Rumble in the Jungle!!

Permalink | Comments (2) | Share This

Hot-doggin’ at the “Rumble in the Jungle”. (Photo by Nathan Crisman)

Back in the early 70’s, Jungle Habitat was a hopping Warner Bros owned safari theme park. It supposedly was abandoned shortly after, animals and all, and has been the subject of New Jersey folklore appearing in magazines like Weird NJ.

In more recent times, a new breed of animals have taken over the park. Wearing lycra and riding 2-wheeled machines with knobby tires, this special breed strapped on number plates and battled against each other and the technical rock-gardens to declare who will become the next king of this jungle.

First off, I, and every mountain biker in New Jersey, need to thank the RVCC chapter of JORBA for doing an insane job of building and maintaining these trails. It’s hard to think that just a few years ago, this place didn’t exist. The guys over at Town Cycle put on this event and laid out a very challenging and technical course. As a side note, I’d also like to say they’ve been valuble allies in getting Fisher 29ers to the front lines.

Suffering from a cold, I was off the bike most of the week. On Sunday I debated not racing, checked out my “honey-do” list, and decided I’d rather take my chances in the woods. The course was pretty cool. I’m glad I decided to suffer after all, and suffer I would. Typical off-camber north Jersey rock gardens littered most of the course, and had my forearms begging for a break. That break came in the form of leg-scorching paved climbs. Ouchie. Somehow I managed to stay upright whilst many went flying ass-over-tit. Could it be my big wheels? Hmmm. Could be rabbit, could be. I also got to do a little “hot-doggin” over a little jump on what was I think the only hardpack in the park. Nathan Crisman caught that “extreme” action on film. Good job Nathan! Having no pop in my legs, I just rode tempo and enjoyed the trails, sorta like a group ride with a number plate on the front of my bike. Ended up 7th, again, dangit. I haven’t decided if I’m doing the last race of the series as it’s also the first weekend of cyclocross. What to do, what to do? Maybe I’ll hit the Climbmor Challenge in NYS next weekend. I likes to climb!!

See you out on the trails!!

Jim.