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Having just done the Lower Rock Creek Trail in Mammoth Lakes the day before, I wasn't sure how our bodies would react to Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. As it turns out, the climb was the easiest part of the ride, as the first 8.5 miles are done on well graded paved and dirt roads. The final climb on singletrack was a little more challenging, as there were some technical sections to negotiate.

But before long, we had made it to the summit and were now heading downhill. At first the trail was just as I had imagined it, scenic, fast & technical at times. As the trail went on, I was surprised to find that it became increasingly challenging. Not only were there some extreme sections, there were also a series of steep uphills to deal with.

All this changed as we finally reached the most popular section of the trail, known for its numerous banked turns and wild decent. Having just passed a group of riders, the two of us had just enough energy to pour it on for the final three miles.

This ride really exhausted me. Perhaps it was the back-to-back rides. Perhaps it was the previous day's roadtrip. Perhaps it was my aluminum frame and piece of sh*t front suspension. Or, perhaps it's just that demanding of a ride.