PORC

[toyman]

My oldest daughter (15) got accepted to do a business course at Lycoming College last week. Since Raystown was somewhat on our way home, we decided to pack up the bikes and ride Raystown when we picked her up on Saturday. Got to the college at around 10:00 am, took a walk to the quad and checked out a car show they were having. We packed up and left and were in Huntingdon around 1:00. Stopped at the Original Pizza shop and ate lunch and then off to the trails. I think we got on the trails around 2:00. Decided to ride Buck > Doe > Osprey > Sidewinder > Rays > Ridge > Loco > Redlegs > Allegripis > Buck. Well, the best laid plans. Somewhere around the end of Osprey, I felt my rear end getting squirrely. I checked my tire on Sidewinder and it was getting low. Yes, my pump was safely in my bike bag in my vehicle I figured that we'd see someone, and instructed my wife and kids to go ahead. If they saw someone, tell them that I needed a pump. Well, we got on Rays, and when we were supposed to make a left on to Loco, I guess we went right on Rays. I was already pushing my bike, hoping to see another human. About 45 minutes to an hour later, I caught up to my wife and kids, and there was no happiness, we were still on Rays. I was still pushing, hoping, and riding a little when it was downhill. A while later we made it to the 'outlook', where Rays and Ridge meet, a place we are familiar with. We gathered ourselves and I figured we had 4-5 miles back to the car. And, again, I was hoping to run into another person. I decided enough was enough, and started riding the flats and downhills. I was getting concened about making it back to the car before dark. About a quarter mile from the Grippis/Redlegs junction, I finally ran into someone with a pump. A nice couple, who were happy to help. I felt bad, since they just started their ride and I was taking time from them. More bad decisions! So I pumped up my tire, and could hear the air leaking out. Decided to use the tube in my Camelbak, but my rims were drilled for presta's and I had a shrader! So I pulled out my quick patches, and pumped up the intertube. Ran it past my lips until I found the hole. It was on the outer part of the tube. I patched and figured I could catch up to the family. Put the tube back in and the tire on, the nice couple left, and during all this my youngest (12) called my cell phone. When I went to pick my bike up again, I could hear the tube losing air. I never checked the tire for something penetrating it.....until Sunday morning. It was a thorn. As soon as I put the patched tube back in, it put another hole in the tube. I know better. I knew I had to get moving to make a mile or 2 before the tire went flat again. I got to an uphill, where I needed to push so I decided to call my youngest back. I took off my pack and noticed that the pocked I keep my cell and wallet in was half open. When I opened it the entire way, I found only my wallet, no phone. I said a few choice words and decided to leave my bike, hoping someone would take at this point, and go find my phone. Then I decided against, jumped on and rode, with the flat, looking for the phone. About 50 yards from where I started, I heard my phone ringing????? I looked around and didnt see anything. Then I tore my pack apart. It wasn't where I normally keep it. Then I opened a compartment, that I think I've never used, and there was my phone. Bitter sweet! Have my phone, but now I'm totally flat and 50 yards further than where I was. I decided to ride as much as I could to make time and push up the hills. It killed me hearing my rim hit metal to rock, and it was treachorous doing the 'whoopdee doos' and then a sharp turn. It was squirrely, but I was doing fine. Then I came to the uphills at Buck I started pushing up Buck (mind you, I've pushed my bike approximately 6 miles) and I started to cramp in my calves. I caught the one in my right calf by pressing as hard as I could against the cramp. I only had 1.5 miles back, but I was whooped. I'd been out in the 90* heat for about 3.5 hours. I gingerly walked up the hill with my bike. When I got to the top I started riding again. I got another call from the family, they made it to the car. I told my wife to load the bikes and meet me at the campground entrance. I was pumping my tattered bike down the paths, figuring I'll need a new rim, tire and tube, by the time this was over. I made it out of the woods at around 6:15. Only to have a 2 hour drive home My biggest hope was that I didn't ruin my kids (12 & 15) from ever wanting to come back. They had a tough day, but made it through. I won't say they enjoyed themselves, but they said they still wanted to go back in October for our fall trip.

Moral....My crew now has direction to ensure that we have all our supplies before we leave on a ride. I obviously can't be trusted to be prepared as I should be. Must be due to my increasing age! I was proud to see how my kids handled this adversity and how well my wife kept them going.

[cracked]

glad to hear everybody made it out safe . . . Raystown was a challenge

Dirtfest 2010 was awesome . . . .

till the rain started and my riding buddies and I were already enroute to "Ray's" decided we were doing "Ray's Revenge" . . . "no matter what"

my poor g/f who's been riding for a little over a year rode her longest day to date in the rain through Raystown's terrain in the rain for just over 7 hours.