The Next spin?

[DavidT]

The next spin - you know Chainreactioncycles sell snow boards?

[DavidC]

Went up to quarry this afternoon. The news is very good and tiny bit bad

First the very good - We have a place to ride! (xc anyway, sorry Gary!) The road up from the gate is rideable in places, and it's easy enough to push/carry your bike where it's not. The top track is all "rideable but interesting." A light covering of snow got through the tree cover, then moisture dropped from the trees and froze solid. We cleared the worst of it today but be prepared for some sliding. Particular care needed near Hurricane Alley. (the bit with the big drop to your right)

Now the tiny bit of bad news - the road from town to the quarry is a lethal sheet of compacted snow/ice, cycling not really recommended at the moment, extreme caution required if driving.

Some of the lads gone up again tonight (Ross, my brother Jamie, maybe DF) - looking forward to the report.

I plan to go up Wednesday night. Hopefully road will have improved, though it's hard to see how

Here's a pic of one of the hike-a-bike sections of the fire road

[DavidF]

It's actually better than DC's report. I was up there tonight with the lads

The fireroad up is 80% rideable. Actually if you had the legs it's prob 100% rideable (Rudolf there's your challenge ). So from the gate going right is ok, turning left, ok until you hit the first flat spot, deepish snow hike a bike but only for abput 20m. It's grand from there to the turn for the pheasant pen, just hard going cos you have a foot wide 'channel' to ride in. A good test of skill..I definitely reached max HR!

The top track is in 100% rideable shape thanks to the epic work of the lads. They have literally cleared the track the whole way round. Around by the Grand Canyon is spectacular!

But the best bit is coming back down the fireroad, that foot wide channel has become about an inch! Lot's of drifting and general skidaciousness.

The best chance we have of regular spins in this weather is up there so if we keep riding it we can keep it clear

See y'all Wednesday - actually i may go up tomorrow evening as well

Here's a few more pics from earlier

IMG00170-20101206-1512.jpg (61.33 KiB) Viewed 6481 times

IMG00172-20101206-1532.jpg (50.49 KiB) Viewed 6481 times

[DavidF]

a few tips for anyone heading up tomorrow night:

bring a piece of wire to dig the ice/snow out of your pedals/cleats
lose the rear mudguard

[DavidT]

Looking forward to the spin tonight!
Attempted the road last night - remake of "Ice Road Truckers" on two wheels

[Gazpw]

The roads are gonna be too bad to drive up from carlow this evening so won't be making it, besides i'm too mad about the Euro's,

[DavidT]

Great job on clearing the track guys!

[DavidF]

mighty spin, place is riding great up there. bad luck tully with the exploding freehub..

[DavidT]

Had hoped it was just frozen but it's gone.
Down to a uni-cycle for now