Adventure in Ohio?

[dragoon]

Originally Posted by swingset

I'm ready any time!!

I just spent the rest of my toy money on tools & gear to get myself ready for some fun, hoping to work in some rides before it gets shitty/cold out.

I'm gonna head up to Mohican tomorrow late morning and try out the new bike on the trails up there, probably short notice but if you're up for it lemme know. My GV number is 740-936-seven619.

Excellent! Can't ride today but let's pencil in Dillon soon and hopefully Tim will see this.

[Devil Dog]

Originally Posted by Rich B

Ok, not a ride report, not even actually bike related..........

So far, other than the working hours, Kazakhstan has not been bad. Food has been decent, except for the horsemeat that was an appetizer last nite, no wonder they make soap out of old horses.....The local beer is not bad at all and they have Jameson's.....and most surprisingly, there is some fine eye candy in this part of the world

But the 11 hour day on a converter charging deck commissioning a machine and attachments was a bit rugged.....still hacking up crud from the mill....

This part of Kazakhstan is FLAT and the roads suck. And most of the buildings are typical depressing Soviet era crap

Pics?

[Solace]

Originally Posted by mobyfubar

I've got that whole job thing in the way, but I'm intrigued by this Plain City rail bed talk. Is it appropriate for a noob-to-non-pavement on an adventure-touring beast (Super Ténéré)? Where do you hop on it at?

I did the railroad bed ride with Luke this past spring. It was mostly easy except for that one bridge crossing, heh. We hit speeds up to 75 or 80 a couple times on the smooth part.

But the last 2 or 3 miles were tougher - those bigger rocks allowed the bike's tires to sink in a little more so steering was a little harder.

Of course with the vast gravel road experience I got this past month it would be easy now. Riiiiiight.

Later,
M

[rob748]

Originally Posted by swingset

I'm ready any time!!

I just spent the rest of my toy money on tools & gear to get myself ready for some fun, hoping to work in some rides before it gets shitty/cold out.

I'm gonna head up to Mohican tomorrow late morning and try out the new bike on the trails up there, probably short notice but if you're up for it lemme know. My GV number is 740-936-seven619.

i can go later in the week
i can usually sneak i ride i once in week in the day

great seal was dry as a bone sunday

[Solace]

Originally Posted by bruceride

Yeah, but at least it looks like you are smiling under the helmet!

Yep, 4 weekends in a row out riding the X Challenge on backroads. Have been having a great time so I'll be spending more time in the woods; right up until the lake freezes over and we can do some ice ridin'.

Later,
M

[MeefZah]

Originally Posted by Solace

Yep, 4 weekends in a row out riding the X Challenge on backroads. Have been having a great time so I'll be spending more time in the woods; right up until the lake freezes over and we can do some ice ridin'.

Later,
M

You can usually ride the gravel longer in the season than you can ride pavement, given the slower pace and more "work" you put into it.

Downside is once it ices for the first time, it takes a lot longer to thaw than the pavement, since it doesn't get the same treatment by the authorities as the major roads and a lot of gravel routes are under canopy, so it takes longer for the sun to thaw 'em.

[swingset]

Originally Posted by rob748

i can go later in the week
i can usually sneak i ride i once in week in the day

great seal was dry as a bone sunday

Cool, I think we have the makings of an mtb party. And, every party needs a jester, right? Well I learned today that I'm more comic relief than serious mountain biker.

I did about 10 miles at Mohican early this afternoon, and mind you this is the first single track I've ever ridden on a mountain bike. So, the first 2 miles of hill were a learning experience in pedal stroke and gear...I was in the granny gear waaay too much and still flounder at shifting without load on the pedals, but I made it. I also rode in my road shoes, on spd's that aren't adjusted yet so coming out of the pedals was a little awkward and a few obstacles sent me tipping over like a moron. Pedal strike, cog bottoms on logs, I did it all.

It's weird, because I've been watching how to and technique videos and stuff for a month, and you can understand something 100% but doing it and putting it into practice is another animal entirely. Anticipating where I needed momentum and to pre-think gearing and pedal dismount fucked me throughout the day but I did get into a flow a few times and relaxed, which was good....didn't expect to find any comfort at first but it was a nice window into how fun it will be when I'm not a spaz.

To my amazement, I even reeled in a few riders that had left before me out of the trail head, with nicer lighter bikes and all the fancy nerd clothes. Of course, there's the strong possibility that I happened to encounter the 3 slowest doofuses in the area. A few guys blew by me like I was sitting still on the ascents too, so I sure wasn't full of myself....but I'm happy that I got 10 miles in just under 2 hours and felt pretty good at the end, a few scrapes and bruises but nothing serious.

I'm digging it, for sure, but I have a bunch to learn. I was so happy to get to mile marker 1 with the bike still rolling, I had to stop and snap a pic.

[Danjal]

Chalk another ride up here in the NEO region. Canton area. DR650 is getting resprung over the winter to go anywhere, and the busa stays on the slab.

[sion]

Originally Posted by swingset

Cool, I think we have the makings of an mtb party. And, every party needs a jester, right? Well I learned today that I'm more comic relief than serious mountain biker.

yadda...yadda

I'm digging it, for sure, but I have a bunch to learn. I was so happy to get to mile marker 1 with the bike still rolling, I had to stop and snap a pic.

what a waste of good motorcycling weather...are your motorcycles all broken?

[Mikef5000]

Mountain biking eh? I used to be wicked fast on the Alum Creek trails. Did well in a few races too. That was about 8 years ago though. I've been out of the loop since. I'd probably be pitiful now... but I'd give it another go!

My bike needs some attention, but maybe I'll get it together this winter and be able to do some riding with you guys next year! Needs new brake pads and brake fluid... but I believe that's it.

[buildit]

Originally Posted by swingset

I'm digging it, for sure, but I have a bunch to learn. I was so happy to get to mile marker 1 with the bike still rolling, I had to stop and snap a pic.

Looks like fun, wish I'd known you were going to do that, I might have come and given you someone to laugh at.

[swingset]

Originally Posted by sion

what a waste of good motorcycling weather...are your motorcycles all broken?

I rode to work on the Vee, I couldn't let it feel the pain of neglect.

I have to fab a bike mount for the back of it, so I can work both in on some rides.

[somecallmetim]

Originally Posted by swingset

Cool, I think we have the makings of an mtb party.


I'm digging it, for sure, but I have a bunch to learn. I was so happy to get to mile marker 1 with the bike still rolling, I had to stop and snap a pic.

If you made it to MM1 wthout stopping the first time out you are doing great.

The weather is looking so-so this saturday...

Saturday: More clouds than sun. Highs in the upper 40s and lows in the mid 30s. 10% chance of rain.

... but I have the day free & the local pizza joint , Trails End, has Guinness on tap for much needed post ride rehydration...

[swingset]

Originally Posted by somecallmetim

If you made it to MM1 wthout stopping the first time out you are doing great.

Does falling over count as a stop?



I biffed on the first switchback, rolled down the embankment like a moron, but other than that got to the first mile with no issues. I was death-gripping and tense as hell, nerves I guess, and probably spent 90% of my energy on the first mile but after that it wasn't too terrible. That semi-steep ascent around mile 3.5 full of rocks was a fucker. I got about 2/3's before stalling and had to walk it up.

The downhills were a blast tho!

I'm out for Saturday I have to do some OT but Sunday I'm gonna ride somewhere, somehow. I think temps in the low 50's and dry.

[MeefZah]

Originally Posted by swingset

I have to fab a bike mount for the back of it, so I can work both in on some rides.

This months issue of MC Tour and Travel has an ad for a MC bike carrier. It's a smaller, maybe quarter page ad, and I already threw the issue out so I can't look it up for you. Depicts a bike on the back of a HD and says they have multiple mounts for different bikes.