Post No Car Post

Moving from text thread to more appropriate domain for musings, misgivings, and more.

Last week marked the end of an era, with yet another principal (pithy) member taking flight. Ok, it's really just a long, but lovely drive through wine country. Some of us celebrated on Friday at Melters. Non FT3 folks were in abundance, as was laughter and cold beverage.

There will be more celebrating this evening, perhaps the buff trails, mild temps, and general spring like conditions. The latter brings me out of retirement and (for now) more dedicated to two wheeled pursuits.

Until wherever we meet and whatever time we depart...

We are at 5, cinco, cinc, cinque.

Ode to NoCar

We never want to anticipate that there will be a last FT3 Tuesday. But with little fan fair NoCar quietly declared he would be riding Tuesday, 2/4/20 like it was his last. And while NoCar shall go on to ride "gentrified trails" in the bay area as Buttons would say, we know that we have not heard the last of NoCar. He will be just a car drive away in Santa Rosa, where the gentrified trails will welcome FT3, as we will him when he travels back to the Sierra to see his old friends for snow or bike play. In the same state, nonetheless. So we will make more memories soon enough. For now let's look back on all the incredible memories we have made over the past decade plus. PBR after PBR, taco after taco after taco. Shred on NoCar.

With all due respect and love from your least favorite FT3er, Cap'n.

Ride Every Tuesday Like Its Your Last

FT3 continues to break new ground. With Cappy RideLeading, we shredded Barely Legal which has been cleaned up and expanded to tie in with Canteen Boy. Then, revolutionizing the comfort and ambiance of Tacos, Phantom introduced his port-o-fire pit.

Tonight should be more of the same; buffed out trails, cool temps, clear skies. Though there will also be something different, some new surprise that FT3 hasn't experienced, because there always is. Another Tuesday to savor, before its your last. 

The Good Stuff

We got to shred all of the surface types last week, from snowpack to buffed dry and everything in between. A fashion show was required to find the right outfits for the pleasant though threateningly wet conditions. And the ride was followed by a leisurely taco session as the three least concerned about bedtime riders chilled around the propane heater until Wednesday.

Conditions should be ideal this evening. Normal start.

Keep Your Parmesan Dry

Everyone enjoyed riding through Cronan and the Greenwood Creek parking lot was a great site for tacos but, brrrrrr the taco session was cold. Without the advantage of heaters, as the temperature of the wet air dropped below freezing, riders crowded around the lantern to keep their hands warm. No one dared eat tacos with gloves on for fear that the taco discharge would ruin them forever. Perhaps on freezing nights we should reconsider our menu. 

Once again, the past week has been dominated by snow sports.

Time to get back out on the dirt. About a tenth of an inch is forecast for ride time tonight. meetup at Blue Gouge sometime after 6. 

Wetter Where?

Wrapping up last week's idyllic ride at the top of Park Creek Road, the suggestion was made to switch up the ride location again this week and head out to the Cronan Ranch trails. I believe the Magnolia Ranch TH was picked for the taco site. Wet and cold up the hill though it doesn't look like Pollywood got any snow. Wet and not quite as cold in Cronan.

Good Clean Dirt

Through December FT3 clearly logged more miles on the slopes than they did on the trails. But, now the snow sucks and the dirt is prime so let's go mountain biking!

Temps above freezing, high humidity, .big moon, should be a great night

Fat Tire Taco Thursday

Since no one was IN this Tuesday, the FT3 Executive Steering Committee decided to move the normal events to tonight. All the same fun just substitute the T, what could be easier. 

Regular start time, regular parking spot. Temps dip below freezing, so bring your taco warmer. 

Pollywood Prime Time

Last week's trail conditions were a complex mix of smooth-tacky, slushy-muddy, and icey-snowy. This week should be almost 100% perfect conditions; big moon, cool temps, well drained dirt. Don't miss it. 

What a White Tuesday

Epic White Tuesday. A completely novel riding surface: fluffy, untracked snow piling quickly on top of dry, dusty dirt. Very shreddable.

The taco session was punctuated by wind gusts that tried to steal our shelter, and we narrowly avoided a tent fire when a flurry of snow hit the stove and grease burst into flames.

Good times!

Tonight should be mild and wet from snowmelt. Who's IN?

Looking ahead, Mrs. Nocar let me know that I would NOT be able to ride on Tuesday, December 24. As I am probably not the only one in this situation, how about A Fat Tire Taco Thursday that week?

Time to Put Your Tacos Where Your Mouth Is

The FT3 Untethered experiment has been nothing less than a radiant success. Since the very beginning, the tacos have been delicious

and the rides have been exceptional.

But, for this year, the nights of high mountain, full moon madness are behind us.

As are the nights of leisurely sipping rye and gorging on pie.

Last week got the littlest taste of what is to come, as developing showers forced the end of the taco session and one rider described it as "the coldest I've been in my life."

The Tuesday Pollywood forecast is for six inches of snow between 4 and 10 pm. We could ride lower, but that would mean riding in rain instead of snow (lame). Since this is the start of the storm, it is unlikely that the snow will begin sticking immediately. However, it will start accumulating before we finish eating tacos, so it may be treacherous trying to haul a trailer out of the normal parking spot. Alternatives could be either the equestrian pull out or the EID pay parking lot, as both have a downhill exit. Whatever we decide, the ride will probably be on the short side as we will need to devote time and energy to figuring out how we can have a relatively warm and dry dinner. 

Riding High Again

The extended summer of 2019 is providing for the proliferation of FT3 rides in the high country. Grandiose plans remain in place even with NoCar riding the couch. The Van provides the access to the high country, adventure and limited sleep. Will you be among the select group who create memories and assert that last Tuesday was the best Tuesday, especially because you were there?

One.

+ New Rider "O'Brian" = 2

Hop in the Taco Van

The call has been made. Time to pull up stakes and get out of Pollywood; 5:45 departure from Mosquito Lot. Proposal is to ride in the Strawberry area, there are many potential routes. Probably won't do a full S-Kw, but you never know.

One Hour Late

Sunset at 4:58 tonight, so don't forget to charge your lights. And check your chain for defects.

 ONE

Fine Particulate Matter

We finally accomplished the much anticipated Loon Lake Loop last week; huge granite slabs, chunky jeep trails, and flowy singletrack. Fortunately, we didn't have a good idea of how long it would take. Returning to the van at 11:30, the call was made to no-taco.

Which means this week we are going to have to extra-taco. Reportedly the controlled burns in Pollywood are being extinguished. The air quality monitors are showing a steady decline in PM 2.5 as the day continues. A good night for a normal roll out. 

RED FLAG WARNING

After acquiescing to several requests to return to Pollywood last week, the Loon Lake Loop is back in consideration for tonight's ride. Of course, that plan likely requires the substantial resources of Jr. Rideleader, and his employer may have other plans for him this evening.

This just in:
XT will NOT be able to make the ride tonight. Though, he does intend to meet at Blue Gouge for tacos. So, back to the simple schedule for this evening.

What Trail Is Sickest?

Last week we hiked a Trail That Will Not Be Named, and then dropped a trail through high mountain meadows, followed by an ascent of the best part of the XP.  Temps got down to 36F during the taco session. 

The first rain in months has elevated Pollywood trails to the level of pretty good. However 3 inches of snow fell on Emigrant Pass reinforcing the point that the mountains won't be accessible much longer.

As of last week, the call for this Tuesday was for riding the Loon Lake Loop. As these trails have recently been rebuilt no one in FT3 has ridden all of them yet. Alternatively, we could ride in Pollywood, and ensure a civilized bedtime. 

  

Carpool is also looking slightly later than our recently established early rollout. Consequentially, I'm going to try a new text thread for organization. Needless to say, XT still owns the materials of taco production, so this is not a democratic decision. 

 

More Mountains, More Biking, More Tacos

Was last Tuesday awesome?

Yes it was. 

Will this Tuesday be more awesome?

Yes it will be. 

NoHandle and Fro will meet at chez NoCar where the FT3 kitchen got deposited in the middle of the night. 

Capacity for two more riders in NH's truck. Hit the road by 5:30 and we might make it home before Wednesday. 

 

Have Tacos Will Travel

A quick storm freshened the Christmas Valley trail last Tuesday night. So, the FT3 Traveling Taco Team decided to go shred it. Conditions were perfect.

Tacos were delicious.

Exciting though it was, that ride was just practice for the more ambitious undertaking this evening.

Meetup is at 5:15 at Mosquito Lot or 5:45 at MET or 7:00 at Martin Meadow Campground.

Be ready to crush Thunder Mountain in the dark.

Unmoored

Heady days for FT3.

For starters, this guy came to visit

So, we rented a mansion, cooked some dinner,

got a crew together,

and did some shredding.

After four Untethered rides, it seemed like we had worked out every kink. Then, UL started bringing dessert.

But, there still remains room for improvement. Pollywood trails are dusty.

Its time to load up the Taco Truck and set forth from Pollywood, in search of new trails to bring under the banner of FT3. So, charge your lights and don't plan on going to bed until Wednesday. 

To facilitate a Long Tuesday, it is proposed that the carpool leaves the Mosquito Lot at 5:30. Carpool meetup location is subject to change depending on riders, drivers, destination, and grocery needs. Pipe up early and we'll stay organized.   

TWO