Smorg-Ass-Bored...

Last nights Pirate ride was changed-up a bit from the normal shenanigans to a deep search of the soul. I challenged myself - not with mere drinking games or a mountain summit; instead I had a goal of riding four different trail systems, after work, on a school night. My plan was to do a lap of everything noteworthy at each of the following trail systems, in this order; Kill Creek, Shawnee Mission Park, BuRP and Swope.

Here is the link-up mappage...

Five o'clock and I'm out the door of my office, driving to Kill Creek. I immediately realize that my evening might not work out as planned, three words; rush hour traffic. To make everything work, I need to be at Kill creek at 5:30 and Shawnee Mission Park at 6:30 in order to ride and then meet my pals at BuRP at 8. 

My Kill Creek Arrival time - 5:45. Hurried, I head out to ride the trails and forget my water. Dumb move to start the evenings ride(s). The trails were fast and I was alone, able to keep a good pace. At 6:25 I'm on my way to SMP, to which I arrive at 6:50 (20 min. behind schedule). Doing a complete lap at SMP is a solid hour+ worth of riding, and that is at race pace. I had no choice and went for it, I couldn't give up this early in the adventure. Five minutes into the trail I hit a line of 30 runners. I guess the local running club was having a group run, thus creating another roadblock for me, which I quickly and in a polite fashion dispatched and traveled on. I was feeling great and riding as hard as I do. The trails were pretty dry and there were several times that I almost ate some major shit in loose dirt off the downhill side.

7:50 and I'm driving to meet my pals at BuRP. It's a solid 30 minute drive so I'm hustling, testing my keen eye for any possible speed traps along the way - driving only as fast as I can see. I make it to the rendezvous point right at 8 only to see that I am the 2nd of seven jorks who are supposed to be there to ride. Coletrain hands me a beer and we chillax and await the rest of the P-ride Posse.

8:30 and our group of 7 are off riding the Wagon Trail; a fine loop of technical rock gardens and implausible step-up climbs that test even the most skilled rider. From there we head over to the East Side, up Highline, Down to Martha Truman and on to Gay Circle. After a brief refuel, we then ride Little Moab, back to Rocky-top, Highline and out BoHoCa. 

By this time (10:45) I am feeling worked-like-a-minimum-wage-job. Swope is no longer in the cards - After 5ish hours in the saddle I'm ready for a few beers and bed. A failed attempt but a good night of riding was had.

Thanks to the crew; MaxiThad, BillyVanilly, Silent Killer, Coletrain, Taylor and Al for all coming out to play. I had a great time watching everyone attempt the wicked hard rocks and climbs that are the attraction at BuRP. Riding bikes at night with pals and beer is pretty darn fun.