I'm sure I'll do some more though...just know that I will do walking as well...but it's certainly worth the moments of extreme pleasure...this bike performs the job it's designed for better than anything I've ridin...(yeah I'm a real rookie)...but this bike SHOWS you right from the moment you point down...kind of like Jasons Jet9...it just jumps right out at you with the features it's designed for...the other bikes I've had and ridden just don't act that way, they ride very similar to others...where as these have their own SPECIFIC personalities....

Wish I had some shots of me riding it today but i was off by myself, maybe next time.

Picked up the new Perp

Picked up the new Perp tonight...will be going out tomorrow morning at Patapsco to meet the guys and give it a go...going to be very different...been ridin weight weanies for ever, now a 43lb monster...whew...but man its going to handle sweetly on the single track DH's and the "hits"...careful learning curve ahead...:) Post some pics tomorrow night (it'll be dirty then I'm sure).

My new PERP

Will be getting my new Perp in a day or so...then it's blasting the DH's, jumps etc...a little Freeride fun is in store...come this spring it'll be the ski mountains for me....take the lifts up and blast down....WEEEEEEEE

Niner

Well here she is...the new Niner Jet 9 ... soon as I'm done paying her off it's riding in heaven!!!

SOLD!!!

My baby is gone...I'm certain she went to a very good home...a relatively new MTB rider...so she'll be baby'd along for sometime...

In the meantime, went out yesterday with Jason & Eujinc to Patapsco and had an AWESOME time...first time in over a month riding in there in the daylight...so with all the leaves off the trees it was amazing what you can see...we found an incredible trail that we have all passed by forever...it is part of a loop we do and have never spotted it...well let me tell ya we have really been missing out on some fun...it's got 3 jumps in a row that you really LAUNCH off....then its got it's share of a small rock garden, some steeps and just plan fun flow...next Tuesday night we'll add it to our route so this should be very interestiing...especially the jumps at night with our lights on...WEEEEE HAWWWWW!!! Enjoy some cool pics on my Flickr of the ride....

Die of Shock, Selling one of my Bikes

Yes I am parting with one of my "babies"...my 2007 Cannondale Carbon Rush 2 Large size for $1800 (great deal). The seat post and saddle will get swapped back to stock...I'm keeping the Thompson Masterpiece and Fizik saddle. This is the bike that made the difference in my racing a year ago...it moved me up in my finishes, light weight, quick, snappy a pure joy....November 07' decided to jump on the band wagon and get a Single Speed...do the "winter training" thing (yeah right)...well when I went to California got hooked on racing the single speed, so I didn't ride my Rush except for the Sea Otter Classic in April 08', a ride at Boggs in NoCal May 08' and then not until Sept. and then the last couple weeks about 4-5 more times...I'm hooked on the 29er thing...went out tonight to my usual (even in the friggin cold)Patapsco on my Superfly and really missed it...Jason made a comment that I was alot faster tonight....wellllll.....IT'S THE 29ER THING!!!...so I'm getting a Niner Jet9, a Full Suspension 29er...:) ahhhh light, 4"(mistake...3.1" and/or 100mm) of "cush" and fast, should be fun...so there it is the bike and the reasons for selling my old beloved...next will probably be the SS Rig due to Doctors orders...
Check out my flickr for the folder titled Cannondale Rush for pictures of the bike.

MOV05631

MOV05631
Originally uploaded by cableguy46

White Clay/Middle Run Skills Park

Had To Go Back

Went back to White Clay/Middle Run this past weekend. Took Jason and Eujinc, a couple buddies I ride with weekly...I do beleive they had a good time...how can you not at this place...we spent some time at the skills park as usual...Played on the "skinny" across the culvert and Eujinc went over on his first try...at least it was towards the bank side so it wasn't too high of a drop...he "maned" up and "jumped back on the horse" to do it again, this time his 2nd trip he made it...there is a video posted on mtbr.com

The leaves on the ground seemed like they more than doubled over the previous week...and yep rode the 26" Rush AGAIN...have been enjoying the "posh" ride...:)

I HAVE SEEN THE LIGHT...WHITE CLAY!

What a great day at White Clay...we had such a blast....I went to Fair Hill to meet up with Randy and watch Gunnar race Cyclocross...while there ran into Leslie and saw Forset racing with Larry too...they decided to join us after the cyclocross race and come ride "Clay".../while unloading at the church parking lot we were talking about trail directions and what we wanted to see, well a fellow biker came up with a map and started showing us some routes to take....thats all it took we introduced ourselves and asked her to join us as a guide...So Hope took us on a great, fun, flowing, fast ride....man it was so much fun...the first time I rode Clay I loved it, it's been a year and it still gives ya a super feeling....we did the corkscrew which I had never seen that was an absolute blast!!!! As you can tell from the pictures, I did the skinny across the ravine, that was a trip...Randy laid down in the ravine and looking up clicked the picture...

And guess what...I rode my 26" RUSH...felt a little strange at first, but half way through Gunnar and I were jumping every berm in the pump track like section it was FANTASTIC...then with less than a half mile left to the ride I discovered I had the rear shock locked out...it had a "little" give not much but hey I ride a hardtail so it felt okay to me...this next week or better I'll be riding the RUSH, should be fun, give me a new found appreciation huh?

If ya haven't ridin it...GO RIDE IT YOU WON'T REGRET IT.... Of course it's a lot of fun with someone that knows the route....

More pictures on my flickr.

Ed