So, we took the fam and headed out to Crawford Hills over the long weekend to ride the singletrack trails there (Black River Falls, WI).  We were worried, from some of the limited video footage we found on YT and info we got from Clark County about the trails, that they were going to be a bit too basic of a trail system (aka boring).  We were pleasantly surprised that that they are anything but boring, comprised of three loops (North, South and McKenna).

I must say that my husband is an amazing teacher; everything he has taught me and the kids and all the trails he set up for us to learn and practice on, our skills were put to good use on these trails.  I am proud of all the kids on how well they managed everything, especially the endurance of riding for miles each day for 3 days in a row - hubby's trip meter clocked about 20-32 miles per day.

We got up there early enough on Friday, that we rode the main part of the North loop that night (8 of 10 miles).  Then on Sat. morning, was up and out there early (by 8am) and again rode the North loop, and found the last 2 miles of the North loop (start of each trail is not marked out very well, but the trails themselves are groomed enough to follow once on them).  Then rode another 7-7.5 miles (10-11 mile loop total) of the South loop until we got caught in a thunderstorm and downpour. (pics posted below)

Sat. was a more challenging day, found out later on in the weekend that the South loop is known as the Wildcat loop and more of the pro riders like that loop.  But, we all made it thru what we rode, just rode slower than on the the North loop and were more tired by the end of it.  On the one steep uphill, where it was washed out and had some matting down to help keep the area from eroding more, I managed to wheely my bike up the first part of the hill (oops) and then once I got the bike down, one of the other riders we let pass us before we attempted the hill, had gotten off his bike to make his way back down to see if we needed his help making it up the hillside.  Well, he sorta spooked me being there walking on the hill and I dumped my bike to avoid hiitting him.  I got a few nice bruises on my right thigh now, but glad to have not run him over.  I know he was glad too, just by the look on his face as he saw me coming at him up the hill.  He apologized for being in the way.   It was shortly after that hill climb the storm came, so made it back to the ATV trail and rode back a few miles to our truck in the rain, we were soaked, but had fun.

The ATV trails that lead to the South & McKenna loop also have quite a bit of loose sand (4-5 inches in some areas) and we hadn't rode in sand before.   It took me and the kids some time to learn the technique to navigate it well without fishtailing all over the place or sinking in and tipping over. I must say, sand is very tiring to ride in, even once you get the technique down (stand up, lean way back, stay on the throttle). Got to experience my first round of arm pump riding in the sand, had my two fingers on my left hand lock up and not want to straighten out - weird feeling especially while trying to still ride back to our truck in pouring rain.

Sunday, up early again, and the hubby and our younger daughter rode the South loop again while the rest of us met up with them at the crossroads for the ATV trail down to the McKenna loop.  We have some video footage of their ride, will have to post it later.  Then rode 2/3 of the McKenna loop, by then it was after lunch on a 92 degree day and we were spent.  So rode back and did some sight seeing in the area and out to the movies that night to see The Avengers.

Monday, we were all exhausted, but hubby decided to go ride one last time before we headed out in the morning.  So dropped him off at the trails at 5:30 pm and came back around 7:30 to pick him up.  He rode the South the loop at a pretty good clip in about 40 min. and then the entire McKenna loop (12 miles) and back to the parking area by the time I came to pick him up.

All in all, we had a great weekend of riding!  By far, my favorite was the North loop.  It was a lot of up and down the hillsides, with roots and "steps" to come down, grassy open areas, wooded areas with lots of twist and winding thru the pines and between tight trees (tight enough for barkbusters to clip), back to up and down the hills and thicker sandy corners and such.  Diverse terrain and enough challenges to keep you on your toes.  The South loop was fine, just more at the peak of my skill level I guess, so it was tiring and struggling for me.  The McKenna loop was scenic and flowing, but a bit more level ground and wooded terrain.  If we hadn't been so hot and tired from riding for 3 days, it would have been fun to ride at a faster pace because it was more flowing and allowed for it more so than the other two loops.

Here are a few pics of our ride that I snapped whenever we stopped for a quick break.

North Loop on Friday night.



North Loop in the woods on Sat. morning!









McKenna Loop - Sunday midday.




What a great Memorial Day Weekend with the family!!  

Edited by leadfoot70ss, 30 May 2012 - 06:21 AM.

Oh, and realized over this weekend that my clutch lever is stinking stiff.  So going to look into something different.  Tried out my daughters' clutch levers on Sunday quick and what a night/day difference compared to mine.  I can pull theirs in with using only one finger, whereas on mine, I need at least three to pull it in.  My forearm is always so sore after riding for some time and my left hand/fingers always tend to cramp up.  And need to look into lowering my bike, being tip toe in the woods and tight stuff doesn't always work out well, had quite a few tip overs from not being able to reach and hold my bike up (pulling off the trail to stop and not being on level ground).  But am proud of what I accomplished this weekend none-the-less and got my bike back upright and started each time.

Hubby wonders if something like a KX125 modified with gearing and flywheel weight might be a better option for a bike for me (lose some weight off the bike).  It's hard to know, because my arms get fatigued because of the stiff clutch lever.  And I'm not used to riding 3 days in a row.  I did well Friday night and Sat. morning on the North loop, but by the time we got the South loop, and riding 4 miles on the ATV trail in the sand, I was fatigued, so the South loop seemed more tiring.  So not sure it's the bike, or just needing to change out the clutch lever and lower it back down so I can reach and keep it up right on unlevel ground.  I love my bike...kinda attached to it, so not really wanting to learn something different.  As I would have to modify how I ride if I were on a KX125 even with modification.  Oh, decisions....I hate being short!

Edited by leadfoot70ss, 30 May 2012 - 06:41 AM.

Here are a few vids of our ride on the North loop - they are short clips but give ya feel for what the trails were like.  They are all point-of-view via my hubby on his xr400 (he was greedy with the GoPro this time around - lol).  But in some of the videos (like the sandy corner clip and parts 3&4 you get to see us ride some too).

There are more clips on my channel, some of the beginning to the South loop too, and some footage of our youngest daughter riding thru there.  http://www.youtube.c...SS?feature=mhee

So looks and sounds like you and your family had a BLAST   The trails look fun and love the vids   Nice write up too. Now as to the clutch, is the cable lubed? just asking as I figure it most likely is

Oh you would love a 125 and the weighted flywheel would help My old GasGas 250 had a Weighted flywheel and it made it nice on the down hill sections and the tight tight single track But if you do get 125 remember you have to keep it reved up and use a lot more clutch to control the wheel spin.

I just went to the track on Sunday over the weekend for a race but the track was kinda slick for us as well Brian said lets leave the rain tires at home, we won't need them haha granted it didn't rain but poured the night before so corners and areas were still wet with some mud in spots. Was a hoot until the Cow tipping happened LMAO Oh and brought home some memories hehe   Black left eye, swollen nose, swollen left eye, bruised left knee, bruised left hip and thigh, bruised ribs and a slightly dislocated shoulder but NO Broken bones hehe. Yes we had Blood and bruising to make for a great day OK until I tried to swan dive into the pavement Only bad thing is I need to buy another new Helmet geeeez that 3 in a year and a half LMAO

So glad to hear you had a blast and a blast with your family. That's what this is about

Edited by Debi, 31 May 2012 - 04:22 PM.

Debi, on 31 May 2012 - 04:20 PM, said:

Thank you, we did have a blast!

Debi, on 31 May 2012 - 04:20 PM, said:

Ha, well at one point it was lubed. But haven't done so in some time, and yes we thought of that out on the trails on day three of riding. I try hard to not complain; I don't tend to be a complainer-type person by nature anyways. So, I just approach things as they are and deal with what is handed me. I don't know what it is standard for a clutch lever, and mine has always been stiff ever since the new clutch was put in last summer, even after it was lubed. (Oh my, the dirty-minded folk will have a hay-day with this post - lol).  Anyways...I mentioned it then to my hubby, and he tried it  out and didn't think (at that time) it was all that stiff. So, I figured I just had to build up some arm strength, which I definately have done. But it occurred to me, on Sunday, why I wheelied my bike up the hill on Sat. After riding 12 miles that day, my hand was fatigued from the clutch, and no longer was able to cover the clutch as well I should have been. When I hit a bump on the uphill and rolled on the throttle a bit much, because my hand was tired I instantly let go of the clutch in order to fully grasp the bar to hang on and be able to let up on the throttle and get the bike down.

It occurred to me while riding on the McKenna trail on Sunday, as I kept trying to ride covering the clutch while standing, but my arm didn't have enough strength any longer. So I was riding fully grasping the bar and not covering the clutch, which made for interesting riding in tight woods when you need more clutch control. When we got back to the truck, hubby took a look again at my clutch lever, and said wow, that is stiff and we need to do something about it. Our girls said to me to try theirs out, and wowzers, what a huge difference. One has an aftermarket clutch lever that is so easy to pull in, hoping to get something like that!

As for the KX125, I pretty much told hubby I don't want to lose the reserve tank, the headlight/taillight, and .7 of a gallon of gas due to a smaller tank on the 125 all to lose 30 lbs of weight (222lbs is my KDX dry vs. 192 lbs is the 125 dry). And I'm not too keen on a motocross style bike and having to modify it all to make it work in the woods, when I already have a bike set up for woods, with an FMF pipe and gearing that I do well on already and really enjoy.

I did better at not tipping over when we had the rear spring backed all the way off and it sat lower, but it was dead weight as far as suspension in the rear that way. I like how it handles now, but slightly too high up when in the woods for me to keep upright whenever I stop on uneven ground. But it wasn't that bad, I only tipped over like 3-4 times total and had difficulty doing a 180 turn around in a tight spot due to not being able to lean the bike enough while keeping it upright due to it's height. I got it turned around, but had to get off the bike and back it up, then get back on it to turn it around was all. I was able to make the same 180 turn no problem when the bike was lower. They make a kouba link for it, just need to buy it and get it on the bike. And get a different clutch lever, and I believe I will be all set!

Just from all the riding I have done the past two years on my bike, my upper arm strenghth has increased dramatically. When I first got my bike, I was able to pick up my bike if it went down, but it was a struggle and had to employ my entire body in the process (pick it up and lean it on my hip, turn so my back was against the seat and use my legs to lift - lol). Now, I can pretty much pick it up in one swoop with just my arms!  So, I feel as though I can handle my bike just fine.

As for you, you really are one tough girl!  I'm not much for blood and crashing on pavement.  I'll stick to taking my chances with the dirt and trees.  But like you said, glad you have fun, it is what it is all about!  AND, I'm glad to hear no broken bones this time for you!  Buying 3 helmets isn't all that fun on the wallet though....

Edited by leadfoot70ss, 01 June 2012 - 08:22 AM.

Leadfoot...great read and pictures...you are a lucky lady!!!!

Debi...I don't know what to say to you...black eye, swollen nose, bruised ribs ....have you ever tried pottery????  

leadfoot70ss, on 01 June 2012 - 05:29 AM, said:

maureen, on 01 June 2012 - 09:38 AM, said:

Really.... Pottery ??? with the whole wheel thingy ?? I can see a wrist snapping

Here's the vid the guy I passed got. now don't laugh to hard at the California Happy Cow falling over.. Mooooooo hehe

Debi, on 01 June 2012 - 01:30 PM, said:

Wow, that was hard to watch Debi.     And, everyone knows that truly Happy Cows come from Wisconsin!