Friday, February 13, 2009

Enough To Be On Your Way

We all knew it was coming. It never softens the blow when the reality hits. The beloved climb at Tom Brown is gone. How many times did we all ride that hill? How many races did we win or lose on that climb? Every root every rut, every line you could nail in your sleep, is just a pile of organic waste waiting for the torch or a trip to a designated land fill.

We all knew it was coming, like an ailing relative waiting for the curtain. Prior knowledge never makes the funeral any easier. We made a deal and we received money to build new trail. We did the best we could do, because they would have built there with or without our approval. The wound is fresh and we will all become accustomed to the new picture. Just like we got used to the Atlanta Bread Company, Weems Plantation, Piney Z, and on and on, back to the foggy days before I noticed such things. Before my eyes were opened. Back to before I rode a bike. Back to before I realized all the cool trails hiding in the woods. Back before riding and living on those trails was such a huge part of my history.

I will turn away, and look at the tracks as I roll by the wide swath of clay, that once was the big climb to the tree, and the fast bomb to the bottom. I will think of it as I would an old friend.

W.B.Z.N.

12 comments:

Juancho said...

There used to be a trail on Tharpe, where the Crime Point Apartment complex now sits. You had to climb Colorado street to the top, then bomb the hill down to the back of the Circle K on the corner of High. That was a good one. Or what about the "half-pipe_ behind the old Varsity theater? Gone too.

Thems the breaks I guess.

Human Wrecking Ball said...

Thanks for chiming in, I was just wondering if I could get less comments than a "dead friend" post.

Juancho said...

I hear you. I can't come up with anything that beats a chimp holding a phone.

BIG JIM said...

Now I'm sad.

Mingo said...

Surly there are new place being discovered by new riders, experiencing the same elation and affections we have for those now deceased places.

It is still a shame those places are gone, everything we have will no be here long.

BIGWORM said...

I remember chasing Dave Baton down that Tharpe St. trail, in the dark! I couldn't see a damn thing, and you could haul ass on that steep downhill.

We used to play bike tag on the half pipe. That was always good for a laugh. You'll ride off some really steep drops when you scared of getting tagged.

Anonymous said...

'member that song about...rememberin'? 'member?

bikechain said...

I remember these and more. How about the apartment drop off behind the winn dixie on tharpe? it could be the Red Bug Challenge is calling your name.

Human Wrecking Ball said...

Subtle, and it wasn't in the third person....nice.

BIGWORM said...

Remember, remember the 5th of November, the gun powder treason and plot. I know of no reason why the gun powder treason should ever be forgot.

Human Wrecking Ball said...

Nice one, are you for or against the blowing up of royals?
Or was this just a V for Vendetta reference?

BIGWORM said...

My jealousy says blow the royals, but not in a good way.