Rapid City Riding

I departed for Rapid City last Thursday. The intent was to attend the Black Hills Fat Tire Festival and get some dirt riding. I found Rapid City and I found some great riding.

First (1st) up, I met my host at his house. I got the car unloaded, changed clothes, and we were off to M Hill. The ride through town was quick. There’s a nice bike path that takes you right there.

M Hill is a great mix of trails. There were easy, intermediate, difficult, and severe. We sampled all but the severe. The trail conditions were outstanding less a few wet spots from the recent rains. Three (3) hours of riding later and our legs said, “Go home, shower, find beer.” Being not one (1) to argue with my legs, I complied.

I should mention, while on M Hill we ran into a Japanese dude with a movie camera. We learned there are a bunch of Japanese types all over the U.S. participating in a Japanese game show. The gist is they have to compete in events and win some prize money to stay in the U.S. and on the show. It’s the Japanese version of “Amazing Race.”

The Japanese dudes at M Hill were going to compete in the Super-D race and the Hill Climb. We learned they’ve never ridden mountain bikes. What the hell, give ‘er a shot!

But I digress…..

Back to finding beer….. Post shower we hopped in a car and headed for Rockerville. Rockerville is / was a town between lanes of U.S. 16. A bar is left there. The food is good and the beer is cold. However, on Thursday nights, beginning at 7 PM, it’s Blue Grass Jam night. No shit.

A bunch of older dudes started up. Guitars, a standing base, a mandolin, a banjo, a dude who alternated between spoons and a wash board. There was even an old dude with an accordion. About forty five (45) minutes in, a kid, maybe twenty (20), no older, strolls in carrying multiple instruments complete with spiked hair and jeans hanging half way off his ass. The kid could play. Towards the end a dude with a big gray beard, funky hat, two (2) teeth left in his head showed up. He could play but looked like he’d spent the last thirty (30) or so years panning for gold in the Hills.

Friday rolled around and we were ready to roll again. This time we loaded up and headed for Storm Mountain. We were preparing when two (2) dudes from Boulder, CO rolled up and were about the do the same. We rode together.

Storm Mountain is a good mix of in the woods, in the open, respectable climbs, ripping down hills, and rocks. It’s a great ten plus (10+) mile loop. The best parts are the jumps and then the half pipe at the end. The half pipe is not free ride but still a trail. I recommend not using brakes for maximum goodness. Rip down and carry your speed up the other side and back down repeated several times.

After three (3) hours in uncharacteristic heat, we headed back to Rapid. My legs were pretty much shot. Food was found and another adventure planned. This time – kayaks.

Kayaks were loaded on the Jeep and we were off again, this time for Pactola Reservoir. We paddled out and around the “no wake” section for a bit. It wasn’t long and we headed for the non no wake section.

As boats passed the dividing buoys, they powered up. We stayed sort of on the periphery. We did find if we pointed the ‘yaks perpendicular to the passing boat’s intended path and then paddled like hell toward them, we could experience some wave action.

We did this multiple times. One (1) boater dude was onto what we were doing and made several high-speed passes near us. Sweet! Wake waves over the bow. About two hours after this fun we packed up and headed back. Upper and lower bodies were worked to exhaustion.

Saturday we met up with some other Sioux Falls riders and two (2) from Laramie, WY. They all ate breakfast at the Rodehouse Inn, which was to prove detrimental later. We loaded up and headed out. Today’s excursion was going to be the Rim Trail to the Bone Collector Trail.

The Rim starts with a gravel road downhill and then right into a singletrack climb. We moved through some trees and up the climb and stopped for a breather. The trail continued sort of flat for a bit and then the trail spread out to maybe six feet wide, down hill, rock garden. After the first good climb, one (1) of the riders had his greasy breakfast exit his body the way it came in. It wasn’t a matter of “if,” it was a matter of “which dude”, and “when.”

I peeled a layer back at the stop and was at the back of the pack at this point. This proved to be the most entertaining spot. Here were eight (8) riders bombing down this trail. Each rider was weaving back and forth taking his own line. It was comical to watch from the back.

Nearly at the bottom a rider hit the downed tree over the trail wrong and is over the bars. Two (2) of us behind him slam on the brakes to keep from putting a tread mark on his forehead.

A few climbs, descents, and creek crossings later we arrive at Bone Collector. The announcement went out, “drop your seats at least two inches (2”).” OK and done. Bone collector starts with a down hill on a narrow rock infested singletrack. From there we wind through trees and to some huge granite boulders. The boulders are interconnected with wood ladders, skinnies, and trail.

Once we’d played around enough on Bone Collector we bombed down a gravel road to the trail and took it. After a climb is was baby-butt smooth smoking fast downhill through some Aspens. About half (1/2) way down one (1) rider clips his handlebar on a tree. He somehow manages to unclip, hurdle the bars, and run it out as his bike cartwheels down the trail behind him. He stops to access the damage and straighten his brake lever. We rip the rest of the way down and wait at a creek crossing. Yelling for speed and splash we holler for the now rolling again rider to hit the creek crossing hard. He did.

We crossed an open meadow, climbed the last climb, and bombed the gravel road back to the cars. Rim and Bone Collector are not to be missed.

We rolled back to town for burritos and to watch the downhill race at M-Hill. Thankfully the downhill race started late as we were late getting there. We perched where we thought the most carnage was to be. But alas, the riders handled it well. This included a ten (10) year old kid. The section had a steep, rocky descent into a three (3) foot drop. Immediately after landing the drop you couldn’t brake as you needed to carry speed through the very highly banked corner, through a choke, and bomb down another rock garden. The ten (10) year old handled this as well as any of the older, more experienced riders. The kid is only going to get better.

Feeling inspired for “one more ride” we collected our bikes and opted to go up the gravel road portion of M Hill. We thought that would be the easiest on our already tired legs. Wrong. That sucker is steep and long. We endured the forced march, hike-a-bike and rested at the top.

We picked a very technical advanced trail, saddled up, and body englished our way down a tight tricky switch-backed trail. Once again, it was time to feed.

A few short blocks from the base of M we found Sanfords. Burgers and beer were the ticket. We ate in a hurry as we wanted to get to the Elks for the Film Festival.

We missed the first (1st) two (2) movies only. We did get to see some good ones. A few more beers at the Firehouse and it was time for bed. It was a long day and we were beat.

Sunday was easy day. After monkeying around some, we loaded up, with dogs, and headed for the very flat, but very scenic, Deerfield Trail. It felt good to stretch the legs but not work the legs. The dogs loved it and it was a great way to end my time in the Rapid City area before needing to head back to the non singletrack world that is Sioux Falls. Pictures MIGHT follow tomorrow. I need to download them first (1st).


Ride On.