9 Jan 2006
The last
couple months of mountain biking have been scarce, but a few recent
rides have sparked some new life in the legs. During the off-season
cross training I gave my joints more than they asked for running and
I’ve been paying the price with a stress fracture and some
tendonitis in my right foot. I know it’s sad to admit, but I’ve only
ridden a couple trails over the last couple months due to this
nagging pain, but I would rather be down now than when I begin my
1st race in February at 24 Hours of Reddick.
Down to business of letting you know my views on the local trail
scene and I’m sorry if I add some roadie talk in as well because in
my world…they go hand-in-hand!
Before I knew the ankle was a serious issue, I took the 5in bike out
to Hamilton Creek trail system. Believe it or not the 1st time I
rode this trail was in 1997 when I first got into mtn biking and I
just realized that fact this year. I must warn you though that the
parking area offers some deterrents such as the frequent car vandals
and weird relationship rendezvous that somehow always happen in
parks. My suggestion would be to park near the main drive under the
lamps versus to the far right of the parking lot where the trail
head begins.
Hamilton Creek is one of my favorite trails because of the challenge
it offers especially for winter and night riding. Entering the trail
from the far right end of the parking area on some white gravel the
trail begins very tame. It changes quickly once you come to the
split within a few hundred yards. This is where opinion comes in and
you don’t have to agree. I like to hang the 1st right to begin my
ride. I apologize for not knowing trail names (although I don’t
think they have any), but slowing to pay attention to that detail
takes the whole cleansing feeling not thinking away from my riding
experience. Once on this trail you will begin to notice that you
must pay attention because of the exposure to rocks and the common
switchbacks. Especially this time of year in the frost, the trail
can get a slick top layer but that just makes you really handle the
bike well. Keep the momentum going on this trail by staying in a
lower gear and keeping the spin a little higher because you don’t
want to come into a section of technical rocks or a tight switchback
bogged down.
Once you loop out closer to a highway and begin to parallel it you
will notice more rocks and this is the opportunity to get a little
edgy. There are a couple chances to do some several foot rock drops
(and yes alternate lines if not up the challenge). I suggest taking
them on for size but at least roll up to them first and spot your
landing because the 1st has a tight chute of trees after and the 2nd
is more wide open and a little smaller. As you complete this section
of the loop (about 3-4 miles worth), you will come to another split
at the top of a gradual incline. Take a left to loop back to the
same trail you were on to complete a short loop or by recommendation
take the right and make a longer loop.
Hopefully after taking my advice you will proceed through some more
exposed rocks down to see that you now must ride through a tunnel,
under the highway, to connect to trail. This in itself is a unique
feature of this trail. Gear down and spin out of tunnel on the drain
and begin the longer loop on the opposite side of the road. And
yes…here is another opinion, but once you come to the split on this
side after a couple hundred yards…take the right. This direction
will set you up for some great downhills and climbs alike. There
really aren’t any turns once you get on this side that will get you
to stray from the trail. Just ride and enjoy! Just keep your eyes
open because there are some descents that start with some good speed
and before you know it the lines disappear into the rocks. Believe
me they are there but be careful bombing through them like an idiot.
I say this because I am the typical idiot. Your bike can get away
from you very quickly and you don’t want to stick your front tire on
some rocks and get a close look at the terrain over the bars.
Complete
this loop by letting your bike loose on a more wide-open descent as
you feel like you are going to ride into someone’s back yard. Stay
right at the split and you will go back through the tunnel, climb,
back up to the split that you were at when you finished the 1st
loop, and simply stay right. This short section of trail is one of
the quickest and has some great sweeping corners that you can really
test those side knobs; if not too wet. There is one caution to this
section…a rock garden that I still don’t have a favorite line
through, and I think this is because I always come into it so
quickly and there is no distinct trail. Does not really matter as
long as you make a left at the bottom because right does not take
you anywhere! A few more minutes and you are back at the to the
choice of making a right back to the parking lot or going left to
start another loop.
Usually doing the right side loop (as I call it) and then combining
the loop across the road; I will be out from anywhere between 1-2
hours depending on your pace on that day. And please don’t take my
complete word for the directions and trails; explore for
yourself…that’s the whole freedom of riding. The trails are great
going the opposite directions as well.
There are a few things I would like to conclude about Hamilton
Creek. One, this is a great trail to improve your bike handling
skills because you are always on your toes and keeping your eyes
open. If you are willing to do the more challenging lines then there
are alternate routes. Two, the trail is perfect for getting out of
the weather of road riding and even the sometime open mountain bike
trails because it is all single track. Combine this with the fact
that it is tight and technical and you will notice that you will
warm up rather nicely in the woods. Three, quit reading and go ride
it for yourself…even if you are a roadie. Explore, expand, and
borrow a bike if you must. As experience coaching athletes during my
intern, we always encouraged x-training to build new fitness while
still improving and yes, mountain biking is x-training if you are
primarily accustomed to road riding. Go try it and I bet you will
get some new fitness gains and hey, maybe eve a few kicks.
Enough for now, but I also will soon have an update of Montgomery
Bell State Park, Lake Barkley State Park, some superb road riding,
and training talk for 2006 season.
Thanks,
Daniel