par Deyv » Mar Mai 29, 2007 11:34 pm
Last weekend, Isa and me took a break of trailbuilding for the ADSVMQ and went riding with our buddies down in New York State.
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Earl and Teresa live just on the other side of the magnificent mountains of the Adirondaks in the area of Saratoga. We met up with Echo, Douglas and Ito for a ride at Spier falls on the saturday. It was planned as a epic ride and it was!
[img:800:600]http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a341/musicace76/Bar%20opening%20rides/DSCF0193.jpg[/img]
We started up at the very bottom this time so we had a lot of climbing to do. Some very technical climbing with many big dead trees to hop or to go under
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The climb really killed us because there was quite a bit of hike a bike, well except for Earl who can levitate up any walls of rock!
[img:750:562]http://www.allezy.net/users/deyv/2007-05-29%20NY/IMG_1098.JPG[/img]
Ito and Douglas were riding 29" singlespeed even though they have been warned it was not a singlespeed friendly ride
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[img:800:600]http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a341/musicace76/Bar%20opening%20rides/DSCF0209.jpg[/img]
After more thant a hour of hard climbing we got to the top part and started to have fun on the rocks.
[img:750:562]http://www.allezy.net/users/deyv/2007-05-29%20NY/IMG_1103.JPG[/img]
We did the very remote "Blue loop". It was a blast to ride this wild trail with the incredible scenery
[img:800:600]http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a341/musicace76/Bar%20opening%20rides/DSCF0228.jpg[/img]
[img:800:600]http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a341/musicace76/Bar%20opening%20rides/DSCF0233.jpg[/img]
So wild in fact that we saw a owl.
[img:800:600]http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a341/musicace76/Bar%20opening%20rides/DSCF0227.jpg[/img]
As if riding a 29 inch full rigid singlespeed was not enough, Ito did a bit of bouldering with SPDs shoes!
[img:800:600]http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a341/musicace76/Bar%20opening%20rides/DSCF0230.jpg[/img]
At the very top of the yellow loop we had a super duper view
[img:800:600]http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a341/musicace76/Bar%20opening%20rides/DSCF0249.jpg[/img]
After 5 hours of riding, we finally saw the rock foundation that ment that we were close to the end of this Epic ride
[img:750:562]http://www.allezy.net/users/deyv/2007-05-29%20NY/IMG_1105.JPG[/img]
[img:750:562]http://www.allezy.net/users/deyv/2007-05-29%20NY/IMG_1107.JPG[/img]
In the evening, we hung out at Earl and Teresa new home made bar, great job Earl!
[img:800:600]http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a341/musicace76/DSCF5801.jpg[/img]
The next day, we rode on the more flowy trails of Skidmore. Theses trails are made and maintained by the Saratoga Mountainbike club.
[img:562:750]http://www.allezy.net/users/deyv/2007-05-29%20NY/IMG_1115.JPG[/img]
These trails are such a blast, technical enough to give a challenge but totally rideable.
[img:750:562]http://www.allezy.net/users/deyv/2007-05-29%20NY/IMG_1116.JPG[/img]
[img:750:562]http://www.allezy.net/users/deyv/2007-05-29%20NY/IMG_1117.JPG[/img]
Earl and Me found a cute little drop in the middle of the trail that was quite fun to ride. It was my first drop since my knee accident, I was quite please to be able to land without my knee hurting
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We had been on the trails 3 years ago and I remembered a crazy rock garden that defeated me. Earl showed me again how easy it was to clear it.
[img:750:562]http://www.allezy.net/users/deyv/2007-05-29%20NY/IMG_1129.JPG[/img]
I made it further this year but still could not clear it after 10 trys. I will see you next year Rock Garden!
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Towards the end of the ride, something bad happened, Echo crash and landed on a piece of log with his face first. The stump of a branch went through his cheek and he ended up with 20 stiches. We hope you heal well John and that you are back on the bike in no time!
[img:750:562]http://www.allezy.net/users/deyv/2007-05-29%20NY/IMG_1139.JPG[/img]
We had a awesome time with everyone. A big thanks to Earl and Teresa for their warm welcome.