Weather Perfection: Saturday Delight

So I know that lately I've been gushing about the mountain biking, but honestly I can't get enough. My buddy Ryan (who happens to be a professional cyclist) and I went out to Issaqueena today. It was the first really nice day in quite some time, and it was great to spend a good deal of it outside. The dirt was packed down and dry, but still damp enough to gain some serious traction. I also tried out this new portable speaker I bought specifically for biking so I could listen to some tunes while riding and it worked perfectly. Despite the large number of cars in the lot, we only saw a few people on the trails; probably because many were walking or running up and down the fire roads as opposed to the actual trails. Good thing, too, because we were moving at a pretty good clip.

With some of my other friends, I occasionally have to wait up for them just because I tend to ride quicker. With Ryan though, he moves really quickly and it's even tough for me to keep up sometimes. But this is a good thing, as it challenges me to pick my lines quicker and react on a moment's notice to the trail ahead. It really takes a lot more concentration than you might think; it amazes me how the downhillers do it all in milliseconds.

The weather couldn't have been more perfect: sunny, not a cloud in sight, in the 50's and 60's. Now that Daylight Savings time is beginning, I'm hoping to get out there riding more often! And on that note, don't forget to push your clocks forward!

On a side note, I've been realizing that what I write about is starting to sound like journal entries, and that's not really what I intended this blog to be. If you have topics you might want to hear about, or ideas of things to write about, please leave them below! I look forward to getting back to material with some real profundity.

Trail Day: Dupont Forest, NC

Today was a huge success. There were only two of us, myself and a good friend, but we drove up in the not-so-early morning to Dupont Forest State Park, located just over the state line. The climbs were a bit out of our league, and the air was a bit on the brisk side, but we soon warmed up and our fingers lost their numbness as the blood pumped through our bodies. The downhills were long, windy and challenging and there were even some rock gardens hidden on the mountain (which we might have tried had there not been ice all over them). Overall, a blast. And I can't even begin to imagine how many calories we burned... but why type when I can show you? Video below:

Two Wheel Road Trippin' .

My current studio project entails that we design a museum with inspiration from the Blue Ridge Mountain Range. My professor wanted us to get out there and really experience that escarpment feeling, with Dupont Forest in mind (but she said we didn't have to necessarily go there, as it's an hour and a half away). She wants us to experience cliffs and mountain sides, steep slopes and breathtaking views. That is to be done this weekend, sort of on our own time. So me, knowing full well that Dupont Forest contains some of the best mountain biking trails in the area, with rock gardens, entirely rock trails among moss, bridges and fast single track with some good climbs. It was a perfect opportunity!

I've rallied with the troops and despite the distance, and I think I'll have a decent number of guys to go mountain biking. I seriously can't wait; it's been a long time since I've been out in the woods with nothing but the hum of your chain and the crackle of tires over roots and branches. It's nerve-racking sometimes, but at the same time so, so exhilarating. So that's happening on Saturday; a short little day trip to Dupont Forest up near Brevard, NC. Leave in the morning, return by dusk. I'll take some video and see if I can't post that here. Have a great Friday tomorrow!

kids .

I'm no expert on parenting, but I saw this video today and it stuck with me:

Can you say, coolest fucking parent ever? I wish my parents let me do stuff like that when I was that little. One of my goals as a parent is not only to watch out for my kids, instill good morals, etc., but also to be able to take a little risk sometimes and do fun things together. The pride you'll have at the end will outweigh the risk I think. It's a way to share what you love with your kids -- I love riding on both my bikes, road or mountain, and it's important to share that with the kids. I love snowboarding, and I'd like to share that too. Plus, the only way they'll find out what they like and don't like is to try it; so why not think outside the box a bit and do something other than the usual stuff?!

Also, on a side note... I still haven't found a mountain close to me where I can take my bike up on a lift and do this. Sad face.

attn: cyclists .

When they first get started, people see cycling as maybe a mild hobby, or just something that keeps you sorta kinda in shape. What you eventually realize is that there is a huge community of cyclists out there and that they all are ADDICTED to it. I am one of these people -- and here are some suggestions / guidelines / advice from it all, should you get to that point.

hartshorne in a a heat wave .

Feeling ambitious, yesterday I scheduled a morning ride with a coworker up at Hartshorne Woods. The woods is located in the Highlands area of New Jersey, which is probably one of the coolest areas. Think steep hills, woods, nice houses, and a great cliffside view of the oceanic waterways. Despite the multiple-day heat wave (which honestly is 10x worse because of the feckin' humidity) we decided to go for it. Traffic in the morning was a bitch as it usually is during rush hours, but we made it, and started with a steep, rooty climb up the fire road.

the world of cycling .

Last summer I got really into cycling. I have been a mountain rider for quite some time, but decided to eat the cost and treat myself to a road bike last summer. Since then I have ridden often with my roommate while at school (or at least, as often as work and classes would allow). This is no small task usually, as he is a professional and has not only incredible endurance but climbing ability. Though he is quite understanding when it comes to my skill level, and rides at a pace that I can keep up with.

down the road .

It's always great to think about the future. Life down the road, you know? It's great to review where you've been, and where you're going. It's even great to take a step back and look at the big picture of the present. I had the pleasure of having a good talk with one of my roommates about all of this... and being that he is a few years ahead of me and thus a bit farther down the road of life, it's always interesting to hear about a different perspective on various things, mainly related to occupation, career, and other things of that nature.