Pinball

Today got taken out by a young kid driving. He crossed double lanes over while yapping to the girl in his car. Hit me with his left side which bounced me into the right side of a parked car and over the hood. And slam into the street, could see his rear wheel 6 inches from my head.. According to the witness's he had a look of sheer panic when I sprung up and moved to try and block him getting away. So he took off.

Arm is from when my arm broke his side window as he hit me. Dripping every where. bike has it all over the handlebars.




By the time the cops got to me with the amb guys I was pulling up in front of the ER 3 blocks away. Thanks to the witness who called it in and passed on to them where I was headed.



The Doc pulled some glass shrapnel. It wasn't that deep but it was bleeding like crazy before they cleaned it up.


I feel nothing.


Yep tonight was a fun filled night.

Big Dirty Pickering Ride

On Sunday was the Big dirty Pickering Ride organized by Nick. Another free event put on by buddies for buddies. All bikes and all pedals where accepted. After gathering at Nick's in Pickering and the usual taking forever to get organized it was off for the ride.

Unlike the last ride I chose the more DH oriented wheelset option. Gotta make it even harder.

Nick led us out into the side streets that led to the trail. The route as the previous rides started took us through a local park with the usual rock to play on. Since Tim chickened out I had to nail it and it was cleaned. And then it was the trails of the Duffins Creek Valley. After a good climb it was the exit at the tracks.







Then it was the rail trail .. well unofficial as they where abondoned and unmaintained other then locals using it. Lots of sweepers and such to deal with. At one point a bit of fun was added as Tim tried to do a Lee style race pass but he discovered that I know how to block very well. Later in the ride was reminded that I do need to get a dropper type seatpost. Will make riding a little smoother.

Nick took us into a section of Rouge trails I hadn't seen yet. Or I mean when I first looked in 2002 there wasn't much there really. Now there is a trail. Though I suspect it's from the local residents walking there more then anything else. But it's good to know there is something else to ride.

Then as we have barely begun the climb of Ben Trash..... thunder and rain. The full drench. And of course the wait for the made the wrong turn on the climb crowd. All the while listening to Tim whine about his tires having nothing for tread. That's what happens when you become a weight weenie apparentely.

After descending and then a log scramble it was the ride back to Nick's. Pretty much the same rail trals back with a wee bit of mud puddle thrown in. Of course having to stop to try and ride Nick's little downhill line. Not as easy this time with there being a thin layer of slick mud.

After a bit more trail and cutting back through the park at the beginning we where back at Nick's. Upon which it rained some more though Nick had erected the large tent in anticipation of this. And it was BBQ time.

All in all a good ride. Riding flat pedals with the DH wheel set up wasn't a big issue. Though a dropper style seatpost with remote would have been a benefit.

Kingston Death Enduro Part 4

Once at Cat Woosa it was road to Bayridge then a left. Taking Bayridge to Highway 2. Took highway 2 till the turn off near the BMX track. Cutting through the park to connect to Woodbine and road again the rest of the way to Taylor Kidd. At which point it was just over 5 hours of riding to this point. Though was having to make some mental calculations on ride time vs seting sun time.

Rode the up through the farmers fields heading towards the quarry. Then took Guinness that connected to BHRT's which popped me out on Taylor Kidd. Then into the other trails on the south side. After nearly1.5-2 hours decided to pull the plug. Which turned out to be the 6 hour mark. It was nearly 8 and didn't have a light for riding in the dark.

Headed home with a stop for a well earned Slushie and Doritos. By the time I got to the house it was about 6 hours and 42 minutes of riding not including the police stop.And standing in the Mac's lot I was distinctly recalling the last time I did anything this stupid was back in 2005 leading up to Peterborough.

And I still think it is fun.

Kingston Death Enduro Part 3

After leaving Timmies it was continuing down Dalton Ave to the hydro line entrance to the next section. Found that they have been busy in the last couple of years adding some path. As well as it looks like they will be finally adding a bridge on the K&P trail.

After entering at the hydroline it was a jarring ride through where they I guess hope to build houses in the future. Somewhere in this area was crash number 2, hard to see the ruts when they are covered with either overgrowth or the shrapnel from the cutting machines.


4 hours in.

There is a little creek crossing which thankfully the machines did not wreck. This is in the non summer months pretty deep. Had to check to make sure the bottom was still firm not mush because of quad riders gunning it.

After the crossing it was across another chopped field to another creek crossing that was wrecked but still rideable. Then a little hill climb to the area of the NIB Park. Which was thought to be on the bulldozed list almost 3 months ago. But it turns out not so. No play time as that might have been a bad idea at this point .

After the park it was a very short climb to the residential road. Then a left on Sydenham to take the hydroline Quad track. This section continued the flavour of the ride- Overgrown. With the usual mix of quad rut, quad hole, and brush bashing thrown in. At one point had to some heavy bush bashing to connect with Cataraqui Woods Drive.

Kingston Death Enduro Part 2

After going through the base and hitting some of the trails on the base. It was down the hill past Fort Henry to cross the causeway. Then to head along the trails along Cataraqui Creek heading out towards the 401.






Enroute noticed this. A trials line. Return later to play on it.

Further along entered this trail. Not much as it's a old industrial site.

So after the above section hooked up with Montreal. Added a little extra pain to the ride by being mirror clipped by a driver. Then just as I hit Taylor Kidd was waved down at the Timmies by a KPD officer who had caught the woman driver. And made my statement to the officer. Oh... the added excitement. After was finished with my report wanted to take the trail option up but was way to overgrown. Then connected with a road that went along the tracks till it connects with Dalton Rd.

After reaching this point took a quick rest in this bit of shade.

After about 20 minutes came to the new Timmies on Sir John A. Definitely the most cooked customer they had all day. Interesting it was when after 3 hours how when I went to top up the Camelbak bladder there was still ice in it. So loaded up with a couple of bottles of Pepsi and a few cookies. As I knew the test was coming over the next few hours of the ride. The first 3 are the easy part really.

Kingston Death Enduro- Part 1

This idea came to be when I found out I had 7 weeks on my own. So came up with a plan to put as much bike mileage as possible in one day. The bad idea part was doing this after 3 years of mediocre training.

The very bad idea part was starting at 2pm on a hot July Sunday. But one has to work first.

Had all the stuff prepared... half camelbak and water bottle of water in freezer that would add water to for later, bug juice, sunscreen, tools and tube, money, and camera. So it was off. First destination being Roger's Trails. After about 45 minutes as it was hot and humid so kept that pace easier as it was going to be a long afternoon.


Road past the base to Roger's Trails. Nothing special other then a out and back ride section.

Bug juice... to keep the bug bites to a minimum. Especially since this year was so damp and the bugs where in large quantities.




Somewhere in Rogers still looking and feeling good.


Dry dry dry would be the general flavour of the day.


Some sections where way more overgrown then this and impassable when factor in time and effort. Which under the days heat and humidity would be a bad idea to try and basically drag a bke through.

After riding what was rideable at Roger's it was back down Highway 2 towards the base. To ride around Fort Henry on some trails there.

Cranium Cover

Today at Team NFI home office we recived this in the mail.



Nothing fancy. Just a new Buff... specifically from Singletrack Mag. Who are celebrating 10 years now.

Nothing special about it. Other then protects back of neck from sunburn and decreeases nasty helmet stink.