ALL TRAILS LEAD TO ICE CREAM

Last Friday's ride weighed heavily on me all week long.  Physically, it took me more than a couple of days to bounce back from bouncing off of the unforgiving ground that makes up Rocky Ridge County Park.  Mentally, I fell into that "mountain biking funk" where I knew that all I had to do was get out on my bike and have a good ride...but my body, my schedule and the weather weren't being cooperative.  Truth be told, I wasn't even planning on riding on Friday until some already established plans fell part early in the afternoon...allowing me a small window of time to get out on my bike and rebound from last week. My Stumpjumer on the ridge above Lake Williams. -- October 26, 2018 I opted for a ride around  Lake Williams over, what would have been, my fifth consecutive mountain bike ride at Rocky Ridge .  Besides, after last week, I figured a change of scenery (and terrain) would be a good thing.  Fall has finally arrived in south central Pennsylv...

2.1 miles into our Friday afternoon ride at Rocky Ridge, Tim and Adam found me dazed and sitting on a bench  located on Trail #2 at Rocky Ridge County Park with a look of exasperation on my face.  2.1 miles into our ride...and I had twice already ended up sandwiched between my bike and the rock gardens that make up trails #8 and #9 in the lower sections of the park.  No ride is a bad ride...but some are, as we all know, rougher than others.  2.1 miles into this particular ride I seemed to be doing everything wrong...the lines I chose to ride were questionable and any level of mountain biking skill I've acquired through the years mysteriously seemed to have taken the afternoon off. My Stumpjumper resting on one of the hundreds of boulders that make up the landscape around trails #8 and #9 at Rocky Ridge County Park. -- October 19, 2018 I'm really not sure what I expected.  I had been on those very trails a few weeks ago and I knew the condition they w...

Today was an uncharacteristically bad day.  I really do live a charmed life....I have an amazing wife, awesome family, good friends, two great jobs, and plenty of time to ride my bike...but today was unusually rough.  As much as possible, I try to start my weekend off with a ride (road or mountain...doesn't matter) but today, when I got home, opened the garage door, and walked passed my bike I wasn't finding my typical motivation.  For half an hour, I putzed around the house before I had the motivation to even walk back into the garage.  The ironic thing is that I KNOW that a bike ride ALWAYS makes me feel better...but I was having a such hard time getting out for my usually Friday afternoon ride.  Then, a thought flashed through my head..."You know, that bike isn't going to ride itself."  So, with that, I slowly gathered my stuff and headed over to Rocky Ridge. I was having a hard time getting motivated to do anything today.  Walking into the hou...

For the first time in a long time, the sun was shining over south-central Pennsylvania on Sunday as I headed to Michaux State Fores t to meet my buddy, Chris Keller.  I rarely go mountain biking on the weekends...(which might seem odd to some). The fact of the matter is that I really enjoy hanging out with my wife...so weekends are usually set aside for the two of us.  Besides, I have plenty of time after school and in the summer to satisfy my mountain biking fix.  Nevertheless, with my wonderful wife headed to North Dakota for a business trip, I found myself, with the Stumpjumper on top of the Cruz, headed towards Michaux for an unexpected ride. Enjoying an unexpected weekend ride in Michaux State Forest. -- September 16, 2018 This was the first time Chris had ever ridden up to the Vista in Michaux State Forest.  The view is well worth the climb! -- September 16, 2018 Chris Keller and I enjoying the view from the Vista looking northeast over...

Back in 2008, when gas first shot up to over $4 a gallon, I made the the decision to start riding my bike to school.  At the time, some people thought I was crazy...after all, I'd be commuting approximately 11 miles each way...in the predawn hours...with morning traffic.  Regardless of what some people thought...I decided to park my truck and commit to riding my bike to school as much as  could.  As far as I was concerned it would be one less vehicle on the road and, hopefully, a lot more gas money left in my pocket. My Roubaix near Northeastern Middle School in Mount Wolf, Pennsylvania. -- June 2, 2016 The first thing I needed to commute to school was a bike.  Sure, I had a mountain bike...but I had no real desire to ride a mountain bike 22 miles a day on the road.  Afraid of committing to a traditional road bike, I took a page from my friend, Glenn's, playbook and purchased a 2008 Specialized Tricross.  I figured I'd be more comfortable wi...

Two weeks ago, Tim, Brent, and I had our best ride of the summer in Michaux State Forest .  We started off on familiar trails...and in the typical fashion...but along the way we ended up finding two "new to us" trails that I have been re-riding in my head ever since.  When I looked at the school calendar, and realized that I didn't have school today, I knew that I just had to head back to Michaux and ride those trails again. Today's ride...like my ride with Tim and Brent two weeks ago...began with a ride up to the Vista which overlooks Michaux State Forest.  It had rained the whole way up the ridge....but we were seemingly above the rain clouds once we got up to the Vista. -- August 31, 2018 Just a little ways above the Vista the trail comes to a "T."  I've always turned left...simply because, well, that's the way we always went.  Besides that...there literally are pieces of bark wedged into the tree branches at the "T" pointing ...

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 Tr...