End of the Year Ride - 2002 by SingleSpeedMan

Under a beautiful clear blue sky, 27 spirited riders showed up at the towne Center for the 2002 TDW End of the Year Ride. Yes, it's now 2003, and maybe in the future the "End of the Year" ride will actually be at the end of the year...either that or we will have to start calling it the "begining of the Year Ride." There were bikes and folks of all ages, shapes, and sizes. Hardtails, full-suspension, fully-ridged, three singles speeds, and even a tandem. Doc and Scott did a quick intro and laid out the route and handed out radios to the ride leaders. We posed for a group photo, and then we were off.

We traveled down canyon crest to RRR. We went up RRR and regrouped at the top. We headed over to powerpole, I had to walk to the top of the first climb...aching back/tired legs. We chatted and waited to regroup at powerpole. Some went down the fire road to the top of the backside of Terry's Wall (we'll can call that little climb "Terry's backside" from now on...I never met Terry, but I don't think he mind). The main group went down Terry's Wall and over to the creek crossing. It would have been handy to have Charelton Heston around so that he could've parted the waters because that little water crossing is now over a foot deep! After the water, we headed up Terry's backside...a short, but steep climb. I saw superdave hitting the hill on his green single speed machine, so I got on the pedals...sore back and legs and all...in an attempt to climb farther up the hill (before bailing) than him. I had geared down the night before (32x20) in hopes of cleaning the climbs. Since I had already walked a section, and my back and legs were aching, I didn't give myself much hope of cleaning the climb. I got past superdave and made it over the first rise. I remember newguyed had said that once you're over the first part, that you just have to stand on it to get over the top. I stood on it and torqued my little arm muscles, and made it to the top...becoming only the second singlespeeder to clean that hill--newguyed being the first. Malcolm was nice enough to get a picture of the endeavor.

At the top of Terry's backside, we met up with some other riders who were out for a Saturday ride. I recognized a guy named Calvin, with whom I had ridden with in my pre TDW days. I went on my 35th birthday ride with Calvin and his spirited friend, a former BMX'er. It was nice to see Calvin again and I hope that he continues to ride. We went up to the water treatment plant and regrouped. We hit the XXX trail and crossed the mustang ranch mudpit (the spot were the X trail got the other two XX). Most of us took Dookie's freeride cut-off. This trail is forever changing due to some crazy ramp/drop off construction courtesy of some local adrenaline junkies. The terrifying over-the-rock-and-down-the-incline section had been reworked and many riders first-timed it. I rolled cautiously down and counted my blessings, while 2% Tony rolled down and the went back up and rode down. We took the south arroyo single track to the Chevron station where some riders actually relieved their bladders indoors! (when I say "bladders" I am not talking about their camelbacks). We headed over to Mini Moab, which took on a rush hour appearance with riders opting for different lines and subtrails which reconnected. Riders were swooping in and out of line. I nearly went too wide left at the big boulder-ride- down-the-neat-off-camber rock. I hit the dip between the boulders so I was going down a steep incline, was off camber, and was hoping over a gap--I'm thankful that I made it. An El$worth rider was not so lucky. He was riding an orange El$worth (not that the color of his bike had anything to do with his mishap) and (as far as I know) he went down while attempting the "staircase" section before the habitat trail. He had dirt on his shoulder and rock-rash on his left leg, but otherwise he was ok. Doc took this time to have a flat tire. With lightening speed, uh...yeah, right...the tube was changed.

We climbed out of the nettles and up to the pepper tree. It was at this time that the second El$worth rider noticed that his seat tube had suffered a castastrophic failure. The $eat tube was bu$ted between the $hock mount and the bottom bracket. Afetr $omeone muttered about the co$t, the rider $aid $omething about a lifetime warranttee. He hiked it home from the pepper tree. I hope that he get$ a free replacement...tho$e El$worth frame$ aren't cheap!

Some riders went right, down to the tripple dip trail, then on to the farside trail. The rest of the group headed down rattlesnake. I was able to make it to the bottom of rattlesnake and up over the first steep incline, but my aching body and good judgement got the best of me and I dismounted. Rattle snake is the next trail on the "things to clean" list. Superdave missed the turn at the bottom, but remounted after the first rise and cleaned the rest of the climb out. I took the farside trail down while the rest of the group took middle sycamore.

We regrouped at the Central sycamore entrance. The sane folks headed back to the Towne center, while the insame posse set out around the mountain. The sane group lunched at the Substation...mmmm good! On our return from lunch, we spotted the insame group who were just finishing up. Medicinemanmarc looked like a spent puppy. I'm sure that I'll see him out tomorrow for a nice Sunday ride...yeah, right. Sane ride distance...11.5 miles. Insane ride distance...27 miles (est.). There were too many riders to list without missing more than a few, so I won't list any. Congratulations to the Breezer, who manage to power a heavy load up and down the trail, despite a creeking and whinning freehub.

by dookie

Continuation of end of the year for those who completed the whole loop. After we lost over half the group at the end of Sycamore, about 10 of us headed around the mountain. Nothing out of the ordinary, just the usual loop up to two trees. I was staight pooped out by the time we got to the backside of the mountain. The ride up pigeon pass was hard and hot. I was so relieved when we got to the top because from there its just any ride back to the towne center. I chased a couple of young hot shots down 2 trees, they were fast and managed to keep space between me and their back wheels. Of course they were on dualies. No mishaps, or mechanicals and everyone seemed to have their fill of riding on this day. Props to Superdave for being the only ss to complete the whole loop. After the ride we went to Papis and enjoyed some burritos. We talked alot of bs and Doc suffered a siesure. I think he overdosed on Viagra because his whole body just went stiff, and he was maoning and yelling like a couple of mating wildabeast. Next years route------ Up 2 trees down Mtrail, around sycamore.