Burning in Laird's Nose with Thomas' Virgin'ia dirt. It's for lovers.

Teamwork making the dream work on
any given Thursday. 

Over the past countless weeks, Thomas led the charge.  The ample SVBC volunteers had momentum to burn, connecting the final section of trail by hand at the most recent Thursday Massanutten Trail Work.  Crews sprinkled magic up the new trail, rerouting Upper Granny Grind.  The trail is rewarding and tough, both ways.  Climbing up steep grade reversals with some tricky rock sections, the trail offers challenging entertainment to even the most skilled rock expert.

Some facts about the new trail:

• Volunteer hours in trail build: 850
• 70 different volunteers
• SVBC spent $2900 in machine work (Iron Wood Outdoors)
• 26 trail work days
• 60 hours in trail design
• 5500' estimate of trail build, 2200' by machine the rest by hand
• help from Massanutten with trail corridor clearing, diesel fuel, housing for Iron Wood Outdoors.

a golden sunset of Wootten & Andrew
at the future view.

Thomas ran into Wootten, Fflur and Andrew Devier-Scott just as he began descending the completed trail for his first time top to bottom.  They stopped for a hike over to the future view where you can find one of the best vistas available at the Western Slope on the South end of Massanutten Mountain.

They descended with the setting sun, their Trek Remedies, 29er in front with the 650b's flowing closely behind.  Carving the traversing reversals, using the big rock obstacles in the middle of the trail to pump backside instead of pedaling for speed.  Masterfully crafted, this trail, an indelible impression left by an iconic community in the rich lands of Rockingham County.

Thomas shares his words about his trail experience today:

It was awesome riding Kaylors by myself, I could look over at the new ridge from about from a half mile South of Kaylor's.  I was thinking how this new trail adds a completely different scope to the Nutt.  Even though we are sooo close to the old trail, we are so far; how could the same mountain feel so different?  The drop in from Kaylors into the ravine on the back was so colorful, I was thinking how old school this portion of the mountain is. As rough as always, my first trail build in 1992 was on the back side of Kaylor's. 

Rocky sections keep things spicy!
It wouldn't be the Nutt without plenty of rocks!

I was so excited to see you guys cruising up the mountain. I was just rolling down that trail at my casual solo pace, analyzing more than riding.  The views at the top are what turned me onto this build.  I always end up over-evaluating a trail build, I get so deep into the project that I can not objectively evaluate the trail.  That is is the problem; I am always evaluating the trail.  Sometimes you just need to haul ass down the trail and ride it at a speed.  You just react, you don't do anything else.  That is what happened tonight.  I was happy to ride it with you, happy to show you the view. Thank you for showing me how just  to ride. Damn that is a good piece of trial!!

When Wootten rounded the corner, I realized that I was riding the entire trail top to bottom for my first time.  Even though I have ridden most every piece of the new trail, this was the first time I have actually ridden the whole thing.  The trail felt right from the beginning.  I turned off trail analysis mode and switched on flow mode. I was just trying to keep up with Wootten.  This is how a trail needs to be ridden.  When we combined the new section with the the section from last year I realized we have created something special.  Now I know all those frigid days slipping that side-hill last winter are worth every frozen toe and numb finger.   

This blank canvas is transformed.

We finished descending going through MBA Meadow. It was a great way to finish the ride; to combine something old school and something new.  I felt so proud that I had built this trail, but I did not build it.  I saw the vision and so many folks helped make it real.  There were 5 or 6 folks who help with the design and then endless amount of people who built it.  Then, I started to laugh that all these folks trusted me with their time and effort.  Even though not everyone saw the vision, they were still willing to come out and dig foot by foot. 

The best part about managing these projects is seeing each person get into a section of trail.  It becomes their trail, a piece of them forever embedded in the Earth.  When I ride a trail it is like some crazy flash back where I can see each person working on their particular spot, the spot where they fell in love with building a trial foot by foot. 

To celebrate the completion of SVBC's new reroute, show up next Thursday evening for the chain breaking party because this trail is off the chain.  Bring your bike and burn in Laird's Nose on the Virgin'ia Dirt, guaranteed a good time.

Weird Wednesday With Wootten: 1025 DeathStar

Skidmore, Fflur & Wootten get out some Wednesdays for exploring trails they haven't ridden.  This week they scoped out a seldom ridden gem that drops off the WV side of Shenandoah Mountain.  The ridge pokes out, between Sugar Run & Seng Run, into the headwaters of the South Fork of the South Branch of the Potomac River.  The trail starts out with fast double track and then turns into some classic ridge descending, offering views of Reddish Knob and some of West Virginia's finest state flowers.  The satellite dishes are used to provide West Virginians with over 100 channels, as well as possibly being the communications hub for some federal agency in charge of our security.

Fflur thought it was over after they descended the busy ridge and got to the road,  but alas, it had just begun.  Next to the fiber optic cable that provides high speed internet to the satellites, the gravel traverse continued to climb up towards the pavement on the back side of Reddish.  The pavement grind up is best done at the end of the ride on cold days so you stay warmest throughout the day.

You can see in the photo below, an artifact of the great depression, where the USFS got creative, employing thousands of artists in the CCC to do mosaics in random places.

  

TAKING JMU TO THE MOUNTAINS.

We can't take the mountains to JMU so we, at SBC and UREC,  decided to take JMU to the mountains! Sunday was the first SBC led JMU UREC mountain bike ride west of town. You could not ask for a more perfect day than this past Sunday.  The leaves where full of color and the temperatures where perfect for outside fun. 

Have a lunch break at the top of Tillman West. 

Our JMU escort van driver for the day was Stephen Proffitt, who professionally managed the dense roadways of Stokesville with utmost skill. David Lee and I were the tour guides for the four brave JMU students, Shelby, Allison, Nicole and Haley.  These four ladies were rockstars on Narrowback Mountain. With no mountain bike experience they navigated the Dog Grave Yard, the Tower Trail and Tillman West Trail  with determination and an adventurous spirit. 

Lining up for some more climbing on the Tower Trail. 

There is no way to accurately describe mountain biking in a outdoor handbook or in a University Program Guide. How do you describe that feeling of a trail disappearing under a think layer of fall leaves? Words don't do justice to a trail that has been cut steep into a mountain to a point where it just blends into the side-hill? Sometimes you just need to get folks out there on two wheels to first hand experience the rolling coaster ride on mountain biking. And that is what we did!

Thanks Shelby, Allison, Nicole and Haley for a great day in mountains and putting so much trust into your tour guides!

WE HAD A BLAST!

Thomas

Personal Baggage

If you are going out for a bike ride, eventually you will need some Stuff. How much Stuff is debatable. Some folks are happy to just carry their phone and call for help, others carry spare derailleurs and tires.We as riders love to compare what each other is using and how well it works for you and so on. Whenever I go for long exploratory rides I often use a handlebar bag, which I affectionately call "the  picnic basket".

Picnic basket out in the world

Wonderlust

I'm still new here. I may always still be new here. When I go out riding around I find roads that I haven't been down, or up as the case may be. One thing that seems to always draw my attention is the idea of putting together a loop on the map, with as much new territory as possible and go. Part of me always wants to go farther and see what is possible, what can I get myself to accomplish. It seems that sometimes I end up out longer than I planned but, but that's part of it, not knowing where I'm going. I will sit and ponder maps and lines and G**gle the Earth, but not until I go and touch and feel and breath and struggle and smile does that account for any thing. Right now is a great time to and see that place you've been wondering about. You can take a map, and it will help, but it won't tell tell you what is really out there.

Wednesday October 15: Harrisonburg City Council Candidate Forum

Join SBC and your fellow city of Harrisonburg voters at JMU's Memorial Hall (the old Harrisonburg High School) at 7pm on Wednesday October 15. Read a brief recap of the first debate from our friends at Old South High.

HARRISONBURG, VA—Residents are invited to join candidates for Harrisonburg City Council on Wednesday, October 15. The forums are organized by the Downtown Dining Alliance, Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition, Harrisonburg Rockingham Green Network, Better Together / Mejor Juntos, and the Northend Greenway. Both forums are free, open to the public and will start at 7:00 p.m. at JMU’s Memorial Hall, which is the former Harrisonburg High School on South High Street.

This is the second time these groups have come together to host candidate forum. Better Together / Mejor Juntos joins the four 2012 sponsors. Just as the groups saw in 2012, all eligible candidates have agreed to take part. The 2014 candidates include (in alphabetical order): Ted Byrd, DD Dawson, Alleyn Harned, Joshua Huffman, Chris Jones and Helen Shibut.

Moderating the non-partisan forums is the 4C Initiative, a partnership between the Fairfield Center and JMU’s Institute for Constructive Dialogue and Advocacy. Better Together / Mejor Juntos will interpret the forums in English and Spanish, which forum organizers, hope will encourage greater participation. The format of the forums is primarily question and answer. Citizens will have the opportunity to ask questions to the candidates during the events.

First Fall Fatty of 2014

The view from the Bird Knob overlook.

Riding down Boone's, one of my favorites.

Kelly shreddin' down Boone's.

Sunday smile ride in full effect!

Rode an awesome loop with Kelly on our hardtails this past Sunday.

We parked at the Massanutten Western Slope, rode over Kaylor's and down Boone's, then up Cub Run Road to Big Mountain Road to the Bird Knob ridge. We rode out the ridge, ate lunch at the overlook, and then descended to 211. We then rode 20 miles back to Keezletown on the road (Mountain Valley) with a grueling headwind (worth it).

 The fall colors and the pine-needled trails were fantastic, and we got to ride down two of my favorite gnarly descents! The ride was 46.7 miles, with over 6,000 feet of elevation. A perfect ride to kick off fall fatty season!




        










Here's a link to Kelly's Strava page to see the map and stats!

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My first Grand Fondo

Descending Route 33..Photo Joe Foley Photography

Even though the Alpine Loop Grand Fondo has been going on for several years, this past Sunday's event was my first as a riding participant. Knowing that the SBC aid station at Brandywine was in great hands with Collin, David and Sam running the show (with Tim & Berry's help during moto support) I elected to ride the medium route, 78 miles of beautiful fall paved roads. The Fondo ride is the only time you will have the opportunity to experience rolling out of Harrisonburg with 500 two wheel lovers, the ride is worth is just so you can enjoy this energy.

A few miles in...Photo: Joe Foley Photography

My goal with the ride? Get to the mountains with the main pack (1) , ride with new smiling faces (2) and not feel like a total piece of jello (3)  when it was my turn to chase the high energy duo of Ethan (5) and Carter (3) in the afternoon. With a little digging deep just west of Rawley Springs I was able to acheive goal #1 and stuck with the first group of a 150  riders or so. Staying with the pack would hopefully help me achieve my last goal of not "Slummin" out later. This would only be achieved if I kept the cranks spinning up the 4 mile climb to our favorites neighbor, West by God Virginia.

That PULP girl know how to dig keep!! Photo Joe Foley Photography

Climbing Route 33 with hundreds of riders scattered along the edge of mountain, always a rider with in a few feet, is the closest most of us will get to a grand tour mountain stage feel. The descent down the west side with fall colors popping like a fresh roll of Starburst was beautiful and peaceful. Rolling into a well stocked and organized aid station run by your friends, is life saving!! Shortly after the Brandywine aid station I had to hold on tight. My bike wanted to turn on the Grando Fondo Route but my body knew to stay straight on the Shenandoah Mountain Adventure Route. Staying straight on the rolling roads near Sugar Grove, WV was the most peaceful time I have had on my road bike in years. Not ONE car pass me for the ten miles, just riders heading for the next major ascent of our ride.

The front pack..Photo Joe Foley Photography

I have ridden the west side of Briery Branch Gap many times on my road bike,  but this was the first time feeling asphalt under my tires.  The difference between loose dirt and pavement on this climb was the difference of achieving goal #2 or not, the Jello or the slum never arose it's ugly head.

As the route got closer and closer to the burg and civilization, my legs began to feel stronger and stronger. This energy buzz seems to happen as one achieves their goal of finishing a hard event, an event with such positive energy!

The Grand Fondo is here to stay, just like so many of the other Harrisonburg great cycling events. One year I hope to do it with all four of the Jenkins clan, a future Grand Fondo goal!

Fall colors

The days I have away from the shop are normally filled with out of town appointments and such. Sometimes these appointments are not needed and Emily and I get to go walking around in the mountains and enjoy the start of the fall leaf colors. Lot of golds right now but an orange and red can be seen here and there. Enjoy the photos!

Wootten's trip to Snowmass

This past week, Wootten went out to Snowmass, Colorado to document the new bike park trails at BikeSnowmass.  This project featured trail design by Gravity Logic and the build out by 402 Trails and of course Steve Rausch and his awesome crew of Bike Rangers & Trail Crew.  Here's what they came up with over closing weekend.


402Trails: Snowmass Bike Park from Adventure Seen on Vimeo.