Snowy Springtime Teaser

Perfect weather makes up for not so perfect conditions. Kelly and I rode our hardest ride yet this year: Leading Ridge road, up Camp Todd, down Chestnut ridge, up Hanky Mountain, and down Lookout Mountain trail to the car. It was only 28 miles, but almost 6,000 feet of climbing! The trails were either soft or covered in slippery slush, and the roads looked and felt like peanut butter. But who cared? We were outside, it was sixty degrees, and our slum only reminded us of the bigger, harder, better rides to come this year. Tour de Burg prep maybe? Short sleeve jerseys and shorts spoiled us - it will be hard to transition back to the cold weather. It's rides like these that up the motivation to stay active through the winter, reminding us that  spring time isn't too far off!

Almost to Little Bald intersection from the Camp Todd climb.

Camp Todd overlook!

Coming down Chestnut - slushy slippery sketchy sleigh ride.

Rhododendron tunnels on Chestnut Ridge, from snow to pine needles depending on elevation.

Soaking up rays at the Lookout Mountain overlook at the end of the day.

A Weekend Without Biking!?

What do you do when it is cold and grey outside, you just spent last weekend super muddy at a great SVBC Superbowl Sunday ride, and you need a break from the bike? A trail run!? Not just any trail run but The Wild Oak Trail Run (often referred to as T.W.O.T.). It is not your ordinary run but a special and unique event that embodies everything that many of us have grown to love about our mountains, our trails, and our trail community. The Wild Oak Trail Run is not a race or at least not really. Consider that 50+ people started but only four "finished" that is because those four finished all four laps for a whopping 100+ miles of Wild Oak Trail. Most others were only participating in the "fun run" portion of the event which involves 26 miles and a bunch of uphill. Mountain bike events and bike events in general could learn an awful lot from the spirit of these free "fun run" events. Kyle got out for the Wild Oak Run and then a Sunday hike to a waterfall in the Shenandoah National Park with former SBC employee, Whitney March.

The rules for the Wild Oak Trail Run are one of our favorite things about the event and nothing sums up the event more than these ten rules. While not for everyone, this type of run/ride/hike/ski/name any other form of human powered mobility and endurance is food for the soul. 

(From the T.W.O.T. Run site)

Who is Invited
Since this is a semi-invitational, here are some guidelines to help you determine if you are "invited". Actually, most of the following determines who is not invited.

• If you are even the least bit worried or concerned about getting lost, don't come.
• If you have questions, don't come.
• If you need a crew, don't come.
• If you need toilet paper, don't come.
• If you expect to be pampered in any way shape or form, don't come.
• If you're a whiner, don't come.
• If you're a freeloader, don't come.
• If you're seeking fame and/or fortune, don't come.
• If you're thinking about writing a report about your experience at Wild Oak, don't come.
• If you crave abuse, if you yearn for abuse, if you are addicted to abuse in any way shape or form (be it physical, mental, sexual, verbal, mathematical, artistic or whatevah) BY ALL MEANS, BE MY GUEST. (This applies to abusees only. Abusers are not welcome. The only abuser allowed is the trail.)