A big THANKS to Uncle Pibbles for his five hour stop 'n saw post storm de-limb clean up ride around the PBT this weekend.
Had my semi-annual ride at Wharton today...largely good shape, other than a still fairly large amount of trees down. It looks like a fair number have already been de-limbed by someone with a saw (@pibbles ?), but there were a fair few that seemed 'new'. The parking lot at Batsto was ~3/4 full, yet I only ran into two small 2-3 person groups on the trail.
It's something like the 4th or 5th time I've ridden Wharton, and I'm left with a burning question: does the park just beat the hell out of you? I get about 3/4 of the way through and just can't take it anymore...admittedly my saddle is giving me problems at the moment, and the high heat/humidity doesn't help, but still. I'm not physically tired, and probably could have turned around and run orange backwards/done the rest of the trails. I'll regularly do a 3-4 hour ride at least once a week. What's the secret?
@pibbles @slingblade_uhhuh There's a knee-high+ tree that looks like it fell on Orange, clockwise, near the beginning. Looks like a lightning strike/some-such.
Generally after a storm I'll head out and clear branches with handsaw/pruners and get crap off the trail. Covid made it more difficult this year as the park was closed so stuff built up. Add to that how crowded it was earlier and it gets more difficult. I worked this entire pandemic so still...2 days off it took me 5 hrs just to get stuff on the trail to lay so people could get over the trees or dragged branches off after cutting them up.Had my semi-annual ride at Wharton today...largely good shape, other than a still fairly large amount of trees down. It looks like a fair number have already been de-limbed by someone with a saw (@pibbles ?), but there were a fair few that seemed 'new'. The parking lot at Batsto was ~3/4 full, yet I only ran into two small 2-3 person groups on the trail.
It's something like the 4th or 5th time I've ridden Wharton, and I'm left with a burning question: does the park just beat the hell out of you? I get about 3/4 of the way through and just can't take it anymore...admittedly my saddle is giving me problems at the moment, and the high heat/humidity doesn't help, but still. I'm not physically tired, and probably could have turned around and run orange backwards/done the rest of the trails. I'll regularly do a 3-4 hour ride at least once a week. What's the secret?
@pibbles @slingblade_uhhuh There's a knee-high+ tree that looks like it fell on Orange, clockwise, near the beginning. Looks like a lightning strike/some-such.
I hear you there. Did Batsto once and its not my fav. For me its the lack of elevation that gives variety to MTB riding. If i can be up and out of the saddle, even just for short blasts DH, i'm taking pressure off the saddle and grips and giving myself a break there even if brief. Otherwise, its just a long slog of a ride with little variation and so the bum gets sore and hands numb. I did a similar 24 miler yesterday through local sand roads and never once got up and off the saddle. The final 5 miles home was brutal with the numbness setting in. Yet i'll do a 20 miler in the mountains without any issues other than general fatigue...and I'm left with a burning question: does the park just beat the hell out of you? I get about 3/4 of the way through and just can't take it anymore...
I have many riders tell me the same story, when I drag them out on fire cuts, some roads, and torn up endure ridden single track. It's the sand. Even the trails at Batsto, as good as they are, still are fragile. That's why the trail crew doesn't want you on them if there is a chance to damage them.I hear you there. Did Batsto once and its not my fav. For me its the lack of elevation that gives variety to MTB riding. If i can be up and out of the saddle, even just for short blasts DH, i'm taking pressure off the saddle and grips and giving myself a break there even if brief. Otherwise, its just a long slog of a ride with little variation and so the bum gets sore and hands numb. I did a similar 24 miler yesterday through local sand roads and never once got up and off the saddle. The final 5 miles home was brutal with the numbness setting in. Yet i'll do a 20 miler in the mountains without any issues other than general fatigue.
For me its not so much the sand itself, its just 3 hours in the saddle without shifting my body for any appreciable amount of time: numb hands from lengthy ulnar never pressure. The sand i can handle (or avoid as it were). Years of riding moto and the miles of endless sugar sand in the pines means i know to avoid trails like that one! I dont have 50 hp on tap on the MTB to pick the front end up out of the rut and skim the silt.I have many riders tell me the same story, when I drag them out on fire cuts, some roads, and torn up endure ridden single track. It's the sand. Even the trails at Batsto, as good as they are, still are fragile. That's why the trail crew doesn't want you on them if there is a chance to damage them.
I did a ride last Saturday in Greenwood. 24 miles, and some of that was soft. When you look ahead and see the sand is white, and you're standing up, get ready, cause here it comes now.
At the end of the ride, the guy riding with me, said I wont see him any more. Too bad, I was just starting to like him.View attachment 132911
For me its not so much the sand itself, its just 3 hours in the saddle without shifting my body for any appreciable amount of time: numb hands from lengthy ulnar never pressure. The sand i can handle (or avoid as it were). Years of riding moto and the miles of endless sugar sand in the pines means i know to avoid trails like that one! I dont have 50 hp on tap on the MTB to pick the front end up out of the rut and skim the silt.
Back when men were men and sheep were scared!Think about how difficult it was for the poor SOB that rode and documented everything for the front office so that the PBT could get properly routed!
If you rode an older moto, you already know about shaking your hands to relieve arm pump. That same shake works for hand soreness on MTB. Standing up to pedal every now and then helps a lot too.
Some years ago I was five miles CCW into the PBT and pulled over when I saw a large group quickly approaching heading back to the lot. All in the group were leaning forward, pushing the pedals, and rolling fast. None of them looked happy, until I saw the sweep rider who I recognized as Harlan Price. Harlan was smiling and talking, sitting upright, and looking like he was easily pedaling a beach cruise on the boardwalk.
Back when men were men and sheep were scared!
Most my bikes (moto) have been of this millennium and have pretty decent ergos. Plus i add risers and such to make them fit me better. No substantial hand pressure unlike modern aggressive MTB's, At least for my height and size anyways. But i wouldn't change it, i like the new aggressive MTB geo, its perfect for a 2hr ride in the hills.
Remember before the two ends of the Orange trail were connected? You had to ride on Sphagnum moss. No fat bikes, just hard work.Thank you for the info.
I aim to disappoint!Thank you for the info.
I hear you there. Did Batsto once and its not my fav. For me its the lack of elevation that gives variety to MTB riding. If i can be up and out of the saddle, even just for short blasts DH, i'm taking pressure off the saddle and grips and giving myself a break there even if brief. Otherwise, its just a long slog of a ride with little variation and so the bum gets sore and hands numb. I did a similar 24 miler yesterday through local sand roads and never once got up and off the saddle. The final 5 miles home was brutal with the numbness setting in. Yet i'll do a 20 miler in the mountains without any issues other than general fatigue.
I am finding that the Batsto challenge for a MTBer is cornering and maintaining momentum through turns, which does require movement of hips and control/weighting of front wheel to give the bloodflow some chance to pass areas pressed by the saddle. That said, I rode there yesterday and the conditions so dry and sand loose I decided to turn cornering practice into an easy touring ride to enjoy the woods.
I noticed a large chunk of burnt woods on the west side of ice cream loop...is that preventive burn or was there a large fire there...anyone know?
There was a large fire two or three years ago. The same fire burned half of the long Penn Branch Trail bridge.