Having completed the first day here, without crashing, hurting myself or wrecking the bike I’m ready to do it again. The now permanent open fuel cock didn’t cause any problems and the weld, although not the prettiest, seems to be holding. Checks done, start up ……. and lo, a fine mist of fuel is now coming out of the left side seam on the tank!
By the time we get to our 1st section fuel is dribbling down the underside of the tank and dripping on the top of the engine ……. not good. A spectator offers to go back to the start for me and returns with a roll of tape while I walk the section and then ride it. Another gentle opener to the day on 9 section all on the left of the loop. This one is a simple in and looping uphill ride in the trees with multiple exit lines from the top of the hill. Clean this without catching fire and on to the next.
The tape is applied to anything it will stick on going around the underside of the tank and after about 1/2 a roll we have the leak stopped, well not dripping anyway! It might not look pretty but it should last the day.
Not pretty!
From the walk to the post taping ride I’d clearly forgotten where I was planning on going and in the rush turned back through the trees at a lower point than I had intended and was forced to take a dab to get back on the correct line!
Section 3 has a little more meat on it coming over a gentle blind bump before a tight left into downhill in a mixture of roots, rocks and leaf mold. Several lines to cross the hill to a uphill step between the trees and then idle along path to the exit. It rides better than it looks for clean number two.
At 4 Ed and Mike are not happy about the start which I agree seems harder than the 2 line but it looks pretty doable to me. Drop off a ledge into a natural ditch come wash then up and over some branches, rocks and roots in the damp leaf mold and woodland ground cover …… on and upward with changing adverses as the line comes up the hill and crosses over a ridge line and then slowly flattens out before coming back to the sunshine and ends cards. They don’t fare too well with this one but the Cub climbs it well for a single dab. This one has memories from my youth! I like it.
Meet up with two other groups at Section 5 which is today’s high point on the loop just along from where a new ski run is being laid out for next season. Another drop in section to a left turn then line dependent routes all coming back for a one line for everybody exit which is a difficult jink between footrest wide chunks of solid bedrock. Get on the line and a clean can be yours, miss it by a couple of inches and the score can be 1,2,3, or 5! The only two riders I see making this last bit are Dan Straka and Bob Strohman while the rest struggle and clang and bash their way through or get stopped dead.
A solid rock on the lead up to the jink is not as solid as I thought and costs me a dab on the line up but I glide through the gap without touching a thing.
We miss 6 which is Masters only, and follow the descending loop to 7 which is a flat route through the trees over logs with a few turns before coming back to the exit hazard of solid rock and tree which requires the upper body handlebar flick to get past.
8 has to be the “gimmee” of the day and is the same for the 2 line with a straight forward up the hill round the corner and back down affair.
Two sections to complete the loop. 9 is a blast into the gloom in the trees straight uphill into a quick right hander then some downhill braking on the steepish hill to the exit.
Little sting in the tail for 10 back at the resort. Enter into immediate full right 90 turn over an up/down turn area in the rockery picking up a full 180 left around a fallen log. Staying just above the water over some, as yet, dry roots then stay on the narrow track to a 90 left uphill to the exit.
Total for loop 1 just 3 single dabs so a clean loop is quite possible with a little more thought and care. It seems the rest of the party don’t want any more today. John didn’t start, Bill has had enough and Ed is very tired, but Mike Becker wants to beat Ed for the win. Decision is finally made and we set off again.
Clean on 2 this time, helps to go the right way! …… and a hard working but satisfying clean up the long climb of 4. pinch my toe in the exit of 5 for a dab and then clean the rest for a 1 point loop.
Ed and Mike decide they have had enough with 7 and 17 respectively for this loop so time to load up and go before I catch on fire.
Next event is now Tucker’s Ranch in September so its back to gardening.
TONY DOWN