As everyone on the east coast knows, logs are a large part of riding a mountain bike. Clearing big logs is the most practical skill that anyone can learn. Knowing how to get over logs of any size quickly and without damaging the bike is a skill that can make riding much more enjoyable. I am a proponent of riding as smoothly as possible. Staying light on the bike will make it last longer and that is important when the goal is to complete the race.

Who is doing what? The first and least technical is the cyclocross dismount. It entails unclipping the right foot, dismounting the frame, stepping between the left foot and frame while rolling, stepping to the ground, and following through by slinging the bike onto the riders back. The rider then runs over the log, drops the bike to the ground and jumps on top of it at speed. This method still has a place when crossing narrow bridges that can’t be trusted.

The “chain ring attack” as I am going to call it is one of the only faux pas that can be committed on the trail. This act is usually done by lifting the front wheel up and over the log allowing the rider to land the chain ring on top of the log. The rider then leans, peddles, and grinds his or her way over the log. I’m not sure if I even need to say why this is a jackass move. If this is where you are, then you owe it to yourself to make the following procedure your own.

Start by approaching a parking block at a reasonable speed. Lift the front tire landing it on top of the parking block and immediately follow through by lifting the rear of the bike with your clipless pedals so that the rear tire transitions to the top of the parking block. Think of the technique as at three-step movement. Step one is to lift the front tire. Two, use your clipless pedals and momentum to hop the rear wheel to the place formerly occupied by the front wheel. Three, continue rolling forward as the rear wheel falls from the obstacle.

It is important to practice this move many times on a parking block before attempting it on a larger obstacle. The muscles in your body need repetition to memorize the complex movement. This is good news. It means that everyone can eventually master the skill of flying over large logs at full speed. The key is practice. Just remember to stick to parking blocks for at least a week. Practice makes permanent, not perfect.

The Boat Show is back and it has a new name. It’s now called the Boating and Lifestyle show. I think the name is a little more progressive than they know. I couldn’t help but laugh at the idea of a gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender identifying individual boat show. Ahoy, mate.

This year at the show, there are a few boats that stand apart from the rest. Sima marine is displaying a 40ft maroon Marquis. The Marquis line has come a long way over the last three years, and this 40SC is a great package. It has the newest Volvo IPS drives, which can be seen in the photos that I took. The IPS drives are fully and independently maneuverable allowing the boat to move in any direction or spin in place.

River Front Yacht Services has two lobster boat inspired Back Cove yachts. The larger of the two is a 33’ day boat. It’s simplicity and graceful lines exude class. The Back Cove line offer true blue hulls, unlike other brands that simply paint the hulls of their boats. River Front also has a full display of navigation equipment, replacement engines and generator sets.