There has been far too much insanity in my life as of late. I will leave out the boring details, but a combination of physical and mental stress has left me hollowed-out and brain dead. Worked the full holiday weekend, all three days and haven't rode for almost a week, so last night was the first night to put a leg over the Razorpiggie and ride.Acton was cool by 6 PM as I made my way down the paved towards Aliso Cyn. The usual flog-forward mentality was stomped down by circumstance and I wearily looked around, just to make sure I was paying attention to my surroundings. Finally hit the dirt and made my way up the fireroad climb into the setting sun. The power line towers were outlined against a yellowing sky and I wandered my way up, not even thankful yet, to be on the bike. It was a duty to myself first.
Finally, the secret singletrack. No moto's have discovered it yet. I turned into it through the grass and low brush to keep the tire marks hidden. I noted that the sun was already close to the horizon, so there wasn't a lot of time, but it didn't hurry me none. The trail wandered through high grass on a gentle incline and while I didn't feel some kind of super-rejuvenation, I felt OK. The brainset was still fuzzed, but I was able to handle the somewhat technical ravine-backs, only dabbing on the last one.
Mr. Sun dropped ever further, turning the horizon's dark brown hills to nearly black. The light level dropped and I was rolling up and down through the low-lying valleys. I crested a hill heading east and I saw my shadow as a long silhouette. The dry brown grass of late summer. The mental note that it's fall. Rolling back up and thinking. Now dropping down alongside the hill into the long ravine with the spring. Everything is green, except me.
At 47, I'm in the Fall season of my life. This was a thought that rolled around inside my head as I made my way to the last part of the ride, which happens to be the most technical as well. Climbed out of the last valley and started fuzzily on the technical part. Embedded rocks littered the trails. Some were football size and I let the front wheel lightly bounce over them. I wasn't sure how the fuzzed brain would handle the Yucca infested G-out, but I dropped in and slammed up the other side without puncturing myself on the numerous yucca plants or nailing any of the large rocks on either side. Working the trail and not cleaning all, but doing ok.
The final and most toughest section, a short, rocky chute, leading to very loose S/T with large loose and flat rocks laying on top. I already prepped myself for not cleaning it, and yes, I dabbed on the chute, but cleaned the loose section. Far back behind the seat, I just didn't have the sharpness needed to clean it, but I wasn't mad at myself.
The sun hit the hills and was now saying it's goodbye. The rest of the trail was fast and tricky, with embedded rocks everywhere. Sections where you had to drop into the deep and loose rut next to the hillside and push the front wheel away from the embedded rocks at the bottom. Stuff you had to lift your front wheel up and over, or suffer the same. I blew some sections I usually cleaned and still tried to clear the cobwebs to no avail. Didn't wreck anyway. As I left the dirt and got on the pavement, the sun finally was gone. I pedalled the long paved hill home, the cars rushing past. Under the freeway with the ant-farm occupants making their way back to the nest. Finished easy. No flog today.
Posted by STP 
a 47 year old Die-hard Enthusiast riding a K2 Razorpiggie from P'Dale on 09/06/06
