ALL TRAILS LEAD TO ICE CREAM

Sometimes it is planned out far in advance and sometimes it is accidental...but when it happens it usually results in something memorable.  The group ride.  A bunch of friends...each with different backgrounds, different professions, and at different stations in life...brought together by the love of mountain biking.  A group of guys spending time talking, laughing, riding, creating memories, and simply enjoying life.  Recently, I've had the opportunity to look back through all of my pictures.  I discovered a treasure trove of great pics and I chose 10 of my favorite group shots.  Here they are in no particular order (however, the last shot posted is my all time favorite mountain biking picture).  Some of my friends still ride and some do not.  Regardless, no matter where each of us are in life now, the memories are there...and no one can go back and wipe those smiles off of our faces.  Sometimes, there is nothing better than some "group the...

 I picked up my new mountain bike at Gung Ho on Thursday evening.  I had been anxiously waiting to get it for a while.  I really got my money's worth out of my 2011 Stumpjumper...the bike served me well...but after five seasons of hard riding, it was time to send it off to retirement. My new bike, a Specialized Stumpjumper Comp Carbon 29 World Cup  , took it's maiden voyage today at Swatara Gap State Park .   Mark and I headed up there this morning, figuring that after all the rain and snow the past few weeks, it would be the best place to ride.   Picking up my new bike at Gung Ho -- March 3, 2016 Swatara never disappoints.  With 3,520 acres of forest and rolling hills in the middle of Swatara Valley, the park houses a series of multiple trails that loop and intertwine  allowing you to turn pedals the entire ride.  Recently, DCNR created a new trail head and parking area at Swatara...which is a significant upgrade over the prev...