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Thought I’d share my challenging ride on Sunday, not far from Mt. St. Helens. We pushed 60 miles into the mountains and returned at night in the snow and 30-degree weather. The heavily forested narrow trails were full of hazards like deep ruts; slippery leaves, large rain-soaked branches, and mud; wash-outs; heavy fog; a super scary precipice alongside the trail; and eventually slick snow to go with the appurtenant 500 ft. drop. But we were treated to gorgeous dusk vistas, an abandoned campground, and a few beautiful waterfalls.
I laid the bike down on the attached wash-out, and fell at speed in one of the deep mud ruts.
The added gloves I now wear helped greatly. Only a couple bumps and bruises. Time for knee pads. Bike sustained a bent foot peg and broken gear shift lever (still rideable). Thanks so much to my new riding buddy Nick W. for guiding this 53-year old newbie through this; for the beers on the trail; for patience with this slow-poke; and, above all, for inspiring me to throw the heavy ball on my fourth ever off-road ride.
Question for the group: do rear tires normally just slide out from under you in mud at only 15 mph? There was no warning; just whoosh and down. I don’t know how to prepare for this.
I laid the bike down on the attached wash-out, and fell at speed in one of the deep mud ruts.
The added gloves I now wear helped greatly. Only a couple bumps and bruises. Time for knee pads. Bike sustained a bent foot peg and broken gear shift lever (still rideable). Thanks so much to my new riding buddy Nick W. for guiding this 53-year old newbie through this; for the beers on the trail; for patience with this slow-poke; and, above all, for inspiring me to throw the heavy ball on my fourth ever off-road ride.
Question for the group: do rear tires normally just slide out from under you in mud at only 15 mph? There was no warning; just whoosh and down. I don’t know how to prepare for this.