I'm not alone in the Deep Dark Forest

[Zipp2001]

The clocks have been moved forward, and the nighttime darkness arrives early now. The fall temps as still mild as of this ride but the raw wintery temps are approaching. When I started my ride, I was the only car in the trailhead parking lot. After about 40 minutes in the lower section of the forest, I cut thru the parking lot to head to the center trail section and surprise there is another car in the parking lot now as darkness arrives. Another 20 minutes later I see a light in the distance thru the bare trees. I'm not alone!

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LO398qqVe8s

 

[colly]

Very nice. A couple of questions though.
Apart from a couple of sections, that looked like you were just riding through the trees randomly. If it's not a trail how do you know where you are??
In the UK the biggest animal you are likely to encounter is a deer, and tbh they would hear you a mile off and probably run away. Are you not concerned about bears? Or mountain lions ?

 

[sevenfourate]

……..and what’s your punc**re plan ? Is it a common occurrence; so far off piste ?

 

[Drago]

Theres always Bigfoot to keep you company.

 

[classic33]

Clocks forward, at this time of year!

 

[classic33]

Very nice. A couple of questions though.
Apart from a couple of sections, that looked like you were just riding through the trees randomly. If it's not a trail how do you know where you are??
In the UK the biggest animal you are likely to encounter is a deer*, and tbh they would hear you a mile off and probably run away. Are you not concerned about bears? Or mountain lions ?

You certain about that?

 

[Zipp2001]

Very nice. A couple of questions though.
Apart from a couple of sections, that looked like you were just riding through the trees randomly. If it's not a trail how do you know where you are??
In the UK the biggest animal you are likely to encounter is a deer, and tbh they would hear you a mile off and probably run away. Are you not concerned about bears? Or mountain lions ?

I was riding a set singletrack trail, that I am quite familiar with, although it is a tad harder to follow during the fall season. You do have to go a tad slower at night and it's hard to see on video, but I am looking for the section of leaves that are packed down just a little showing me the trail. I have run into a black bear off in the distance several times, but it was more scared of me and took off. I see deer quite often and almost hit one several years back bombing down a hill as it ran out in front of me. I've had moose which are huge and other four-legged friends. On my night ride the other day I had to stop and wait for a porcupine to more off the trail, it just kept looking at me as to say what are you doing out in my forest.

 

[Zipp2001]

……..and what’s your punc**re plan ? Is it a common occurrence; so far off piste ?

I have only had one puncture out in the woods in the 14 years of trail riding. That one time I just bike and hiked back to the car. As a diehard roadie for 40 years before taking up trail riding I aways went out prepared but with trail riding I wing-it.

 

[Zipp2001]

Theres always Bigfoot to keep you company.

I have yet to see him but sometimes I've heard some big rustling in the woods not far from me, just makes you ride a little harder.

 

[Drago]

There are two films you should watch to prepare for such a ride.

Deliverance, and Southern Comfort.

 

[Zipp2001]

Clocks forward, at this time of year!

I just wish we would stop that, but at least snow is right around the corner and that does help brighten it up a little at night.

 

[Zipp2001]

There are two films you should watch to prepare for such a ride.

Deliverance, and Southern Comfort.

I haven't heard any banjo music way out in the forest although this area I ride in is called Winchentucky. It seems that everyone in the town is related to each other if you know what I mean (lol).

 

[Drago]

It seems that everyone in the town is related to each other if you know what I mean (lol).

I do indeed. Gimme six!

 

[cyberknight]

Theres always Bigfoot to keep you company.

i was expecting the cure to pop out and start singing