Trail Update, Spike, Parking, 4-Wheelers, LT

Trail Update: Paul, Mel, Ryan McMaster and I connected with Darrell, Eric, Casey and Ryan Hicks on Sunday to work on Bitter Bitch. We added a switchback and a reroute near the bottom. These will transform the BB climb from ridiculously painful to just really horrible. We also changed the line on the Third Lower KMA for the usual reason – more speed.

Golden Spike: Joel let me know that he still has about three-quarters of a mile to go to complete the new Spike line. All reports are that the reroute is phenomenal. He is asking for assistance any day (weekdays included) from Sunday, March 21 through Sunday, March 28. Check your calendar and see if you can lend a hand. If you can make it, contact Joel directly at windriven@yahoo.com

Parking: Received a report on Saturday that a car was partially blocking Uncle Ed’s driveway at the top of the Gulch. This is not acceptable. You might not realize how lucky we are to have an amicable relationship with the person who controls entrance to the trail system. BTW – This includes the entire gravel climb to the top of the power line hill. Ed likes bikers. He even expanded the parking area at the top for us. You can park in front of the gate, you can park along the road, you can park at my house, you can park at 4-Corners. But do NOT block that driveway by even a millimeter or you will be asking for a lifetime ban.

Four-Wheelers: Seems like the motorized boys are really loving us these days. When you see them, stop to chat. Be friendly but let them know that they are illegal as soon as a tire leaves the gravel. Also let them know that we have put thousands of hours into these trails and that they are doing serious damage.

Keep in mind that if they get on a trail you have adopted, it could be a pain to repair it.  The lower trails – Terminator, Predator, Eddie, Beauty, Belly, Road Trails, Creek Trail system, etc. – are especially vulnerable. You might consider doing what you can to reduce the entrance. Look for a tree that has blown down, preferably one with the limbs still on it. If it’s not too big, we can get a crew together, cut it into two pieces, help you move it to the start of the trail, and position it to leave just a handlebar-width gap. If they move it, at least they had to go through a little pain.

Leon: Leon ”LT” Mueller made his first appearance at the Post-Ride Pub at 465 on Saturday. Leon told me that he is anxious to get on trail. The boy is blessed to have inherited his mother’s beauty. Let’s hope his dad steps up and buys Leon a carbon fiber kid’s bike very soon.