Festivus: Feats of Strengths

Dear Readers,

Happy Hanukkah. Happy Christmas. Have a great 2015.
Happy Festivus.

Mother Nature decided to be a bit of  Grinch this week, as light rain fell all day yesterday. The weekly Fairhill ride would be a fire road expedition. (Note I did NOT say gravel grinder). Unlike last week's first ride where we had 2 rides of 15, this week only 7 hearty souls showed up.  Six of us where certified ride leaders for Fairhill. The group was Jim B, Justin, Jimmy V, Dave S, Brian K, Sharon the Hammer, and I. It was misty, but really warm. A light fog settled in over the park. The lights brightened our way, but the fog had us riding in our own amazing bubble of light. The fire-road network at Fairhill easy provides 20+ miles of riding. It was warm, and kinda of beautiful night.

Near the end of the ride, as is often the case when you have a group of solid riders, it got a little chippy as we climbed up one of the park's main gravel sections. Brian, Dave and I moved towards the front of the group. Brian, who doesn't realize yet how amazing of a rider he is yet set a nice tempo. Dave is like me, an old dog who has been around bikes for years. Dave graduated to the Cat 1 class in 2014 and made a pretty big splash. Dave is a cagey and smart rider. The force is strong with this one.

Despite my affection for my two companions at the front, we sped up the twisting climb, and the boys had me hanging on for dear life. I was hoping to pull a rope-a-dope and make it to the top with these two. I heard Dave shift into a harder gear. The lunacy of shifting into a harder gear while climbing never ceases to amazing me. And yet, here we were the three of us bounding towards the top of the climb. I stood and spun out the gear on my single speed monster bike (note I didn't call this bike a gravel grinder). I could see the crest of the hill, and in our own little bubble I was smiling. We all felt the effort. I'm not sure who got to the top first. It was meaningless, but fun. It was an awesome night.

Perhaps Mother Nature wasn't a Grinch at all...

thanks for reading.

respect
Vanderbacon

Please note: Night Riding at Fairhill is not permitted outside of the once a week sanctioned Fairhill ride. If you have questions about the note shoot me a note or hit up the trail spinners facebook group.