2 hours ago
Saw an article yesterday on a recently-built "pump track" in the village of Santa Clara, just east of Silver City, NM, so I pulled a recon today in this beautiful fall weather! Unfortunately, the track looked more suitable for BMX bikes with 20" wheels, what we used to call "circus bikes" after we graduated to tricked-out adult BMX bikes with 26" wheels, lol. We rode the "circus bikes" for years first, you understand. I liked the larger features of this track, such as the big bowls and their wooden extensions, but the front sprocket & chain on my SE Racing 'Rip Style' Beach Cruiser would most likely hang up on the short but steep "whoop-de-doos" and moguls. My bike has a longer wheelbase than those "circus bikes"---but the local kids will certainly enjoy riding this track! More power to 'em, just no pedaling, lol. I took some photos so alla youse heroes can compare this track to whatever is in your neighborhood... BTW, this track is free, and there's a nice town park right next to it, complete with playground and picnic tables. You'll see all of that in the photos. CHEERS!!! 😎
Oh, yeah, almost forgot to mention that a sign at the front gate says helmets are required, while pads & gloves are recommended... not bad advice, lol. Again, I like the larger features on this track, such as the larger bowls with their wooden extensions, which are solidly anchored and flush with the asphalt bowls themselves. Those would be fun to ride, but the funky whoops at each end of those larger bowls would be squirrelly on a larger bike... go from primo wall-riding to asphalt face-plant in record time, lol. Hey, at least the asphalt is fresh and smooth, not eroded old "cheese grater asphalt!" BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! BTW, the small village of Santa Clara can be accessed from US-180, a few short miles east of Silver City. You can pick up US-180 in Deming too, in case you wanna visit this track. Remember, there's also a free skatepark in Silver City (again, off US-180), and the skatepark has heller vertical in the pool or largest bowl, gnarly overhang on other features, lol. Back in a flash with another round of photos! ⚙️
Round 2 of "pump track" photos... 😎
In the last 3 pics, you can see a smaller kiddie track next to the main track, not quite so dangerous for the little tykes, lol. Final pic shows the primo town park next door, complete with shade trees, playground equipment & picnic tables. Not a bad setup overall, I just wish the main track wasn't so tight in some sections. Meh, it was worth the recon, just to make sure, lol. Beautiful fall day here too, shorts & T-shirt weather! I had a full tank of gas too, though I hardly burned any of it on the short run from my house. No worries, I'll burn it later as I haul my bike into the Gila Wilderness to ride some primo trails in the Ponderosa Pine forest, lol. I also wanna hit 'City of Rocks' State Park with my pedal bike, and do the loop road and spur trails in good weather, but I'll probably camp there when I do that, preferably under a full moon so I can meet the werewolf, yeah? Wind up partying with that jackhole by the campfire and burning him in draw poker, lol. Might have to bring a sidearm with silver bullets in the mag, just in case that critter gets unruly while drunk! "HEY, I WON THAT JACKPOT FAIR AND SQUARE!!!" BLAM!!! BLAM!!! BLAM!!! 🤣
Oh, yeah, almost forgot to mention that a sign at the front gate says helmets are required, while pads & gloves are recommended... not bad advice, lol. Again, I like the larger features on this track, such as the larger bowls with their wooden extensions, which are solidly anchored and flush with the asphalt bowls themselves. Those would be fun to ride, but the funky whoops at each end of those larger bowls would be squirrelly on a larger bike... go from primo wall-riding to asphalt face-plant in record time, lol. Hey, at least the asphalt is fresh and smooth, not eroded old "cheese grater asphalt!" BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! BTW, the small village of Santa Clara can be accessed from US-180, a few short miles east of Silver City. You can pick up US-180 in Deming too, in case you wanna visit this track. Remember, there's also a free skatepark in Silver City (again, off US-180), and the skatepark has heller vertical in the pool or largest bowl, gnarly overhang on other features, lol. Back in a flash with another round of photos! ⚙️
Round 2 of "pump track" photos... 😎
In the last 3 pics, you can see a smaller kiddie track next to the main track, not quite so dangerous for the little tykes, lol. Final pic shows the primo town park next door, complete with shade trees, playground equipment & picnic tables. Not a bad setup overall, I just wish the main track wasn't so tight in some sections. Meh, it was worth the recon, just to make sure, lol. Beautiful fall day here too, shorts & T-shirt weather! I had a full tank of gas too, though I hardly burned any of it on the short run from my house. No worries, I'll burn it later as I haul my bike into the Gila Wilderness to ride some primo trails in the Ponderosa Pine forest, lol. I also wanna hit 'City of Rocks' State Park with my pedal bike, and do the loop road and spur trails in good weather, but I'll probably camp there when I do that, preferably under a full moon so I can meet the werewolf, yeah? Wind up partying with that jackhole by the campfire and burning him in draw poker, lol. Might have to bring a sidearm with silver bullets in the mag, just in case that critter gets unruly while drunk! "HEY, I WON THAT JACKPOT FAIR AND SQUARE!!!" BLAM!!! BLAM!!! BLAM!!! 🤣
"Nothing ventured, nothing gained..."
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