5-7-09

Last night I met a friend of mine on the east side.  We met at his house east of the river off Hampton Ave.  He kept telling me tales of sweet singletrack just out his back door.  I rejected the idea tight, technical singletrack could exist in the city.  The past two years I packed my gear and drove 30 minutes in the other direction.   But I need a change from the Southern Kettles and Emma Carlin and John Muir.

I beat the rain to the east side.  But we knew it was coming.  I quickly changed into my bibs, jersey, and shoes and we hit the road.  But only for a couple hundred yards before we ducked down a steep hill and there it was…the tight singletrack that mimics the connector trail in the Southern Kettles.  Tight, technical singletrack with exposed roots, big rocks, and man made bridges.  We made our way from Hampton Ave all the way down to North Ave on the trails.  Only popping out of the woods to pedal through a city park or two.  As we made our way back the thunder rang out and the rain came down.  We were immediately soaked.  So we hammered back to his house to gain shelter from the storm.

He pulled out a couple beers and we laughed at the mess we got ourselves in.  For a quick 30 minute spin to be so close to his back door; I am jealous.  But I know where I am headed to get some good riding in…and to get a couple good beers.  Happiness.

AP