Here's to mud in your eye

I went to Oleta Park today to ride bike. I pay my fee and drive up to that first row of parking spaces. As I pass the bike wash stand I notice how muddy everyone is. I think to myself that this is going to be one fun bike ride. Then I remembered I had just paid 40 bucks to get my bike cleaned, polished, greased, and lubed. "Wonderful I thought, there goes my nice clean bike."

I pull into an empty parking space and it begins to rain. Well, it wasn't really rain. It was more of like a twinkle. I had paid the entrance fee so I figured I might as well make the best of the situation. I put on my shoes, gloves, helmet, and slung my CamelBak on and rode towards the trail's entrance.

It's only about a 100 yards of paved asphalt to get to the entrance. I look down and already my bike is dirty. And as I look down the path I see big puddles of some nasty water.

Splash! Through the first puddle. Splash! Through the second. Oh well there goes the clean polished bike, it's all fun now! I ride to the end of the main path to the first novice trail. As I ride through I learn something. Tree roots are a pain in the ass when dry. When they are wet there are a pain in the ass AND slippery. I was getting zero grip as I rode over them.

I finished the first trail and immediately let some air out of my front tire. This would give me more grip since more of the tire would make contact with the ground. My theory was right. I rode over the roots in the second novice trail without incident. My confidence was slowly growing.

I continued riding, hitting all of the novice trails along the way. I splashed my way through water puddles, negotiating the roots, over rocks, bounced down a hill, and made my way through the maze of trees. When I finished I realized that I had not stopped! I normally stop at least once to catch my breath. I had ridden through all the novice trails without stopping. My confidence was up another notch.

I rode back to the parking lot. But I wasn't ready to leave. I felt amazing. I decided to hit some of the Intermediate trails. I am not ready for Strangler Fig or El Diablo and the wet rooty hill and ensuing drop of Gator Bank seemed too scary.

I rode back to the main path, making my way towards Dragon's Gate. The beginning of this trail has always been a challenge to me. It's a blind uphill climb. Yes, blind. The entrance is blocked by a sea grape tree. The hill is covered in roots and rocks and trees. It is nothing like the impossible first hill of Oyster Ridge but it's enough of a challenge for me.

I ride through the opening and quickly survey the hill. I needed to find an open line, a path of least resistance to make the climb. And just like that, I saw it. I saw the line. I hit the granny gear turn towards it. Up I went, maneuvering around the roots. I made it! And just that quickly, you have to shift your weight because what goes up does come down. I dropped past that last root and down the hill. Swoosh! And Splash! Another mud puddle. I had done it! My confidence was now soaring!

The next trail is Dragon's Trail. This is not too hard a trail. The only tough part is a climb and a 10 to 15 foot drop. Because it was muddy and wet I had to keep plenty of weight on that back tire. I sat back in the saddle and up and around I went. Then down! Woosh! Wow, super exhilarating!

Then I see the sign for the Kitchen Sink trail. I remember that one spot that always snags me. It's a three foot drop, an immediate hairpin turn, then you have to climb the same 3 foot hill and practically step up the hill. I was feeling so confident that I honestly believed that today I was going to tackle this obstacle.

I get to the drop. Woosh, make the turn, and climb. Pump the pedals, pump the quadriceps, go go go. I pick the front tire over the root. The back tire is next. Ugh. Nope. Negative. The root caught me. The front tire had made it over but the back tire didn't cooperate. As quickly as I could I unclipped and put my foot down. I pushed that back tire over the root, hopped back on the bike and kept riding. Confidence level was now down a notch.

I need a boost now. Should I go to Twin Peaks? Too long I thought. Robinson's Ridge it is then. I didn't make that climb up the gravel hill. It is way too narrow a path. Only a foot wide at some points and a long way down. I made it to the top and, oh there's a girl.

She was contemplating continuing up the Robinson's Ridge hill or continuing to Area 51. I described the hill to her. She said FORGET IT! I told her it was worth it. The high bank turn at the bottom and the hills were so much fun to ride. Nope she said. Oh well, I tried. Up I went and down I went.

That was a mistake. The rain had washed away any grip that this hill has. I slid down the hill. I didn't have the impulse to make the banked turn, then in turn didn't have the speed to enjoy the small series of hills. I made my way around and back. Area 51 was next.

This is a super short trail. It is basically a super steep drop, followed by a steep hill, then immediately followed by an even steeper drop. The trick bike guys use this trail to catch air and do their tricks. I don't do tricks. I just roll down and over.

I finished. It was over. I was pooped. I rode back to my car. Looking at the mud covering both me and my bike. I felt incredible. I only got stuck that one time. I rode the novice trails without stopping AND I also rode a handful of the intermediate ones too. I can't wait until next week now.