BHFTF Recap

This past weekend, well part of last week, too, was spent in the Black Hills of South Dakota attending the Black Hills Fat Tire Festival. Enjoyment was had.

I didn’t get to town quite as early on Thursday as I’d hoped. So, no M Hill ride that evening. Instead M Hill was put off until Friday morning. Arriving at the trailhead, an official looking dude said where it was OK to ride and where it was not OK to ride. Rain had some of the trail rather muddy.

Two hours later, as I was coming off M Hill, two other official dudes asked why I was riding on M Hill given the “closed” sign at the trailhead. I explained that a) it wasn’t there when I started and b) the other dude said it was OK to ride. The other dude confirmed my story and the stink-eye went away.

The rain let up early in the afternoon and a jaunt up and down the Centennial trail near Pactola Reservoir was in order. This rides starts with a two track downhill, a sharp right-hand corner and then a long-ish two track climb before getting into the singletrack proper. There are a few ups and downs from the start of the singletrack to the highway, but it is mostly uphill to the highway.

Once at the highway it was turn around time. All that climbing made for some very sweet descending. The trail was only muddy in a few isolated areas. The singletrack gave way to the two track and before I knew it we were back at the cars.

Saturday morning was spent looking for something non muddy to ride. The Bulldog section of the Centennial trail proved extremely muddy. Muddy enough to necessitate a visit to a self-serve car wash to expel the mud. Saturday afternoon was spent a bit on the Mickelson Trail and then on the Storm Mountain loop. With the exception of the lower portion below the technical descent, the Storm Mountain trail was in great shape.

Sunday was the hardest ride. A group of us elected to ride Victoria’s Secret at the Victoria Creek / Lake area. This three hour (plus) tour had some intense climbs, some ripper downhills, some technical downhills, and very scenic views.

The other part of Sunday was spent at the Phoenix area watching the downhill race. Here’s a helmet cam video of the course.



The drop at 1:30 is about eight feet. I can be seen in the red tee-shirt, to the right, at 1:32. The best times were just under two minutes.

Here’s my crappy phone video of the eight foot drop followed by some curves.



Monday was a return to the Pactola area of the Centennial trail, a bit of sight seeing, a bit of hiking at Sylvan Lake, and then back to here – the land of very bad drivers.

Even with the rain I had a GREAT time. The trails in the Black Hills are outstanding. But, they remain somewhat of a secret. That’s OK by me. They’re very, very rarely crowded. Letting the proverbial cat out of the bag, a trip to the Black Hills to ride will not disappoint. Hit up any of the bike shops and they’ll tell you how to get to the places I’ve listed plus more like Buzzard’s Roost and Bone Collector to name a few.

Ride On.

Bike Art

Here's a neato bike art thing by Grant Snider. Click for big(ger).

Ride on.

We’re Number…..

.....40!

Not enthused? Yeah. Me too. Sort of anticlimactic. Way to go Minnesota, though! What am I talking about? I often wonder that, too. But, to see, click HERE.

There. Is that better? I thought so. Once again this state is behind the curve. I guess it is to be expected. The collective group of morons known as our state legislature can’t get a three foot passing law passed, can’t get a texting ban enacted, but, they can encourage fracking for oil – so we’ve got that going for us.

Ride On.

This Past Friday

We had a local biking event here last Friday. It used to be called Bike To Work Day. I killed it. Bike To Word Day is dead! Long live Bike To Work Day!

OK – I didn’t really kill it. This past winter a group of us were discussing the annual event. We were trying to come up with ways to increase participation. The number of participants was steady but not really increasing like we’d hoped it would.

I made the suggestion we turn Bike To Work Day, a one day novelty, into Bike To Work Summer, I three month lifestyle. It was at that point it was suggested I chair the committee this year. Me and my big mouth.

At any rate, meetings were met, posters made, and the kick off was this past Friday. Several people stepped forward to accept the challenge. We had them fill out a sign up form / waiver, we weighed them, and took there percentage body fat. They were given a log to keep.

At the middle of August we’ll reconvene, we’ll collect their logs, will weigh them again, and we’ll take their percentage body fat again. Those who had the best combination of days biked and improved fitness will get prizes.

Participation seemed down this year. Partially, I’m blame me. I was chairing the committee. it was up to me to drive this. I could have done much better. Word did not get out as quickly or as much as I’d liked it to.

I say partially I’m to blame because, as the cliché says, you can lead a horse to water but can’t make it drink. I sometimes wonder if efforts such as this contest are misguided or futile. People are gong to do what they want to do. Personal freedom of choice, so to speak. Maybe I should be (considerably) less concerned about what others think, say, and do and (considerably) more in tune with personal satisfaction and happiness. More on this later!


Ride On.

I Didn’t See Your Name

I was glancing at some upcoming bike race events the other day. When I was looking at the Highway 212 Gut Check site, I noticed a distinct lack of rollers on the signed up list.

For some, this is a repeat thing to do. For others, it is a once only thing. After all, it is more than 400 miles of biking in 48 hours (or more than 800 in 96 for the Hell and Back version).

I’ve done this race twice. I don’t know if I can fit it into my busy summer this year. But, if I can find room – I’m in. I suggest you give this some thought. Doing a very long distance race like this will change your life. Actually, it probably won’t – but, it could. You might prove to yourself you’ve got more than you thought you had.



Ride On.

Getting Worse

I’ve lamented, on here, how pathetic the drivers are in this city. Courtesy? Out of the question. Skills? None. Speeding is rampant. Rounding off corners and using as many lanes as there are – all the time.

It seems drivers are now keeping us guessing – literally. For reasons that suck, I’ve needed to drive quite a bit lately. What I’ve noticed is a decided decline in the use of turn signals. Evidently drivers are so (self) important, that taking the time and effort to signal their turns is taking up too much of their (self) valuable time.


Ride On.

Feelin' Horny

Ride on.