FATS - Again

[superdave]

Okay, let's try this again. I have another set of dates for the trip to FATS (fork area trail system), South Carolina. We are going to try for the weekend of April 18th - 20th. Like the trip to Chattanooga, we will leave Thursday evening about 6-6:30 for Macon, GA (about a 5 hr drive). My friend Ryan can house 5 or 6 total, everyone else can either head straight to FATS (about 7 hrs from P'cola) or find a hotel room in Macon. We'll plan on leaving early Friday morning for FATS (about 2 hr drive) in time to be riding by 11ish. We'll probably stay in a hotel room in/near Augusta, GA (about 20 miles from the trails) on Firday night. We'll plan on riding FATS again all day Saturday then head back to Macon late that evening. Again, Sunday would be fair game to either ride one of the trail systems in Macon (Childrens Home, Dauset, or Thompson), Atlanta (Chicopee Woods, Yellow River, or Conyers), or head out early and break up the trip with a ride in Montgomery at Swayback. I'm planning on driving and taking Melanie, so I'll have room for one or possibly two if someone has a class III hitch rack that i can use. Who's in?

[superdave]

Nevermind about the riding Swayback on Sunday thing. I just looked on the PORC calendar and that is the Attack on Swayback race weekend.

[natepac]

I have that weekend off. i may be able to swing it.

[superdave]

Just bringing this up again. Is anyone else interested in this trip?

[carl]

i would love to but i just got my tickets for vacation so maybe in the fall.

[NoName2]

I'm gonna do my best to stay healthy and make it this time. Got get the wifes approval as I am wipped like that. :mad:

[superdave]

Got back last night from the FATS trip. Six of us went: Greg Walters, his wife Pam, my friend Ryan from Macon and his wife Brigette, Melanie and I. We got there mid-day Friday. We absolutely could not have picked a better place to take the girls. They have four very well marked trails with direction and mileage markers back to the trailhead on each one of them. Each trail ranged from 5 miles to 8 miles long. The whole loop was clocked at 25.6 miles including the connector trails between the loops.

When we first arrived, the whole group headed out together to do the trail that we heard the most about, "Brown Wave". Once we got into the loop, the girls told the guys to go ahead and not to wait up since there are no intersections in the loops and you would have to try really hard to get lost. The trail was properly named because it was six miles of "roller coaster like" whoops. Once we finished the trail and the girls caught up, they told us that they wanted to ride the rest of the day by themselves so that we could fiinsh the loop. It didn't take a lot of convincing for us to agree :D and we went our separate ways. At the end of the first day, the guys clocked just a touch over 25 miles (we skipped one of the loops, but did Brown Wave twice) and the girls were good for 13 miles.

Second day we had a little scare from the weather (they close the trail when it rains) but after only 45 minutes of off-and-on drizzle and assurance by a few local riders that the trail would not close, we hit the trails. Girls did their own thing again and the guys did the whole loop as the system was designed to be ridden. The mileage at the end of the day was girls: 11 guys: 25.6

Again, I would recommend these trails to anyone, especially if you have a beginner in the group. These trails are not technical and two of the loops have very little climbing, but the design of the trails (whoops, jumps, speed) is enough to keep the more advanced riders entertained. Of the three girls, Melanie was by far the most experienced rider and it was Pam's second mtn bike ride ever (1st was a short loop at UWF). Though they were pretty beat after the ride, they were able to ride over most of the obstacles in the two loops that they rode (they stayed off of the two loops that had all of the climbing). I think all six of us left with a new favorite trail. I'll post pictures in the next few days. The girls had the camera the whole time, so all I have is a bunch of pictures of them mountain biking but I'm sure you guys won't mind that.

We're going to plan another trip up there in the fall. They are planning on having two more loops built by the end of the summer, so the total mileage by that time should be in the 35-40 range. I hope that we have a large group jump in on that trip so you guys can experience some of the funnest trails in the southeast.

[Pilotman28]

That sounds AWESOME! I was curious as to whether or not the "Brown Wave" had any sections that almost made you "brown" your shorts.

[superdave]

That sounds AWESOME! I was curious as to whether or not the "Brown Wave" had any sections that almost made you "brown" your shorts.

There is one section that is a little hairy. It was a roller that looks like you could table-top onto the backside, but the backside is really steep and if you come up short and case the back wheel, you are immediately going over the handlebars into the face of the next roller. Ryan did exactly that the first time we rode it, but just had a few sore joints to show for it. A couple of the locals told us that they've had to airlift people out of there more than once.

[Pilotman28]

A couple of the locals told us that they've had to airlift people out of there more than once.

I'm assuming they told you this AFTER you rode the trails eh? I wouldn't think that'd be a very good selling point for n00bs.

[superdave]

I'm assuming they told you this AFTER you rode the trails eh? I wouldn't think that'd be a very good selling point for n00bs.

It was fine if you just roll it. It's when you try to jump it that leads to the problem.

[superdave]

A few FATS pics for ya! Enjoy

[Pilotman28]

Nice blood man! Why was melanie riding with a light on?

[superdave]

Why was melanie riding with a light on?

She wasn't

[Pilotman28]

Nevermind, that's not melanie. Who's riding with a light?

[superdave]

Nevermind, that's not melanie. Who's riding with a light?

Oh, I see what you are talking about. That's Pam, Greg's wife. It's a reflector, reflecting the flash. Her bike hasn't been de-Walmartized yet.

[Pilotman28]

Must still have the kickstand on it too. If it has reflectors and a kickstand it's not a mountain bike.

[CleverOgre]

if it has two wheels and rolls, and you ride it on a trail, it's a mountain bike...