Year: 2005

Reality Check

Posted on by Smoke

Not your usual filler today folks.

If you’ve ever gone out riding or skiing or something with me, you will know that I’m all about the risk management. It’s inherent with the lifestyle. You’re always thinking about it, weighing potential hazards against your mood and the day and whatever else might be a factor. I’m always fascinated by what different people see as scary or dangerous. Some people I ride with consider me conservative. Other friends of mine can’t even consider some of the lines we enjoy as rideable.

I think the most dangerous thing any of us do is drive. I do a lot of it, and it’s when I do my best thinking. I was driving up to Apex to get some late season pow in and thinking along these lines and it struck me that you have no control over what the other guy is gonna do. If someone comes around one of these corners in the wrong lane you’re not going to be able to do much about it.

2 corners later we found this. We were on scene within 2 minutes of the accident. Some poor woman had a heart attack (I’m guessing, but it sure looked like it) behind the wheel and swerved into oncoming traffic. The couple in the other car were injured but are going to be OK. I think the lady who had the heart attack probably died before the impact. Barb got a good workout on the first responder skills today.

At the scene of 2 wrecks in 3 days. Hmmmmmm…..maybe I’ll slow down just a little bit.

Return of the Real

Posted on by Smoke

The really wet that is. The long absent moisture has returned. I must have a new bike or something.

Anyway, Saturday I went and atoned for my sins by diggin in the rain for a few hours. I drove up into the pea soup fog and parked behind the concrete barrier at the top of CBC, then went and mixed up some sweet mud When I do trail maintenance, I like to listen to a little ACDC, so you can imagine my surprise when I heard a big THUMP over the wailin’ strains of Angus’ blistered fingers.

Some guy managed to park his Pontiac on top of the barrier, breaking off both front wheels in the process and showering my van with debris. His hood was about four feet from the roof of my van, actually. Stupid me, no camera. Oh well, I got lucky. Driver of the car got a ripped up lip ( I’d say around 8-10 stitches ) and a concussion. I felt sorry for his dog, stuck with an idiot like that for an owner……

Sunday I got a ride in with Brentomatic. He’s definitely getting faster. He brought these two guys along….

We all got introduced, but I forget the names in light of the past couple of days. The guy on the Brodie is pretty solid ( he stomped the new jump on CBC in the wet on sight), but the guy on the Kona was killing it all day. These shots are the new hip line below the PileDriver.

If you see this, put your names down in the comments will ya?

Good Friday

Posted on by Smoke

Oh yeah. It’s a holiday. I kind of forget about stuff like that. Not that it makes a ton of difference on how busy the trails are. It seems like there are always people are out there no matter what day it is.

Seth came back for another round today, so we beat the hell outta the place. Three runs, and the last one was a full around the world old school lap of Seymour.

He really picked up the pace from the first day too. Here’s the Boogie Man drop:

Harley was still chasing him though.

Cruising the Pangor log.

This was the last dry day we’re gonna see for a while. It sure was sweet.