The e-mail came from Jon on Monday, and when I saw the recipients I knew I could not refuse. An ensemble that could easily be the top 5 at any ABA race, plus a few former national team members and a Canada Cup winner thrown in for good measure. Jon wanted to show the “non-locals” all of Moose Mountain’s finest. For once I decided to stay quiet and go with the flow, letting the “Singletrack Concierge” (Jon) work his magic.
After meeting at an aggressively early time to cram in all Jon had planned, we started up Ridgeback at a pace that felt like a World Cup start to my sore legs. The sight of 6 riders cruising at such speed, conversational with each other and still enough breath for a polite “hello” must have baffled everyone we passed. Moosepackers was dispatched quickly and soon we were hitting the S.H.A.F.T. which all were glad to find damp & tacky. No one likes a dry S.H.A.F.T.
We started up Ing’s Mine and Pnuema for our second trip to the top as a menacing cloud rolled in. Nearing the Pneuma summit the temperature dropped 10 degrees and we were nailed by a massive downpour, complete with hail an lightening. At that point Special K was ditched in favor of a quicker Race of Spades to the car. The trail was now a river.
All in all 2:45 total time. ~5000ft climbed with only ~5 minutes of stops. Prime time parking lot talk of bikes, bike racing, Bike Trails and Bike Racers was further enhanced by a Double Rainbow!
Weeknights don’t come much better.
That is a ridiculous ride, you guys scare me...
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