THATmanMANNY
Well-Known Member
So today I got out of work early and decided to conquer my Friday and ride Sourlands. I haven't been there for like ummm.... forever! And boy conquering Friday turned into a complete and utter failure.
Those mountains got the best of me today...
1) lost my balance on some large logs and saved myself with my bad hand (the hand I've been landing on more frequently lately). Just when I thought it was finished healing I injure it again.
2) scary moment coming down the right side of the mountain when I planted my front wheel in a ditch between some rocks and was just about to endo when miraculously I saved myself. How? no gosh darn clue but f-ing scary moment to think I could have tumbled down some rocky rocks and tore myself up and have my limbs fly all over the place
3) lost my balance again on some large logs but this time I didn't save myself and banged my knee to the ground (thank god it wasn't on any rocks and it was nice soft dirt) BUT my pedal managed to dig a nice gash in my shin the size of pinky nail and pretty deep that I see white skin edges
4) the last time I was there I had a blast and don't remember it being so tough. I did one full loop around the whole mountain's outer most trail going up in middle and to the left most side and down on the right most side. Were these rocks this big????!!!! WTF! I think I spent a 1/4 of my ride hike-a-biking from stopping and going and loosing momentum and being pissed about grinding my cleats and shoes away on those rocks. It was also nice and dark from the thunderstorm passing through. It rained slightly on and off but it wasn't bad at all to ride. I spun my wheel on a couple rocks and a couple boardwalks
5) AND THE WORST OF ALL and what every biker hates... scratching their frame!!!! Forget about our body. The frame is worth more haha. And not to mention I think I picked the sharpest rock I have seen on the trails to F it up on. I will spray paint that shit red next time so everyone can see. That happened 5 minutes into my ride and that just pissed me the hell off and threw off everything in my ride. DAMN did I hate myself. I just kept looking down at it over and over and over. P.S. my bike is carbon. :mad2:
After an hour just completing one loop I was fed up. I was done. I couldn't stand to be here anymore. I vowed to never return, but something in me said that couldn't be my shitty ride. That wasn't even a ride. So I cleared my mind about the #1-5 and said lets make this for real. So off I go again for another loop, but this time I stayed in my element so I worked in a figure 8 loop on the left side of the mountain. I did a few loops for an hour. That portion of my ride was so much better. I was happy. I was feeling it and I was getting over obstacles I didn't charge at early. I love the lengthy climb and then the reward to come downhill on it. I ultimately take back my statement I'll never return.
I used to hate the rock but after riding it a few weeks in a row I learned to love and it conquer it. Sourlands may just need some more time, but honestly this place gave me a tougher time than the Rock and it pissed me off more than the rock. The rock are actually rocks the size of fists. Sourlands are boulders and boulders looking back at me saying pay the fee biznich or you're not getting through. The left side of the mountain is fun and very mountain bike trail oriented but once you get to the top right I was like WTF, this is freaking insane, too bad I don't have my DH bike in my back pocket. But even then I don't think I woulda made it down that side. I'll consider coming down the middle next time instead.
In the end, I paid my fees and I had a horrible ride but I rode. :getsome:
Those mountains got the best of me today...
1) lost my balance on some large logs and saved myself with my bad hand (the hand I've been landing on more frequently lately). Just when I thought it was finished healing I injure it again.
2) scary moment coming down the right side of the mountain when I planted my front wheel in a ditch between some rocks and was just about to endo when miraculously I saved myself. How? no gosh darn clue but f-ing scary moment to think I could have tumbled down some rocky rocks and tore myself up and have my limbs fly all over the place
3) lost my balance again on some large logs but this time I didn't save myself and banged my knee to the ground (thank god it wasn't on any rocks and it was nice soft dirt) BUT my pedal managed to dig a nice gash in my shin the size of pinky nail and pretty deep that I see white skin edges
4) the last time I was there I had a blast and don't remember it being so tough. I did one full loop around the whole mountain's outer most trail going up in middle and to the left most side and down on the right most side. Were these rocks this big????!!!! WTF! I think I spent a 1/4 of my ride hike-a-biking from stopping and going and loosing momentum and being pissed about grinding my cleats and shoes away on those rocks. It was also nice and dark from the thunderstorm passing through. It rained slightly on and off but it wasn't bad at all to ride. I spun my wheel on a couple rocks and a couple boardwalks
5) AND THE WORST OF ALL and what every biker hates... scratching their frame!!!! Forget about our body. The frame is worth more haha. And not to mention I think I picked the sharpest rock I have seen on the trails to F it up on. I will spray paint that shit red next time so everyone can see. That happened 5 minutes into my ride and that just pissed me the hell off and threw off everything in my ride. DAMN did I hate myself. I just kept looking down at it over and over and over. P.S. my bike is carbon. :mad2:
After an hour just completing one loop I was fed up. I was done. I couldn't stand to be here anymore. I vowed to never return, but something in me said that couldn't be my shitty ride. That wasn't even a ride. So I cleared my mind about the #1-5 and said lets make this for real. So off I go again for another loop, but this time I stayed in my element so I worked in a figure 8 loop on the left side of the mountain. I did a few loops for an hour. That portion of my ride was so much better. I was happy. I was feeling it and I was getting over obstacles I didn't charge at early. I love the lengthy climb and then the reward to come downhill on it. I ultimately take back my statement I'll never return.
I used to hate the rock but after riding it a few weeks in a row I learned to love and it conquer it. Sourlands may just need some more time, but honestly this place gave me a tougher time than the Rock and it pissed me off more than the rock. The rock are actually rocks the size of fists. Sourlands are boulders and boulders looking back at me saying pay the fee biznich or you're not getting through. The left side of the mountain is fun and very mountain bike trail oriented but once you get to the top right I was like WTF, this is freaking insane, too bad I don't have my DH bike in my back pocket. But even then I don't think I woulda made it down that side. I'll consider coming down the middle next time instead.
In the end, I paid my fees and I had a horrible ride but I rode. :getsome: