Here is a very nice trail system map for the Lunch Loops: lunch loops trail system

Devils in December

Test road a GT Peace 9r. Single speed 18T fully ridged 29″. I thought it was a bit heavy when I first took it out, but one quickly forgets about specs and numbers when you realize you have spent more time standing than sitting on a casual ride down Blue Sky. It was fun! The 29″ wheels almost make up for the lack of suspension and it is one hell of a work out. I actually was test riding this bike to decide if I was interested in buying it from a friend of a friend. At the half way point I was… at the half way point, not certain one way or the other.

Peace 9r

After about a mile into my return trip it became clear my decision was not important. I was corning and mobbing hard. I was thrilled that the bike could move this fast with only one gear. I cut a blind corner hard and hit a boulder sticking out of the wall. I came unclipped, flew over my handle bars, dusted off. The front wheel was no longer rotating. Ok I bought the bike, at least I didn’t have to worry about that choice. As I walked my new rig down the trail (3 miles from TH) I ran into another single speeder that said you can take a wheel, prop it up on a rock and stand on it to pop it back into place. He said he had only read about it but heard that it works.

Taco - Untaco

The rim was shot, and it was mine at this point, so I gave it a try. Good to know! It works. I bent the rim back into a ride-able shape! Luckily we are talking easy rolling trail for the next couple of miles. How I managed to taco a rim on Blue Sky is a mystery, but then again, I also sheared a nipple in two on Devils the week before.

Sheared Nipple

So, there is no moral about riding. Ride hard, taco happens. What I did learn is that I’m glad I have a fully ridged single speed in my garage daring me to take it out. A co-worker asked me “What is the motivation? You could take out your full suspension and just not shift”. I could but I won’t. The single speed keeps you honest. And because of that you will find that you cover more distance in a shorter period of time. It is also a bike that requires minimal maintenance. I love my full suspension and I love my GT Peace 9r.

Peace

This is my second Enduro so my race was against my time from 2009, a painful 9:02. I scorched in at 7:46 this year and am already plotting my attack next year. The first place time this year was an amazing 4:49 by Jay Henry.

I’m not sure if the second time through is easier because when the pretty volunteer at the top of the hill tells you that you are only 14 miles from beer and food, this time you know, those are 14 of the toughest miles in the course. However, the Enduro doesn’t get easier, you just get faster. On that note, thank you to all of the volunteers, the racers, the sponsors and RV.

I rode back to camp that night and after my third beer and third dinner I crawled into my hammock. As I lay there, almost paralyzed, I drifted in and out of sleep. I could still hear rubber rolling on single track and freewheels gliding as the wind rushed through the trees.