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20
jan 05.
an
interesting start to a new year: balmy days, bitter cold
days, happy ones, sad ones, fleeting moments of utter bliss
and complete frustration, ups and downs, i tell ya!Ęits been
one of those weird times where you run through just about
every emotion possible, still unsure of what to make of it.
if you've seen Garden State (the best movie i've ever seen,
changed my life) its something like that, a changing of perspectives.
if you didn't love it, i'm sorry, but you just don't get it
and so maybe it wasn't for you to understand at this point
in your life. watch the film, get the soundtrack. amazing
stuff.
a
little update from my little world: a few weeks ago, i watched
helplessly as a car going 40 struck my one-year old pup summit,
throwing her to the curb. bless her. it was traumatic for
the both of us. silly as it sounds, i can only hope to exude
the same strength and courage next time i hit a bump in the
road. amazingly, beyond a few scrapes and bruies, she's a
healthy girl and happier than ever.
near
70 degrees in colorado springs today, a great day to sit at
a desk, right? NOPE. its ridiculous. and to think, 4 days
ago i was freezing my tail off in between periods of blowing
snow and sun at breckenridge. ah, the coveted trails around
the inconspicuously named Chair 6, not frequented by weak
at heart and not easily stumbled upon by tourists. that's
what we like about it. no groomers there, just valleys with
steep walls and trees and moguls and plenty of powder. (note
to other skiers/boarders: please wear a helmet. my guess says
in a few years, helmets will be mandatory at all resorts.)
good times.
so
today i sit indoors while the call of my little black bike
stocked with brand new parts & a sweet new fork awaits and
so does my puppy who has been spared another day. i say trails
should be in good shape for the weekend.
HEY
MOAB WILL: hollar if you're out there, i've lost your address...my
mtbĘgirls & i will be storming sedona next month & we need
the scoop on the cool trails.
21.dec.04
'll
be the first to say colorado springs is not short of some
real-life rockin mtb chicks, not the pros or world champions,
but the everyday amateur chicks with heart and soul that for
the most part go unrecognized. these chicks have much passion
for the sport and are out there doing their thing, figuring
it out - not waiting around for the guys to show up or show
them the way. these chicks have got it goin on and i can't
hold back my bragging on them. credit is about due girls.
warm
temps hung aroundĘthe springs all weekend calling for much
riding. saturday i met two fellow chickas to ride at palmer
park - a pretty sweet network of trails in the middle of our
city, known for more technical riding. trails were a bit sketchy
and i took a good digger while gingerly climbing a snow-covered
rooted step-up. *insert laughing: because crashing is funny
like carrying a wobbly mattress, right Fred-D? julie rocked
her juliana down edna mae like it was nobody's business. edna
mae is a techy section best handled by full-suspension and
unapologetic skills. she took all the drops with grace & style,
not to be matched by any of the guys. so proud of her...go
jules!
i groaned as a rolled out on skinny tires sunday, sketched
out by two very bruised legs and some trail rash- but nothing
a few hours of spinnin around colorado won't work out. a group
of us girls us left downtown for a little detox, some of us
keen on climbing, others not so much (ok, that's me). when
asked about my 05 racing plans i imparted such "wisdom" (aka
nonsense) about the "old me" and the "new me," 'bout my views
on riding and competition, and waited patiently for the ride
to meet the qualifications of "new me"-style riding... fun
and only competitive in a fun way. so you get it, i'm all
about having fun....if you can smile at your opponent or giggle
your way through a ride, you're onto me. (so will i be laughing
my way through the Leadville 100?? someone out there, please
advise! lottery is pulled in january.)
so
we worked our way up near the big scar from strip mining in
the mountain and as we topped the climb in rolls a group of
testosterone-charged guys sporting their team/club kits on
a training ride (more appropriately, a training "race"), most
of them too cool to say hi. jamie and i exchanged a mutual
"let's go!" glance and headed out after them. we had a little
fun, sucking wheels down the hill pedaling near our max, amped
to be just holding on. good times, good times...
14.dec.04
i'll
be honest, i'm over it this holiday season. let's start
'05 already. a little bitter, i admit. shopping is wasted
time indoors that could be spent outside. christmas music
is over-played and frankly, a reminder of how difficult it
is to be alone at the holiday...and the list goes on. but
i have found one thing this season that brings it to life
in a new way - it's the living out of something that says
"its not about me." this season is for giving, not so much
in the literal gift-exchange tradition sense as much as giving
out of your own heart.
mountain
biking, especially at the competitive level is a very "me-centered"
sport/passion/lifestyle/whatever role it plays in your life.
honestly, we ride (selfishly) because we love what it does
for our bodies, minds and souls and rarely take into account
out how it can benefit someone else. i mean, we're talking
bikes here, right?ok,
you think i'm on a tangent... that's ok, i would too, but
bear with me.
on
a ride a few weeks ago, i was reminded that, no, it's not
all about me. i amĘoften guilty of planning rides around this
question: "what kind of workout will i get?" and not for the
quality time it allows me to invest in the lives of my riding
partners. but then it dawned on me; i can freely give someone
else a part of my life that i cherish most! soĘi took my girlfriend
jodie, who's fresh out of the UK, to ride in Ute Valley Park.
(ok, partly for the sheer hilarity of hearing words like "bollocks"
and "bloody hell" from her on her "flash" bike, but also because
it forced me into some fresh air that was much needed.) it
opened up a new dimension of mountain biking to me. i took
corners and techy sections through jodie's eyes - for her
own self-preservation - and to help her cover new ground in
the area of mtb skills. let me tell ya, it can be a truly
rewarding experience to slow down & enjoy beauty and empowerment
of teaching someone to savor the joys and pains of cycling.
and so i pass the challenge on to you, to share something
that's precious to you. don't spend a dime; spend something
much more valuable than money on the someone you love - your
time, your energy, and a little piece of something you adore.
7.dec.04
greetings
mtb friends in warmer climates. oh how I wish to trade
places with you! it is cold cold cold in little ol colorado
springs these days, the darkness of winter (that's yet to
even begin) has set in and I am already dreaming of mtb road
trips to balmy trail locales. this is the time of year when
I think about heading anywhere with a promising forecast and
I’m likely to hit the road at any given moment, we're a bit
between seasons here - the ski hills are working up their
bases and in the meantime all of Colorado heads to the only
2 or 3 ski trails that are open for first tracks of the season.
not me, I'll wait as long as I have to till the mountains
are prime. and when the crowds and lift lines grow old and
the trails are tracked, I'll take to the backcountry- ok,
so life inColorado isn't SO bad. and diversity is good. I've
been a bit off the radar lately since life dealt me a few
tough blows this fall and I admit it's a daily struggle to
stay strong, but just like riding, I'm happy knowing that
after the steep out-of-the saddle climb, I'm gonna ride one
hell of a downhill on the other-side and i'm not gonna look
back. only a little more snow to melt away and I’ll be in
the saddle again. see ya on the trail chicks.
s
12.jul.04
ever
stopped to realize the drama & busyness that surrounds you
and it's power to disconnect you with what makes you passionate
and with the things that make you come alive? the daily-ness
of life can be overwhelming and if you're not careful, can
straight up rob you. and that's the beauty of mountain biking:
it allows you to explore the "art of being". see,
if your mind is caught up in extraneous things, particularly
as you descend over technical trail, you could die. it’s that
simple. on the other hand, riding allows you to just "be",
to put all else aside and just ride. so while I thirst for
the sweetest singletrack and the most soul-shaking mtb experience,
there’s another quest I'm on- and in that spirit, my Summer
of Epics rolls on- in more ways than one. okay, coming back
to reality- Ę summit & I spent the weekend in vail, home to
the '94 and '01 World Mountain Bike Championships. friends,
there's a reason people trek to vail from all over the world.
if you know me, you already know that I'll go on & on about
the dirt in vail. if you don't, go ahead, laugh at how silly
I get over DIRT! I don't know many other chicks who do. seriously,
vail's dirt is sweet & I have visions of riders traveling
the world in search of this flavor of gourmet dirt, uncovering
it in a remote rainforest and hauling it onto the trails themselves.
(funny, right? like when my dad used to tell us moguls were
machine-made.) riding vail in the summer is as good or better
than the best powder day on the mountain. no lift lines. no
spendy lift ticket. just deep, soft, loamy dirt. from the
hard-pack switchbacks that crisscross the mountain, to the
wooded, rooted drop-ins- I'll stop there because to truly
understand, you've got to ride it for yourself. Ęjust promise
me you’ll ride up the mountain, and not the lift. btw,don’t
read too much into reviews on mtbr; there are plenty of squabbling
"locals" who don't want you uncovering their best
trail. can you blame them? on to Breckenridge- well, it seems
as though they haven't yet caught the vision of the whole-mtn,
year-round experience, at least not corporately. on a three
hour ride yesterday, I didn't see a single rider. however,
a multi-million dollar freeride park is still forthcoming
on the mountain in 04.hmmmm. Ę one more tangent before closing
this journal entry comes from a recent observation shared
with someone during a ride. with the birth of the freeride
revolution and gravity fever, are xc riders a dying breed?
where are the young up-and-coming riders? I live in a town
that's home to the Olympic Training Center, Carmichael Training
Systems, RockShox& plenty of world-class mountain bikers &
it's clear that there's been a shift in disciplines. props
to our young friends who continue to reinvent an ever-changing
sport. Ęperhaps it's a call to challenge our sisters and the
little chicks out there to go outside & pedal? see ya in Snowmass.
23
may 2004 Ę What do you do when your mtb trail drops about
50 feet straight down? Ok, maybe not straight down, but over
a 2-pitch rock wall/crevasse thing-y. Well, when in Frutia,
tie your bike off and hoist it down (close your eyes as your
pretty custom paint job clanks down the rock).
Then
hold onto the rope anchored to the top and lower yourself,
try to avoid banging your way down in the likes of your bike.
Ę Hey, who knew cycling shoes (minus the sticky rubber of
climbing shoes) had dual purpose? Second purpose being rock-climbing
and repelling. Ę And there you have it chicks, the famed Edge
Loop of Fruita, Colorado – home to the Fruita Fat Tire Festival
which comes around every May in a neighboring town to Moab.
Call it an ‘mtb playground’ if you will, because, well- that's
just what it is. Ę Edge Loo pis not for the faint of heart.
No, no- if that's more you, stick to the lower trails off
Road 18 like Zippity Do Da, Prime Cut and Chutes and Ladders.
Ę Another notch in the bedpost for 'Epic-palooza', the so-called
Summer of Epic Rides, part of my lofty non-racing 2004 mtb
goals (the other goals being: ride the singlespeed, cruiser
commute, and celebrate a great ride a cold one). Ę Edge Loop
starts on super fun singletrack that dodges the red flowering
cactus and traces the edges of the monumental 'Book Cliffs'
that line the north side of cute little Fruita. Don't be deceived
by the start; avoid overextending yourself here because you'll
need your juices. The trail hooks up with the fire road soon
so be prepared for a freakin lot of climbing over the next
13 miles. After passing the pet cemetery lurking near the
top (note: you're not there yet!), lower your saddle and slide
your butt to the back to avoid munching it in the loose rock
below you. This downhill is seriously steep. I came up on
my friend Angela rolling off the side of the trail with her
shiny new Blur. Don't forget to laugh out loud as you cruise
down the tree-lined section of banking trail. Ę The sweet
descent leads you to the waterfall repel that makes this ride
such the rock star of Western Colorado. Beware, you are not
through climbing. You’ll meander the creek bed for a good
remainder of the ride then go up and down, up and down over
the edges of the Book Cliffs. Ę Perhaps the most hardcore
epic I've ever lived, this one is worth your time, at least
for the proverbial check in the block. Allow just enough time
between visits to forget the excessive climbing this ride
bears. Not to worry; the euphoria this ride brings will surely
outlast its suffering. Enjoy the ride chicks.Ę
20
March 2004
The
Art of Riding an Epic and Other Life Lessons.
No
doubt, it is an art form. But the real skills lie in day 2
and day 3 following the death march ride you did the day before.
Here's a story from my latest epic... epic (n.) is said to
be defined as: a ride that must last for at least five hours
and include at least three mechanicals that add at least an
extra hour to the ride time.Epics are usually started with
a statement like "the trail is buff, should only take three
hours."
I
was in a mid-week slump on Wednesday. The forecast was depressing
and my mtb was calling. Two days later I was in a car with
a good friend & our 2 dogs headed for the canyonlands of Moab,
a short 6 hour jaunt over a few mountains from Colorado Springs.
A few hours of sleep later, we were riding Porcupine Rim,
epic-style, as a loop from our campsite on the river. It was
a soul-quenching, mind rattling, lactic acid, 5-hour rendition
of one of the most sacred Moab rides. Itâs like a spiritual
awakening the moment you clean something formerly out of your
league, go a little higher, climb stronger and yes, drop the
biggest rock ever·the fog clears and everything just makes
sense. Itâs as simple as that. Iâm cruising down P-Rim after
the overlook, riding so smooth, floating over rocks, babyheads
& ledges and DOH! I just dropped about 3 feet without even
slowing down and landed it with grace. It was like learning
to ride without training wheels the first time, that simple.
Day 2. Skies are blue and spring is in full swing in Moab.
I couldnât be much happier for the moment. Jeeps are playing
at the base of ÎCliff Hangerâ, the first drop-in to Amasa
Back Trail, another beloved Moab ride (see entry from Tour
of the Canyonlands disaster April 2003). Iâm cool, I can clean
this. But what I fail to recognize is, ÎIâm cocky and overconfident
tooâ from my super-girl skills the day before. But oh well,
Iâll go anyway and I drop in. And endo. And bust up both knees
in front of a grand audience of jeeping tourists. Nothing
like an involuntary dismount to sober up any air of arrogance
that once existed. Itâs inevitable. The nature of the beast
I guess· When in Moab, definitely visit Mondo CafŽ for some
AM brew and a fresh breakfast. The coffee is yummy and the
food is too. (For post-ride brew, try the Lime Beer at Eddie
McStiff. You earned it.) Also recommended when you bring the
double-burner camp stove but forget the fuel, The Jailhouse
CafŽ (spinach/mushroom omelet is yum!) and Baja-style fish
tacos at Miguelâs. Day 3 calls for some mellow riding in Fruita,
Colorado. By now, our legs are feeling an epic, a few crashes
and the pound of the technical rides of the days past. AND
weâre 3 days past due for showers. Fruita is the answer to
not quitting Moab cold turkey. Drive an hour on your way &
youâll reach another mtb playground, known for itâs fast,
funky trail in the shadows of Moab. Fruita is special and
amazing in itâs own way. It will take the harsh out of your
sad ride home to city-life and the 8-5. Once again, I came
back a better person for spending time on my bike. Depending
on where you are in your personal life, there is something
about the still and quiet of the desert that can be life changing.
Because with the drastic change in scenery also comes change
in perspective and state of mind if you can wrap your arms
around whatever beckons you there. I truly believe a caption
I read in the Mountain Gazette was written only for me, ăthe
desert is for startinâ over." Absolutely. Enjoy the ride chicks.
march 7 2004 well, tonight my dog sleeps so I can finally
sit down for a little download session. for a moment, I'm
digging out from my puppy-ruled life to be a real person again-
my world changed last week with the first addition to my little
family of one. summit is a 12 week old german shepherd who
sauntered out of her humane society kennel and into my life.
the rest is history in the making. her knobby knees and giant
feet have received plenty of these: oh, she's gonna be big!â
and so she will aspire to great things! and she's getting
a little self-conscious of those amazon-paws. it's been a
hilarious ride and a learning experience. to summit my closet
is a giant toyland of chew toys/shoes and i now know that
it hurts when the tail gets shut in the door of my outback.
(sorry!!) no one can resist her puppy breath, the clumsyness
about the way she runs, her spastic rants where she crashes
out with the squeaky frog toy still in mouth, the funny jerks
she makes while she dreams...best of all, no one can resist
her puppy love. especially me, iâm hooked. the trails are
a big fat muddy mess right now due to recent heavy spring
snow. so while the bike takes a momentary backseat, iâll teach
summit trail etiquette and gradually build up her endurance
and try not to spoil her rotten. according to my good friend
marco, "it's not where you go, it's who you're withâ"
that makes all the difference. and with the pitter-patter
of my happy 4-legged friend next to me, i'll go anywhere.
we'll see you on the trail.
february
19 "check your pulse, it's proof that you're not
listening to the call your life's been issuing you... scared
of the world outside you should go explore" - john mayer
this
is not about taking a read from your heart rate monitor. every
now and then, depending on your level of self-awareness, there
comes a time to stop what youâre doing and take inventory.
Take your proverbial "pulse". Because while youâre
out there doing what you're doing, at the same time you may
be completely missing your mark. And what a shame to go on
with life, living with no intention, no passion. So through
a string of revelations both in the mundane and serious arenas
of my life, a few things that I thought were lost, have come
back to me. What a satisfying feeling. Riding in Colorado
has been well, very uncharacteristic of Colorado in February,
at least through my yellow-lenses. Usually around this time
of year, I succumb to Mother Nature, the bitter cold of winter
and the blankets of snow she covers over the mountains. I
take to indoor training and set my bikes sadly aside while
I take my skis out for another ride or snowshoes for a hike.
But not this year, I've almost completely cheated winter.
Amazing, yes! But I admit, winter cycling has its ups and
downs (think fingers so frozen you can't grip your brake levers
and little toes that feel like rocks in your shoes). On my
last mtb ride before the trails became snowy again, I passed
two cross-country skiers. I laughed out loud, questioned my
sanity and kept pedaling up Cheyenne Canon. Even stranger,
the next day while descending into Manitou Springs, I rode
past three llamas walking in the street. Again, I laughed
out loud for the curiousness of the situation. All the while
happy to be outside taking in the sights and sounds of winter
atop my bike.
Don't
wait until Spring, take your pulse, and go outside and play.
Happy Winter mtbchicks. I'll see you on the trail.
January
24, 2004 Remembering Mark Reynolds
Most
days I ride for me: for fitness, for pleasure, for release,
for freedom from the daily-ness of life- but tomorrow I'll
ride for someone else. On the eve of a Memorial mountain bike
ride to remember Mark Reynolds, whose life was taken by a
mountain lion as he stopped to fix his chain on January 8th,
I am forced to reflect and I write with a heavy heart.
I
moved to Colorado a few weeks after college graduation and
was eager to meet people to ride with in my new town. Through
a mutual friend, I met Mark on a ride in Cheyenne Canon while
he was working for Carmichael Training Systems. Anyone who
knew Mark will say he is remembered as an exceptionally caring
and compassionate man with a heart for others.
In
the fall of 2002, I was forced to take time away from my bikes
to recover from surgery. Understanding my withdrawal, Mark
showed his encouragement with a surprise gift delivered to
my work. There are many kinds of friends - long time friends
who grow up with you and others who come in and out of your
life over the years. Each serves a purpose and each is equally
important in the life lessons we learn and experiences we
go through together. Mark was only part of my life for a short
time but no doubt, I know his spirit will live on the trails
and in the hearts of all who loved him here, including mine.
At
a service held for him last week, a poem was read: "I ride
ahead. Do not wait for me too long. I do not sleep. I am not
gone, but over some ridge, riding, riding, riding."
Mark
often asked fellow cyclists for donations to help needy children
obtain their first bikes. His family has requested that donations
be made to a fund set up in his name: the Mark J. Reynolds
Memorial Children's First Bike Fund, c/o OMS Sports, 2300
E. Katella Ave., Suite 430, Anaheim, CA 92806.
Chicks
and Friends of Mtbchick.com - It's almost that time! The
most famous of all 24 Hour Races in the great mecca of Moab!
This race embodies much of what mountain biking & mtb racing
is all about. You see, in the middle of the Utah desert lies
a sacred ground & every year it morphs from home to lizards
and other desert creatures to a virtual tent city made of
riders from every area of the country. Solo-ers, pro teams
& amateur riders alike flock to 24 Hours of Moab.
For
just over 24 hours, the desert rocks. Music rolls through
the canyons. People line up 12-deep just to shower in a trailer.
Have you ever peed in a port-a-potty in the pitch-black (what
you can't see won't hurt you)? Ah, nothing like the latte
wagon to make you feel at home. To the cycling-inclined, whether
novice to pro, add this race to your 'must-do' list and do
it. And afterwards on your bleary-eyed drive back to Iowa
or wherever, you'll swear you've put the check in that box
and say 'no more 24 hour races'. But, a year later you'll
be back. You know you will.
So
for the 24 Hour Race virgins, here's a peek into what goes
down & how to make it the most positive experience:
The
lowdown on Behind the Rocks Trail. The first 10 or so miles
are wide singletrack that is rocky and much like other Moab
riding. There are only a few technical spots, one you'll have
to dismount - but everyone hike-a-bikes it there. There is
ample passing room on the whole course. Pre-riding is recommended
as there are a few sections where the line you take is critical,
especially in the dark. *If you haven't had a chance to pre-ride,
stay left on the technical sections. Think SAND! The start
is somewhat sandy, and you'll encounter a few other beachy
sections over the ~15 mi. course. Keep pedaling & concentrate
on your balance. It takes more out of your to dismount & run
through it, so just try to stay up. The last few miles are
dirt road - so youâll want to big-ring it & crank into the
finish, where you'll hand off your baton to your teammate.
Coordinate the timing of your race laps with your team so
that you get to ride the sunrise lap - it will be the most
soul moving ride of your life.
1.
At the baton handoff, take a support person with you to cover
you with blankets & keep you warm until your teammate rolls
in.If you have the luxury of having such great support, I
highly recommend it. Forget the stereotype of the steamy hot
desert - it gets super chilly when the sun goes down, especially
in October.
2.
Bring clothes for all conditions & be prepared. You may want
technical fabric like Windblock, tights, gloves, etc. Don't
count on your sweaty clothes drying in time for your next
lap. Bring a new kit for each lap.
3.
Practice riding at night, a lot! Don't trust the advertised
life of your light. Get familiar with yours - know how much
time you'll have before your battery dies. LOTS of people
have lights die on the course; with HID systems, they'll be
mooching off of your lights to make it in! You don't want
to be 'that guy'.
4.
Two things to do between laps: eat & sleep. Even if youâre
too amped at night - sleep while you can, you'll need the
energy. You won't feel like it, but remember to re-fuel your
body with the appropriate foods after a lap.
5.
Bring your own support team. If you think you'll have the
juice to clean your bike, tweak any mechanical problems, feed
yourself AND clean up after a race lap, think again. Appoint
someone to 'manage' your team. This person would ideally be
responsible for making sure racers are awake in time for their
next lap & seeing to it that the bike & rider are prepped.
Having people to count on as your support will allow you to
focus on the race and your own well-being. (Or if youâre part
of a 4 or 5 person team, assign the person 2 laps before you
to be your personal alarm clock so you'll have time to get
dressed, warm up, etc.)
6.
I personally recommend the HID light systems. The white light
reminds me of florescent lights like my office - HID lights
are so bright and canât even compare other systems. They're
a little more spendy than the regular systems, but the battery
life is significantly longer so if you can spring for them,
DO! (Check out HID lights from Light & Motion and Nightrider
at www.coloradocyclist.com
.)
7.
If you encounter a mechanical problem & need help, visit the
Team Ironclad tent - FREE tech support. They will do anything
they can to help you!
8.
The Real Time scoring is so much fun - your family & friends
at home can follow your racing live throughout all 24 hours
at www.grannygear.com .
9.
When you're on your 3 am lap, don't be too serious. Encourage
the passersby and those you pass. Have fun and remember why
you do what you do. Ride happy.
July 7 2003
My
travel schedule has slowed for July and I'm finally able to
enjoy all that I love about Colorado. A week in Detroit just
about did me in. I spent the following week coughing through
several rides, trying to overcome the air quality that comes
with being a very automotive city. Traveling creates a rollercoaster-ish
training schedule and the race results to prove it. Especially
when coming home means 7,000 feet elevation. How about starting
a ride at 11,000 feet? Climb about 1,000 feet and drop almost
4,000. ah yes, the beloved Monarch Crest Trail. Over 40 delicious
miles of singletrack. So much rocky technical downhill that
your hands get all pumped and when you remove them from the
bar, you can hardly open your fist. On the 4th of July I headed
into the mountains near Salida to ride "Crest Trail" - a soul-moving
ride. If youâre ever facing burnout or just not in a happy
place, Crest Trail will bring it all back. This trail ranks
up there with other epics like 401 (Crested Butte), Government
Trail (Snowmass), Kenosha to Georgia Pass. The first few miles
are an unforgiving granny gear climb ö I couldâve sworn I
had a few drinks at the start. As the altitude increases,
your balance is compromised, much like feeling your 2nd or
3rd margarita. The trail climbs up to Marshall Pass and the
Continental Divide over high alpine meadows and a few snowfields
untouched by summer. Then aside from a few more grunt climbs,
itâs a screaming downhill through forest, creeks and rock
fields. The kind where your vision is blurred from being so
rocked, even on a full suspension bike. I was giddy at the
top of the pass, partially from the lack of air, but also
for the views of pristine pines that covered the valley into
which we were about to descend. What a day. The weekend is
short and there are more miles to cover! Off to Winter Park
to ride and do some camping in the Arapaho National Forest.
Iâm cruising up Vasquez Road, enjoying the high clearance
of my Outback when suddenly to my horror, my bike appears
in my side view mirror! My bike bounced her way right out
of the skewer fork mount. Bike is fine, car is fine. I continue
on. I pre-ride the course with friends Betsy and Micah, cook
dinner, sleep and prepare to race the Winter Park Super Loop.
Again, rolling down the rocky road, oops, I have forgotten
my mtb shoes that are drying in a tree. I race back to the
campsite, and guess what? I am one lucky girl to have a bike
in one piece and all car windows in tact! Finally, I get to
the WP base area, register just in time and begin my warm-up.
I take a big hit coming down singletrack and knock my disc
brake out of alignment. My bike is a squealing mess. The great
Neutral Tech Support guy temporarily tweaks it and Iâm off.
Needless to say, a number of factors at WP claimed my 2nd
ever DNF (the first one was also at WP). Feeling emotionally
defeated, I race every now and then, and you canât race well
on spent legs. Already the 4th of July weekend is past. Iâm
about to face my 25th and raced for the first time in the
25-29 age category. Isnât it great that skill and speed come
with time and experience! Thatâs what itâs all about. Iâll
redeem myself at SolVista next weekend!
28.apr.03
I'll
never be a roadie.
Ah
yes, the dreaded road bike. If you're an avid mountain biker,
you probably understand that in order to be a competitive
racer, it will behoove you to spend time riding on the road.
In the wake of a 200-mile ride I did last weekend, the reasons
why I mountain bike are forever seared in my head. Aside from
the physical benefits, these are few things that keep me of
the mountain biking persuasion...
° #1 - The sheer boredom of road riding from being hypnotized
by the wheel in front of me. This is especially true on long
rides. There is nothing fulfilling about turning the pedals
mindlessly over asphalt hour after hour after hour with your
head down. (Exception: unless you are lucky enough to live
somewhere like Colorado Springs, where the usual 30-mile post
work ride consists of landmarks like Garden of the Gods, Cheyenne
Canon, and views of a 14,000 peak.)
°
Fearing for your life. Riding shouldn't stressful, but plant
yourself on the shoulder of somewhat busy road, and the success
of your ride is no longer dependent on you, but the drivers
around you. Sometimes I can feel the tension taking over my
whole body as trucks and really busy people whiz by dangerously
close to my little road bike and me. Anyone who rides road
can tell you plenty of 'close call' stories, probably daily.
There's something inherently wrong with the fact that this
school of cycling can encourage road rage from within.
° What's the challenge in riding pavement? What about the
exhilaration of a fast, technical descent or the sense of
accomplishment from cleaning a tricky section? Seriously,
anyone can jump on a road bike and turn the pedals in circles,
but how about becoming a well-rounded cyclist on more technical
terrain?
°
The peace of riding mtb. ThereŐs nothing like escaping the
noise and traffic of the city and retreating to a quiet mountain
ride where the only thing you hear is your own breath, your
bike, and nature around you.
°
DonŐt forget 24 Hour Racing, night rides, mtb camping road
trips, banked turns, catching air, full suspension, single
speeds, and the list goes on... It no longer is just a bike
ride, but a soul-moving experience.
Having
said all of this - were it not for the few remaining beneficial
qualities of riding road I'd be a true devout mtbchick. But
as long as it helps with things like endurance, smooth pedaling
and developing a quiet upper body, I'm forced to share my
time between road and mountain riding. And thankfully, road
riding allows me the opportunity to ride while still being
a good steward of the trails after snow or rain. But given
a choice, I'll always choose singletrack over road. Leave
the stresses of the everyday at work and take to the trails.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4.7.03
Moab
Rides & Spreading Love
Moab
shows me no love. Don't get me wrong, Moab is full of great
people. Rather, I've got a load of stories about my own personal
string of bad luck/karma/what have you in Moab. I'm trying
not to take it personally. And I don't wish it on anybody.
In
past treks to the proverbial Promised Land of mtb, I've broken
a rather costly pedal riding Slick Rock Trail, lost the suspension
ability in my fork while descending Amasa Back Trail, and
hiked miles of snow covered Porcupine Rim just to name a few.
Adding
to my poor track record, one more not-so-great adventure in
Moab...
I
set out to pre-ride the Tour of the Canyonlands racecourse
on Friday. My friends were practicing downhill runs, so I
ventured out alone. No big deal, since there would be plenty
of other riders on the course to catch up with. I climbed
out Kane Creek Road and over Hurrah Pass and strangely enough,
I didn't see a soul for 17 miles.
That's
when, in the spirit of my typical Moab ride, things started
to get crazy. I stopped to see about a knocking sound from
the rear-triangle bolt area. To no avail, I kept trucking
down into Jackson's Hole. The desert was quiet and beautiful.
A bit lonely, but I kept my focus on the ride and how nice
it was to be out in the wild. Lizards crisscrossed the trail
in front of me and little cactus flowers spotted the basin.
So
the sun is shining. I'm working on my tan and life is good.
Then oil spewed everywhere from my rear shock and the casing
blew off the threads. Sweet, my shock just blew up. I'm 17
miles away from anything. Out of water. I'm trying to ride
but my pedals keep bottoming out on rocky road below me. I
had no choice but to start hiking back. Surely some jeep-ers
would pass and offer me a lift back to town. Of course not,
Moab has it out for me.
Some
time passed, and panic started to set in. I shed a few tears.
I was gauging my speed - computer says I'm walking 2mph...
16 more miles to go... uh oh. Crazy thoughts ran over me about
being stranded in the dark or meeting a big scary animal in
the desert, hungry for a mtbchick. In the middle of the great
big desert, in such a situation, you start to realize how
small you are. They didn't teach survival skills at Girl Scouts.
I'm a light rider, my equipment doesn't usually fail.
Several
riders started coming past me and for whatever reason, didn't
feel like stopping to check on the hiking mtbchick (they say,
'what goes around, comes around'). I was beginning to get
a bad feeling for the mtb community... until I met Will who
stopped, threaded the shock together, and I was on my slow
way limping in my injured bike. Ah, finally - 6 hours later
- a car ride and water!
Maybe
I've offended this rider's Promised Land called Moab, I donŐt
know... Anyway, if you're heading there soon, put in a good
word for me. Perhaps we can make amends.
THANKS
to Will and the two crazy, Canadian riders who picked me up
5 miles outside Moab and saved the day!
"I've
seen and met angels wearing the disguise of ordinary people
living ordinary lives".
___________________________________________________________________________________________
3.11.03
I
am convinced that cycling is one of the greatest things you
can do as an adult to reacquaint yourself with your inner
child. In fact, I met mine a few times last week, bringing
me back to the days of skinned knees from trying to ride my
bike without training wheels. I have to laugh because as a
coordinator for a non-profit ride, and I see grown men and
women wipe out all the time. Call me a jerk for doing so,
but there is something so humorous in that.
Saturday
brought warm temps to Colorado Springs, uncovering the dirt
on the trails once again (a rare sight in Colorado Winter).
My brand new Juliana Superlight sat idly in my living room
looking squeaky clean with the little knobbies still on the
tires. I ignored word that snow still lingered in Cheyenne
Canon (nestled around 8,000 ft.) and headed up the Chutes
to Columbine Trail with a few guys.
Later,
I limped home with a gnarly bruised left thigh. Seems like
most crashes happen so fast that you donŐt really know how
you did it or what happened. Could've been that Speedplays
were not meant for hiking through the snow... or maybe it
was an uncontrollable two-way slide in the snow, more successfully
pulled off by skis. Either way, I went down painfully hard
in about a foot of snow. The bike came down on me and I broke
a bar end with my leg.
Better
yet, in an attempt to work out the soreness, I sampled more
gravel during a mountain ride a few days later when I washed
out on a hard packed corner, going down again. I limped home,
right leg bruised, bloody and packed with Ute Valley Trail.
Regrets?
Absolutely not! If you ride, you are going to crash. If you
don't, youŐre not riding hard enough. I suggest crying if
feel like it. Pound your fists into the dirt if it makes you
feel better. But get back on (barring serious injury) & keep
pedaling. Learn from it. Relish your crashes. Laugh. Take
pride in your battle wounds because it means you are going
faster, pushing yourself and your limits. We don't get stronger
by never taking risks.
Have
fun & keep the rubber side down.
3/5/03
Steph
on finding her bliss...
"Go in the direction of your dreams, live the life youŐve
imagined." ThoreauŐs quote came to life for me. I remember
my first truly blissful ride and the first feeling of being
really "on" and in tune with the bike. I knew I would never
be the same.
Afternoons
during high school, I dabbled in mtn biking, jumped a picnic
table on my skis at the local ski hill and practiced at field
hockey. My best friend & I were dubbed "Dirtball & Scumbag"
for the elegant way we donned dirt after riding muddy Pennsylvania
trail. And I was plotting my move to Colorado - a vacationland
to me that I dreamed of calling "home".
But
college plans took me to the small, somewhat stereotypical
town of College Station, Texas. In a way, I felt robbed of
who I was & in a state of a cultural displacement. The adventurous
girl inside me became lost in the Texas cheerleader/beauty
queen female student body. Lucky for me, a certain guy caught
my eye & shared with me his passion for mountain biking. I
fueled all the passion I had for skiing & the outdoors into
my new love... addiction and inevitably, my lifestyle.
I
got my first racing bike, a bass boat green Schwinn Homegown
was invited to join my a team. I remember one of my teammates
saying to me "those pink socks make you look like a girl".
DUH. I was the only female mtb chick on the team. I tagged
along with the guys (not too many mtb biking women in the
Lone Star state), following close behind, watching their lines
and all the while getting stronger and more confident.
Would
I ever have guessed that I would land here, making a living
out of bicycling living in a vacation? Probably not, and I
owe it to the men in my life who have encouraged me, pushed
me (literally), custom built and painted bikes for me (ground
up, litespeed & santa cruz) - outfitting me with nothing but
the BEST, waited for me on the trail and let me win too...
thanks.
I always remember the real reason I ride - I never do a training
ride I don't feel like doing... IŐm not afraid to ride alone...
I have more dollars invested in cycling than the stock market,
or my car, home or anything else... I ride because it touches
my soul. It sets me free.
All
this said... find what it is that brings you to life & fall
in love.
See
you on the trail.
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