Took a Beating from Edwards Creek

I am one tired puppy today. Wore out from the beating Edwards Creek dealt me and my singlespeed last night... not to mention the guys I was trying to keep up with. For the first time riding the singlespeed, I actually wished I had just 1 more gear... BLASPHEMY! At least that's what the singlespeed elite would be dishing out on my plate if they heard me... but that is another ramble altogether. I seemed to be reefing on the bars on the steep, short climbs and the hairpin stallers on the way up didn't help much... nor did the roots. By the end of the evening, I discovered a little push-brake technique that would help me get up many of the short steeps... but not really any of the stallers. That would require pushing and holding the momentum and finding the right line; by the end of the evening, I was too tired for that. I did pop my chain off several times during the ride. I also noticed a bit of chain slap nearing the end of the evening. Chain slap on a singlespeed?! Yup. But I attribute it all to chain stretch. My rear wheel hasn't budged from its original position and my brake pads are right on like they always are... so I will need to do some adjusting to get that tight again and to realign my brakes.

Anyway, the trail is in very good shape. While we were out there, we happened up on a couple of good guys buzzing the grass with weed wackers. Thanks guys! Great that this trail (and a lot of the West Michigan trails) get such good attention from the MMBA. Thanks MMBA!

All-in-all, a very good time!