Stokesville Lodge, Mt. Solon, VA

Single Track Sunday
Place: Stokesville Lodge, Mt. Solon, VA
Event:  "Training Camp" weekend complete with Harlan Price (Take Aim Cycling) clinic
Ridden: March 2016

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As everyone probably knows and/or has experienced first hand, this past Winter and now Spring have been above average temperatures. Little snow has fallen and the skies have been overall sunny and the days warm.  That all changed during our weekend at Stokesville Lodge.

Our friends Karen and John at the brain trust behind the "training camp" style weekend at the Stokesville Lodge. Everything for the weekend is pre-planned and organized; lodging and room reservations at the lodge, ride groups and routes, the clinic with Harlan, the meals, even which people use what bathrooms to make sure there is even bathroom usage.  This weekend would not be possible without them so a huge "thank you" to the two of them.

The Stokesville Lodge was a perfect location for this weekend. Large enough to accommodate all the cyclists (there were about 13 of us total), there was barely a wait for the bathroom or shower. The kitchen was large enough to fit numerous people; which lead to some hilarious and fun-filled group cooking sessions and the dining room had a table where we could all eat together.  A washer and dryer were available for mid-weekend laundry.  A huge woodstove in the middle of the main living area surrounded by many large and comfy couches made for the perfect place to get warm and relax after a ride.  The parking area was large enough for all the vehicles including "Van City", Joël and I along with Karen and John slept in our vans for the weekend. We even had our own porta-potty to use if we didn't feel like going inside. And as far as location, the lodge is a central location for mountain biking and road riding in the Shenandoah Valley.  The grounds are located right at the start of the Shenandoah Mountain 100 course and many IMBA Epic and IMBA Signature rides are just a few miles away.  So what a perfect location for a mountain biking weekend;  wonderful accommodations and great trails all in one place!

The weekend started off with a clinic by Harlan Price of Take Aim Cycling. The temps were in the 50s and the sun shining so a perfect day to be out on the bike.  We worked on skills both in a field, over obstacles that Harlan brought, and on the trail.  A great way to work on form and technique and learn new skills to help make us better riders.  As we ended the day, rumor started to spread about a cold front coming through, word spread quickly of rain and snow. Could it really be?  This far into March?

The next day those rumors came true.  Today was a group ride up to the top of the mountain.  When we started the temps weren't too bad and there was no precipitation falling.  Those things quickly changed.  As we started our climb up the mountain, the snow started falling. The temperatures also started falling. And the trail we were on had multiple creek crossings (we were told seven but there were more than that!).  By the time we got to the top of the mountain many of us had wet feet, snow-filled pedals and cleats, and the going was getting tough due to a number of inches of snow on the ground.  And then it was time to descend.  We started down our planned trail which after assessing the situation we decided to not go down due to the icy conditions. So plan B...a different trail that was still challenging due to the conditions but hopefully not as death defying. There was some riding, some slipping, and some walking to get us all down.  Whew, finally off the mountain. But now it was time to get back to the lodge via the road. This is where it got bad for some of us.  Being cold and wet and now going downhill on the road it got cold, really cold.  So cold that in fact we needed to send a vehicle back to pick up one member due to hypothermia setting in. It was a scary situation but due to the help of friends and later the warm fire at the lodge and some tea topped off with whisky everyone made it through the day OK. And as we learned, we all have a little more brown fat now due to the event.

Day three, the weather was improved but still on the chilly side. The ground was wet and there was still a little snow on the top of the mountain but at least there was no precipitation.  The day was a huge group ride with everyone. The group did split up at the top based on speed and ability but it was great to start the ride with everyone from the lodge.  The loop included a great ride along some rocky single track and then finished the last few miles on a gravel road. Sure, a gravel road, a nice relaxing way to end the weekend. Nope, some group members decided to turn this road into interval training. The sprints kicked our butts but it certainly was good training!

The weather may not have cooperated well for the group weekend at Stokesville, but it sure was a fun weekend anyway.  There was some awesome riding; some rides that will definitely never be forgotten. Time off the bike was filled with friends, fun, and good food.  Cliff made new friends also; both canine and human, and enjoyed some time on the trails.  Joël and I can definitely say that we are looking forward to next year!

- words by Jess
- video by Joël
- weekend brought to us by Karen and John

Santos Trails, Ocala, Florida

Single Track Sunday
Place: Santos Trails, Ocala, Florida
Ridden: February 2016

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The main goal for our Southern Trip was Florida, where we were looking forward to warm temperatures and some epic rides. Goal accomplished, a few days riding at the Santos Trail System in Ocala gave us long days on the bike wearing shorts/short sleeves.

The Ocala Mountain Bike Association created and maintains the IMBA Bronze Level Santos Trail System. In 1993 local volunteers began building trails on land that is part of the Cross Florida Greenways.  Consisting of 85,000 acres, there are over 85 miles of trails with riding levels for everyone. From flat and smooth, to challenging climbs through the rocky quarries, to 20' drop for the adrenaline junkies. Santos trails have been known for years by all that have ridden there as having something for everyone.  The Ocala Mountain Bike Association has strived to not only provide an enjoyable and challending riding experience, they have also dedicated themselves to offering social and education activities that give everyone the opportunity to participate, make new friends, and advance their riding abilities.

For our adventure at Santos, we made camp at the Santos Campground, which is located at the main Santos Trailhead. What a great place to call home for a few days. It was quiet and each campsite was far enough apart to give a little privacy from one's neighbors.  The bathrooms and showers were nice, most importantly the showers had nice hot water (especially nice since temps were still in the 40s at night when we were showering).  Potable water and electric was present at each campsite.  Greenway Bicycles is right across the street for any mechanical/gear issues and restaurants and grocery stores are just a few minutes drive.

For our few days in Santos our goal was to ride as much as we could, and we did. Cliff enjoyed time on the trail everyday, and we hit every single trail in the place multiple times, The way the trail system is set up is it is divided into "sections", each having it's own name (i.e. Vortex Section, Christmas Section, see map to right). These sections are divided by the highway or roads and each section has a trailhead.  There are maps at the trailheads and some areas have bathrooms and water. One can ride from section to section connecting the entire trail system, or can circle around and do a lap in one particular section.

The Santos Trailhead was always our starting location, where there is a little skills park and pump track to practice a few things before entering the trail.  The trails located directly off the Santos Trailhead give many options for shorter loops and variety of trails. One can loop around there for ages; hitting straight and flat trails or tight and twisty trails loaded with rocks. There are a few bridges and skinnies in this area to add to the fun..

Next in line is the Vortex Section, which is like one big skills area.  There are dirt jumps, bridges and skinnies, and a free ride area. It's a great place to spend some time practicing skills and doing something a little different than just riding along.

After Vortex, the trail system heads west for mile after mile after mile.  Through these sections the trails are pretty much limited to a few trails that link each trail section to the other; so we would ride one trail out and another one back; making the occasional little loop on a side trail. There is also a shared use road that cuts through most of these areas if one wants to get off the single track for a bit.  The Landbridge Section has a really neat bridge made of well, land, that goes over the highway. Nayl's Trail in the Shangri-La section was one of our favorites because it is fast, technical, had a little bit of everything and kept us guessing as to what was next. The farthest trail from the main trail head is Tricycle, which being it is 8 miles one way you have to commit to wanting to be there once you start on it. This area is much different than much of the other single track, it is flatter and the forest more open.  It also is home to wild hogs, which root up the soil and make for some choppy going at times.  We saw some hogs off in the distance at times.

As for total riding, on the days we went from end to end on the main trails plus a little looping around with Cliff we did about 60 miles.  One could probably make the ride a litte longer by doing loops on every side trail and also riding the multiuse road.

All we can say is what a great time we had. The trails are amazing, the campground a great place to stay, and of course the weather was much better than what it was in PA.  Definitely a place we will come back to again; a great winter escape.

-Jess, Joël, and Cliff