OUR TUESDAY MOUNTAIN BIKING TRADITION

Traditionally, Tuesdays, in the summer, are set aside for riding with Tim.  It's the only day of the week he has off work...so we maintain a standing date for a weekly ride.  Our rides, this summer, weren't very long...but what we lacked in miles we more than made up for with adventure, mud, rain, rocks, and exploration!  

Posing with my bike at my favorite vista in Michaux State Forest.  Photo by Tim Sindlinger. -- August 14, 2018

Tim and I set out for six Tuesday mountain bike rides over the course of the last few months...five in Michaux State Forest and one trip to the Parkway Trail System in Harrisburg.  Unlike the summer of 2016, we weren't plagued with mechanical issues (we only experienced two flats this summer) and, unlike the summer of 2017, we saw very little wildlife (with the exception of the typical squirrels and deer).  As in years past...the more the merrier!  Tim's buddy, Adam, joined us for our ride on the Parkway Trails. Ben (a former student of mine and now co-worker at Gung Ho Bikes), along with Matt and Brent, each joined us for a ride in Michaux...adding to the dynamics, conversation, adventure, and fun.


TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 2018 -- MICHAUX STATE FOREST


For our first Tuesday ride of the summer, Tim and I rode up to the vista in Michaux State Forest. -- June 12, 2018


Riding through Tom's Run creek in Michaux State Forest.  Photo by Tim Sindlinger. -- June 12, 2018


Tim and I paused to ride the rocks while climbing up to the vista in Michaux State Forest.  -- June 12, 2018


TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 2018 -- PARKWAY TRAIL SYSTEM


This was the only Tuesday that Tim and I did not go to Michaux.  He had never ridden the Parkway Trails in Harrisburg...so we made that our destination for our second ride of the summer.  Tim took this pic of me coming out of the trees and under the power lines.  Super cool! -- June 26, 2018


Riding the single track that runs near the Harrisburg incinerator...Tim spotted Bambi stuck in the fence.  It took him a while, but Tim was able to get the little guy free. -- June 26, 2018




Adam using his momentum to crest a small hill below the Harrisburg Incinerator. -- June 26, 2018

Riding one of the many log build ups on the Paxtang side of the Parkway Trails. Photo by Tim Sindlinger. -- June 26, 2018

Sometimes it's easy to forget, while riding the Parkway Trails, that you are in the middle of the City of Harrisburg.  Graffiti, like this, is a good reminder! -- June 26, 2018


TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2018 -- MICHAUX STATE FOREST


Pausing along the trail, in Michaux State Forest, to fix Tim's flat tire.  Left to Right:  Ben Kelly, Tim Sindlinger, Dave Raymond. -- July 10, 2018

Tim Sindlinger riding over some downed white pines. -- July 10, 2018

Ben Kelly making stuff I can't ride look pretty easy!  -- July 10, 2018

On this ride, with Ben and Tim, I took this pic of the rhododendron blooming along Mountain Creek. -- July 10, 2018


TUESDAY, JULY 31, 2018 -- MICHAUX STATE FOREST

Tuesday, July 31, was probably the most tropical ride of the year...and the only ride that Matt was able to join us on. Great to have you with us, Red Beard.  Hope we can connect more next summer.  This pic was taken at the end of my favorite rock  garden  near the top of Slate Road.  Left to right:  Tim Sindlinger, Dave Raymond, Matt Linnane.  -- July 31, 2018

On July 31, normal stream crossings were as swollen as I've ever seen them.  Not so bad that we couldn't ride it, though! (Maybe this is why I recently needed to put a new bottom bracket in my bike.) Matt Linnane in Michaux State Forest. -- July 31, 2018

Matt showing off proper tire inflation techniques after being the victim of the second of our two flat tires this summer.  -- July 31, 2018

Taking a short break at the Cumberland/Adams County line while riding through the clouds in Michaux State Forest. -- July 31, 2018


TUESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2018 -- MICHAUX STATE FOREST


Tuesday, August 7, was a day that Tim and I had decided to revisit a section of the forest that we hadn't ridden in over 10 years.  The week before, I had, from the corner of my eye, noticed ATV trail #33 which descends off of Slate Road.  I remembered it being pretty difficult...and it was.  The huge pay off was getting to ride off of Bear Knob...a great section of the forest...and one that I just don't visit nearly enough. Dave Raymond and Tim Sindlinger. -- August 7, 2018

Tim riding off of Bear Knob in Michaux State Forest. -- August 7, 2018

Another super cool pic from this summer...I took this photo of Tom's Run as Tim and I were wrapping up our ride. -- August 7, 2018


TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2018 -- MICHAUX STATE FOREST


Super cool to have Brent join us for what would be the last (and best) ride of the summer.   Left to right:  Tim Sindlinger, Dave Raymond, Brent Shirk. -- August 14, 2018

While riding Ridge Road, Tim, Brent, and I spotted a trail leading into an area on top of the ridge that led off into a recently logged area of the forest.  It proved to be one of the coolest trails of the day!  -- August 14, 2018

Tim Sindlinger riding the recently logged section of the forest near the top of Ridge Road. -- August 14, 2018


Brent making his way over a rock shelf as the trail nears route 233 at the top of the mountain. -- August 14, 2018


GoPro footage that Brent took during our ride in Michaux State Forest -- August 14, 2018


Giving Tim and Brent a chance to converse prior to our descent down the ridge towards Tom's Run.  -- August 14, 2018

I mountain biked other places this summer besides my Tuesday rides with Tim...but these weekly excursions are something I really look forward to.  Tim and I have been riding together for almost 20 years now and I love that we've been able to maintain our friendship through this weekly summertime tradition.  With the school year now about to begin, I'm hoping (and pretty positive) that Tim and I (along with everyone else in our mountain biking circle) will be able to connect over the next few months.  Regardless, come next summer, I'm sure the two of us will be out mountain biking the first Tuesday we have off.


Wrapping up the summer the same way it began...taking in the view from the vista in Michaux State Forest.  Amazingly breathtaking! -- August 14, 2018



Life is a journey...not a destination.



David A. Raymond -- August 19, 2018


Each ride at Michaux this summer ended with a trip to Mountain Creek Campground for ice cream.  For some reason I was on a sherbet kick all summer long.  My typical order...Two scoops, in a dish, with a sugar cone on top like a hat! -- August 14, 2018

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Here are the GARMIN maps and data from our Tuesday mountain bike rides over the past few months...Happy riding!


















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