Whenever I tell people about mountain biking trails here in Lynchburg, I tell them we got everything. We have a lot of beginner trails at Blackwater Creek, a great intermediate trail system at Peaks View Park and some pretty rough, expert trails up on Candlers Mountain.

Candlers Mountain has fireroads and singletrack all unmaintained. So lots of rough spots, streams and big log crossings. Last Thursday Troy, from Bikes Unlimited, took Mike and I out on the loop he usually rides. It was good times cause Peaks View is getting to the point where it isn’t really a challenge anymore. Candlers was definitely a challenge, but it was a lot of fun. I was able to do some stuff I didn’t think I could do, and then biffed a few times on stuff I just had to try. It’s all good though, that’s how we get better right?

All in all I was pretty happy with my performance. I was able to hang pretty good with Troy fitness wise and did a lot better on some of the technical parts then I thought I would. Since the trails aren’t maintained by anyone, some of the obstacles were pretty nuts. Trees that came up to my waist and pretty steep creek crossings. Some of the really big logs I didn’t try to get over, but I was able to work my way over most the stuff.

Saturday morning Mike and I met at the trailhead to do the same loop again. We were both pretty tired but it was still a good time. I brought the flatFoto with me this time so I was able to snap some pictures. Some are kinda blurry, but you get the idea.

This was my first fall about five minutes into the ride. Nothing like leaving your bike sticking up into the air.

Then I was going through this creek crossing where some people had laid some logs down to help cross it. I hit one to slow and did the slow motion fall over the handlebars. I fell on a log right on my knee and got a pretty good puncture wound. Then when I rolled over to sit down, I sat down in the muck and mire of the creek. Good times.

I finished the ride pretty strong and everything, but we were both pretty beat by the end. However, we are excited to have a whole new set of trails to explore.