Demo One Week Later

Joe and Eric headed back out to Demo at about a quarter to seven on Sunday morning. Our goal was to hit Sawpit and then head back up Sulphur Springs and then hit Braille. I was sure that we could swing it all and be back by around 11:30. Those familiar with my notorious inability to measure time and estimate the lengths of rides will be laughing already. Well, we did not make it back till around 1 o'clock! Surprise, surprise.

Regarding Sawpit: This trail is excellent and challenging. It has tight corners, drops, some stunts and jumps, and a few oh-my-god-it's-too-late-but-I-better-just-ride-it-out sections. It is no Braille, of course, but it does have its own worthiness about it. Overall, it a lot longer than Braille, and you feel it in your sore hands, feet, and quads. Also, the extra milage it adds to the climb out is not so bad.

So we climbed back up past the bottom of Braille and then up to Sulphur Springs. We climbed up and learned from some other climbers that Corral Trail is really a collection of jumps of different sizes. Next time we head up there we should head down Corral, hook up to Sulfer Springs and take that back up to the Ridge Trail and from there hit Braille or Sawpit. This path would cut out about 1/2 of the climb back to the top, which is pretty hard to do.

From here we headed back down Braille. We became so fatigued on the way down that we had to stop and rest our hands and feet. Otherwise, it was just a straight shop all the way to the bottom, with no fooling around. This to me was the funnest part of the ride. But because of the fatigue I ended up skipping some things I usually do. A good choice, I think.

We met a lot of very cool and friendly riders on the trail. We shared a beer with one of the most talkative people I have ever met. He was nice so it was hard to tactfully put a stop to his loquacious ejaculations. We also met a pair of guys who came from Russia. One of them was a guy who got busted up last November while Steve and I were out there for a demo. The wierd thing about it was that I had just been talking about him only minutes before we met him on the trail. All of this was less than a mile from the spot where he broke his ankle and had to be transported out.

Stats:
3 minor spills
0 injuries
19 miles
6 hours round trip

After having a cold, sinus infection, and other symptoms all week long (and absolutely no riding!) I must admit that this ride was a little overkill. I found myself winded a lot more than usual, while Joe seemed more or less at ease. I also ended up walking up a long section of Sulphur Springs. Being sick takes a huge toll on one's abilities to perform. But it was worth it!

Also, after Russ's unfortunate injury, we were really conscious of our own sense of our limitations and comfort levels. I have more fun if I stay within a certain range, dictated by the way I feel about my skills on a given day. But pushing myself a little beyond that is a little fun as well! Without at least a little risk I think we would be missing out on the potential for evem MORE fun!