Mid-week at the Knob

Ryan and I made plans to meet up for a Wednesday night right at the Knob.  We were eager to sample the repaired and new trail we worked this past weekend.  Unfortunately it rained in the past couple days and the trails were not prime but still very rideable without undue wear and tear.

The trail work done leading up to the Cradle was very nice, no more ruts to skirt.  The switchbacks were much more rideable, though I continue to botch the first left hander.  The Over Under and Junk Hill were also much more rideable.  I was excited to cleanly ride both in succession on our second lap.

Go left and duck.

The new slalom line on Cheater's Hill will be a fun addition to the course, once it's ridden in and established.  We dropped into it on both laps but the wet conditions and unpacked trail increased the pucker factor.

Go right and drop it.

The days are surely getting shorter as it was getting difficult to see at the tail end of our second lap.  A couple of those woodsy sections felt creepy in the lack of light.  In the final 500 yards of trail a rabbit made it interesting as it darted across the trail right in front of me, contact barely avoided, only to pull a u-turn and dart back in front of me, I think I grazed it.  Back to back panic brakes always kills momentum on the run in to the finish!

A nice gut pile two feet of the trail.  A sure

sign it's fall in deer country.