a real rookie's castlewood ride

[fastdogs]

I know some of you are from the st louis area, so maybe you'll be able to tell me if I got off on the wrong trail.
I'd decided to ride river scene trail in castlewood today. Everything I've seen on it rates it as easy, and I've ridden a part of it accidently when I came over from stinging nettle trail. I'd looked at some of the others- lone wolf was one, but it said they were "hilly and technical"- that scares me.
I parked near the entrance to castlewood and rode up the pavement till I saw a sign on the right that said "river scene, start". A short path into the woods to a T. I too the right arm, it went up a hill of loose rocks to lone wolf trail. I turned around and took the other arm. Up and up and up. The hill got seeper, rockier, and narrower, till the steep hillside or bluff was off on the left. The path was sloped down the bluff, and was a lot of loose rocks. I walked my bike. I tried riding a bit, but the steepness as well as the sloped trail made me nervous, and when I got nervous I got wobbly, and it was just too close to the edge. So I walked. I came to a real steep part that looked more like a rockslide than a trail. It was even hard to push the bike up.
I did get passed by another rider, other than that I didn't see anyone on the trail. No markers. I was able to ride a little, but 12" logs and giant root clusters kept me walking on a lot of it. And I'm not one to just get off and walk at the slightest obsticle, but these were too much for me.
I finally came to the bottom, after going way up above the river with sheer bluffs on one side. At the bottom I came to the flat sandy trail I recognized, sort of. It was singletrack for a while, then came to the wider part. I rode it to the railroad land that goes across to stinging nettle and turned around. I rode back to the connector to the parking lot and tried a few of the little trails on the other side of the road. I needed the smooth sandy trail, with occasional dips and roots and dodges around muddy parts- I was pretty demoralized by the first part. Was that REALLY river scene trail???
If that's beginner, then I'm a ways below that still! I think I need to ride lion's club park at rolla several more times to get my confidence back.
I still had a good time; not so much the walking and slipping and sliding trying to climb up the loose rocks pushing my bike, but the ride on the singletrack and wider trails at the bottom.
vickie

[singletrackmind]

Sounds like you rode only the toughest trail in the park! :eek::eek::eek:

[singletrackmind]

Ok, I am over the shock that you kept going and kept trying to ride that, if it's what I think you rode.
EDIT: I just reread your description, it is what I think you rode! Lone Wolf would have been easier. Really.
The easy river scene trail starts over by the railroad bridge. Turn left onto a rocky trail that very quickly turns to dirt. It does go through a dip, right around a bend up a quick little hill and out onto a paved trail. Follow that til you come to the road where the circle turn-around is, cross it to the dirt path. Follow the dirt path (there's some sand along this part, pedal quick and easy) to the big field. Follow the dirt track to a four way intersection. Right takes you to stinging nettle, left takes you back to the road, straight across and then turn takes you to the same areas but on singletrack in a woody area. Basically, you follow along the river from the Railroad bridge you can drive under to the stinging nettle trail.

If you are brave enough to attempt that section of Castlewood don't discount yourself, you can ride lone wolf, love or grotpeter. Sure, you might do some walking, but you'll be doing some riding too, more each time. :)

[singletrackmind]

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y141/smcr/castlewoodmap2.jpg
You want the orange, the red was for someone else asking about some Castlewood trails.

It sounds like you did the severely eroded loose and rocky/rooty once it goes around the sharpish bend hiking trail that starts not too far from the Lone Wolf trail and meets it up at the top. If you kept going on the biking side along the bluff you were on the lone wolf, past a cement structure begins the lone wolf downhill to the creek, which you can either cross or go right to get back to the road. The hiking side takes you down lots of wood steps, under the railroad tracks via walkable tunnel to the Stinging Nettle trail.

[fastdogs]

I was kinda stuck- I couldn't ride up but I couldn't ride down either- too much loose rock for me. So I walked probably most of it. When it started down I could ride some of it, making heavy use of my brakes.
My bike was protesting, it wanted to GO and I was holding it back. We worked our way down as best we could, walking over large things because I don't know how to jump anything- if I can't roll over it (and this wonderful bike can roll over some pretty good sized stuff) I have to walk it. The beginning was clearly marked "river scene trail" and "start" but it had the T right away- the right side joined lone wolf trail. The left side went up the bluff.
I want to go back- I think I rode the paved part on the left side of the road (left side, if you are going down towards the river) and the sandy part along the river was fun. I think I am ready to try stinging nettle again, once I'm sure it's dry.
vickie

[fastdogs]

ok, that makes sense (I posted my last message before I saw the one with the map). I saw the cement foundation at the top. There was a wooden overlook too (I looked back at it thinking it was a trail and lost my momentum and had to walk yet again). several rock outcroppings with little trails to them, overlooking the river far below.
Along the river, in the flat sandy part on the left hand side of the road, there were also some singletrack trails by another large cement thing or foundation. There was a network of trails in there and I didn't have time to ride on all of them, but the little dips and small rooty parts was fun.
vickie

[uforgot]

Hey, I did that exact same thing when I rode Castlewood. I think I mentioned it. I looked at a map when I got home and realized that I was off of that scenic river trail big time! Roots, turns and loose rocks on the way up. I think I walked most of it!

[singletrackmind]

Yep, calling it the River Scene trail is kinda cruel, isn't it? It's pretty much a hiking trail til you get to the Lone Wolf climb, that wide rocky trail that joins the one you were on just before the wood overlook. After that you were on the Lone Wolf trail. There are very very few people that could ride up that nasty section.

That left hand side is the River Scene you were looking for, so there you are. :)

[singletrackmind]

Once you get to the wood overlook at the top of the lone wolf climb you'll see two trails going up some more. The one to the left is for hikers and takes you up to the bluff overlooks. The one to the right is wider and doesn't start out as steep. That one is for bikers. They do intersect after a quick rocky descent (watch that blind corner at the bottom) and you stay right up a rocky hill to the cement structure that is at the beginning of the downhill.

[uforgot]

If that's beginner, then I'm a ways below that still! I think I need to ride lion's club park at rolla several more times to get my confidence back.


A few more times at Lion's Club and we'll be jumping those logs and tearing through those dips! By the way, how do you jump a 6" log?:o

[singletrackmind]

I push down then pull up on the handlebars and lean back a little to get some of the weight off the front end and over I go. There is no such thing as jump with a tandem and 40# stoker. With my single bike I would then move up off the saddle to let the rear up and over too. Watch those pedals, you can pedal a few half-strokes for momentum if need be but I like starting out with enough to begin with. Practice with increasingly larger things until perpendicular 6" is routine. When you are learning try to meet things head-on rather than at an odd angle.

Jumping something involves more speed, pushing down on the whole bike and popping up high enough to get over the something.

Bike4ever would be ever better at explaining this stuff. :o

[bike4ever]

So I just got home from work and was reading this thread. Yes it seems fastdogs did one of the more challenging trails at Castlewood. Singletrackmind described the river trail best - continue down the road and begin the trail right under the train tressel.

fastdogs - I really think you should look at the Team Revolution site. We've been posting about rides at Castlewood each week. We were there just yesterday am. It's definitely much more enjoyable riding with others. You can learn from watching them and the encouragement is rewarding.
http://stlrevolution.com/teamrev/

Also you can always call me at the Alpine Shop (ask for Traci). I have weird hours so I get rides during the week that others might not be able to make.

[fastdogs]

I did save the team revolution site in my favorites, just can't make anything during the week unless it's around 330 or 4. I'll keep checking it out though. I really enjoyed riding with someone else when I rode with uforgot in rolla this past weekend, I couldn't believe how much fun it was. I'm always worried about holding people up with my slowness though.
I'll ask for you next time I'm in alpine shop, I stop by on the way home sometimes.
vickie

[bike4ever]

fastdogs - can you do a 7am Sunday morning ride? We've been meeting there all summer with various ability levels. I can get you in contact with another Team Rev gal who's been doing the ride. I can't make it this Sunday since I'll be in Madison, WI for Trek World, but I'll get there next week.

[fastdogs]

I'm tied down with my 4 year old sunday mornings till about 10, because my husband works sunday mornings during the summer. I would like to go there sometimes just to watch other people deal with some of the stuff on the trails.
vickie

[fastdogs]

reading back over my post- sorry to seem like I just keep throwing up roadblocks to these wonderful suggestions. I'm not, I just have a hard time finding time to ride anyway. I commute over an hour each way during the week, and live about an hour from just about anywhere. Between leaving early and getting home late, and a 4 year old, and a husband that works or plays golf ALLTHE TIME, my only time to ride is during my lunch break, immediately after work, or weekends (except sunday morning!). So I carry a bike in or on the back of my car just about all the time. I can get in a half hour-45 minute ride during lunch, more if the boss is gone, just about every day. But to get on the trails, pretty much after work or weekends is it. I visit my parents in rolla just about every weekend (one day), so try to combine it with a ride if I can in the rolla area- they can watch my son while I'm riding so it's usually a good time to get in a ride.
anyway, long explanation out of guilt!
thanks
vickie

[singletrackmind]

No guilt necessary. :)

[singletrackmind]

My sister is trying to talk me into riding today, 8/13/08, about 6:15 if you're interested. We'll be doing both the flats and some of the hills and I don't care about speed, walking or waiting....though I may ride until I find a less mosquito prone area sometimes. I'm actually hoping for an easy ride today. There should be several other people there of varying abilities as well.
I'm on a grey/black tandem mtb with a small stoker and drive a light blue 4runner, if you'd like/have time to join us. :)

[fastdogs]

I may try to find you-- I have to go home and get the mtb first, but will try to make it. If you are already riding, I can ride around and try to find you, you shouldn't be too hard to spot! I drive a gold HHR and will be on the brown wahoo.
vickie

[singletrackmind]

I'll keep an eye out. :)

[singletrackmind]

Thanks for a great ride today Vickie! I was really impressed with your just do it-iveness. I've taken many newbies riding and believe me, you are an impressive beginner with the guts to get even better.

For the record, it was Love to Roller Coaster to Grotpeter (we both walked the drop-offs on Grotpeter) and she rode over roots and rocks and logs and down those loose rocky sections.....just about everything I threw at her and all the while keeping up with my moderate pace.

I'd be happy to ride with you again, great job! :):):):):):)

[fastdogs]

I had a blast!! I was determined to keep up, and what a help it was to follow someone and see how they handled different things. I'm sure I went over stuff I would have walked if I was by myself. I didi have to put my foot down several times (like when my front wheel went over a log but the rear wheel didn't) or when I wobbled into a tree.
I was so impressed with little john on the back of that tandem. He stuck there like glue, making dirt bike engine noises, navigating, or just cheerfully talking the whole time. I have a four year old, so it was cool to see them being able to ride together.
Thanks for a great time, I learned a lot and had so much fun!
vickie

[bike4ever]

Wow - Vickie! It seems you are ready to ride with the rest of us. There is another ride meeting in the main lot tonight at 6:30. PM me if you are interested and I'll get you specifics.

singletrackmind - those drop offs that you walked on Grotpeter were the same ones my friend crashed on a while back. I've been riding those again - just not at the same pace as before the crash.

[singletrackmind]

Great to hear you're back at them. We both know you'll be zipping through them again in no time. :) They're still my one of my favorite spots (on my single bike) in St. Louis, especially now that they've tamed the water bars a little further down :( .

[fastdogs]

thanks, I think I will try to do one of these rides again, although I'm not confident that I could keep up- as long as everyone doesn't mind me bringing up the rear.
But I'll have to limit them to no more than once a week, I didn't get home till about 9 and my little guy is supposed to be in bed then. I wish I lived closer to castlewood, it's a great park.
vickie

[uforgot]

...and then bring everything you learn to Rolla. Can you jump those logs now?
It's really great that you are taking any extra time you have for this. When he is older he is going to have a great time mountain biking with his mom!

[singletrackmind]

I'm heading over to C'wood again this eve 8/27 with the tandem if you're interested. Sorry for the short notice, but I've just got myownself motivated to go after back and forthing all day.
If you happen to be there and you want to ride (slowly) with us that's all good with me. :)

[fastdogs]

I missed it! I didn't go riding at all today; yesterday and the day before I went to stinging nettle, I've been having a blast over there. I still can't go up steep berms. Tonight I repeatedly tried the berm at my house- the place I was trying to go up was maybe 8 feet tall, kinda steep but not too bad. If I put my weight forward my rear wheel slips, if I don't, my front wheel comes up off the ground. I end up at a dead stop just before the top and almost fall over. I still need a lot of work! I may try stinging nettle after work tomorrow, about 4. I start out at al foster trail and ride to stinging nettle. I'll be in my work clothes with the pants legs rolled up on a brown bike.
thanks for the invite!

[singletrackmind]

That's ok, it was really short notice. We had a good ride. :)
I've promised JB no rides for a couple of days.....I've ridden 5 out of the past 6 days and he's ridden four of them.....so have a great ride tomorrow!

Sounds like either incredibly steep berms or you've just not found your sweet spots yet. Sit, move forward on the saddle, lean forward towards the bars, suggest the direction you want to go but don't try to steer, spin an easy gear rather than muscle it up at least until you've got it......you're prolly already doing at least some of this, if not all. Sometimes if it's short enough speed and muscle win. Sorry, it's just experience from practice that'll get you up those hills and berms. In which case you're on the right track. :):)

[fastdogs]

today I rode 13 miles- that's the furthest I've gone on the chocolate bike so far.
I'd bought some PI sugar knickers today at ghisallo's- it's the first time I've seen knickers in a bike shop in larger sizes. The terry liberator saddle wasn't working out so good, I may try it on my hybrid and see if it does better on that. I got a wtb speed she saddle from a bargain bin at another bike shop, and the jury's still out on that- no cutout.
I took al foster to stinging nettle, and rode the river side of stinging nettle to the far end. I crossed over into castlewood and rode river scene, then back for the upper part of stinging nettle. It's supposed to rain tonight, so it may be a while before I can ride it again.
I attempted every hill, but ended up walking the very top of some of them. I was surprised to make it almost all the way up the root staircase on the way back! I can ride down it, but never thought I could get that far up it. Lots of joggers today, not very many cyclists though.
beautiful weather, great ride. I think I smiled the whole time. saw lots of deer.
vickie