My OperaThe Pine Loop
Monday, May 29, 2006 6:52:29 AM
The Pine Forest Loop is the North East Section of the course, where I am supposed to be riding. All week we have been hearing how technical it is. Other Sportsman class riders are figuring a 15 mph average through it. We rode it today, and it really was tough and technical. It is going to be much worse by race day as all the pre-runners are going to chew it to pieces. There were sections we were riding today where I don't think a mountain goat can walk, however this guy and his dog can sure ride it. This morning as we were getting the bikes ready, Brent and Dan were laughing at this guy riding down the street with his dog on the motorbike. I didn't see it, but in Mexico you see a lot of unusual things, when it comes to transportation, so I didn't think about it anymore. People ride unlicensed Quads at 60 mph down the highway, in shorts with no helmets, and the cops don't care. Tour busses pass semi trucks going blind uphill. Ever wonder why you always hear about tour busses going over cliffs in foreign countries? The drivers all got their driver's licenses in Ensenada.
Anyhow I forgot about the dog until we were riding the pine loop. I was leading and Dan was back. He radios that there are two bikes coming up fast and we should let them go past. We were lost at the time and trying to get back on the GPS track. These guys were lost too, but going much faster, so they had got further lost. As the second rider goes past me in a cloud of dust I look over, and there is a dog sitting on the gas tank in front of the rider. The dog is fully decked and covered in dust. I almost fell off my bike - again. We didn't get a picture of them on the bike but Brent took a couple this morning in the parking lot.
I managed to keep up to the guy and his dog for about 10 miles, and then they lost me. Dan and Brent were quick to radio to me that the dog has the same riding style as me. Bryan and Dog Riding jokes kept them occupied for a while on the radio after that.
Other than that we practiced changing tires. Brent was pretty excited that we were riding in a real desert today. He has been burning up the trails. We all took a turn on the race bike today. It is very different from our own personal bikes and takes quite a bit of ajustment.
Brent found a snowman in the desert today. Dan said "No More Flat Tires"
Here is a picture of me actually pretending to work on changing a flat. Brent is starting to learn my tricks, so I am having to do the occasional bit of real work.
Brent and I ran 230 kms today. I am beat. It was great to see Steve waiting for us at the checkpoints, but tomorrow he better bring beverages. We actually ran out of water about 5 miles short of our meeting place.
Tomorrow we try for Simpsons Loop, Brent's section.
Cheers
Bryan with the sore butt.
Anyhow I forgot about the dog until we were riding the pine loop. I was leading and Dan was back. He radios that there are two bikes coming up fast and we should let them go past. We were lost at the time and trying to get back on the GPS track. These guys were lost too, but going much faster, so they had got further lost. As the second rider goes past me in a cloud of dust I look over, and there is a dog sitting on the gas tank in front of the rider. The dog is fully decked and covered in dust. I almost fell off my bike - again. We didn't get a picture of them on the bike but Brent took a couple this morning in the parking lot.
I managed to keep up to the guy and his dog for about 10 miles, and then they lost me. Dan and Brent were quick to radio to me that the dog has the same riding style as me. Bryan and Dog Riding jokes kept them occupied for a while on the radio after that.
Other than that we practiced changing tires. Brent was pretty excited that we were riding in a real desert today. He has been burning up the trails. We all took a turn on the race bike today. It is very different from our own personal bikes and takes quite a bit of ajustment.
Brent found a snowman in the desert today. Dan said "No More Flat Tires"
Here is a picture of me actually pretending to work on changing a flat. Brent is starting to learn my tricks, so I am having to do the occasional bit of real work.
Brent and I ran 230 kms today. I am beat. It was great to see Steve waiting for us at the checkpoints, but tomorrow he better bring beverages. We actually ran out of water about 5 miles short of our meeting place.
Tomorrow we try for Simpsons Loop, Brent's section.
Cheers
Bryan with the sore butt.
