Went for a ride on Candler’s Saturday with Mike, Troy and Jimmy. It was still slippery from the rain we had a couple days before and I started out with to much air in my tires for the conditions and biffed a couple times before Troy reminded my to check my tire pressure. Even after I let some air out for traction I still felt pretty wobbily on the ride. Never felt like I had much control. At one point on a pretty steep track of fireroad I grabbed the rear brake to hard and ended up skidding almost completely horizontal to the descent. Was able to pull that one out but ended up losing it again and just went off into the woods about 15 yards until I slowed down enough to gain control and stop.

My climbing was pretty good though. There is a long ascent at the end of trail and I was able to make it up a lot more then usual. The whole ride was backwards. Usually I can hang with speed pretty easily while not being able to climb very well. Oh well, means I’m getting in better shape at least.

There’s one creek crossing that’s probably about 15 feet across and 6 feet deep. We usually have to dismount and climb down and up. Well some do gooders have built a bridge over it. Troy had said the bridge was finished up, however I was a little nervous crossing it. A six foot drop onto a rocky creek bed isn’t my cup-o-tea. So I was bringing up the rear and everyone else stopped before it and I just kept riding and crossed it quick before I had time to think about it. Piece of cake.

I took a picture of Jimmy crossing it and my camera’s crap shutter speed ended up making the picture look pretty cool.

At one point we came across a pretty big downed tree from the big storm. It was probably a good five feet thick at the base. Underneath the tree was a bone. Mental images of CSI started flashing in my head. “Secure the crime scene.”

Good last ride on the ol’ Raleigh M80. My review will be added shortly to Mike’s. Now it’s RL’s turn to give her a whirl.