First no matter what your mother told you, your wife told you, what your grandmother told you, what the fine latina mama feeding you nacho chips told you, wearing a turtle neck is not okay.
Second, I was in a Bookstore looking for book. I wandered into the books on disc area. I saw the bible as read by james earl jones. Seriously this is the first thing that came to mind: Darth Vader is the Voice of God. Hmm, really that's probably okay as all he was trying to do was bring peace to a violent and chaotic universe...
By my best estimates, riding up the 5 bridges trail is the best summation of what Newark style of mountain biking is all about. It is a series of quick punchy climbs, followed immediately by tight, twisty, technical trail. Oh you can recover between the quick sometimes steep accents, but if you allow yourself a mental lapse, you will instantly find yourself riding alone, or worse on your ass.
The trail is technical not in that it is strewn with rocks, but that it forces you to ride your bike, forces you to ebb and flow with trail and spill out your soul through the corners, the root laden, or off camber sections are the main agitators, the challenges that remind you of the many times you did not successfully stay with the group, and makes being the instigator driving the pace on this section of this trail so much more appealing.
No one can possibly ride these sections with the fluidity needed, unless they loved it in their soul and in their guts. This is not a workout, it is a celebration of a way of life.
Some will point to White Clay as Newark Mountain biking, I laugh at their folly. White Clay and Middle Run now, is becoming the world's greatest beginner mountain bike trail system. Oh, I am not complaining, as both parks are incredibly fun to ride, and people come from near and far to partake of their splendor.
Both areas certainly demand a skill set of their own that must be developed. Chasing Todd (el presidente) down the Brian English trail at 15 mph, and not dumping it in the woods is an art form at it's best. Staying near Buddy the leg breaker as he just destroys the Judge Morris Estate Trail, is an achievement, and a statement of your abilities as a rider, but these are not what the original architects of this trail system, what Ken Robinson, or Bill Bowen, Steve Matsen, Andrew Mein, or Nick Riddle had intended when they cut in the trail system in these areas. 
Original Middle Run Trails were challenging not just to go fast, but to clean. Yes, surely to embrace Newark Mountain Biking, I point to the 5 bridges trail, and really all of fairhill as the most purified essence, and last bastion of this classic mountain biking style.
Today we had 8 at 8 heading out for a little tour of the park. Conditions were odd, as the trails were frozen with snow, and at different times you'd go from super hero traction, to sliding out of control. That kept things very interesting. Each one of us at a various times of the day, found ourselves on the ground doing our best Zamboni or yard sale impressions. Thankfully, there were no injuries, and based on conditions, pride was not dented either.
The final climb up five bridges was hard, it would be easier to list the trails we did not ride at fairhill today, than to list the ones we did, to do either would be an exercise in the mundane. As we crested the 5 bridges trail for the last time, I felt tired, my legs had long since sent the message that my day was done, but still here we were, celebrating the day, celebrating the riding style that we were all apart of developing, that we all cherish. 8 practitioners of single track left my house today, to put forth what was easily the most fun ride, the best ride I have done this year, thus far. Thanks for playing along.
Went to Border Cafe this weekend, highlighted by the sign that says, "EAT" this is a coldren of tex mex, and pseudo new orleans style cooking.
Usually crowded, the restaurant was surprisingly calm when Diane and I hit it. I'll admit after my last fish taco experience, my expectations were pretty low, but damn, the fish tacos today were excellent. Once I starting eating one, I didn't want to stop and put it down. Each taco had an interesting hot sauce that just made me smile. Pure joy in my mouth. I may have a new favorite place to get fish tacos. Sorry Deer Park.respect.
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1 comment:
question of the day: fish tacos - grilled or fried?
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