A plume of steam streamed from my nostrils like a river of fire and smoke from the exhaust tips of a funny car. I studied the trail before me and the valley after that and the mountain range after that. It was a clear cold morning and I was poised at the top of the Goat Trail. The steam from my body drifted all about me on this still day and covered me in blanket of white mist. I flexed my fingers in hopes of getting rid of the icy cold snake that sunk it's teeth deep into my knuckles and bones.
It was my second run of the morning. The first run was to check the water. This time....this time was with feeling.
On the way up to the top of the GT, I took careful note of the ground. I felt confident and happy to be alive and riding my bike. I repositioned the ear buds in my helmet before I pulled the Zune of my pocket and checked the play list. The saviors of metal (Dragonforce) were on for the next three songs, but I’d only need one to make it to the bottom. Up went the volume.
I dropped in from a small hill and hammered the pedals until I was up to speed. The first descent is short, but the second is much larger and faster. I didn’t let up. I pinned it as hard as I could and hopped the rain ruts and rocks and shot up the next hill.
The next section is a beautiful twist and turn area with lots of off camber turns. The sun stabbed through the Oaks in wicked rays of gold and white. The Spanish Moss made weak attempts to grab at my clothes and bike, but the flow was on.
I made a long left hand turn and had long decided to hit the big hip jump in the mild rock section. I made circles with my feet and dropped another two gears and applied the torque. I lined up and hit the hip jump perfect. I knew I’d make the short 7 feet to the landing, but what I didn’t know is if I’d make it past the 1,000 pound Blood Mare running up the trail. To ‘ell with the one Blood Mare. It was the other 6 1,000 pounds animals that had my attention.
Somehow, some way, I managed to land and miss everyone of them, weaving and dodging like I was made for this moment. I define miss as not dieing.
I didn’t make it out unscathed though. When 180 pounds plus 25 pound bike goes 25+ mph on 12”’s of trail against six 1,000+ horses with 160 pound (And I’m being kind) riders going 30+ mph on 12”’s of trail the odds are against me.
I missed the first pack no problem, but the next three horses I bounced off of each one of them, but never, Praise God, went down.
I threw my backend over the back tire and grabbed at my brakes until the Yeti was still.
Over my shoulder I heard the horse riders say I should be more careful and I’m lucky I’m not dead.
I took off my helmet. A flash of steam enveloped the air and sweat was free to create streams down my forehead. I blew one stream out from my mouth in a response to the snort the closest horse offered me in greeting. A ray of sun gave the impression I was on fire.
The leader of the pack dismounted and came back to me. He was wearing a Division 26 t-shirt that matched mine. “I USED TO RIDE BMX”
He was apologetic and said he was trying to hurry the horses off the trail before I biker came down. I was sorry because if I’d known horses could walk this trail, I’d have taken it in sections and listened carefully before I trucked down them.
We high-fived for having great tastes in clothing companies (He’s an avid rider himself) wished each other a Happy New Year then went on our separate ways, but not after he took a good long look, as did the other horseback riders (They were all mountain bikers too) at my set up.
I took the trail in sections with out incident. When I got to the bottom I took note of the trail sign. Horses were allowed on the trail and so were hikers.
Hmm.
Lessons:
1. Be mindful of others on the trail. Don’t hammer down a trial unless it’s closed for race. You don’t know what you could run into.
2. Being courteous on the trail is also part of being a good sponsored rider. You represent some of the finest people on the planet (They’re not just companies) and people notice.
3. Don’t get angry if you do have a near miss. Stop and check on the other party.
4. Dragon force’s “Through the Fire and Flame” is a perfect track to smoke a trail on. YEAH!
Until next time,
Go on and ge' yoself' some!
Bob to the Burnes