Nonsense: Hoppy Holidays!

The Single Speed Outlaw invited me out for a fixed gear road ride on Friday night, but this was definitely not your typical fixed gear road ride. Why was it different? Well, here was the plan. First, I would meet the SSO and some other hardcore cyclists at the Catonsville park and ride. Next, we would ride our fixies into downtown Baltimore to a watering hold named Max's. There we would commence in much merriment somewhat influenced by various alcoholic beverages and rather good food. After Max's, our final event for the evening was at the 8 x 10 live music venue, where we would rock out with the Baltimore born band, The Almighty Senators.

In the beginning, I did everything I could to piss on the good spirits of the party. First, I showed up to the park and ride 20 minutest late. Second, I flatted approximately 120 seconds into the ride. Third, I reseated my tire bead incorrectly causing a massive bulge in my rear tire that nearly ended my entire ride. Somehow, I did make it to Baltimore with the fellas and was able to completely fix the fixie's unfixed tire at Light Street Bicycle Shop.

After that, everything went according to plan.

Bring a lock or walk home.
Photograph by Chuck Bolte.

AMS at 8x10.

Photograph by Chuck Bolte.

Nonsense: Even Even MORE Maintenance

And so, it rained.
Photograph by Chuck Bolte.

Originally, I had two trail work days planned for the weekend, but I overslept on Saturday and missed the work party at the Upper Rock Creek Park which is about 30 minutes west of my apartment. I regrouped on Sunday morning and made the hour long drive north to Frederick and Gambrill State Park where I linked up with the Single Speed Outlaw and company for some trail knicking in the rain.

We worked for a solid four hours, building rock water bars and digging knicks on a 300 meter stretch of trail. The rain kept us cool while we worked, but erased any thoughts of post maintenance riding from our mountain biker minds. My final task for the day came while we built the last water bar, my orders were to retrieve a cooler full of beer from the van that brought us to the trailhead.

As I jogged back down the trail with the cooler in hand, the beer bottles happily clink clinked against each other like an alcoholic dinner bell. My coworkers for the day were kind enough to pounce/flock after I had set the cooler down.

Alcohol on weary stomachs made some legs weary.

The party continued at the Brewer's Alley in downtown Frederick where a large percentage of the group enjoyed the Monte Cristo.

Good people, good trail work, good beer, good food.

Life is good.

Snapshots: The First Snow

A light dusting out front.
Photograph by Chuck Bolte.

Nonsense: Even MORE Maintenance!

Another weekend in my new home is wrapping up and with it came rain and trail maintenance. The trail maintenance came at another MORE trail work party held, this time, at Rosaryville State Park, 30 miles south of home. I think highly of the trail quality of Rosaryville, so it was a pleasure to be a part of its maintenance. Of the eight to 10 people that showed up, two of us, Dave and I, took a B.O.B. trailer out on the trail while the others hiked into a different area to work some re-routes. Dave and I rode about half of the 8 mile perimeter loop stopping at a dozen work sites to dig knicks or to de-berm the trail.

After some three hours of maintenance the gloomy skies finally opened up and began sprinkling cold rain on our helmets. Dave and I dug out the last knick and re-stacked the B.O.B. for the final time. On the way out, we rode a new re-route and caught up with the hikers who were also on their way out. We dropped our tools at a shed before riding an asphalt shortcut back to the parking lot where my truck was parked. Out on the open pavement, I had an opportunity to test a new supposedly waterproof jacket.

Yes, the jacket successfully repelled all water. Unfortunately, I discovered when I got home, my Camelbak bladder also repelled most of its water into my backpack throughout the day.

Bleh.

No pictures due to rain.

Nonsense: MTB MD!

Blazing through the blazing leaves.

Photography by Chuck Bolte.

Since moving to the state of Maryland, I have done my best to plunge head first into the local mountain biking scene. As of today, Sunday, that plunge has taken me to Rosaryville State Park, Patapsco River State Park Avalon Area, Patapsco River State Park Woodstock Road, and Fairland Park.

So far all of these mountain bike areas have treated me quite well. Patapsco is a huge adventure and I have miles and miles of trail left to explore. Rosaryville and Fairland are both much smaller, but the trail quality within each park is excellent. Well, except for all of the now old fall foliage that has clogged the flow of the dirt.

Chuck is in the "two year old Stans" terror dome at Patapsco.