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TIPS & TECHNICAL. . .
Crashing...
-from MountainBike magazine
STAY IN CONTROL: The best way to avoid crashing is to remember not to ride beyond your limits; just push 'em a bit. When riding tough, technical terrain or trying something new, visualize how you're going to do it. Focus on what you want to do, like ride the ideal line, not on what you don't want to do, like go off a cliff.
DON'T FREAK OUT and decide to bail in the middle of a technical situation. This is usually more dangerous than committing to it and riding it out.
Continue reading "Crashing..." |
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Emotes & Trip Diaries. . .
Beautiful MTB Day, Wonderful Cause: FOL
Emil 30 Sept 07 -
Car windows all down, it hit me:
The juxtaposition of the wind and highway noise rushing through on GA 400
With the fall sun just beginning to head West in the sparkling blue sky
As this perfect MTB day ends on a smooth cement ribbon
That has replaced squirrels scurrying, birds alighting, soft winds' embrace at just the right trail breaks,
Bike and rider ups and downs flowing if not jerking over roots, rocks, and Zig Zags.
"You look like the girl on the event poster," I opened to join a band of friends and wishers surrounding the cause de celeb.
Continue reading "Beautiful MTB Day, Wonderful Cause: FOL"
Racoon Mtn Rocks... I mean boulder sized
Emil - 27 May 2007 - Earlier this year en route to somewhere else, I stopped off for a one hour MTB taste of the spectacular views from trails that flow along the top most ridges of Racoon mtn. I knew I had to return ASAP. A couple more drivebys and this Memorial weekend was to be the time. Smoke from the South GA fires gradually disappear as our bike-laden car climbs Elder Mtn Rd. up to the reservoir. Daughter, Heather, and I arrive at the East Overlook 3 hours after setting out - and skirting an all-lanes-stoppage due to an accident on I-75. Normally it's a 2 hour drive from Roswell, GA. Our goal is to circle the Racoon Mtn Reservoir on the recently completed MTB trails. We knew this was not going to be your typical, single skill level loop, but here's a non-mutant rider's spin on the experience.
Continue reading "Racoon Mtn Rocks... I mean boulder sized"
Brad's Trail "log" 3-21-07
 On Tuesday, I cut a pass around on the log that had fallen on "hurts so good", and placed dirt around the large rocks to keep them from moving. So far, all seems well. Some folks ride around, and some folks fly over the log. I rode the outer loop today with Tom, and took a couple of pics of the log & Tom riding over it. Riding today reminded me what happens when you only bike the trail every week or two. It wears me out.
Overcoming Resistance to Commute
Emil Walcek 10-2005 - It's too scary riding roads. I'd rather be tooling around a mountain on single track through creeks, rocks and roots than negotiating a road commute. This is how I've rationalized and avoided the 6 mile bike commute between my Roswell home and an Alpharetta office. I'd actually carry my mountain bike to work in my half ton pickup bed on the chance I'd find a couple of hours to break away to drive to a local trail. It all seems so innocent, now - so decadent. Then came Katrina's wake up call and gas shortages...
Continue reading "Overcoming Resistance to Commute"
Ode to Mountain Biking
by Wes Hull 05-2005
On a single-track the ordinary world seems a million miles away
The only deadline to meet is a better time on the loop
The bills are left behind like the sweat falling off your body
Mother nature feeds the soul with a regular diet of single-track
Sometimes laid out like a king's feast Sometimes thrown down like slop at a medieval pub
But the challenge is what keeps me coming back for more
To go the distance Pheidippides could not even fathom
To weave fluidly like a snake through the winding downhill
To climb hills that seem to reach higher than Everest
To scale over obstacles like a tank in battle
Man, I wish I could ride for miles and miles every day
Wes is a lucky man. With his submission he notes, "The reason I really wrote it is that my wife says there's a glimmer in my eye every time after I've been mountain biking, and this is just an attempt to try to explain why I think it's the best sport in the world.
Bob's June Big Creek MTB Emote
Bob Grieco 6 June 05 -- Just wanted to share my story... The set up is that I have not been riding much and with 1 week to the 24 hour race I really wanted to get a good riding weekend in. Friday night I replaced my bent rear derailleur, some cables and did some general maintenance, Saturday morning I rolled over to Big Creek. The bike was working PERFECT. No creaks, shifting was perfect and bike was totally quiet, a bike mechanics Zen moment for sure. Trail was in great shape for all the rain and as a matter of fact there were only 2 spots on section 9 with puddles and they are in spots where the City did some grading for drainage and these can be fixed easy. The only other spot on the entire trail system was the north flat spot on the troll trail. 2 hours of riding and I am back at the house for more endurance trailing that was accomplished by 2 hours of yard work.
Continue reading "Bob's June Big Creek MTB Emote"
Blissful Misery As 1 Partner in a 2 Man 24-7 Team
Jay Aiken 6-2005 -- Can misery be blissful? Is there such a thing as miserable bliss? It seems like an oxy-moron, but I found it to be very possible this year at the Southern Lights 24-7 twenty four hour race. I have done several 24 hour races in the past, but none that tested me like this one did. I have done a 10 person team and a few 5 person teams, but this year for some reason I let our fearless leader Bob Grieco talk me into a two person team. Many people asked me, "What are you thinking?" I asked myself the same question.
It all started great, the weather was nice and we were enjoying the day with the RAMBO five person team camping next to us.
Continue reading "Blissful Misery As 1 Partner in a 2 Man 24-7 Team"
Beyond bicycling: Beginning MTBing
Emil Walcek 5-2005 - Grown daughter, Heather, bikes the Silver Comet 50 miles with her buddies on a hand-me-down mountain bike, comes back aching and with enough adrenaline-inspired hype to get me going. Dusting basement stuff off my old Nishiki 12 speed road bike I remember some good biking times. How safe can decades-old, cracking tire rubber be? It'll do, I tell myself.
Understand that I have never been a cycling enthusiast by any measure. Decades ago I intermittently commuted 4-5 miles to work (when I didn't have meetings). I first nurtured, then followed kids through their early cycling days. Longest distance I ever pedaled was an adventure to and from Stone Mountain with my visiting brother-in-law. I let bicycling slip from my activities as cars, trucks, motor homes (and some of the people in them) got too scary on the roads.
Continue reading "Beyond bicycling: Beginning MTBing"
Emoting over a Sunny Trail-riding Sunday in January
Emil Walcek 17Jan05 -- Does anyone mind if I share thoughts on a glorious winter weekend ride day? Short days and fickle weather make the good days stand out all the more. Mountain biking happiness is a cool sunny winter weekend like this last one, mid-January, where you feel good about peeling away the layers as you ride - keeping body temp in sync with the warm sun shining on the trails. Finding the Prairie Home Companion on the radio proved the next best thing to a biking buddy to speed my first stop: Yellow River trails. I think about my progress since starting a couple of years ago, but now it's just about the fun - and a good kind of tired.
Continue reading "Emoting over a Sunny Trail-riding Sunday in January"
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ARCHIVES
2 Ways in a Day Time Trial
Join RAMBO at Big Creek Park MTB Trails March 29th 9am - 1pm. It's not too late to volunteer, either. Come early... anytime after daybreak and before events start. Help out and get a free lunch, too! Hook up with any RAMBO event person if you're interested.
Continue reading "2 Ways in a Day Time Trial"
Big Creek Cannondale Demo Day 07
November 18th-Sunday - Free Bike Evaluations
Dust off that bike that's been sitting in your garage and bring it to Big Creek from 10:00 AM-2:00 PM and let RAMBO and Roswell Bikes do a free bike evaluation and let you know what the metal steed might need to get it back out on the trail! The evaluation covers the condition of the frame and if it fits, brakes, gears, wheels and proper seat height. Minor adjustments MAY be made on site, however this is not a tune and repair clinic. Be sure your child's bike fits, is safe to ride and if you need any replacement parts. Helmets will also be checked. Let the experts put you mind to rest! Meet at Big Creek Parking lot off of Old Alabama Road.
Nov Meeting Wed. 14 - Officer nominations & more...
7 PM at Tony's Bar & Grill - We're quickly approaching the end of the year and it's time to think about the BOD for next year. Come to nominate your favorite self, other other candidate of choice. Participate in our democracy on site at Tonys, or write in to
--Steve Mullins
Other meeting highlights you will NOT want to miss:
CycleWorks - Presentation on the all-new Trek and Gary Fisher Bikes
Ian - Neil will give the low down on the Eagle Scout Project
New TRAILS at Charleston Park Update by Neil and Chris
And, last but not least, a review of the fabulous FATS Trip by Joe
Charleston Park trails work party & ground breaking Nov 10th
THIS JUST IN! A certificate for a Thomson seatpost or stem will be given away to one of the volunteers at the wp on Nov 10th. Must be present to win. Charleston Park, future Forsyth county home of 6 miles of RAMBO trail will break ground Saturday, Nov 10th at 9 am at the Forsyth county park located off Brown's Bridge Rd. This is every club member and MTBer's chance to give back, or pay ahead with sweat equity on an all new trail system. Lunch will be provided.
Directions...
GA 400 to Exit 17, turn right on 306 for 1 mile, at 2nd light turn right on 369, drive 1.5 miles, turn right onto Charleston Park Rd, go to parking lot at boat ramp.
Next RAMBO meeting - Oct 10th
Come out to Tony's Bar and Grill for RAMBO's next chapter meeting and mingle with the famous and infamous MTBers in the area. REI has confirmed they will do a bicycle electronics introduction and workshop.
October 13th RAMBO Work Party
And while you're at it. plan to put in some sweat equity this Saturday at Central Park MTB trails in Forsyth County
To finish the back hill trail re-routes
9 am to 1 pm, Saturday, October 13th
Meet at the Trailhead kiosk
Lunch provided.
Sorella Takes Over RAMBO
 Well, for our 12 Sept 07 meeting, anyway! Cycling enthusiasts of the feminine gender turned out in force with regular RAMBO members to hear Sorella women's cycling organization leaders talk about their approach to networking, training, and riding. The evening was enjoyed by all... not too many faux pa's. Although it turns out that there are probably more MTBers from separate planets than the general populace, hence the reason the 2 year old club is growing like crazy. We also threw out ideas for new board members for 08. No absentee ballets, folks. We get the leaders we deserve by voting... watch for RAMBO election day notices. View future meeting topics by looking over to the right column and downloading our calendar, and here if I've time to post more verbage.
Sorella Cycling: Women's MTB Info Session Wed, Sept 12
 Members from Sorella Cycling will be joining the September 12th RAMBO Meeting to speak about women in mountain biking! This will be a casual discussion and Q&A.
When: Wednesday, September 12, 07
Continue reading "Sorella Cycling: Women's MTB Info Session Wed, Sept 12"
Next Saturday, September 15th Work Partay
Come join us uppin cumming to complete finish work on the re-routes on “Back Hill” at Central Park
Meet at 9am at the Mountain Bike Kiosk at Central Park
9am to Noon. Lunch provided.
07-08 Georgia Trail School Classes Scheduled
RAMBO chapter members are invited to attend the upcoming Georgia Trail School to learn the most up to date information available on how to build sustainable trails. Each student enrolling in all four classes will receive a copy of "Trail Solutions,” IMBA's Guide to Building Sweet Singletrack", our class text book.
Class dates for next two trail school cycles feature a new Saturday/Sunday date format to allow course completion in a shorter time-frame.
Trail School and Crew Leader Training Classes are designed for all trail and off-road enthusiasts, land agencies, and aspiring advocacy groups. This course will be taught at Gainesville State College in Oakwood, Georgia. Focus of the course is on shared-use trails however some specialized single use applications will also be addressed. This course is designed around current, modern, low impact trail design and construction practices and complies with current specifications by most land agencies.
Continue reading "07-08 Georgia Trail School Classes Scheduled"
Trail work party August 4th
Meet at 8 am at Central Park. Now is the time for all you riders on the northside to give back, lend a hand. We will be modifying the existing cross country trail on the "back hill" to accommodate Free Ride's new 4 by 4 slalom run. Sumptuous lunch will be provided. For info: Trails@rambo-mtb.org
RAMBO Work Party Saturday, July 14th 8 am-12 noon
Meet in Big Creek Main Parking Lot.
It's time to put your sweat equity into our home trail. We'll be working on Climbing Snake Trail projects:
1. Replace the log crossing at the top of the S turns
2. Build a bench at the top of the 'crease' overlooking Tree Bridge
3. Modifications to the Tree Bridge
4. Other trail maintenance tasks
Lunch will be provided.
New Forsyth MTB trails need support
Communications with our parks contact Matt Pate over the weekend show things are moving along for Charleston Park mtb trails off Lake Lanier. We need support from all our bike and trail friends. Please note the following and let's have a good turn-out for this week's meeting in Cumming on Thursday. Join us Thursday June14th @ 7:00pm in the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners meeting room (Downtown Cumming) to preview the new Master Plan for Charleston Park. There are over 5 miles of multi-use trails and additional parking for Mtn Bikers being added to the park's amenities. Your voice and support is needed. Please let me know if you are attending and if you are bringing anyone. The more the merrier.
24 Hours of Conyers 19-20 May 07 with team SORBA
 Brusaaay.... commin over the ledge at Conyers.... oh-kaaay... with the RAMBO Jer-saaay! In the "Just for Fun" Class sponsored by SORBA and Sweetwater Brewing Co, the SORBA team consisting of Walt Bready, Daniel Elzey, Keith Owens, Bruce Dickman, Jeff Ghandy came in Last place while having their 24hrs of fun. But Bruce copped a personal (2nd) best lap time of 54 min/lap. Way to go Bruce!
May 12 Big Creek Work Party
Saturday, May 12, 8am to work on advanced trail features and the Freeride area. As always at the BC... meet about noon at Roswell Big Creek Park to in the front parking lot, lunch will be furnished, bring your bike if you've enough strength for a ride after. Confirm trail and time by contacting our trailmaster at Trails@rambo-mtb.org
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