A Mountain Of A Headache

After throwing down coin for the 101 yesterday, I was anxious to head up to the mountain to enjoy some climbs and mountain single track. I took off early-ish, so as to NOT let myself get sucked into the Tour, and believe me that was harder than it sounds!

Once I got myself out of the house and up to the mountain, I parked in my normal place up by the snowmobile trails parking lot off of 31, figuring I'd ride Fire Tower Road over to Seven Springs, do a lap of the race course, and then come back for more single track and forest road climbing. The goal would be to come close to 40 miles. That would not happen. As soon as I set off down Fire Tower I started to get a headache. I haven't had a headache in ages, so this was strange. I figured it, along with that dump I was holding back, would fade after a few miles. The dump faded, the headache would remain the all day.

Once I got to Seven Springs, I did the 2nd half of the course first so I could finish the course and take a forest road up to the pavement that lead down to the North Gate. I was a mess in the rock garden. I've ridden this rock garden so many times I can't even remember them all, and while I don't clear the WHOLE thing too often, I usually do a LOT better than I did today. Eesh. I was all over the place. Not good. After I passed the Paint Ball area, I started up some more single track and what do you think I saw??

More freaking tighty whities!! WTF?? I now truly believe that I am an underwear magnet. This is a new single season record for the amount of underwear I've seen on the roads and now trails. I am speechless.

Once I finished the first part of the course, which today was actually the 2nd part, it was on to the first part, which today was actually the 2nd part. Jezzzus!! I think I just confused myself! I just sort of plugged along, not wanting to push too hard since I was sill hoping that my headache would fade and that I would have the desire to hit the forest road climbs on the other side of 31.

I had just finished some of the newer single track that was put in last year when I saw a rider in my peripheral vision soon to be followed by someone shouting MAHOKEY!!! It was my Pro Bikes teammate and fellow Salsa Mamasita rider Don, who was out to get some single track in his legs before tomorrow's WVMBA race. We rode together and discussed a variety of things from bikes, to soap operas, to racing. It was nice to ride with Don a bit, but we parted ways when I headed to the North Gate and Don readied for the climb up the ski slope.


I was still rocking the headache and some disappointment as I headed back on fire tower road. I figured that the ride was not going to go as planned but that shouldn't stop me from exploring around. I found some newer trails off of Lookout Loop, and even found the Fire Tower that gives Fire Tower Road it's name. Sadly it's gated up and looks a little distressed.

A quick look at the crumbing tower and then it was down to the Lookout Loop and then some forest road and single track back to the parking lot. I wanted to do more, but my head was killing me. I'd love to complain that my ride wasn't that great, and while it's true I didn't have the legs that I had just a week or so ago, I did spend almost 3 hours riding on the mountain on some great trails. The trails were in great shape too considering the daily thunderstorms and showers that we've been getting as part of the W.S.E. (Worst Summer Ever).

Time to figure out how to get my legs back to where there were two weeks ago. I think I jinxed myself by saying I had great legs. Now those legs are gone and I have the legs of a pot bellied 75 year old man. But I will add that even though I SORTA feel like shit on the bike, I DID get carded tonight when Wifey and I went to Mad Mex. I just turned 38! Take THAT haters!

Later