Camera note
I had been tinkering with settings on the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro and forgot to put them back where I wanted them before recording. The video quality on this episode is not a good representation of what the camera can normally produce. That one was on me, not the camera.
The plan was simple
I rolled out from Camp Jordan on the Aipas M2 Pro for a quick ride around the local area. The goal was simple: ride over and check out a nearby pond, cruise around for a bit, and head back.
When I got there, the pond access was gated off. That could have been the end of the ride, but one of the best things about having the bike is being able to keep moving and see where something else goes instead of calling it a day.
Then I found a trail
I kept cruising and came across an access trail heading into the woods that I didn’t know existed. Finding that trail became the memorable part of the ride. Not because it was difficult or some huge destination, but because it was completely unplanned.
That is a big part of what I want KAPPIN RIDES to capture. Some rides will be real trips and planned adventures. Others are just normal use of the bike where taking the long way home turns up something interesting.
A normal e-bike ride
This ride is probably a better preview of my everyday e-bike use than a perfectly planned trail day would be. I wasn’t chasing mileage, speed, elevation, or a destination. I was using the bike to get around, explore a little, stop somewhere when I felt like it, and make an ordinary afternoon more interesting.
The route itself was very easy, with normal road riding plus some dirt in the woods. Camp Jordan and the surrounding area can have plenty of vehicle and pedestrian traffic, so the easy terrain doesn’t mean there is nothing to pay attention to.
Food, drinks, and the ride home
Before heading home, I stopped at Jonathan’s Grille near Camp Jordan, grabbed a beer, and picked up some nachos to take home. Pizza Bros East Ridge is another nearby option for pizza, wings, and drinks if you are riding around the same area.
Secure your cargo
One part that didn’t make the video: I forgot to zip a pocket on my rear rack bag and lost some stuff along the way. I had to go back and find it. The lesson from this ride is extremely complicated: zip the bag before you leave.
A note on the trail access
I am not treating the wooded access trail shown in this ride as a confirmed public bike route yet. There was a No Trespassing sign in the area, but from where I saw it, it looked like it may have applied to the property beside the trail rather than the trail itself.
I’m checking on the access situation before I tell anyone else to use it. Until that is confirmed, this post and video should not be taken as permission or confirmation that the trail is open to public riding.
If you ride around Camp Jordan
- Expect a mix of vehicle and pedestrian traffic around the park and nearby businesses.
- The terrain on this particular ride was easy: pavement with a short dirt section.
- Do not assume the wooded access trail is publicly rideable until its access status is confirmed.
- Secure bags and cargo before leaving, especially if you are carrying food or loose gear.