This past week I was asked to host a "tour" ride through Santa Teresa County Park and I committed to yesterday. We had 14 riders show up of all different skill levels from "first time riding in ____ years..." to "I race...".
It was one helluva time with awesome people and happy faces. Brett (Leopold Porkstacker from MTBR) and Larry (BigLarry, also from MTBR) helped me out with lead and sweep. Brett took the faster, stronger riders out with more challenging routes (such as Joice Trail Climb) and Larry kept the newer riders from getting dropped off the back. I cruised the middle to be sure the group stayed somewhat together.
Nobody crashed (a few tip overs on Stile Ranch Trail) and nobody got left behind. Highlight of the day was when one very pissed off rattlesnake stopped ten MTB'ers in their tracks. One rider (not with our group) used his bike to push it off, while it hissed, rattled and struck at his bike.
Here are the pics, courtesy of BigLarry.
It was one helluva time with awesome people and happy faces. Brett (Leopold Porkstacker from MTBR) and Larry (BigLarry, also from MTBR) helped me out with lead and sweep. Brett took the faster, stronger riders out with more challenging routes (such as Joice Trail Climb) and Larry kept the newer riders from getting dropped off the back. I cruised the middle to be sure the group stayed somewhat together.
Nobody crashed (a few tip overs on Stile Ranch Trail) and nobody got left behind. Highlight of the day was when one very pissed off rattlesnake stopped ten MTB'ers in their tracks. One rider (not with our group) used his bike to push it off, while it hissed, rattled and struck at his bike.
Here are the pics, courtesy of BigLarry.
Start of the ride at Harry Rd. and Camden Ave. 
Up we go! 
Dan51 getting to the top... 
Regroup! 
Shiloh (The Law from MTBR) showed up... 
Andrew (Cool_Man from MTBR) was BRAND NEW to mountain biking and this was his first trail ride aboard a super sweet Niner bike. Good job, man! 
Hitting Norred Trail 
The faster group missed the turn, so I had to go back and get them. Unfortunately, I had to climb that steep ass grade to backtrack. Here's Brett jamming to the top. 
How do you stop 10 mountain bikers on a descend dead in their tracks? Throw an extremely pissed off rattlesnake in the middle of the trail... that's how! 
One rider (not with our group) finally pushed it along with his front wheel. The rattlesnake did not give up without a fight: it rattled, hissed and struck at his front wheel about 5-6 times before going off in defeat. 
Dude, Snake... take a chill pill. We're just trying to ride our bikes...
Source: http://www.dionridesbikes.com/2011/08/tour-de-santa-teresa-county-park.html
No comments:
Post a Comment