This evening was my first true adventure on the mountain bike...off the

road. I did three laps with James S. and Mike J. around the long cyclocross

course as a warm up, then Hector and Steve K. showed up. I decided to go

with them to do the "beginner" 11 mile course while Mike and James practiced

their barrier hopping and running with their bikes. Daylight was plentiful

and I figured it would just get a little darker before finishing up the ride

but that was way off. Cary showed up as we started barreling down the

trail. We veered left and right, ducked under trees, squeezed between

trees, jumped 6" to 12" bumps, slid down dips, charged up small hills, and

sped down the straight aways. All was fine and dandy until Cary split for

the ride home and it all the sudden got dark. I don't have a light and have

handle bars that feel like they're 42 inches wide with tree hooks on the

ends. The trees are extremely close together in some areas and some of the

dips drop very suddenly. Things were starting to get hairy for me as I sped

along using the light from the bikes in front of and behind me and then it

finally happened...a steep dip with an incline on the otherside just as

steep. Needless to say, I didn't make it up the other side. My helmet's

cracked, my hip's scrapped, my calf is scratched, my back is bruised, but I

did manage to catch my breath after about 20-30 seconds of just sitting on

the ground grasping for air. Did I forget to mention I had my Look pedals

on the bike? I managed to fall off the bike 2 more times and did an endo

directly in front of a small tree (which Hector had never seen done with

such skill). I've never had a jersey with so much dirt on it! Can't wait

'til next week!

David J.,

This has got to be some of the best bike handlig practice that anyone can

do.

I hope to have a light for next week and seriously plan on taking a hacksaw

to the handle bars. I strongly recommend the light for riding the trails

late in the evening.

Take care,

Jeromie

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Reply by Tam Thompson

Jeromie,

It sounds like you had great fun! I'd strongly

recommend at least a Cateye headlight and red tail

light for visibility, though. Myself, I prefer a

big-ass NiteRider for doing technical stuff like that

at night, since it's as bright as a motorcycle. It's

also good, in addition to the light on the bike, have

a headlight on, because then you avoid the shadow

effect of just one light. A headlight/bike light

combo will also allow you to see that big, low tree

limb up on the right, since a bike light only

illuminates where the bike is pointing.

These are just some basic things that adventure racers

do.

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Reply by Dawn Juarez

Welcome to the world of MTB in the dark!! Hector told

me all about the night time adventures. I was very

jealous, and hope to meet up with you guys next week.

I plan on doing a day lap and a night lap on Tuesday

as well. BTW, I totally agree with you on the bike

handling skills you pick up on a mountain bike. The

only problem I find, is that I want to jump curbs,

ledges and bmx jumps when I'm on my road bike! This

could also explain why the tires on my car look a

little scuffed up as the same thing happens when I get

in my car (especially after mountain biking!)

Dawn