thepisgahproject-blog

[thepisgahproject-blog]

Bokehm0n

[thepisgahproject-blog]

Kitsuma is my local feel good ball buster. I have been going to this trail for some time. Having ridden this trail year round in various conditions it is one of the few rides that always seems to inspire. You can have a great physical time riding and come out very poorly on the 2.8mile decent or you can have a terrible (physically) ride but ride smoothly. I’ve had it both and keep going back for more. Due to the location and elevation it also offers some great views. Its also home and training ground for many looking to get a taste of ORAM (A yearly favorite bike race Off Road Assult on Mt. Mitchell http://www.blueridgeadventures.net/oramm/race-4/ ).Kitsuma is located in Black Mountain and is rated black diamond on single tracks. Personally I would rate it as red or orange for intermediate but with the long decent and arm pump I can understand the rating. There are several ways you can go making it a 9.7-10.2 mile loop climbing an average elevation gain of 1,767ft. Average mountain bikers should be able to complete a loop in 1-4hrs (based on average time of current friends using Strava).

#Kitsuma #Nightride #thepisgahproject #ORAMM

[thepisgahproject-blog]

Meet Zeus our 3 1/2 month Blue Heeler or ACD (Australian Cattle Dog). After many hours of searching, phone calls and trips to various homes and shelters we were blessed to have met Zeus. We met him at 2 weeks old after going intentionally to pick out one of his sisters. He showed the most independence, curiosity and affection during our visit and we decided he had the best personality and would be the one for us. We picked him up at 5 weeks old and have been loving him ever since. He will be in many of our adventures to come and is a loving ball of energy into our lives. Look for more pics as he grows!  

#blue heeler #hiking dog #thepisgahproject

[thepisgahproject-blog]

After riding full suspension (or squish bikes) since I started mountain biking 3 years ago this was my get me strong build. Due to time constraints and many of the people I ride with wanting to get out, I decided I needed to focus on my legs and skills. In order to accomplish this a hardtail or HT (no rear suspension) was the most logical choice due it making bad line choices completely obvious (you get bucked around for bad ones)! Next was the legs, and what a better hardtail than single speed (SS). But I did have some concerns such as budget and geometry. I had previously learned after my 16′ Jamis Dragon Sport that geometry, parts and riding style can all change ones view of riding. I ride mostly Bent Creek (easy), Mills River (Medium) and Dupont (easy) the majority of the time and on heavy rides in Pisgah I would have my FS bike. I did want to keep things playful and I enjoy getting rowdy so I needed to make sure my project bike would not only hold up to the abuse but also be able to teach me as well as get me strong. With my goals and ideas of my build I started looking at prices and used bikes everything from Kona, Pivot, Yeti and others. Then I ran into this 2014 Canfield Brothers Yelli Screamy one of the most aggressive 29er hardtails of the time. I was able to pick up the frame, Fox140 fork, XT cranks, XT brakes, Renthal 32t and KS dropper post all used. I moved my back up set of Industry Nine Torch enduro wheels over and used a Endless 19t rear Cog and spacers. Next because the Screamy wasn’t designed around single speed a DMR Tensioner was used. The first few break in rides were no joke quickly putting the question in my brain what did I just do.... What was a nice normal ride on my other 15′ Yeti SB95 turned into a holy hell where did my endurance go on the Screamy. Due to only having one gear every uphill and even flats after being worn out were became a challenge. Now this bike does fall into an aggressive all mountain category and even the first few rides made it apparent this bike is no joke on downhills begging for more. After a little more than a year of riding this bike having been humbled, crushed, excited and breaking expectations. My 2017 project will be to up the ante to achieve all new goals.

#canfieldbrothers #singlespeed #pisgah