Dip

8 Miles
Black Otter Trail / Rims

Short on time today because work doesn't always stop when lunch starts, I decided to head up to the rims for a shorter, more challenging mountain bike ride.  I have to admit that I'm kind of a wuss and this ride scares me, especially while clipped in.  I dipped repeatedly and because I did, it was hard to clip back in making the next obstacle even more challenging.  Maybe I should wear regular shoes when I do this ride but one obstacle keeps beckoning that I know I can't do without being clipped in.  Part of the trail has a pair of tight, steep and sandy switchbacks.  It's steep enough that I'd need some good speed to get up it but since its so windy and sandy I can't maintain the speed that I need to get up it.  My only option is to power up the thing in my lowest gear while trying not to spin my back tire in the sand.  Once my tire spins its all over; I have to slam my foot down to keep from falling in the thorny shrubs and then walk the rest of the way to the top.  I'm determined to make it some day.