Tree Farm Relays - mini-version but still fun

The annual Tree Farm Relay race went down yesterday, albeit a smaller version of past races as construction at the park pushed the parking/hanging area to a different location.  Advanced notice was sent on the location and the proper angle on the road to park. Everyone for the most part followed directions. A gold star to the local park system and the organizers for utilizing every inch of space for parking and vendor tents. With limited parking, the 4 person team count was capped at 50 which I believe is about half from past years. It's not the quantity though that matters, it's the quality. Great people on a great day with no riders needing this patroller's attention. There were falls to see but no blood or breaks to report. Joe F. and his wife Sharon were again perched atop the crater with Joe (in his speedo) heckling every rider coming through with some form of metal blaring from the boom box and Sharon offering shots to all. If anyone asks me how to get to the crater, I tell them to just listen for it. You'll hear it.

Trail Head

yes, there is a Tree Farm mascot

approaching the crater area

Joe heckling another rider

the prez of the local riding chapter

ringing of the bell to start the race

crater patrol (not me in pic)

 

nice wheelie

Joe manning his crater post

 

 

Vancouver pedal - beautiful city and thanks for putting up with me

The bike tour headed to the high Pacific northwest this past week to Vancouver to see...Vancouver. I love everything about Canada as I have yet to meet an a-hole Canuck. They even put up with my meat and potato appetite as Vancouver has every possible cuisine known to man (lot of 'noodle' places) but once the funky sauce names appear on the menu ("What exactly is bla-blah sauce?"), this large headed scribe has a bit of hesitation. I had a chicken dish at one restaurant with said funky sauce, was able to retrieve my chicken pieces from the large bowl and enjoyed them. I then returned the remaining contents of the bowl to the server and said I was good. They refused to charge me for the chicken even when I gave them the "it's not you, it's me" reply. You are so polite Canada. You even ask for reassurance with every saying ending in "eh?". 

Food oddities aside, what a beautiful city. So very bicycle friendly with hopefully the attached video capturing the utopia. I saw my version of the 'museums' via the British Columbia sports hall of fame  and a Class A baseball game from the local team. Both whetted my sports appetite. 

Thank you to the great white north.

Trail Head

so very blue

Idiocracy is alive and well when the hotel has to post this

local baseball field

Rain Ride; fun but don't tell anyone

Let me preface this entry in noting that yes, this scribe has pedaled his bicycle during a downpour; proof noted below back around 2012. We had no intentions of riding in the rain that day but Michigan weather as it always does, throws a rain cloud out of nowhere and....hello rain.

This entry is to warn you that while I don't condone it, if Mother Nature changes and you ever happen to ride in the rain, do not in any way attempt to put it on social media that you did as while the mountain bike community is a cool one, there are a select few that are a bit...fickle. A word I've never used on here but I think it fits. The trail huggers will hug their trail and take vengeance out on those that try to hurt said trail. 

You can't fault the trail coordinators as the signs are there, however.....

The fun starts with a simple post by a rider on a trail condition forum. Not me but someone who is asking for a public flogging.

The trail coordinator jumps in to defend their trail and the guilty party blames it on the others. How American.

The moral to the story, enjoy your mud ride if you must but don't tell anyone.

Trail Head