Winter Ride, I love this time of year as we get a few days here and there when the sun peeks out and it is warm enough to go for a ride. I get all my gear together load the bike, roll up to the track no one is there, I have it all to myself. Tuck in my shirt, on goes the kidney belt, then the jersey tuck it in nice and neat. Pull my socks up, put my knee guards on, boots on next, bend my knee just right to make sure I have enough free play before I buckle up my boots. Next is my riding jacket, then my chest protector, then on goes the neck brace. Helmet Check Goggles yep, the helmet doesn't rotate fully because of the extra bulk of the jacket between the neck brace and my shoulders, but I like it because I love riding in the cold. Turn the petcock on and get the bike on TDC, and with two swift kicks I am smelling the sweet smell of premix, it brings me back in time it is 1981 again, and something magical is about to happen. Get it good and warmed up, and off I go slow at first bipping the throttle to keep things clean, i go through the first sand section standing up as I go counter steering as I push my way smoothly through the corners, then the pace starts to pick up a bit, and i hit the first two log obsticals, preloading my suspension before I bound up in the air as my front tire kisses the first log ever so gently. Now I am starting to get warmed up, and things are starting to flow, all the pieces are starting to come together, and everything is slowing down, but I am going faster. I am getting smoother and smoother and now I feel like an artist, each brush stroke is a BIP of the throttle, the picture is taking shape, and my canvas is the dirt below me. As I launch off of a step up I feel like I am floating in the air forever is there anything better than this? I am carving the berms like a madman and the bike is dancing beneath me in a way that can only be described as poetry in motion. Now all other thoughts are gone, one hundred percent of my concentration, is focused on the ride. For the next hour I think of nothing but keeping the bike in motion, I have to concentrate to survive. I roll up to the truck panting like a dog, steam is rising off of my head when I remove my helmet and put my stocking cap on. Load the bike up, still buzzing from all the endorphins, does it get any better than this. This is why I ride.
Hey I had the same day, dropped my 310 on top of me. Twisted my knee and ankle quite badly now all black. Riding sweep the buggers missed me. Eventually got out from under the beast. Rode down the rest of the steep gnarly hill and up the other side just as the team thought about seding back a reccy rider. 2 minutes later I am on the pegs doing 40 in 4th when the front drops into a pot hole and rolls off a round rock. Down I go again. But this time on my other side. I now have a black left thigh and buttock and black matching ankle. All in all a top day in the office and as you can see identicle to Dathrr's.
Glad you didn't break anything. I took my 310 out yesterday too and about killed myself... It was 40f and I hit a frozen patch of clay while hard on the throttle at over 45mph. The rear went wonky side to side and almost planted me. I was able to accelerate out of it and get straight but I about dropped one in my shorts. Since I put the full FMF exhaust on this thing has more power everywhere. I am also losing weight so this spring will prolly feel like I gained 5 hp and the preload will need to be reduced.
We did 4 hours of snowy single track on Saturday. Great fun. It's nice to ride with a buddy who always wears a camera. View: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QU_t-tmcRtg&feature=g-high-u
I love riding in the mud, but I dislike the clean-up. My wife always wonders why we have so many weeds in the front yard every spring, I don't tell her it is probably from pressure washing all the mud/weeds/seeds off of my bike in the front yard all winter.
