Riding this weekend, I was exploring a few new roads (one of which was aptly named Explorer Road...pretty fantastic, actually). This is not about that road, however.
At the end of a different road, a hillbilly-mountain, backwoods, in-the-middle-of-nowhere, crap-look-at-all-the-gravel, hiawatha-this-is-steep, kind of road, it ended in a T at a stop sign. I didn't remember this from the map, so I just hung a right. After a few turns, I was sure this was not the specific road I wanted, but since I was just on a fun jaunt, I figured I'd punt and just see where the road went.
The evil gravel continued in the curves of what would have been an otherwise decent road for a couple of miles, and then in a shady avenue, the asphalt turned to a dirt and gravel mountain road, wending onward and upward. The last time something like that happened (asphalt turned to mysterious gravel road), I ended up discovering a very nice connector road between two highways. But that was in my truck, with high clearance and four wheels.
Nonetheless, unimpeded by excessive prudence, I decided to proceed. For being a 550 pound bike, the Viffer handled pretty well off the asphalt. I find it interesting that gravel in curves will paralyze me, but a true gravel road doesn't phase me. There were mini washed out gullies with a steep bank up to my left and a steep bank down to my right. After the first ascent, the road leveled off, and since all was well, I kept going. The second ascent got a little more aggressive and prolonged, but I kept the speed pretty constant and just let the bike float along where it wanted to go. Passed some exposed slabs that hung out over some really nice views. Kept riding.
The third hill to charge was getting pretty gouged out, and there were smooth rocks in the road, as well as increasingly soft gravel and dirt, and just before the crest, the bike choked, not having enough throttle to get up over the top. I had the front wheel on a smooth rock face, and rear wheel just at the gravel line, with probably a 7 or 8% grade, and I was a mile up a road that wasn't wide enough for two vehicles to pass each other.
I got the sidestand down and off the bike to assess the situation. I'm pretty sure that was the last of the uphill fight to the summit, and what was beyond was just some slight undulation, but that didn't help much. I decided to concede, and began to plot how in the world I was going to get down the mountain. I didn't see any other tire tracks around, and figured this road wasn't used much by anyone, so it would be wise not to a.) break the bike, or b.) break me.
Once back on the bike (turned off), when I pulled in the clutch, even with the brake on, the bike started to roll back, due to the steep angle of the hill (there is some rubber left on that rock from the front tire). I finally was able to creep the bike back at a slight angle so that my rear tire was against the edge of the gravel, where the vegetation started, and I was facing about 11 o'clock to the road.
Started to seesaw the front tire in the loose gravel to get more perpendicular to the road, but I mainly was digging a divot for the front tire in the loose dirt. Did get some angle change, but when I gingerly tried to give it some gas and get another adjustment, the road wouldn't support the action, and the rear wheel stepped left, heading back down the hill again. There was no way I could try to just back it down the hill, so I kept up with the micro adjustments, and a few more sidesteps, until I was at just above 9 o'clock to the road.
I eventually had enough leverage, I was able to push the bike up out of the front wheel's divot hole, grab the brake and hold it, push again, grab the brake, and then tentatively tried some rear wheel action. It started to move, but by then, I was coming up on the other side of the road without getting much below the perpendicular. I knew if I grabbed the front brake, the bike would go down. I knew if I gave it too much throttle, I'd go over the lip of the road into the trees.
Not sure exactly how, other than by the grace of God, I managed to get it turned enough to start going downhill, and promptly began gathering speed. The last time I had to try to emergency brake in gravel, it wasn't pretty, so I tried to keep a light touch on the front brake, but still somehow manage to slow. Rolled down that section to the next downhill part, which was longer, and got up to near 30 mph, with the whole a.) and b.) above starting to screech in my head. On the level spot after that downhill, I finally was able to get the bike stopped and gather my breath and wits.
On the last downhill section, I had to fight to keep the front from tracking into the mini gullies washed in the road that all kept running towards the downsloping bank now on my left. It was indeed a feeling of great relief when I once again rolled onto the pavement, and sang the first three syllables of the Handel's Hallelujah Chorus.
As I rode on, I later saw what I suspected (and googlemaps confirmed) was the terminus of that road on the other side of the mountain. My instinct was right, but my mode of transportation could probably have been improved. I'm going to get my first official ride on a dirt bike in September, Lord willing, and I think I'll take to it fairly well :)
My camera batteries died (rawr!) but I did get one pic on the cell phone when I got off the bike, though it doesn't do justice to the angle or the road (clickonit for a bigger look).
(Yes, I have been riding some this year, but haven't had the epic trips planned, as in years past. So far, I have had a couple of nice runs on the bike and get to be a ride leader for a group from work this upcoming Saturday. I won't be taking them on any gravel roads, though.)
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