Sierra 100 Pre-ride and more
I saw this sign out on the route of the Sierra 100 and thought it was an appropriate sentiment. Even just the “Not Recommended” part — those are words to live by. At least, if you ride on past all signs that say “Not Recommended.” Never mind what is not recommended, just keep going.
I rode about the first 25 and the last 15 miles of the course, using a road to connect the two parts. Nice ride, but I did this Saturday and it was hot and dry up there and despite starting with a full camelback I found myself hurting for water. At least there will be aid stations out there. The first part is really neat and the climbs are reasonably graded. The return portion is on some pretty beat-up, loose and rocky forest access roads and are going to me a mess that day. Oh, well, I think it should be fun. Or as fun as 100 miles can be.
Today I went on a quick endurance ride up Thomas Creek above my house and then over Dry Pond and back. Nice with two exceptions: On my way up the Thomas single-track I passed a person walking his dog down the trail. Apropos of nothing, he says to me, “There’s a perfectly good road right over there!” While pointing toward the dirt road on the other side of the creek. Nice. While the temptation to tell him to get his ugly ass over on the road if he likes it so much was strong, I figured that would just reinforce his apparently bad attitude about cyclists and I just passed on with a cheery “good morning!” and figured I let it go. Not but 20 min later, higher up someone has taken some downed logs and dragged them over the trail, quite completely blocking it. Why someone would choose to do this I don’t know and it only took me a few minutes to clear it. I don’t mind doing a little trail maintenance, but what’s next, piano wire strung across the trail? Just a disturbing lack of courtesy and decency where a sense of community is much more valuable. I fall back to our Manifesto, “We will strive for the betterment of ourselves and our surroundings.” I tried that today.
So along the lines of bettering our surroundings, a group here is doing a local event called Reno Galena Fest (but shouldn’t that be “Galenafest?”). Anyway, they’ve got a website, facebook, twitter, etc. Check it out at http://renogalenafest.com/
The marquee event will be a mountain bike race from Galena Park to Relay Ridge. My only worry is that they’re using way too much highway and need to get on the dirt more.
When I used to ride Galena more often about 10 years ago I would get that alot. I did the same thing but really just wanted kick the old dude in the balls and say “read the f****** signs donkey” but I never did. I am too nice.
I can see hikers getting bent on that section. There are too many riders BOMBING the hell out of it too fast thinking it’s a DH trail. I’ve even heard DHers complaining about all the hikers messing up their times.
Oh well.
I don’t know that I’m up for that 100 miler. Sounds like too much road and people…
-M
Agreed people flyin down that trail does screw it up for the rest of us and that saga will continue. No 100 miler for me either.I have to work that weekend
i try to ride those trails on low traffic days only to avoid just such encounters. in all fairness, most people out there are just not very sociable anyway. good on ya for keeping your cool – making the world a better place one bike ride at a time.