Birthday Ride on the E2 Honda Trail - Ganaraska East Forest

A Crew photo of the Birthday Ride on Sunday, Nov 26th. With Robert the Enduro Man leading us, we had a rockin' ride on the Honda Trail in the E2 section of Ganaraska East Forest. The trail is composed of 3 loops with a total distance of about 22-25km. The ride is sooooooo smooth. The trails run into each other with a flow that is nirvana. Each of us had a pumpkin grin when the ride was over....just awesome. Certainly a 2 out of 3 eload ride. The crew was a nice fast pace group. Robert, Simon and Adam lead the way with the rest of us close behind enjoying the moguls and daytona banks. The whoops! and YeeHaws were loud and often. And even though it is now late November the trail was in excellent shape. I guess we can thank Vancouver for giving us their weather and while they enjoy our typical late fall weather.
The reason it was a Birthday Ride is because Adam and Sue are enjoying their respective 'special' day this week. After the ride they cut the Birthday cake (carrot) and we all enjoyed and celebrated their birthdays and a very good ride with good friends.

A Little Bit of North Shore Riding in Ganaraska

Unbelieveable! The kids have built a few stunts that left us in awe. No one was about when we were there. Would have loved to see the kids do these stunts. Very much homemade. Very much beyond our limits of responsible riding. But we all had a smile on our faces seeing these stunts.

Shorty is sooooooooooo smooth!

I refer to Simon as Shorty not because of his size; gals this is one manly man, but to the fact that he still wears shorts riding. I, who insist on wearing shorts till things that shouldnt freeze together do, have been wearing long pants riding for about 3 weeks now. But Shorty is so smooth and fast burning up the trails he just doesnt get cold. Unbelieveable how easy he makes it look. Always a gas to have Simon ride with us.

Big G Gal Shows Us How to Ride Ganaraska

Always a treat to ride with Sue ...aka Big G Gal. As a member of the Ganaraska Freewheelers she rides in Ganaraska Forest a fair amount. Not only does she know the trails but all that riding in such a great place has made her into a very very good rider. Like the other members of the Ganaraska Freewheelers, Sue is one of the friendliest people you will ever meet. And what makes the sunday rides a real treat are the people you ride with.
www.hedney.com/freewheelers

Mr Epic loves his biking and his Guinness

Mr Epic was enjoying himself but we all noticed that his pace was ...eh....a little off. The night before was a rather...and I quote...."enjoyable evening!" Even off his racing form the guy rides like the wind....and climbs...like no other man

Lefty Handles the Trails with Ease

Sue...aka Lefty was having a rockin' time on the E2 Honda Trail. Definately a Ganaraska Forest fan. I could hardly keep up to her on the downhills....and with my tank that is saying something! She'd be standing up pedalling as if she had awoken all the bears in the forest and would blaze down the route....with all that yelling I'm sure the bears were not pleased.

The Ganaraska Rocket!

Monique and Robert are great riders and riding with them is a treat not only because of their biking skills but simply they are two great people. Adam took this picture...how did he manage to get the Ganaraska Rocket to slow down? Oh yeah...he stood on the trail with a handful of Horse pooh....ah that Adam will do almost anything for a photo.

Mr BBQ Does the Daytona

Albert...aka Mr BBQ took the Daytona banks like a pro. He loved it so much that he decided that even though he is in in forties he will sell everything and ride the Ganaraska Forest as a Pro. Pondering how that is possible since there is only one big race a year in the Big G he simply said YeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeHaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaWhooooooooooooooooooooooo! Gotta love the BBQ Man!

Matt the Newby Smokin' the Trails

Matt the Newby is...eh...a newby! 1st year riding and this guy rocks. Game for all the trails , even Porkupine Ridge. his technique has improved so much from day one. Next year when he gets his Shimano Clip pedals we wont be able to keep up to him...next year we will be calling him Matt the Missile

Joneboi Rides into the Cake Zone!

Ssa50907, originally uploaded by joneboi.

I arrive to the parking lot some 2hrs and 22kms after I started. What an awesome ride! Now its time for cake!

Cutting the Birthday Cake!

Adam and Sue....aka 'The Sgt' and 'Lefty' cut the cake. Hope the cake is big enough! Whew! That was close.

Everyone enjoys carrot cake!

A great way to end a great ride; eating carrot cake! Our thanks to Adam and Sue being born this week so that we all had a reason to eat cake....next time I will have to bring a coffee maker. Cake and coffee...oh yes, that is the proper way to end a rockin' ride.

2006 WINTER W.O.W. ENDURO & TOUR

I'm eating pasta smothered in a sauce of tumeric, Havana Rhum, molasses and chilli peppers with lemon. A dose of veggies worthy of an A+ on the Canadian Health guide and grilled chicken in a mustard/tumeric base. Of course washing this down with a Niagara Merlot. Why do I mention this? Because this day I woke up at 6am to ride a 40km race at Mansfield. The temp was -1c and snow was to be found. The W.O.W. Enduro is an awesome ride. Mansfield, where the race was held has been closed this season to mountain biking except for races. Rich, who rides for Team Epic planned to ride. Sue, though starting late this season, is enjoying racing. Simon, who rode at Ganaraska 2 weeks ago was at the race and yes! He did the ride in his shorts!!!! Adam who does race competively decided to have fun this day and still he was the fastest non-official racer on the course. Moi? I met up with a crew of great guys who ride in many of these races together as the 'Missing Link' team. It was at this Halfway refuelling station that John, the Irishman he is, told us.........

A guy walks into a pub in Belfast. He asks the bartender "What's the fastest way to Dublin?" The bartender sez "You walking or driving?"
"Driving" sez the guy.
"That be the fastest." sez the bartender.

And the ride got better and better. Most of the gang won prizes. The post race chilli and German beer never tasted so good! After 40kms of biking I could eat a years supply of chilli for the Toronto Argonauts. So I've treated myself to pasta and chicken...soon to be washed down with Rhum smothered ice-cream. Strickly a post ride ritual you understand!

W.O.W. has a number of great races during the year. Check out the website www.wowmtb.com
There are more pix on my flickr site. www.flickr.com/photos/joneboi

Just Ridin' in the Snow...oh what a beautiful feeling....

John is one of the 'Missing Link' crew. They rode like the wind. Perhaps one could quibble from which body orfice that wind came from but there is no doubt the crew could ride. They were out to have fun and enjoy the race. Its the first time I've ridden with a crew that knew so many Capt 'n' Tennille songs. Of course the kicker was each of the guys singing the parts of Bohemian Rhapsody. My only contribution was the major Wahoo's on the ride.

Stairway to Pain

Why is it trails have such unique names? Of course the more black diamonds on the signage the wilder the names. Nothing is called Petes Run or Donna's Ride. No they have names like Stairway to Pain. Described as a nice sandy climb. Friggin sandy but not so nice!

Ridin' The Pines of Dufferin Forest

It seems every good forest tract in Ontario has 'The Pines.' Just is the nature of the forests here. All of them are on 2nd, 3rd or 4th growth and the trees are often planted in rows much like the cornfields dotting the southern section of Ontario. Riding through the Pines is a blast. Doesnt matter if its Durham, Ganaraska, Guelph or Dufferin Forest. To zig zag through the trees at a fast clip is a rush! Of course missing a turn and kissing bark is so sweet to disembowel one's ego...aint mtb fun!

Sue lands 2nd place!

Our favourite happy rider Sue, came in 2nd and picked up her prize. Adam came in first for the tour riders but only got to enjoy the chilli. I, on the other hand went over the finish line long after the time clock had been put away for another year.

Rich ...aka Mr Epic wins his class!

Rich improved his time considerably from last year and won his division; A W.O.W. Camelback. Personally I think its the Stumpjumper!
Rich rides for Epic cycling.
www.epiccycling.com

Bruce wins the Kona frame!

the last prize of a great day....Bruce wins a great KONA frame as a door prize.

The Smilin' Tree at the X Files in Ganaraska ...Nov 12

A cool day...typical November weather. I decided to ride the Ganaraska Central Forest (The Big G!) again. I was joined by fellow TBNers Albert and Adam, Sue from the Ganaraska Freewheelers and Robert and Monique.
Robert and Monique are excellent riders and have a great interest in the Ganaraska Forest with their work in organizing Paul's Dirty Enduro Race. www.torontocyclist.com/bbc/pauls/index
So it was a pleasure to ride with them and what a great ride we had. We rode the single track off the Orange Loop backwards which is great because the hills are ever so much longer. After about 3 hours of great riding we headed back to the parking lot for most to call it a day. Adam and I decided to ride the X Files trail and Robert offered to lead us to the trail. That was good. Cuz there is no way in hell Adam and I would have found the trail. Not sure how long the X Files is. My guess is about 4 or 5 kms. So Adam and I rode the trail north which I am sure is mostly uphill. Then at the trailhead pond, where a few unlucky whoopeeeee! riders have taken a bike bath, we turned around and did the X Files in the south direction or as I like to think...the downhill. At the bottom of the trail where all the ATV's park on the road is the Smilin' Tree. We loaded up with GU and eload and headed back to the car. The bike day ended 5 hours after it began. At this point we had a huge desire for pasta and beer so Kelsey's was our next stop. mmmmmmmmmmmmm was dinner good!

Meanwhile at the Beaver Pond.....

Always great to have a group photo. We were trying to convince Adam to bike over the pond but he seemed reluctant. Ganaraska has a number of ponds and this one is used by the schools so the kids can watch frogs up close and personal.

Time for a little trail work.....

At this time of year the trees seem to fall with alarming consistency and its always great to have a clear trail. So with some team work we managed to create a clear path for those of us-like me-who are clipless and cannot huck over these obstacles. Monique was very clear and precise on her views as to my riding flatfoot...and I have to agree; next year, time to grow up and clip in!

The great thing about fall...........

...............are the colours of the leaves. The bad thing about the fall is that those wonderful leaves which create such a palette in the forest cover the trails so well one can get very lost.
Adam and I were using our best orienteering skills at this point trying to find the X Files trail. I still had a litre of eload and 4 packs of GU in the pack so I wasnt too concerned...yet. With a little hiking we found the trail and were on our way. Whew!

It Endz as it Beginz-Nov 05

I started the weekend throwing the mnt bike into the shower and I ended the weekend with the same ritual....At this time of year I have put the Cervelo away till the days provide me with at least 10+c weather. My hybrid workhorse I will ride as long as the roads are safe but my Devinci sees most of the action now. The trails, half compost and half muck from snow that just cant stick provide a true test of man and machine. I've always wanted to say that. And winter riding...ah...that is just too much of a gas!

Riding Ganaraska Central Forest .....The Big G!

Ganaraska! The Big G! How I love riding this area. The Boiz and I decided to ride the Central Forest because we thought we knew the single track well enough not to get lost....Hah! Good thing we brought our sleeping bags or the weakest rider would be BBQ.
Usually when we ride Ganaraska we are lucky to be with one of the local riders but this time we were on our own. Actually not doing too badly either. Sure ..for the first hour/10kms we were as lost as an AC/DC fan at a Barney the Dinosaur concert. But then the trails flowed to provide a great 3 hour ride. The weather was great and in the fall the forest looks so different to how it was just one month previous when I was here with the Ganaraska Freewheelers. www.freewheelers.ca
Ganaraska is great place to ride no matter what your level of skill....but the trails are not too technical, just cardio. What I like about The Big G! is that like Durham Forest, Ganaraska is rideable in almost any weather. Good sandy soil allows riding after a wicked storm and the largeness of the area provides quite a variable terrain. The only negative....Poison Ivy. Grows like crazy in this area...wear long pants if you are clumsy and for goodness sake, watch where you pee!
Log on to the Ganaraska Forest web site www.grca.on.ca
Since Hardwood Hills got hit with a dumping of snow saturday I think I will be riding The Big G! a few more times before the trails there close for X Country skiing.

What Happens When Guys Get Lost....

Two GPS's, Two compass' and one map. And six guys that are lost. Go figure.

Long long trails of riding heaven

I really think the Ganaraska Forest is one of Ontario's best areas to ride. Long trails that provide a fantastic cardio ride of epic proportions.

John luvs to Huck

Here is a guy that luvs the logs and rocks....must have some BC blood in him!

Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeezzzzzzzzzzzzz

No one can squeeze thru a tight forest like Brian can. Personally, I was licking bark at this point.

...when nature calls.............

And out in nowheresville one finds outhouses.....

Bike Maintenance on the trails

Ssa50840, originally uploaded by joneboi.

Mr. Epic fixes a broken spoke.....Ganaraska is not a place you want to stranded....too huge an area...lost for weeks, months even.....we met the Franklin expedition on one of the trails and lent them a camelback and some Hammer Gels.

Dan Ducks!

Ganaraska has wonderful tree traps on many of its epic trails....I nearly lost my camelback on this one. But Dan with his skill has no problem

This lawyer is one smooth rider....

Simon may spend his time behind a desk but this cat can ride...very smooth...and he is still wearing shorts!

The Magnificent Five!

An after ride group photo....does this crew look like they would end a ride with a group hug?....and now off to Bowmanville for a pint of Guiness!
John 'Cab Merlot' Boy, Brian 'Mr. Don Valley!'
Rich 'Mr. Epic!', joneboi and Dan 'Mr. TBN!'
Simon, our legal wheeler had to leave the ride early....and that's our story!

Keeping the Tank pretty!

After last week's ride in Durham Forest, the tank needed a good clean. So I threw her in the shower....sounds like a bad line in a pulp fiction novel.