Deluge

OK, first it was frost. Now it is the endless days of rain. You see, I knew this was coming. It comes every year, "it" being the long spell of cold rain days that keep me off the trails until I become annoyed and restless. This year it seems particularly frustrating, as I have been very focused on achieving a high level of fitness.

Sure, I could use a trainer or go to the gym. But those things are B-O-R-I-N-G. One of the wonderful things about mountain biking is that it is so much fun that I don't notice how hard I work while I am on the bike. It gets me in shape without forcing me to think about the pain. In the gym or on the trainer, that is all I think about.

But in case my complaining is getting you down, think about how nice it is not to deal with dust on the trails :-/

Rebel Ridge

Today, Shannon and I rode Bullard's Bar and had a chance to see first hand the work that Joe Chavez of the USFS did on the Rebel Ridge trail. Great stuff. The rolling climbs and re-routes he worked on are built very well and look like they will be very stable once they settle in.

Bullard's is a funny place. It offers great trails, but the trails inevitably are hammered each year by the winter. Trees fall, water crossings wash away culverts and erosion takes out entire portions of the trail. Part of the problem seem to involve the size and density of the trees there and the slope of the terrain. I wonder if the soil composition is to blame as well.

Having said that, Bullard's was great today. Very few trees (maybe 4?) were down and even after recent rain, it was rather dry. I suggest heading out there now before Mother Nature takes her annual toll on this system.

Of course BONC and SBTS will be out there on February 18th to do our part. Come out and join us.

Frosty Trails

Am I the only one who has been amazed at the amount of snow and ice are on our local trails these days? In the last few days, I rode at Empire Mine and Round Mountain and felt like I was sledding much of the time.

I theorize that all of this is because of recent weather patterns. We received a lot of rain, followed by unusually cold evenings. Thus, each night the water in the ground freezes and never has a chance to evaporate until very late in the day.

Even here in Bay Area, we're seeing a lot of frost. I rode this morning at El Corte de Madera and there was a lot of white stuff on Highway 35 near La Honda.

I don't have any specific technique for riding on ice; I pretty much point the front wheel straight and pray.

Bullard's Bonanza

Sunday, 2/18 is BONC's annual Bullard's Bar Trail Day! Please join in as we help improve this trail system with the Forest Service. We'll have some swag for participants, food, drink and precious, precious beer. Please bring your bike, as you'll need it to access the area where we will concentrate our trail efforts. I am sure some of us will ride afterwards.

Meet @ 10AM at the Camptonville FS Ranger Station or meet at 9AM @ the downtown Grass Valley Flour Garden to carpool with anyone who is interested in sharing a ride. If bad weather occurs, please call 530-274-DIRT after 8AM on 2/18 to determine if the event will be rescheduled.

Beginner and Intermediate Mountain Bike Rides

Just starting out riding a mountain bike? Darwin Leek has begun leading rides out of Grass Valley. According to Darwin:

"Most Saturdays, Empire Mine State Park. Meet at Chiropractic + 605 South Auburn Street, Ste: D Corner of Empire & South Auburn Streets /Front parking lot Empire Professional Building. Rain Cancels. Call 530-273-8082 (press 6 to leave message) day prior, or early morning of to see if ride is on for that day. Need H20, proper clothing for temps, bike, replacement tube, helmet, good attitude."

Join the BONC list to learn more about other riding and trailwork events.

Bullards Improvements

Joe Chavez of the USFS tells me that over the weekend, he re-worked some of the switchbacks on Rebel Ridge Trail at Bullards. He asked that we stay off the old alignment and allow the area to re-vegetate. Hopefully, BONC will be able to get out there in the coming months to do some trailwork of our own. I am hoing for a February 17th date.