Rant: So close to an uneventful ride

[elissama]

Start Rant// It was an awesome day to ride. Cool, slight breeze, overcast skies. The trails up the mountain had a light fog covering them that swirled around as you rode through. A few mud pits here and there but for the mostpart everything was in good condition - your typical NH mix of dirt, rocks, and roots.

I was in the zone - ipod on, on the pegs, looking around corners. I actually felt like I sorta knew what I was doing. I was even brave enough to get some air through the whoops (hey - for me a couple feet of air on a dirtbike is pretty exhilerating)

Then came the ride home off the top of Mt. Anna...
Completely uneventful till I'm in the last couple miles or so of my 25ish mile trek.

Coming around and down a corner composed of dirt/sand/fistsized rocks and a very nice drainage ditch on the outside I say to myself, "Look around the corner". As I look around the corner I pick up the ditch in my peripheral vision and think, "Wow that would really suck to fall in". I was all done - subconciously, conciously, however the fuck I did it I fucking locked on to the ditch with my eyes and rode right into the frickin thing. Almost save it and ride back out of the ditch until I met Mr. Fucked up tree root that decided to grow in a loop just big enough to snag my tire. Murphy's fuckin Law.

Summary - melted riding pants from engine on top of leg (no burn - thank god for riding pants), sore knee from being trapped between bike and ditch wall, damaged pride, and the priceless chance to ride home with my handlebars pointing hard right to go straight. DOH!

It's times like these that I wonder why I havent died yet. Adding up all the dumb shit accidents combined between horses, quads, dirtbike, assholes pushing me out of trees (don't ask)... its a friggin miracle. //End Rant

[Tricky Mike]

so what's up with assholes pushing you out of trees, huh?

[kspiers]

Any accident that leaves you with only hurt pride and minimal damage is a "good accident". Better then totaled bike and broken limbs.....

[TTD]

As far as the handlebar thing...

It's always a good idea to carry a 10 or 12mm wrench (whatever size matches your triple tree clamps).

Loosen those a bit (not too much or your bike will sink), put your wheel between your legs and you can reset your handlebar position to match your wheel again. Don't forget to retighten.

Now... if you don't have a wrench, you can do said maneuver without loosening, but it is stressing your bike a bit so don't do it often. Instead of putting the tire between your legs, put it up against a tree and give the bars a good twist. But... when you get back home you should loosen everything up and let it settle back to the right position if you use this method.

[breakdirt916]

were you alone?

[elissama]

so what's up with assholes pushing you out of trees, huh?

Way back in the day (middle school) we had a couple pretty sick climbing trees near the school... my delinquent friends and I would play a sort of 'king of the mountain' in said trees. Needless to say it wasn't pretty.

As far as the handlebar thing...

It's always a good idea to carry a 10 or 12mm wrench (whatever size matches your triple tree clamps).

Loosen those a bit (not too much or your bike will sink), put your wheel between your legs and you can reset your handlebar position to match your wheel again. Don't forget to retighten.

Now... if you don't have a wrench, you can do said maneuver without loosening, but it is stressing your bike a bit so don't do it often. Instead of putting the tire between your legs, put it up against a tree and give the bars a good twist. But... when you get back home you should loosen everything up and let it settle back to the right position if you use this method.

Thanks for the advice! That's what I did when I got home. I really should put together a little tool kit to bring with me. - Heh on that note today I rode with my buddy Bob and managed to bend a foot peg enough for it to interfere with the kickstart (doh!)... thank goodness for rocks.

Oh, and I wiped out in the middle of a mud puddle. (20+ foot long mud puddle mind you) I got into a battle with a hidden rock and lost. Swamp thing eat your frickin heart out.

were you alone?

Yeah. Stupidly I ride alone alot. Just sorta transfered over from riding the horse alone. It's kinda nice sometimes to be out there by yourself though... I like the sense of you vs. nature (or in my case ditch + root) and of course its nice to do all my stupid shit without anyone watching.

[schleppy]

Jesus, don't trail ride alone! I don't think I've ever met anyone who goes out solo, experienced or not.

[Paul_E_D]

I do. I agree it's nice to be out there alone. I adjust my plans accordingly though. I don't want to get 20 miles from the car.

[TTD]

With my schedule, I end up riding alone a fair bit too...

I make sure to bring my phone, which has the GPS signal locator... since half the time I would not be able to describe where the hell I am if I got in trouble.

[Cowboyrider]

Where did you end up riding?

I am starting to think we should hang out! You sound as crazy as I used to be and want to be again.

Riding a horse out alone is so exhilarating!

[elissama]

I do. I agree it's nice to be out there alone. I adjust my plans accordingly though. I don't want to get 20 miles from the car.

**usually** I stick to trails I am familiar with and don't go exploring new territory by myself (or I take the quad out if its new territory)

With my schedule, I end up riding alone a fair bit too...

I make sure to bring my phone, which has the GPS signal locator... since half the time I would not be able to describe where the hell I am if I got in trouble.

Always bring the phone (had to use it once or twice) no GPS locator on it but so far I've 'sorta' known where I am or have managed to fix any problems and make it out on the machine. Unfortunately up in the mountains sometimes you have to walk 1/2 a mile uphill to get signal.

Where did you end up riding?

I am starting to think we should hang out! You sound as crazy as I used to be and want to be again.

Riding a horse out alone is so exhilarating!

I was up in the Lake Winni region (Alton, Gilford, Laconia)
If you have an extra horse I'll totally come ride horses with ya. If you have a dirt toy of your own I'll trailer out to ya as long as they don't check for MA registration where you ride (I only reg. in NH)

[TheIglu]

After July 1st I'll be getting my out of state NH reg and heading up to Pachaug (sp?) which is about half an hour from my place.

Riding is like sex. If you are going to do it, do it with someone else. People tell me it's better that way.

[mycirus]

Ill have to get my NH sticker and ride with ya Clay. Just got to get my bearings in my rear wheel done.

Bruce

[Paul_E_D]

pachaug is RI. Pisgah is NH.

[TheIglu]

THAT's the name.

I even drove by it on Friday.

[x2468]

that was the most entertaining rant i've ever read.

[sanfelice]

Yeah, I end up riding alone - and at night (to make sure there are no peds on the trails). But, hey, they are very easy trails! really! I definitely carry the phone and it's close to civilization, but I know it's risky still. I would not ride alone if it is more than a mile from the nearest road.

[breakdirt916]

I remember this thread...are you up and riding again?

[elissama]

I remember this thread...are you up and riding again?

Oh yeah. Never stopped. Just cursed a few times then hopped back on. I'm a weekend warrior... beat the shit outta myself fri-sun then limp till about wed then repeat!