July 30th
Bear sitings = 3
Replacement parts = 1 (Chain device CK)
Kms ridden= 69km
Picture = James and Tom from helmet cam footage
Yesterday it rained all day. We did not ride at all so I worked. The trails really needed the rain so we kinda wanted it but it was frustrating not to be able to get out and ride at all. (Of course we could have ridden but after great weather and dry trails its not tempting to ride slippy wet roots and mud and get bike and self filthy, plus its good for the trails not to get ripped up when wet).
Today was much better, a little cool but sunny with clouds at the tops of the mountains. We rode the park all day and took some helmet cam footage (to be edited watch this space).
We rode a lot of trails including Crank it up (several times), Schleyer, B-line, Karate Monkey, Upper Joyride (lower was shut), Drop park (I rode the highest drop for first time- double diamond black), Freight Train (I rode the wooden drop, then the next wooden drop and the drop over the rocky section - latter was my first time over that), Dirt Merchant- I rode the first 2 drops but still need to work up to properly hitting the rest of that trail as the jumps are big).
After struggling with my automatic gear changes on my chainrings, I finally decided to get a dual chain tension device from Fanatykco. So that is where my bike is now. The good thing is that thay also adjusted the cones on my new Chris King rear hub that had developed some play already. Good service from this team as I've come to expect but always gives me a feel good factor. Feels like they really care that I get a good ride on the mountain so they'll make sure my bike works just right.
James and I watched the PHAT wednesday race from Longhorns over a beer and then dinner at the apartment was Chilli.
Thursday 31 July 2008
Whistler Day 18
Tuesday 29 July 2008
Whistler Day 16
July 28th
Bear Sitings= 0
Replacement parts=0
Picture = Tom In Deep
James' first day and we rode the park.
Crank it up
B-line to Karate Monkey
Schleyer to Whistler DH
Original Sin-In Deep-Fatcrobat- Too Tight
Freight Train-No Joke-Duffman- Renegade-Dirt Merchant
Monday 28 July 2008
Whistler Day 15
Bear sitings = 0
Riding = 0
Today it rained :-(
But the trails needed it.
We watched the Red Bull Round up on Double Vision on the bike park. Alan Hepburn was riding for Banshee so Keith was there to support him. And then Alan came back to stay with us so we all supported too.
The comp was to start at 1 but was rained off til about 3pm. The last jump to the finish line was a huge box over a gap to a steep transition. Most of the riders looked nervy about it. In the comp most of those who jumped it did not pull a trick until the last few riders. Some did not jump it at all. Well the riders were aged 14-21 so not surprising.
It was not a great spectator event, mainly due to the rain and not knowing what was going on in the competition i.e. who was leading etc. The coverage of Day 1 looked much more exciting in a Vancouver film set that looked like 1930 Chicago where they built up a bunch of stunts. The Red Bull truck was really cool, big black old jeep with LCD screens that protrude out and big sound systems, speakers that looked like old jerry cans for gas/petrol.
I definitely missed riding today and can't wait to get out tomorrow now the loose trails have been dampened down.
James arrived from UK and with Alan here there are now 5 in our 2 bed place.
Saturday 26 July 2008
Whistler Day 13
July 25
Bear sitings = 3
Replacement parts = 0
Kms= 30
Working hours = 0.5
Playing hours = 8
Picture = Whistler Dirt Jumps
Long sleep in today after a long week and a late night watching Batman- Dark Knight, plus I'm not working today.
This morning we went dirt jumping. I just went to take photos but ended up having a go on the small ones as you can see I even got 2 wheels in the air and in fact I cleared a couple of the table tops.
Keith went for the big ones and got a lot more air on his Banshee Amp dirt bike. Even tweaking it up a little.
Tom took a good crash which I missed as did the camera and he is nursing a grazed and bruised hip and calf, but he got back on his bike and still managed some good air.
We watched Battlestar Galactica as Tom is hooked on it and is educating Keith and I but we have a couple of series to catch up on. Then we mooched in town for lunch at Behind the Grind and to buy a Dakine tailgate cover from Summit.
Finally we took a late run up the mountain bike park, Tom and Keithon their hardtails we did a no pedalling race down EZ does it - I was miles behind on my big bike, then we did B-line finishing on Monkey ~Hands and GLC drop and that pommeled their arms and legs to bits so they gave in and went for some anaesthetic at the GLC- i.e. Beers and Nachos.
Guillame (a Banshee Scythe owner from France) and I went back up and rode Crank it up twice top to bottom and I cleared every tabletop and it felt good, so floaty in the air and flowy on the ground hitting thos down transitions. I finished with a rund down B-line into Karate Monkey, World cup singletrack, A-line, Hornet and GLC drop.
Tonight stir fry in and another Battlestar Galactica.
I'm back on holiday now! :-)
Friday 25 July 2008
Whistler Day 12
Bear sitings = 0
Crash replacements = 0
Birthdays = 1 (Keith's 25th)
Trails ridden = Kill me Thrill me (pictured)
Movie = Dark Knight (Batman)
Work hours = 9
Play hours = 3.5
Dinner = Earls steak
More news and video to come re this trail
Wednesday 23 July 2008
Whistler Day 10
July 22 2008
Bear Sitings = 0
Replacement parts = 0
Work hours= 10
Play hours = 2
Trail =River runs thru it
Picture = Log bridge
Movie= Snakes on a plane
Tuesday 22 July 2008
Whistler Day 9
Bear Sitings = 2
Replacement parts = 1 (Tom's hardtail cranks)
Kms= 12
Work hours completed= 10
Riding hrs = 1.75
No pics today 'cos - Today I worked! Well it wasn't so hard to do as it means I'm saving my real riding days for when my ankle is better.
I took a quick ride round Lost Lake singletrack this evening and it was a great hot evening, sunny but a bit of breeze at the tops. My Cove G-spot is a little heavy (almost 40lbs)for cross- country style single track but I managed to climb most of the short rock infested climbs and it was a good workout for legs and lungs. The downs were of course a dream and with all this suspension my ankle felt just as good as usual except I made sure I did not plant it on anything less than level when I had to dab or get off.
On my way back a cyclist from the gravel paths nearby shouted for me to stop as there was a bear on my trail walking towards me. I froze still and watched it and it watched me back considering whether to walk towards me or away. It seemed like ages it was looking at me then eventually it sprinted and then wandered off away. Unfortunately that was the way the trail went so I followed it in trepidation but it was gone.
I was a little more bear aware after that but stuck to the singletrack and 2 mins later I disturbed another bear at the left of my trail and he got up and sprinted away so noisily that it startled me but I kept riding and he never looked like heading my way. Boy they do move fast and if they wanted to could have sprinted my way very swiftly- fortunately I'm not tasty to them so I'm glad they took off. My heart was raised and I sprinted on down the rocky downhill and fun woodwork and it was quite surreal to 10mins later be cycling the valley trail past people in the bike skills area and skate park and dirt jumps oblivious of the bears I had seen. We live side by side and blissfully unaware of each other's presence so much of the time.
Keith cooked a great pasta bake tonight and educated me on how he designs bikes, I was fascinated. Hopefully I'll get to demo one or some of them to understand how the science transfers to the ride feel. For a work day what a great day! Working again tomorrow.
Monday 21 July 2008
Whistler Day 8
July 20
Bear sitings= 0
Replacement parts = many (Keith's bike build)
Kms completed = 32 (no chair lift assist!)
Today my ankle did not look so big but my foot looks enormous! All the swelling has sunk into the foot and is making me look like elephant man as well as making a disconcerting squelchy feel as I walk around. The black and blue toes are particularly attractive! Arnica galore please!
So I knew the park was out of the question but I wanted to ride. I took off down the valley trail all strapped up and I felt fine. Then headed up Riverside trail a blue singletrack from Function Junction where all the work is going on to build the Olympic athletes village.
It's a beautiful trail, gently rolling with fantastic views of glacial run off rivers and fallen trees and rocks. Just a few rocks and roots and switchbacks to test out the shock absorbing power of my foot. Not bad so far!
I rode across the wobbly suspension bridge, then up Highline trail for quite a hike a bike til I got to the start of Tunnel Vision (pictured). I love this little trail- marked black diamond on the old map but clearly downgraded to blue (probably as BD in the park is way harder).
I rode all the rocks rolls and generally tried to use my good foot to do the suspension bit and I only felt small twinges of pain nothing major. As long as I did not have to put that foot down in a hurry or awkwardly I'm alright. I even rode the wooden ladders except the drop offs as that would be too much impact to test my foot so soon.
Feeling good I rode up Kadenwood several tarmac switchbacks to Steps and into Big Timber down to Creekside gondola. Lunch at Subways although Dustys looked tempting (but I was keeping it cheap. )
Back along the valley trail and up and down Blueberry a blue singletrack with 2 black diamond descents joining Alta Vista to Whistler Cay- this time I just went for the black diamond rocky descents and my foot took it well.
Keith and Tom were in the apartment competing at http://fr2b.fr/ and I joined in too. It was so addictive that they never made it out for a ride in the real world! (See photo)
Dinner was at Brewhouse- a great pasta to replenish the energy burnt. So great to get out today and pedal up aswell as down and test those lungs again!
However I know I can't take this ankle back in the park yet so I'm going to work for trhe next 2-4 days and see if I can get fully recovered for next week riding the tough stuff.
Sunday 20 July 2008
Whistler Day 7
July 19
Bear sitings = 0
Replacement parts = 0
Ice pack treatments = 3
Riding = 0 :-(
Woke up with extremely painful and swollen ankle and could hardly hobble. Decided to walk it off and get some mobility back so did a hike around Lost Lake which is beautiful. I totally forget every year about the landing stage where the nudists go, and so as you stare, absorbed by the glacial blue waters, you suddenly realise a naked man is in his full glorious view standing on a log on the water and you look like you are staring at him!
Turn your gaze to the ground and stride on rapidly!
My mobility for walking is improving when in sneakers but my foot is getting black and blue now and not reducing the puffiness yet.
Whistler town is extremely busy due to the music festival and lots of tourists for the weekend- a good day not to be in the park. Although I'm yearning some riding and worrying about when my foot will be able to cope with it again.
Saturday 19 July 2008
Whistler Bike Park Day 6
Crank it up Box, originally uploaded by kendyck1.
July 18
Bear Sitings = 3
Replacement parts = 0
Crashes = 1 Injuries = 1 (my ankle)
Picture = Crank it up Box
Today I was riding table tops so badly this morning (either nose diving or landing on my back wheel on top) that we took to the more technical style trails like Schleyer into Karate Monkey , then Whistler DH course and Rock City- I took it easy on the entry to the rock rolls on the latter trails but I did them. On Whistelr DH there is one dusty roll that heads straight down over a log and then sharp left. I made it down but kinda got stopped by the left turn cos I was going too fast to make it round. Still I was pleased to make it down.
Then we headed up to the top of Garbanzo again but this time from Original Sin, Blue Velvet we headed into In Deep and then straight up onto Captain Safety. This sounded like a tough Double diamond even Tom had never done but we took it gingerly and it was not too bad. Similar to Original Sin but with one loose dirt covered rock roll that I walked even though I should be able to do it next time.
From there we rejoined In Deep down the steep rooty rock roll and then off into Fatcrobat which I actually bailed off for the first time. I seem a bit unbalanced today.
Later we sessioned Crank it up and Tom followed me to give me some Table Top tips as I was clearing them now but apparently I'm compressing so much off the lip I'm losing my height. I'm supposed to manual off them more so we had a run where I tried that to more and some less success!Then we did Schleyer and I diverted off to do Smoke and Mirrors only to have a moment lapse of concentration on a right hand raised wooden ladder turn - my rear wheel dropped off and surprised me I fell to the left and put my foot out onto a small fallen tree trunk turning over on my ankle with my full weight on it. OH MY WORD the searing pain! For a moment I worried I'd cracked it and I could instantly feel it swelling up.
But aftera few mins lying still the pain subsided a little and I got up, back on my bike and cycled down to meet Tom. I called it a day as I wanted to get iced up and Tylenlol'ed to reduce the swelling ASAP and save my next rides! RICE!
Currently sitting strapped up and raised with an ice pack and a beer! Cross fingers the swelling goes down by morning!
Friday 18 July 2008
Whistler Bike Park Day 5
July 17
Bear Sitings = 0 (where have they gone?)
Replacement parts= 1 (brake pads Tom)
Picture= CK on Fatcrobat
Today started with much pfaffing to fit my Hayes Stroker Trail brakes. Rear was no problem but front needed the adapter from 6inch to 8inch as I had expected it would need so I phoned around and once again good old Fanatykco came up trumps. I pedaled Tom's bike down there to pick it up and I fitted the front brake.
Then Tom had hassle trying to change his brake pads so I went up for a run alone, by 1pm we were on the mountain.
We rode Crank it up, Schleyer, Karate Monkey, GLC, then up to ride Original Sin, Blue Velvet, In Deep, Fatcrobat (see photo).
Tom rode filthy ape and then tried to launch the step up on Blue Velvet but hauled up on the ramp as it was pretty big and hardly ridden. The route the other side of it was loose steep unridden and not trail built so I left him to it and rode out Blue Velvet.
I finally rode the rocky gully on In Deep but still can't get round the rocky right switch back on Original Sin that is my ghost riding nemesis.
We went up again and I sessioned Crank it up while Tom took a ride down A-line. I'm really riding so much faster and flowier and now taking the bigger table tops and clearing a lot more of them - it's so smooth when you hit the down transition. These brakes are great for me, 1 finger braking at last and more modulation than before plus I don't have to drag the brakes all the time to know I can reach the lever. (I have v. small hands). The brakes are pretty much broken in after a day like that!
We finished early today and did our supermarket shopping! Dinner was kebabs in wraps at home and some Alexander Keths Indian Pale Ales.
We watched an hilarious movie called Tank Girl- very weird but very entertaining.
Thursday 17 July 2008
Whistler Bike Park Day 4
July 15
Bear Sitings = 0
Replacement parts = 2 (brakes F&R)
Kms = 42k
Here I am dropping off the middle GLC drop. This is my build up to dropping the big one by the end of the holiday.
Today I rode so much better as my arms are getting used to the pounding, my confidence and skills are returning and my bike bits are performing so much better.
Crank it up sessions in the morning were smooth and I cleared more TTs than ever before, even flying high on some. Then we rode Schleyer and Whistler DH course.
In the pm we rode B-line, Karate monkey, smoke and mirrors then from the top Freight train where I did a "pay it forward" deed and helped a guy who had crashed to fix his headset but at the end of the day his hand was probably broken so he could not ride anymore and he downloaded. I carried on even hitting the freight train wooden ramp drop and sitting so far back I had tyres skid marks on my shorts- Wow!
Then we rode Original Sin and I rode Drop in Clinic for the first time- a steep rock roll. Once you commit its easy but tipping over the edge down a steep roll takes some guts. Then we were into No Diff - more rock rolls and rooty stuff to keep thois tyres brushing my backside or vice versa rather.
Later we rode Upper and Lower Joyride which I ended up walking a few bits but I did ride the woodwork at the end which I had never done before. Finally I took a run down smoke and mirrors and off the GLC again (3 times today).
So lots of accomplishemnts today.
We ended up at the Amsterdam and got very merry in our bike armour before cycling home in a rather wiggly manner!
Fantatstic weather, trails are very dry and loose. Really feel like I am on holiday today, relaxing and enjoying it so much more.
Wednesday 16 July 2008
Whistler Day 3
Bear sitings= 0
Replacement bike parts = 3 (me- rear wheel and 2 tyres)
GLC drop = 1 x middle (see picture)
Then I tried to true my rear wheel but that did not work too well so I took it to the Fanatykco bike shop where they jumped on it a few times to try and true ASAP but meantime they helped me select a new wheel an EX721 rim on a Chris King hub! They gave me some good advice and spent time to explain the differences between different rims and hubs.
Yes set me back some $500 but the alternative was a $250 hit on something that may not last me all holiday so this time I avoided false economies.
Got 2 runs in with Tom -Crank it up then B-line and Smoke and mirrors before the park got shut down due to a fire at the mid station. A tree on fire apparently. So I went back to Fantaykco and got my forks checked out and correctly pumped. The service in there is superb I highly recommend them to everyone.
We went for a ride through Lost Lake park just 12k of singletrack and then back to collect my wheel where I then got relieved of another $140 to replace the tyres which were bald and sidewalls shredding so I knew I was gonna have to do that anyway when I came out. They also took time to explain how I could service the hubs- (probably only after 2 years so in case I foregt by then- unscrew the small allen key bolt arounmd the hub, screw off the cap and apply a specialised grease- Ok I'll send it to a Chris King service specialist to do that!).
We finished with a pitcher of Granville Island Honey Lager and a steak sandwich at Merlins to chill out. Before I hit the laundry!
Tuesday 15 July 2008
Whistler Bike Park Day 2
Bear Sitings = 2
Replacement parts = 2 (Grips and Disc rotor- both me)
Crashes = 2
KMs= 38
Broken parts= 1 buckled wheel (me)
We rode B-line to warm up and it felt very flowy great berms and manageable table tops for me. Its a bit tame for Tom but even he enjoyed its flow.
Then we went up to find a new trail Blue Velvet from top of Garbanzo. Ride first part of original sin and turn left uphill. The top part was not finished but we followed it until we found the open part. It was flowy but a little unchallenging except a big step up kicker onto a rock which I won't try but Tom sized up for the next time down.
After lunch at GLC we rode Crank it up top to bottom, then I went to the drop zone to practice. I did drop 1 once, drop 2 twice then went for drop 3 for the first time ever and rode it several times- it was easy, very smooth. I almost got up the guts for the no4 double diamond but not yet.
Tom picked me up after taking A-line and upper joyride and we rode down Whistler DH, Crack Addict and then B-line to A-line to Hornet and off GLC middle drop- yes great (!)- I've done it so now need to keep doing it better and better til maybe I can go for the big one.
We went up Garbanzo and rode Original Sin and Goats Gully- Goats gully was tough for me and I crashed down the rock gully on Original Sin and bashed my helmet on the rock and gained the first bruises of the trip. Apart from that I was riding well then got to the right switchback over jagged rocks before the tunnel and I psyched out, let go of my bike, jumping off the back, and then watched it take the perfect line down the rocks before it needed someone to steer it and it flipped over a bit of a drop! Tom looked up top see me bikeless and I just shrugged my shoulders and scrambled thru the undergrowth to throw my bike back on the trail!
I was getting tired and arm pump and my blister growing meant we rode down through Fatcrobat and too tight to Devils club and then old school and finally again off GLC mid drop - smoother and faster this time.
Time for a beer in GLC- cool day but very tired.
Dinner Pasta arabiatta with MINCE!
Whistler Bike Park Day 1
Bear sitings = 2
Deer sitings = 1
Replacement parts = 1
Picked up my season pass and we were off up the chair lift.
A warm up run down Crank it up- all the way down- I've never done the bottom part. The whole run was pretty rusty for me- got to hone those skills again. Next Angry Pirate and I rode the log ride but did not realise I needed to hop off at the end so I nose dived and I was off my bike and eating dirt.
We played on the bottom of the park then up Garbanzo to do Original Sin, In Deep and Fatcrobat- I really prefer that stuff but still getting used to the bike and this style of riding so took it steady.
Lunch at Moguls- yummy Chicken panini.
Back up for a run down Crank it up again and much smoother this time, then right up to the top of Garbanzo we rode Freight train and I hit the 2nd drop in too fast not knowing what was there and I threw my bike away and slide down the rocks. Ow! But the armour saved me.
We rode No joke, Duffman, B-line, Karate monkey, Devils club, Hornet but no GLC drops for me today.
My arms and hands were hurting bad by 5:30 so we called it a day for day 1 and had a beer at Longhorns as GLC was shut.
Supermarket shop and cooked a meal at home before I collapsed in front of the Seasons DVD.
Great first day.
Whistler here we come
Finished a busy week in Chicago at the National Sales meeting, then packed my bags for BC!
After a fight with check in regarding whether I had paid for a bike and indeed my rather overweight bike bag and suitcase too! Some juggling of clothes from suitcase to bike bag and $100 lighter in pocket and I was allowed to get patted down by security (randomly selected for extra screening!) and board my flight.
Tom picked me up at Vancouver airport in his pick up truck ane we stayed at Shin's for the night. Shin is a Banshee dealer so there were loads of bikes and bits to pour over!
Anyway next day we headed up Fromme and rode pipeline and highline for a warm up. Some shopping at Cove bikes (they even had small shirts for me this year but no sign of that new hustler/g-spot bike!) and MEC then up to Whistler to find our apartment. Great place at Glacier Lodge. Although it took another checkin fight to get in.
Dinner at Longhorns then prepare for riding tomorrow.
Monday 7 July 2008
Saw Wee Kee
Even though I was pretty tired this was my last free day in Chicago so I wanted to ride my bike. Looking at cambr.org it said the conditions at Saw Wee Kee were good so I headed over there.
Oswego is an hour away from Schaumburg. The singletrack is a real roller coaster as promised and pretty loose stones- my big tyres helped but the weight of the bike was tough on the short uphill sprints. Such heat too was exhausting bit it was a fun ride.
At one point I saw what looked like bear droppings so I was getting a bit spooked about riding alone out here. Not many people riding this area.
I met some western horse riders and some kayakers on the Fox river. The area was beautiful and looked like a slower pace of life. A kinda retirement area really. Huge houses overlooking the river, laods of space.
Later I went to Busse woods and rode around to the Lake and read my book.
4 more days work til holiday. I've packed for 2 days at a meeting in Lake Geneva and chatted to Tom to get a lift from Vancouver airport Friday!
Hot weekend
It's been a long weekend and I've overdone the activity and sun again!
Saturday I went for a run in Busse woods but pulled my old calf muscle injury and had to hobble back after just 6km.
I went in to Downtown - parked at Montrose harbor and walked into downtown along the lake shore and North Clark street past Equinox to see the farmers market. Then down the magnificent mile, popping into the Nike store. Wow it was so crowded and so hot around 90 degrees. I could not bear the shopping crowds so I walked the river walk to Navy pier.
Navy pier was packed too, I grabbed some food and took a look around but hate crowds so escaped to the other side and walked back to Montrose harbor, Lincoln Park. This is a place where its fun to be with friends but not that fun on your own. I really wanted to join in the beach volleyball or join the big party on the lines of boats lined up along Oak Park beach with music blaring and beer flowing. Or just to take a jet ski out- it looked such fun.
It was around 12 miles walked all in all so I was pretty tired, my calf was behaving but clearly not in good shape. I sat and read my book by the Lake but could not stay on for the fireworks over the pier so headed home.
Dinner at California Kitchen Pizza- delicious chicken pizza covered in lettuce and avocado- yummy!
Friday 4 July 2008
Palos hills bike trails
Today I went to Palos Hills to join the CAMBR bike ride but I got there too late. I rode on my own. Great trails I started with 6 miles of singletrack roots and rocks but very dry packed trails.
I saw a few riders, lots of families at the lakes setting up gazebos and grills and picnics galore. Playing baseball and volleyball or boating on the lake.
A sunny day but cooler than usual, still feels around late 70s.
I really enjoyed the riding and then sat by the lake reading my book and chilling.
The singletrack trails were great but the yellow double track was just boring. I took photos of the map board to reference so I could find a way.
July 4th independence day
So Thursday July 3rd the office stated shutting down between 12 and 2 and then it was a ghost town til I finished at 6:30pm.
I did not want to be alone so I went to Arlington Park to see the fireworks. Lots of families grilling and drinking out of giant ice boxes full of goodies.
I had a burger and a beer from the food court. MGD in a plastic bottle!
A band was playing and I was singing along and swaying to the tunes. Good old "My brown eyed girl"! Then some female singers sang "Proud to be American, at least I'm free" and "God bless America". Then the most fantastic display of fireworks folowed, really spreading far across the clear sky on what was a cool night for recent temps- only 54 degrees. Loads of patriotic songs
playing or being sung and of course lots of starts and stripes flags flying.
Today is July 4th and I will head into downtown to see some more. However it did really make me feel suddenly all so alone amongst all the families laughing and enjoying being together and those just getting very merry indeed!
Kettle Moraine bike trails
I rode the long blue trail first, 10 miles of singletrack and it was
great fun, a few tech bits but pretty easy and flowy.
Next I decided to take the connector trail to the Emma Carlin trails. I started on a 2 mile
stint on the purple trail to rejoin teh blue trail and find the connector. I thought it would be 5 miles of boring straight doubletrack. It turned out to be 5 miles of singletrack trail, pretty narrow, flowy but with some fun roots and rocks.
of crashing into anyone coming the other way just into trees. As soon as I was on it having been hot and sunny all morining, the promised storm started, incredible thunder and pouring rain! I got soaked but worst was the wet routes which I crashed on twice! At that point I realised I was on my own in a strange place so to take it a bit more cautiously.
Once at Emma Carlin I rode the orange trail 5 miles. I did not enjoy that as muc, pretty eroded and a lot more inclines with big water erosion ruts. Clearly they have tried to maintain teh trails and there is rubber grid matting and rubber barriers to stop erosion but it must be a thankless task.
the 5 mile connector back and that was the most fun, twisty, narrow, root and rock infested singletrack. Great!
I was exhausted, 50km all in on my heavy 40lb freeride bike. I was out of water and very
hungry. I drank some water from the fountain at the trail head parking lot but it tasted foul. I stopped at La Grange store for a powerade- a real country store. I then drove back via Panda Express for orange chicken and fried rice dinner.
A great day- thoroughly shattered though and actually ill all night- I might just have overdone it a bit!
Riding Busse woods
Social in Chicago
My first weekend I went running around Busse woods and then shopping
in the Aurora outlet before heading up to Lake Zurich for a bbq at Bob
and Anne'son Bob's new grill. Playing with Patricia, Trevor and Joseph was fun.
On Sunday I went to Gary's and rode the Lakeshore from Wilmette to
downtown and back, also saw the Bahai temple. Gary did a rotisseriue chicken on the bbq which was so succulent and delicious. I met Melissa his wife and their kids Colgan (2.5) and
Ayshley (5). Great food and such fun playing with the kids and getting to
know Melissa. Their house is very traditional English which felt weird being in US but they love England.
It was great not to be stuck alone in my hotel room and to see how people live here.
Chicago life
different way of life.
1-Life revolves around having a car. You really HAVE to drive everywhere!
Drive thru restaurants, drive thru banks, there are some sidewalks but no-one on them and everything is so far apart you really have to drive there. On the positive side there is lots of parking.
I'm staying in Schaumburg which is the shopping mall capital of Chicagoland. (In downtown more people walk around but not out here).
The roads are terrible too- so many potholes proving that the winter snow and ice does really take its toll on the area.
2- Chicagoland is extremely flat.
While out mountain biking you occasionally come across a 50 foot man made hill, hardly lung busting. But then with no downhills either and riding my 40lb bike there is no
freewheeling to rest either. So a good workout is always in order.
3- People start their day early here. Rising at 5, commuting, exercising, Working and finishing by 5 so they can commute home and still have part of the day to play. I kinda like that.
4-Socialising and family events are big here.
Maybe its just where I work but there are quite a few traditional family units. Husband works, woman stays home brings up kids, family gets together at weekend. Actually it seems that is suburban Chicago. In downtown there are the pre-kids singles/couples, the gay scene and the post-kids couples. Downtown is the place to play when you don't have kids.
5- English is not the only language
Seems like pretty much every language is represented here and English is spoken with many accents. Honestly most of them struggle to understand my English accent. Mainly I say tomato wrong and talk about spanners not wrenches!
6- Summer is hot!
Yep I can't believe it but every day is hot ranging from 75-90 degrees. Even when the storms hit its warm and dries so quickly. Of course the winter was horrible apparently but I missed that.
7- Downtown weekends are for playing
The Lakeshore absolutely thrives with activity, inline skating, beach volleyball, softball, basketball, boat parties on the lake, jet ski and plain old sunbathing on the beach.
It's kinda fun here but a bit lonely when you don't know anyone. If I was living here there are loads of groups and communities to join in though.