After my thrilling week messing with the Capri, I figured it was time to kick off a REAL vacation.  So I parked the Capri, and pulled out my not so shinny Kona, and hit the trails.   It is always a good feeling to get some nice biking in, as you all know, but it is all that much better when you are burning off frustrations as well.

My first destination was the western loop of the Blue Marsh trail system.  For those not familiar, this is the shorter of the loops that make up the 30 mile system.  The western loop is a short 7.5 mile loop which can pack quite a whollop.  It contains the most intense climbing of the entire trail system, as it climbs and descends the area surrounding the former Blue Marsh Ski Area. 

Up until this point, I only had about 20 or so off road miles on my legs for the season, as my school work kept me from riding.  I figured I would be able to run the loop with no problems, as I was feeling quite good, and well rested.  Unfortunately, as with all rides, those hills can catch you by surprise. There was a few occasions where I simply was unprepared for the hills that were ahead of me.  If anything it showed how unaware of the trail I could be.

After the climb up the backside of the hill however, things went much smother, as the northern side reviles some of the fast flowy single track that Blue Marsh is known for.  All in all it was a good ride, leaving me ready to tackle the main loop.

My chance at the main loop came just a few days later, as a trip to Mtbr showed a group ride being formed.  Group rides are always good, as they provide a chance at socializing with new people, and learning new techniques from more seasoned riders. This particular group consisted of a pair of racers, and beginner racer, and a well seasoned college student.  Needless to say, I was the weakling of the group. 

To start with the weather of the day was hot, with a touch of humidity, just enough to keep the sweat from evaporating correctly.  This weather was hurting me from the beginning as I tend to sweat a lot, and always seem to have problems staying cool.  From the get go, the group set a mildly aggressive pace, but from the starting point I had no problems keeping up as we were on mostly flat single track.

Then we hit Mount Pleasant.

The uphill sections started appearing more and more frequently, with each one being more strenuous than the last.  Climbs are my biggest weakness as a rider to start with, and when combined with the desire to keep up at a faster than usual pace, they resulted in a premature burn out.  By mile 7 of the 23 mile ride, I was starting to lag with greater distance on each leg. 

By the half way point of the ride I was consistently unable to keep pace with the group, forcing them to wait for me at the trail breaks.  Of course, being the rider at the back of the pack means you are always the one with the shortest breaks.  This was good for me in the perspective that it gave me a much better work out than if I were constantly resting like the rest of the group.  However, it made the 23 miles seem like an eternity due to the sheer exhaustion I was facing.

Things didn't get any better when I suffered a pair of mechanicals within a 2 miles of each other.  First was a Power Link failure, causing my chain to drop on a down hill, the other being a run of the mill flat.  At least these provided me with a chance to catch my breath while I fixed the bike!

Regardless of my exhaustion, I made it back the car with Water to spare. All in all it was a GREAT ride, with excellent trail conditions, and a great riding group.  I just feel bad that I slowed their pace, even though they clamed it was not a problem.  I am really looking forward for my next chance to hit the main loop, just to prove to myself that I can do it without being as exhausted as I was this time.

After my episode at Blue Marsh, I was certain that I had to keep in the saddle to make sure that I would not loose any of the fitness I had earned, and to make sure I would continue improving.  My next destination was to Swattara State Park, a place I had not ridden before.  After a bit of exploration, and the assistance of some locals, I managed to find my way to some absolutely brilliant single track.  The riding in Swattara was unbelievably good.  The trails were superbly maintained, extremely smooth, very fast, and very fun.  The trails consisted of a set of additive trails, with each successive trail being longer and more technical.  I was astounded at the speed of the trails, as well as the overall quality of the trail system.  It was some excellent riding, and a good work out as well.  These trails are great for just a daily riding destination, I really wish I lived closer to them, or could find something similar in Williamsport.

After the riding in Swattara, I made one more trip out to Blue Marsh (What can I say.. My parents house is 12 minutes away from the trail head..)  I again hit the Western loop, this time managing to spin 97% of the climb, although not continuously.  It was another great ride on a great trail.  What can I say, I'm hooked on Blue Marsh.

Oh well, That is my rough overview of the biking I did over my vacation.  I wish I would of done more riding, as I was hoping to get to French Creek, but I had so many other things to do.  I just hope this is the formal start to a nice long season!

~Kevin