Back in the Dirt

Yesterday I did something I’ve not done for three months; I rode my mountain-bike.  Nope, not since the Paris-2-Ancaster race have I thrown a let over Isabelle, the Moots soft-tail 29’er.  Though I’ve been riding the road bikes a great deal, mountain-biking is a whole other kettle of fish.[not that I eat fish, nor would I cook them in a kettle]

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That cold wet day in April was also the last time I rode with my good buddy Bevin who has been riding his mountain-bike a lot since then, kicking ass at various Ontario Cup races as a member of the Lapdogs Racing Team.  Not only did I worry about being a little out-of-sorts on the trails, I worried about keeping up with Bevin on his sweet Ibis Mojo SL.  Well, it would seem my fears were unfounded.  Mostly.
Bevin and I decided we would ride the 60km race course of Paul’s Dirty Enduro at the Ganaraska Forest; very well flowing yet certainly demanding trails with plenty of climbing.  Arriving around 10:30am we were on the bikes at 11am.  For the next 5hrs15mins, Bevin and I worked hard, pushing each other but always riding together.  While he could rely on his extensive recent mtb riding/taining to get him through the day, I relied on the many long days I’d spent road riding over the past few months.  On some of the shorter climbs, Bevin could power past me, while I was smooth and steady on the longer climbs.  We rode well and pretty fast, stopping a couple of times to ensure we were still on course, concluding once we’d actually missed a turn.
It was a rather hot and very humid day so we welcomed the thunder-storm that lasted over an hour.  It both cooled us down while helping to make the very sandy trails more compact.  The storm cloud cover also meant the forest got pretty dark, so the sunglasses were removed for the last 20kms or so.  Some sections of the trails had seen very little use and were very over-grown.  In a few sections, fallen trees blocked the trail; some we could move, others will require a chain-saw.  The raspberry bushes cut our arms, the spider-webs criss-crossed our faces and the poison ivy was everywhere!  By the end of the ride we were both tired yet exhilarated.
Back at the parking lot, we washed ourselves and our bikes with poison ivy neutraliser; an essential protocol for surviving the Ganny.  With the clean bikes and wet gear all loaded, we made our way for home but not before stopping at The Forum Restaurant on the side of Hwy. 115.  Bevin with a roast beef supper, I with an omelette and triple-decker grilled-cheese sandwich, we ate well and were soon back in the City.
Today, my body is feeling the rigours of five hours on the mountain-bike after a three month hiatus.  I’m tired, my body aches but my soul is rejuvenated.  I now have two months to refocus my riding with an emphasis on power.  I’ll also be spending much more time in the trails than on the road as I prepare for the 100km event at the Paul’s Dirty Enduro this coming September 15th.  Bring it on!