What: DRN riders rally to tackle Paragon Single track
Where: Paragon Pa http://www.paragonap.com/
When: Sunday Sunday Sunday 7/27/2003 @ 10 AM
Web: http://mywebpages.comcast.net/jasnker/7_27_03.html
First off let me say, Great day, Great guys, Great ride.
I drove up early in the AM (for me) to make sure I was in the campground next to Paragon by 8:45 to give me plenty of time to unload, check my stuff, and gear up for the 10 AM meet time. I was ready to roll by 9:30 AM so I though I would get a rare early start and make sure I was up there and signed in on time, on my way down the coal road from the camp to the park I rolled right by a 3.5 foot or so Rattle Snake!!! Wow, this is the first wild rattle snake I have seen in Pa, so I unhorse and snap a few pics of this awesome snake before he decides to head on off across the road.
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/jasnker/pics/Paragon/midsizepics/Snake2.jpg
So I roll in and meet the guys. Looks like we have 7 riders, 5 DRN hard core trail riders and RM_guy's son and a bud along for the day. Everyone’s bikes not only look ready and great, but,,,, what’s that smell????? Scooters bike?????? yeah, his trick to washing his bike is to rub it down with Avon skin so soft,,,, LOL, I still cant get over that one, but honest to God his bike looked good enough to take out on a date :). My bike on the other hand looks like its been through the wars as I don’t take to washing it much, LOL, but the big blue WR is ready to ride, that’s what counts right?????
We saddled up and got under way with Ranger Dan (Scooter) at the helm of the whoopass caravan :) . We rode out to the play area and checked out some little tabletops and jumps and the hill climbs there. We all feel good and were ready to hit the single track! We head off down Valley road with about 5 other riders one of them on a quad that were tagging along. By the time we got to the start of the single track they were feeling the love from the rocks and with the quad and another beginner rider they decided not to follow after the advice of Ranger Dan. So the 7 of us attack the single track! what a blast, I love the single track up there, it’s just what dirt biking is all about for me. We attacked one or two sections at a good cadence before RM_Guy showed the parched youngsters mercy and directed the non camel back equipped back to the main trail to seek hydration, you DONT want to run this single track with out a camel back! Much less on an 87 degree or so day as we had on Sunday. So now we were 5, and we rode, Dan was an awesome guide and set a pace that had the better riders well taxed in the tight rocky, rooty, winding single track that demanded skill, stamina, and consistency from both rider and bike. He waited at each section end not only for the last rider, but also for the last rider to catch his breath and proclaim ready for the next section. Dan showed us how to exit a Cannondale while riding on the trail and RM_Guy showed us how to avoid pesky wild life that falls off of Cannondales while riding on the trail :) .
It was getting near lunch time and we were all hot and well worn but loving every minute when Dan told us about the next section being a technical section and about a good size little hill climb at the very end. "Don’t worry" he said, we will wait for you up there and help you if you need it. "and to take pictures and laugh" I added,, how true it was! I was second up the hill behind Dan and had enough time to get out the camera and scramble part way down the hill before DaveRS575 was up to the hill, he came around the bend and saw the hill, he ordered the KDX up the hill with plenty of throttle, ops, maybe a bit to much throttle, the green beast reared up its front tire and Dave did the wise thing and tossed her off the side of the trail and I got the shot of a lifetime :)
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/jasnker/pics/Paragon/midsizepics/Dave1.jpg
We were all already plenty tired and Dave wrestled with the bike and gathered himself at the bottom of the hill for another try. He looked like he had the hill well in hand when I saw a glean in his eye just before he departed from the trail and attempted to destroy the digital evidence of his folly and the one who captured it! Ahhhhhh!
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/jasnker/pics/Paragon/midsizepics/Dave3.jpg
I bailed at the last second but thank God he had a change of heart and decided not to run me over. We grabbed the KDX and showed it the way up the rest of the hill, great effort Dave, I cant believe your a beginner rider, that was some very technical riding and no, we did not have to wait long for you at all. About 30 seconds or so average from the front of the group to the back is not bad at all.
We broke for lunch and headed back out to find RM_guys son at the bottom of Turtle hill with a fouled plug. RM_Guy helped the sickly Suzuki back to the parking area and met up with us after we visited the red neck air conditioner ( old mine shaft opening with 50 degree air blasting out of it all year). We did a bit more ripping around the park and headed back. We were all hot and tired and decided to load up and head out for the day around 4 PM.
No real bad crashes, just a few stalls and get offs in the nasty single track parts, I had the worst injury sustained I think with a small brush burn bruise from forgetting to put my sleeves down before attempting the “Bamboo chute” servers me right for not listening to the others and taking the by-pass J.
Again, great ride guys, I had a blast riding and talking with you all. Can’t wait to ride Paragon like that again!
Where: Paragon Pa http://www.paragonap.com/
When: Sunday Sunday Sunday 7/27/2003 @ 10 AM
Web: http://mywebpages.comcast.net/jasnker/7_27_03.html
First off let me say, Great day, Great guys, Great ride.
I drove up early in the AM (for me) to make sure I was in the campground next to Paragon by 8:45 to give me plenty of time to unload, check my stuff, and gear up for the 10 AM meet time. I was ready to roll by 9:30 AM so I though I would get a rare early start and make sure I was up there and signed in on time, on my way down the coal road from the camp to the park I rolled right by a 3.5 foot or so Rattle Snake!!! Wow, this is the first wild rattle snake I have seen in Pa, so I unhorse and snap a few pics of this awesome snake before he decides to head on off across the road.
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/jasnker/pics/Paragon/midsizepics/Snake2.jpg
So I roll in and meet the guys. Looks like we have 7 riders, 5 DRN hard core trail riders and RM_guy's son and a bud along for the day. Everyone’s bikes not only look ready and great, but,,,, what’s that smell????? Scooters bike?????? yeah, his trick to washing his bike is to rub it down with Avon skin so soft,,,, LOL, I still cant get over that one, but honest to God his bike looked good enough to take out on a date :). My bike on the other hand looks like its been through the wars as I don’t take to washing it much, LOL, but the big blue WR is ready to ride, that’s what counts right?????
We saddled up and got under way with Ranger Dan (Scooter) at the helm of the whoopass caravan :) . We rode out to the play area and checked out some little tabletops and jumps and the hill climbs there. We all feel good and were ready to hit the single track! We head off down Valley road with about 5 other riders one of them on a quad that were tagging along. By the time we got to the start of the single track they were feeling the love from the rocks and with the quad and another beginner rider they decided not to follow after the advice of Ranger Dan. So the 7 of us attack the single track! what a blast, I love the single track up there, it’s just what dirt biking is all about for me. We attacked one or two sections at a good cadence before RM_Guy showed the parched youngsters mercy and directed the non camel back equipped back to the main trail to seek hydration, you DONT want to run this single track with out a camel back! Much less on an 87 degree or so day as we had on Sunday. So now we were 5, and we rode, Dan was an awesome guide and set a pace that had the better riders well taxed in the tight rocky, rooty, winding single track that demanded skill, stamina, and consistency from both rider and bike. He waited at each section end not only for the last rider, but also for the last rider to catch his breath and proclaim ready for the next section. Dan showed us how to exit a Cannondale while riding on the trail and RM_Guy showed us how to avoid pesky wild life that falls off of Cannondales while riding on the trail :) .
It was getting near lunch time and we were all hot and well worn but loving every minute when Dan told us about the next section being a technical section and about a good size little hill climb at the very end. "Don’t worry" he said, we will wait for you up there and help you if you need it. "and to take pictures and laugh" I added,, how true it was! I was second up the hill behind Dan and had enough time to get out the camera and scramble part way down the hill before DaveRS575 was up to the hill, he came around the bend and saw the hill, he ordered the KDX up the hill with plenty of throttle, ops, maybe a bit to much throttle, the green beast reared up its front tire and Dave did the wise thing and tossed her off the side of the trail and I got the shot of a lifetime :)
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/jasnker/pics/Paragon/midsizepics/Dave1.jpg
We were all already plenty tired and Dave wrestled with the bike and gathered himself at the bottom of the hill for another try. He looked like he had the hill well in hand when I saw a glean in his eye just before he departed from the trail and attempted to destroy the digital evidence of his folly and the one who captured it! Ahhhhhh!
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/jasnker/pics/Paragon/midsizepics/Dave3.jpg
I bailed at the last second but thank God he had a change of heart and decided not to run me over. We grabbed the KDX and showed it the way up the rest of the hill, great effort Dave, I cant believe your a beginner rider, that was some very technical riding and no, we did not have to wait long for you at all. About 30 seconds or so average from the front of the group to the back is not bad at all.
We broke for lunch and headed back out to find RM_guys son at the bottom of Turtle hill with a fouled plug. RM_Guy helped the sickly Suzuki back to the parking area and met up with us after we visited the red neck air conditioner ( old mine shaft opening with 50 degree air blasting out of it all year). We did a bit more ripping around the park and headed back. We were all hot and tired and decided to load up and head out for the day around 4 PM.
No real bad crashes, just a few stalls and get offs in the nasty single track parts, I had the worst injury sustained I think with a small brush burn bruise from forgetting to put my sleeves down before attempting the “Bamboo chute” servers me right for not listening to the others and taking the by-pass J.
Again, great ride guys, I had a blast riding and talking with you all. Can’t wait to ride Paragon like that again!