| Rode Galbraith and enjoyed another sweet bit of serendipity on the mountain -- Galbraith is really like a giant outdoors clubhouse -- meeting Mark Belles and his wife Missy on the way.
Before that, though, I had big fun all the way up to Arsenio. I felt pretty sharp, but I was wool gathering a little when I went off the bottom log drop on Little Big Trail and ended up going straight over the handle bars. One moment I was rding along, the next I was rolling head over heels down the trail. Fortunately I came up entirely unhurt. Went back and rode it again and found it was no big deal if I was paying attention and got my weight back.
Came down Deer Candy and then the Appendix, where I heard someone yelling, "Bruce, Bruce..." When I turned around, it was Mark and Missy Belles coming down the last of the Upper Intestine. Mark was riding his new yellow Cannondale Jekyll 900 SX for the first time. The bike is almost exactly like the one I ordered, sans Easton bars and seat post, Specialized Ti rail Body Geometry seat and Shimano Durace bottom bracket.
I followed him down the Appendix, where he nearly made the long crossing stunt at the bottom cleanly on his first try (he made it over but was off balance and had to put down his left foot). I carried. However, I beat him on the climb up through Family Fun Center.
I also hung with him all the way down the Ridge Trail. We only stopped once (at the top of the new connector that allows you to avoid the road connector) to wait for Missy. In the Lower Ridge Trail I beat him to one of the forks, but came to a standing brake stop and let him continue to lead.
When I was driving away at the end, I saw Mark starting to ride back up the Ridge Trail for another ride. With a new bike to inspire him, I expect he will catch me in conditioning within a couple weeks.
Approximately 1600 verts.
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