Despite it being cold enough that I was sure I’d be hypothermic by the time we’d part, it was worth it. You were worth the frostbite to my left index finger…even just for the smile you managed to put on my face in the first 30 seconds we were together.\

The combination of hero dirt, every memorized corner unchanged, and the simple fact that you were the complete opposite to the rest of my afternoon makes it worth it. I promise to visit again soon, that was just too much fun to be away for so long again.

Could you do me one favor though? Just a little more warning about those ice corners would be appreciated.

-Dave

19th night ride with Trevor. Swoot.

-Dave

The plan was simple enough, we were going for a shuttle after Connor was done work. I puttered around the garage, finishing a 3000mile service on the bug, fixed the wiring on the rally car and generally avoided actually cleaning the garage. Soon the afternoon was in full swing, and Connor was released from the bike shop.

Clinton, Connor, Trevor, Scott, and I were joined by a new guy to Squamish, Nick. Nick met Connor in the bike shop, and a new rider is always fun to add to the crew…so off we went! The only trouble was figuring out which vehicles to drive. In the rush to meet and ride I kind of forgot to tell everyone they didn’t need to drive…so we had an abundance of vehicles!

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Connor, Trevor and I took the bug up the hill to ride Blow Out Your Candles and Angry Manice today. Blow is one of my favorite trails for 2009, I’m digging the steep and finding myself challenged to ride it fast while still actually making the corners. I have one corner left to dial, a ridiculously tight right hander. I always miss the corner by not looking ahead enough. I’m not looking ahead enough because it’s preceded by an ugly tight rocky section that I haven’t figured out the best line for yet.

True, a wise man would stop the next time he screws up the corner and figure it out. But then I’m still a 17 year old kid…so I don’t! Instead, I will slowly spend my summer screwing the corner up, but looking just a little bit more ahead each time until it finally clicks.

Trevor was hitting Blow for his first time this year, which is always an eye opener. It’s built in the early trail fashion of straight down the fall-line. Otherwise known as “don’t expect to ride this trail in the future”. Enjoy it while it lasts, and only enjoy it in the dry!

Angry Manice was somewhat uneventful. I was following Connor through I think, but as usual he had pulled about ten or fifteen bike lengths ahead of me. I was riding it my best ever…until I whipped around a corner to find Connor in a heap! What happened!?! He wasn’t sure, but my rhythm was lost. I duffed a corner shortly after, jammed my chain and had to finish off the section chainless. After wrestling with my chain for 10min I got it sorted and lazily finished the run.

Still a great ride though, still a great ride. Connor’s going to be cheesed about that fall though!

-Dave

Not sure what the story is here. My rough notes, used to remind me of the ride when I go back to write it, simply say “not my best 19th run”. Hmph. I’m sure at the time that was going to remind me of the ride, and why it wasn’t my best one, but I can’t remember it.

I remember Craig was on it…I remember he sketched out and almost ate it on a wood step-down near the top of Peanuts. I remember that because I was coming in after him and almost ate it as well!

I think Harry was on the ride, if this is the ride where he took the cheese-grater while Craig and I took the new trail. Yes, yes it was. I drove Harrison’s truck to the top.

Warwick was semi-on the ride. We dropped him off for an XC, and he happened to be in the woods when we passed by on Peanuts. Figures he was there to see me completely sketch out the peanuts step-down!

Scott too was on the ride, I’m pretty sure.

Hey, managed to stretch out a big enough blog post for not having a clue what went on during the ride! Hahaha.

-Dave

Okay, so it wasn’t exactly “perfect”…we did get a little lost in the middle…but it was darned close!

I wasn’t planning on riding today, I’ve got a new thumb-splint to go along with a second-degree UCL tear, but then I also wasn’t planning on bringing a work truck home for the evening. Hmmmm…have truck, will travel? A quick text message was put out to see who might be interested in riding. Connor was in for a ride, which pretty much shouldn’t be at all surprising at this point. If it involves his bike, he’s interested. I swear he thinks cleaning his bike is exciting!

Dinner was in the oven, ready in 1hr and 10min. Warwick offered to drive up the mountain (okay he didn’t really offer, I kinda told him that he was driving up the mountain) and so it was off to Connor’s to pick him up. I expected he’d be on the driveway, geared up and bike in hand…but instead found him in street clothes chilling in his room. DUDE!?! RIDE?! The rush was on, roast chicken was going to be ready in an hour!

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While I find myself quite sore this afternoon, I’m happy to report that our riding choices are opening up, and we’re no longer stuck in the 19th hole rut. Craig, Miranda, Connor, Scott, Trevor and I decided another shuttle run down diamond head was in order this afternoon. Truthfully, I shouldn’t be out on a bike right now…but it’s quite hard to pass up on the opportunity and/or let the riding friends down. If I can make it to the bottom, I’m in!

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So I’ve been a horrible friend lately. Clinton is out on the Disabled List due to a torn liagament in his thumb. His brother Harrison is out with a concussion, and Craig is out because…Wait, Craig isn’t out. See, this is the problem. Craig is perfectly healthy and dying to ride…but I keep forgetting to call him because he’s totally in my “Compt, Harry, Mir, Craig” riding group. We practically rode the five of us together for the past three years…so with half of the crew on the DL list, I’m forgetting the rest.

Having cleared up the above on the phone last night, Craig made certain I remembered my promise to go riding with him today. He called, he text’d. He was not going to be forgotten! Funny part is, as we were going up the hill in the truck I remebered why I love riding with the guy. He’s so funny to hang out with, you can’t help but have a blast!

Upon arriving to the top, though, we had a new problem. I wanted to go and ride Grin and Holler, Craig wanted to ride 19th. Hmmm…what do we do? We went and rode different trails! So much for ‘riding’ together! Craig, Mir and Scott hit up 19th (mostly because it didn’t require a hike uphill), while Connor, Trevor and I hiked to Grin and Holler.

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Occasionally a ride hits you with such a complete range of emotions, it’s difficult to figure out where to start the story. Considering I spend most of the time writing these half asleep with my eyes closed and the lights off, it’s even harder!

Today’s ride certainly began with anticipation. Anticipation throughout the workday of the ride I knew was coming. The plan was to meet Connor and Kyle after work/school and clean out the Yukon from this weekends Race trip. From there we figured we’d squeeze a ride in, and follow that up with a “classic” movie. (Apparently, if you’re 17, Beerfest is a classic.) Anyways, while I was stuck in the Cougar Attic at work sorting out a spaghetti mound of networking wires…I was thinking to myself about how much fun it was going to be to get out on the Proto again, anticipating the way it just snaps around corners now.

Later on in the day I was feeling the stress of ride time coming, but errands and work not finished. I needed to call a client and correct their website, Trevor needed cranks, Connor was needing my hacksaw to cut down his steer tube…my car is a mess, why does it feel like I am I living out of my car?? Passing Kyle as he made his way to Connors house and the Yukon, I stressing out about not being able to get enough of it done in time and still help clean the SUV. Stress turned to relief as I arrived to find that neither of them seemed to care I didn’t make it in time. The Yukon was clean, and we moved on to cutting down Connor’s steertube and mounting his new direct-mount stem. Now, why is it that when I cut everyone else’s steertubes, the cut is straight and awesome…but when I cut my own, it’s like a lightening-bolt of crookedness!?! Sigh.

Anyways, we’ll skip the part about waiting around for Scott and Trevor and simply move onto the riding. That’s probably why you’re actually reading this anyways, right?

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Might get around to writing this one.

Scott, Ryan, Kyle and I hit 19th after work.

I.
Love.
This.
Bike!