It's been a nice week of riding the classics. Teocali, 401, 403, and Snodgrass. Who gets to do that? Unemployment has it's benefits. Today was a nice journey up 403. Lots of riding on the road for a little bit of trail but worth it...an unbelievable descent. Very steep, very technical. Steep enough, in fact, that my brakes got hot enough to melt a retaining spring. No kidding.

I don't want a pickle...

I just want to ride my motorsickle

Ok, they are loud, obnoxious, and stinky...but so fun. I had the first ride since my cousin put me on a 50cc bike when I was about 9 and nearly killed me. It feels like a really huge mountain bike with an excessive amount of power. It has the ability to bring elation or destruction, all dependent on skill, awareness, and fate. It brings such a unique feeling of freedom. It's certainly different than a bicycle...a bicycle is about challenge, roaming, getting somewhere under your own power in a manner fast enough to feel a sense of accomplishment but slow enough to notice things along the way. A motorcycle is a different feeling. Such a sense of independence...like it could be ridden until there's nothing left to ride. Like you could go anywhere. 

Jared put me on his bike and showed me clutch, throttle, front brake, rear brake and sent me off. Brave. 

It was a nice night too. 

Wildflowers!

Fat Tire 40

The Fat Tire 40 is in the bag. Andy and Rebecca made the trip and John grabbed a spot. We lined up at 7:45am knowing there would be a long day ahead of us. It was pretty hard and I was on my bike for a long time. I had a good day mentally but not the best physically. The course was about 70% single track and we were only on pavement for a quarter of a mile. It had a great grass roots/local feel and an all-mountain type course. Big climbs, big descents; technical sections and buff single track; huge vistas; knee deep stream crossings. More camelbaks and 5" trail bikes than team kits and hardtails; more joking and smiles at the starting line than poker faces. The organizers put a lot of love into this thing and it turned out beautifully. I think this is the new CB classic.