Stony Creek, RAIN OR SHINE!!! It has been a few days since I have gotten out to ride, and I can take no more! I plan to ride Stoney Creek tonight for the first time, even though I have yet to get a helmet. Rumor has it that riding without a helmet is frowned on. Oh well…Soon enough…I like to think.

Follow-up…Nate and I arrive at the park, it is 6:30pm. The park was huge, and we drove around wasting precious time, finally settling on spot where there seemed to be lots of other bikes. We proceeded to unload the bikes, get geared up, and of course set the all important way point on the Garmin eTrex GPS.Riding over to the map of the park we quickly realize this is not the spot we need to be. Upon looking around I come to realize the majority of the bikes are road bikes. It is now about 7:00. Quickly we reload the bikes in the truck and head off to the other side of the lake to the proper parking area, unload the bikes and we are off!!!The trails were in great shape and seemed pretty fast, or it seemed as the regulars were flying past me. The single track switch backs were tight and fast, perfect. As with all things, perfect cannot last, it is quickly getting dark, as it nears 8:30. An executive decision is made and it is off the twisties to a main trail. Set the GPS goto, and head back to the truck…just follow the arrow and we are home free. Gee, isn’t technology great?After following the mighty GoTo arrow on the Garmin GPS for about 15-20 minutes, it becomes clear we are not getting any closer to the truck. We are back where we started. We are amongst the roadbikes on the wrong side of the lake! Exactly where we set the way point. Proving that technology is only as smart as the USERS, the garmin eTrex GPS was flawless.

Now we must ride to the other side of the lake…it’s 9:00 and very dark. As “cool” as I am, the first thing I did was pull off all the gay (OK fine - happy) little reflectors that came on the bike stock. Sure wish I had them now is all I could think, they would actually be cool now. I certainly will be investing in a rechargeable lighting system soon.

Finally back at the truck it is now nearing 10:00, and we made it in one piece.

With the days getting shorter it is definitely harder to squeeze in an after work ride, especially when riding new parks!

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Scouring the forums of www.mmba.org, I found this intresting thread about a great trail found in disarray, with a great history. There is a video of it being ridden a few years ago, it is featured near the end. The video can be downloaded HERE. Photos of it’s current state can be seen HERE.

There is now a website dedicated to local riders and rebuilding the course. www.geeride.net

Check it out and get some ideas!

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