Thursday, October 21, 2010

Hump and Dump

I did something that I haven't done in a little while, I rode my bike. I also rode mid-week, mid-day, all by myself. Other then nearly suffocating due to backed & packed sinuses, the ride was lovely and a nice break from sitting on the couch and self-depreciating.


One of the bridges (there are a bunch of them) that crosses over a pond is beginning to be submerged - appears the beavers have been busy building up their dams for the winter.

View to Boink Point.



Carpeted single track.



If you don't like riding through mud, get off and walk around it. Riding around it only makes it wider.

I've ridden Kanata Lakes for years, before they were popular and even known about. I helped build trails there. Helped with the start of OMBA. Seen the increase of traffic on the trails. Unfortunate to see some parts of the trails widen.

Original line in yellow - the photo is deceiving - a little up over some rocks, it was tight because there was a tree there. Tree got lopped down, people started to go around the rocks to make the line . . . trail widens and gets easier. Fak me.

Pet peeve of mine is the increasing number of 'cheater lines' that have popped up in the past year or two. You'll be riding along and all of a sudden without warning you'll be on a totally different line than the original. I don't get out to KL as much as I used to, so I don't pick up on the changes in trail until I've already committed to them.

Instead of riding the original line people are riding around it. If it's too hard, get off and walk. Or go back and try it until you get it. Pisses me off to no end when I see people take it amongst themselves to open a new, easier line.

3 comments:

Kim said...

I always get suckered into the cheater line too. And then I'm part of the problem.

Philly Phoodie said...

Wait, I thought it was SUPPOSED to be easy.

Anonymous said...

I think its nearly impossible to "control" KL now... there are how many people that use those trails now. The population of Kanata (and other suburbs) has grown dramatically over the past 5 years... to the point of being crazy.

Perhaps its time for either re-aligning the trail? more stone work?
And, putting in place mechanisms to avoid "cheat lines" like rock walls or such.

people are going to do what they are going to do. I'm sure you see it all the time as a cop.
People do some pretty crazy shit out there I take it.

KL will recover. Momma nature is pretty good at recovering damages. Just look at the darkside trails... that was built how many years ago. Its almost grown over now.
Same goes for trails up in the gats... There use to be all sorts of side-line trails. But, they put up fences... the trails are no more.

now, if we start paving... that's when momma nature has a rough time recovering...

wouldn't worry about it too much. Just enjoy the ride!

we need some warmer weather though. its friggen cold out there for Oct!