First Mud

A new surface texture has recently been added to the FT3 riding experience, mud. In case you have forgotten how to handle this soil form, Taco Spawn has performed a demonstration. He descended at high speeds into a saddle on the upper ridge of the Happy Valley Road. At the base of the saddle a puddle had stored the sediment from road runoff. Slowly the sediment congealed into a semi-solid.

You can see in the above figure how Spawn’s front wheel quickly decelerated when entering the deep muck. It became a pivot point around which the bicycle and rider rotated. Spawn was then projected into the mud pit at speeds in excess of 25 mph. Fortunately, the same properties that make the mud so difficult to ride through also make it safe for crash landings, and our hero emerged unscathed, though filthy.

Tonight will be a night to test men’s fortitude. Weather forecasts predict a quarter of an inch to fall during ride time. You may want to bring two jackets. I’ll bring a thermos of something delicious to keep us warm during the pre-ride kitting session.

One

Word is the Hobo ride was a success. I haven’t heard a full report. Perhaps one will get posted.