Ely eNVy
Greetings Bacon Strippers! Sorry I’ve been late in posting this. Captain Redbeard has been riding my ass about some NWP stuff.
Anyway, here’s the goods on our friends to the east, and a look inside the 2007 Tears Fears and Beers Ely Enduro.
Friday last I rolled out of town having skipped work. Saw this bumper sticker out the way out so I grabbed some pork rinds to munch in the car. It doesn’t work.
Left our calling card @ Sand Mountain.
Met KRob @ Cave Lake State park to tour the Mountain Bike trails built by the Great Basin Trails Alliance.
They are awesome. Gnarly climbs, tight switchbacks, killer views, limestone cliffs, flowy downhills, Rockstacles, drops and rollers, Pinyon Juniper tunnels. KRob is s killer rider and a fun guy to ride with. Nice To meet you bro!
This is Twisted Bob, owner of the Twisted Pine Bar in Ely, NV. Twisted Bob says that all you need is food in your belly and a roof over your head. “The rest is just texture.” He has plenty of the first two and shittons of texture. Stop in and see him some evening for “Truck Counting.” .
The race venue was great. Right in town, no driving to ride or eat. Comfy camping and showers @ the National Guard Armory.
Met this strange chick from Elko. Everyone loves her for some reason. Probably cause she’s super nice, funny and a kick to be around! And she won the Sport Class!
Don’t want to get to gearie, but the new Thomson Stem I got worked out well. Going from 110mm to 90mm made the difference on the last descent. The Thomson Masterpiece seatpost gave me no problems either. The Panaracer Rampage tires were a mixed bag. Great if the pressure was just right, but prone to pinch flatting. Also the side knobs rubbed my derailleur. So I had to live with that in granny gear.
The final descent as Gris mentioned, is the most agro, gnarly, absurd piece of trail ever concieved. KRob siad “it separates the men from the boys.” I’m going to spend the next 360 days trying to forget about it.
The crew puts on a great event. Nothing like a standard race, which was perfect. I think I was the only unknown who showed up. And they made me feel plenty welcome. Nice to have friendly people at the check points who remember your name. Thanks to Kalem, Tenille, Skeet, Bob, Kent, and all the rest of the Great Basin Trails Alliance Team!
Peace out ShredMonkeys!
-M
[...] riding Squaw Peak, which you see behind me, and descending same, being the only rider at the Tears Fears and Beers Ely Enduro willing to do so. 4) As a result of #3 I won said race. 5) It was White Pine Brewing Co. beer and [...]
Great write-up Mike. It was good to meet you and ride with you. Bring the rest of the TBS next year. I promise to ride the Squaw with you next time.
Squaw? What’s Squaw? I don’t remember any Squaw? No long hot climb, no absurdly off the hook DH. No power slide under a train… All I remember was a nice little roller mile behind the brothels…
-M