This is not a laughing matter

[Aggie_Ama]

My husband is going riding with a customer he met through his work that is also an avid mountain biker and racer. The guy is taking him to a new trail (http://www.austinbike.com/mtb/thumper/index.asp)my husband has never rode, so I looked it up and could not stop laughing as I read him the description. He said he no longer had time to talk on his lunch break. :o I guess I don't win any wife of the year awards for that one.

"Thumper got its name from the thumping that your heart will be doing after you are done. Up. Down. Repeat. A lot. This is a technical trail that was built by people who must like to inflict pain on others. While it is a relatively short trail, it is very difficult in many spots, similar to "rattlesnake" or "Ed's Bowl" on the greenbelt. Lots of switchbacks help riders ascend and descend through the trail. A favorite seems to be the steep switchback, sharp turn at the top, followed by a 12" ledge about 3 feet later. If this trail doesn't get your heart going, nothing will."

and

"High. This is NOT a trail for beginners. Not only is it a challenging trail with some pretty hairy lines to ride, but the traffic is very light. If you mess up it could be a few days before someone stumbles across you."

[wackyjacky1]

"Watch out for cactus." :eek: :D

[mimitabby]

As long as hubby rides with his friend, he will not be lost!

[Aggie_Ama]

It is after dark and I haven't heard from him. I will assume he is grabbing a beer with the new friends and not bleeding with them not knowing who to call. :eek:

[chicago]

It is after dark and I haven't heard from him. I will assume he is grabbing a beer with the new friends and not bleeding with them not knowing who to call. :eek:

send him a text message "did your survive?"

[Aggie_Ama]

send him a text message "did your survive?"

I did, no response yet. If his new buddies are like him they probably didn't pay attention to time and are heading back to their cars now even though it was dark 20 minutes ago!

[chicago]

I did, no response yet. If his new buddies are like him they probably didn't pay attention to time and are heading back to their cars now even though it was dark 20 minutes ago!

yes it is getting dark now earlier :( Last night I was running... and at 7:45pm it was dark, and I found myself taking the street route vs the trail route cause it was too dark for the woods :(

My boyfriend just got hooked up with a new running group on Tuesday's. So on Tuesday's I await his message/story of how fast this group is and how he got dropped at nth mile, etc, etc... but one day he is not going to get dropped!!, and then I will be the slower runner of us both!! Dang, if I only I could get off work in time to get to this group:p.. he is soon going to run faster than me... and I am not sure if that is acceptable!!, LOL!!

[Aggie_Ama]

I know him so well, he is eating a burger and having a beer. I can't wait to hear how it went, he doesn't have any mountain biking buddies here except me and a friend of ours who is flaky because he has about 12 hobbies.

[chicago]

I know him so well, he is eating a burger and having a beer. I can't wait to hear how it went, he doesn't have any mountain biking buddies here except me and a friend of ours who is flaky because he has about 12 hobbies.

hey I like that 100 push up link you have here... I think I'm going to start that, thanks!!:D

[OakLeaf]

hey I like that 100 push up link you have here... I think I'm going to start that, thanks!!:D

Join the group we have going under Open Topic (non-cycling)! There's about 20 of us doing it here!

Aggie, I'm sure your husband made it back OK, but post and let us know eh!

[Aggie_Ama]

He did make it home okay and no bleeding or bruises but he did get stung by something (second time in a week poor thing). Unfortunately he did not have that great of a time. He said everyone was really nice but the trail frustrated him. People would get strung out because it was so technical and he would be all alone. He also said because he wasn't familiar with it he felt very uncomfortable and walked parts he knows he could have done. He is not by any means a beginner but not quite an expert, closer to expert than beginner though. He also was worried that how frustrated he was showed and made him not come off well. But he did say that the group said most people find it a very frustrating experience first time out and he would go again.

[jesvetmed]

Glad he survived with only a sting... I'm betting he'll do it again and try to get better at it. It's the stubbornness in all of us! Worse yet, he may want YOU to go!

[Aggie_Ama]

Worse yet, he may want YOU to go!

Luckily no. He knows I would freak out and he also knows I would likely get hurt. He won't tell me I can't do it, never will but he does look out for me. ;) When we go to other trails he warns me of things that might scare me or tells me when I might want to walk. Doesn't tell me I need to though.

[alleyoop]

He did make it home okay and no bleeding or bruises but he did get stung by something (second time in a week poor thing). Unfortunately he did not have that great of a time. He said everyone was really nice but the trail frustrated him. People would get strung out because it was so technical and he would be all alone. He also said because he wasn't familiar with it he felt very uncomfortable and walked parts he knows he could have done. He is not by any means a beginner but not quite an expert, closer to expert than beginner though. He also was worried that how frustrated he was showed and made him not come off well. But he did say that the group said most people find it a very frustrating experience first time out and he would go again.

This might be exactly what my hubby said after the first time he rode Thumper. He was worried that he got lost and made a wrong turn, but with everyone strung out it was hard to tell. After doing it a couple more times he has a bit more confidence about the route. This is not a winter trail though... gets very slippery when wet. The Thumper-Thursdays put on by Hammerhead are a good way to get to know the trail. Even some women, I hear, though not I.

[Aggie_Ama]

This might be exactly what my hubby said after the first time he rode Thumper. He was worried that he got lost and made a wrong turn, but with everyone strung out it was hard to tell. After doing it a couple more times he has a bit more confidence about the route. This is not a winter trail though... gets very slippery when wet. The Thumper-Thursdays put on by Hammerhead are a good way to get to know the trail. Even some women, I hear, though not I.

That is who he went with last night. His customer rides with them. I will not venture to see this trail, the internet photos alone scared me but my husband said a couple of women were along. Of course I remember the number 1 person to kick everyone's but on the college team was a woman. And she had a sister that was pretty darn good too.