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Night Riders: Mountain biking, at night (MD)



 
 
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Old December 30th 13, 04:24 AM posted to alt.mountain-bike
Mike Vandeman[_4_]
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Default Night Riders: Mountain biking, at night (MD)

It's bad enough that mountain bikers, by their presence, chase the wildlife out of their habitat during the day. Now they can't use it at night, either! Mountain biking epitomizes the "humans own the Earth" attitude that is much too common these days.

Mike


http://www.seattlepi.com/sports/arti...ht-5099791.php

Night Riders: Mountain biking, at night

KAREN GARDNER, The Frederick News-Post

Updated 7:49 am, Sunday, December 29, 2013

FREDERICK, Md. (AP) * It's nearing 7 o'clock on a November evening. The stars twinkle above the silhouetted treetops in Gambrill State Park. A crescent moon is out.

So are the mountain bikers.

These cyclists are getting ready for the first night ride of the season. Every Wednesday through April, while most of us are inside a warm shelter, a half-dozen or so mountain bikers are thumbing their collective noses at the cold and dark, riding the trail.

They don't just ride any trail. They ride Gambrill's legendary Yellow Poplar Trail, one of the more difficult mountain bike trails in the Mid-Atlantic region. It's difficult even in daylight. The seven-mile loop has 1,400 feet of elevation change.
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"This is advanced riding out here," said Brad Walker, of Hagerstown, as he readied his bike for the night ride. He was not bragging. He was simply stating the truth of the difficulty level.

Mountain biking is not for the faint of heart. To start with, cyclists must be in good physical condition. They need to tough out lung-searing hill climbs, maintain balance and coordination during descents and not be afraid to lift their front wheels over rocks and logs. They need to keep their cool during stream crossings, and be able to jump on and off their bikes with speed and agility.

Oh, and one is not a true mountain biker until one learns to do all that with shoes attached to pedals via cleats. These are known as "clip-less" pedals. A cyclist learns pretty fast how to do a quick release in case of a fall or particularly steep hill.

Some of the bikes are rigid, with no suspension, while so-called hard-tail bikes have front suspension, which reduces hand and arm fatigue. Knobby tires allow riders to travel over rocks and roots.

The bike rides are sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Off Road Enthusiasts, a mountain biking club encompassing Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. MORE, as the club is known, worked with the park administrators at Gambrill to coordinate the night rides. The Bicycle Escape, a Frederick bike shop, sponsors the rides. Shop owner Tom Rinker often rides along.

Leslie Litton, of Frederick, a store employee, adjusted the light on her bike helmet as she prepared for the ride. Helmets are required, as are helmet lights. Bike lights are recommended.

This was Litton's first night ride, but she wasn't worried. She's a veteran of the Gambrill trails.

David Kegley, of Germantown, has been doing the Gambrill night rides since they began about four years ago.

"I love it because it's more challenging," he said.

"It started because we needed to ride during the weekdays," said Todd Bauer, of Gaithersburg, who is part of MORE.

"It gets dark early, and I work until 5," said Darius Mark, of Frederick.

"It's impossible to get a ride in once daylight saving time ends," Bauer said.

About 10 years ago, MORE began sanctioning night rides in Virginia's Wakefield Park and Gaithersburg's Schaeffer Farm, part of Seneca Creek State Park.. Schaeffer Farm, with its mix of wooded, somewhat hilly trails and farm fields, offers mountain biking for riders with intermediate skills.

Walker has been night riding at Greenbrier State Park for more than 20 years. He leads a Monday night ride for Frederick bike shop Bike Doctor at Greenbrier, in Washington County.

Most mountain bikers, like most people, have daytime obligations. Work, school and families keep them busy. But after dinner in the cold, dark months, these cyclists escape to a local park.

Informal night rides have existed for decades. Mark has been doing them since 1986.

"The lights weren't quite as good back then," he said.

Today cyclists of various skill levels can do night rides at Patapsco Valley State Park, Schaeffer Farm, Wakefield Park and other parks around Washington, D.C.
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