Ride report - Mountain biking in Denmark - Bruno - July 18th 2003
Part 2 - Going singletrack
(Part 1 - Dyrehaven)
(Part 3 - Clean up and statistics)
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After riding in Dyrehaven for about an hour including several session
of dismount, taking photos, remounting I followed the trails gradualy
becoming more and more like singletrack (or at least narrower) to
Lyngby Sø (Lake Lyngby) which is were I usually get of the
pavement when going for a ride. The paths around the lake are narrow,
allways slippery due to the whole area being just slightly above the
water level of the sea and if one messes up in a corner the punishment
is swift, muddy and very wet. Unfortunately I arrived at the lake at
close to 6 pm and there was plenty of people walking their dogs or just
leasure walking, so I had to drive slow in most spots but it's only
fair it being an urban area.
I also stopped for a few moments to eat a banana and also took a photo
of my bike. It's a 1998 Spezialized FSR Elite which on first looks
seems a lot like when it was new but the fork has been altered so there
is no elastomers and travel is slightly upgraded and the rear end has
gotten the stock vinyl bushings replaced with needle bearings (I highly
recommed it) plus worn out parts has been upgraded through time as well.
Having been warmed up pretty good I reached the red trail which is a
string of forrest trails that are marked with red spots and primarely
meant for mountainbikers, some of them are pretty much for everyone
even on normal bikes and there are also occasional sections of paved
roads that needs to be passed but most of it is great single
track.
Notice the red spot on the tree, the trail is marked here and there so
one is guided and actually some parts of the trail started out as just
a bunch of red marks leaving it to us bikers to from the exact path.
The trails doesn't run i a big forrest but more like in a bunch of
smaller ones and in some places the forrest one ride in is only 20
metres deep squezzed between a lake and agricultural areas, but even
there one finds several trails running paralel with eachother. While I
could dream of a forrest the size of Sjæland (The main island in
Denmark roughly the size of New York city afaik) I kindda like the
trail as it is because one dodges in and out of the forrest seeing both
the sun and dark forrest areas.
Due to taking it easy I feel pretty fresh and I really attack on some
of the climbs, they are only few metres high but some are pretty steep
and technical and on two occasions I'm forced to carry my bike to the
top. One of the places I have seen people ride up but never in the
other spot and I really don't think it can be done - perhaphs on a
motor bike but they are thankfully not permited to come in the forrests.
Crossing a ditch I almost loose control due to carrying to much speed
down the ditch I have to bail taking three jumps on just one foot
leaving the bike to do it's own thing. But it being one of thoose rides
were nothing can go wrong I don't even get a wet foot:-)
After about an hour on the red track I arrive at an leisure area with a
small beach which on sunny days is packed with young men and
women, many of whom are going topless (sorry guys no pictures -
use your imagination or come to europe), a marina plus the usual
resturant and so.
I ride out on one of the piers to catch the view and eat a müsli
bar. I also fill up my backpack bladder having just about finished the
2 litres of water I brought from home, unfortunately it start raining
or rather pouring down so for the rest of the ride I kept the camera
stored away.
My first impulse when the rain sat in was to head home but it rains to
heavy that I get completely wet in seconds and the temprature is 24
celcius (75 Farenheit) so instead I just head back into the woods were
the trees take most of the rain and I have no problems keeping warm.
The water also makes the trail more of a challenge with wet tree roots,
mud and standing water in many places hiding roots and stuff. Plus the
fact that I didn't plan for rain meaning I haven't attached any fenders
to the bike so I'm getting a fair share of mud thrown in my face -
especially during high speed turns were visibility obscured by mud in
your eyes is not really desireable.
It does not rain for long but I keep getting wet from the water on the
leaves of trees, espeicaly in the tighter sections which in places make
me glad I recently replaced my riser bar with a low riser. It's fun to
having to lean the bike past trees kindda like slalom skiing.
The slippery conditions forces me to slow down at my number one high
speed spot, it's a place were one roll downs a hill in between trees
with some pretty sharp turns and the ground is covered in needles from
pine? trees. The soft ground has been shaped by fast turning
mountainbikes so a couple of the turns have inclines like on a race
track letting you go even faster - imaginge the speeder scene from Star
Wars were they race between the trees and you get an idea.
I meet a few fellow bikers going in the opposite direction and also
overtake a couple on what looks to be supermarket mountainbikes without
suspension, you know the ones that looks a little bit like Cannondale
Super V's only they don't have any suspension. They are taking it very
slow but it still looks like they have fun and we exchange a few words
and I get the usual "What did you pay for your bike?" question.
I make one final stop to eat another müsli bar (they are pretty
small) and also enjoy some wild rasberries which can be found in many
places along the track, just riding past and enjoying the sent of fruit
in the air of feels like a sin. By now it's getting late and
riding in the forrest after sunset is not allowed in order to protect
the animals. Something which I'm all for and I really enjoy the chance
encounters one has when riding, seeing squirels is almost guaranteed
and I did meet 3 of them during the ride and also saw a couple of big
birds (Hawks of some sort I think). Ever once I a while I see foxes,
deer (The ones in Dyrehaven doesn't count) and forrest mice - I think
using a mountainbike enables one to move fast and very quiet and that
is most likely the reason I manage to get so close to nature.
I make it to the end of the trail doing my best to burn the last
available energy by going as fast as I dare through the big g-out and
down the last drop which is almost a vertical drop down to paved road.
From there I ride home on normal roads, or rather the bike lanes
following them, and then it's time to stretch and hose down the bike.
(Part 3 - Clean up
and statistics)