RR: Blackstar to Eagle TT (almost)

[Waldo]

Had a good time out there today, despite a slight hiccup that delayed the start for 20 minutes (cough, cough *I'm a moron* cough). Rolled out with LoisMustDie, his friend S, and Kona Dupee. It was a beautiful day with forever views, but the breeze up on MD was a bit chilly. (We saw a puddle still iced over at 11:30am between Beeks and Eagle). The climb up Blackstar was...well, Blackstar. The steeps above Beeks though are another matter. It's one thing to climb sections like that at the start of a ride, but hitting them 10 miles and 2000+ ft up is just plain mean. At least the recent rains have everything pretty well packed, but I can easily see how loose some of that must be in summer.

In all honesty, we cut it short just a little before reaching Eagle, as we just didn't feel like climbing the next hill, plus KD had a bit of a time constraint. But @ 27 miles and something around 3700 ft of climbing, we figured that did a pretty good job of simulating the first leg of the CC. I feel a little better about that stretch, but making it up Maple and over Santiago afterward....

Saw the other STR group (Klutter, Sprockethead, JSims, & Slowspokes) at the staging area, then ran into them again as we returned from MD and they regrouped after climbing Skyline. Made the descent back down Blackstar as one larger group, and I was impressed by JSims' speed after being on the DL, and by Klutter's speed on his cross bike. Having no skill whatsoever myself, I can only imagine the ability it takes to go that fast on 1.25" tires.

And KonaDupee, to no one's surprise, rocked on his first excursion to the Pain Divide. That boy is a climbing fool! He claims the ride kicked his butt, but all evidence on the trail was otherwise.

Great riding with everyone today. Sorry no pics, but the point of our ride was to minimize the breaks and keep moving. Plus, I left the camera in the car

[J_Sims]

Good times out there in the wind... Good seeing you ouot there...

[KonaDupee]

Waldo, my legs would like to never speak of the ride again. In protest, they are not letting me do any stairs today.

I gotta admit that Blackstar may quickly become one of my favorite trails. My SS 29er gave me many nasty glares for not being taken out there yesterday...next time!!!

Even though we didn't start the ride with the STR group, it was fun coming down Blackstar with everyone. I'm impressed that no one was swept over the ridge by the damn wind; wasn't it cold enough already? A few things became very clear on the ride:

-I don't pack enough food.
-Training rides are SUPPOSED to hurt.
-Much to my wife's chagrine, I find myself smitten with lady mountain bikers.
-JSims must have some magic recovery juice that he needs to share...wasn't he just on CRUTCHES a few weeks ago??? Very impressive, señor.
-Any time you see a man in his 60s riding solo on a trail, it's safe bet he's a better rider and in better shape than 99.9% of the world's population.
-There's no shame in cutting the ride *short* at 27+ miles & 3500' of climbing, but it still stings the pride.
-You should never attempt to dance at a wedding mere hours after hitting Blackstar for the first time ever.
-There should never be ice left on the trail at 11:30am.
-Waldo really needs to just leave his bike lock key in his car.
-I really find myself smitten with lady mtbers.

[Waldo]

Originally Posted by KonaDupee

-I really find myself smitten with lady mtbers.

Apparently that went both ways. I've never gotten a post-ride hug!

And yeah, I've got to get this whole "key" concept figured out. But you gotta give me some props for record time home and back. You all were probably not even done with your hello hugs when I drove back up.

[KonaDupee]

Originally Posted by Waldo

Apparently that went both ways. I've never gotten a post-ride hug!

What can I say, women simply cannot resist me.



At least, that's what I keep telling myself...

[Waldo]

Originally Posted by KonaDupee

What can I say, women simply cannot arrest me.

Just because you've been getting away with it so far is no reason to brag on the internet about it!