Saturday ride - solo ride plus one
Kim ended up joining me on my jaunt to Indian Creek. Man - we had so much fun - Kim is a blast to ride with! We laughed out asses off the whole ride - we esp. laughed hard when Kim was *trying* to give me directions to go left or right...gawd it was hilarious.
I was a little concerned my Wed/Thursday/Friday activities had taken it's toll on my legs when we hit that first bit of singletrack and I had to get in my little chain ring. I pretty much always ride that bit to Lenny's Rest in my middle ring. I thought to myself 'ruh roh...this might be a long day'. Kim is super fast on her new bike and FLEW up the trail to wait for me. but i didn't worry about her waiting on me - it had promised to be a low-key day...and I knew I'd get there...eventually. ;)
The trail was in great shape and I don't think I've ever seen it so green. Kim rocked it on the new bike.
We didn't see many mtn bikers - but there were several groups of horse riders. I had heard the horse people had cleared the trail and there evidence that they had done a lot of work!
We did session a few things here and there. But in general we kept moving. There were 3 parts that I had not ridden before today - so I'm excited that I've been able to conquer some of the things that had vexed me in the past. I wrote the details on these 3 sections below - just so i could re-live those happy moments. ;)
The bridge - 'ok..i'm happy'
I don't like bridges or exposure - Kim on the other hand has a great talent for bridges - so when we got to the right hand turn and bridge over a creek - she rides it with ease.
We stopped and she encouraged me to try it. I kept balking on the approach. Then she rode it in both directions. (actually this reminded me of how Dave and I session. Like Dave - she's a good teacher).
So I *finally* let go of the brakes and rode the bridge. WHEW! I told her - 'it's that's the only thing I do on this ride - I'm super happy!'
The step-up - 'ok - I'm *really* happy'
Last year when I rode the trail with Kim and Dan - Kim and I were struggling to get up this step-up. Last year Kim finally got up the step-up but struggled with the rocky climb afterward. Me - I could only get my front wheel up but not my rear tire over the step up.
So we tried tried it this time and Kim got the step-up on the 2nd try - after a couple of more tries she's cleaned the rocky climb afterward. Me - I got the step-up on my 2nd try . Woot! I was so happy. I told Kim 'ok - I know i didn't clean the rocky part after the step-up but for now I'm stupid happy with the bridge and the step-up!'
The tree line - 'ok I'm *extremely* happy'
Toward the end of the ride on a fun, rocky descent there is this big tree. There is a "B" line to the rider's left of a big tree and then there's the "tree line". Of course - last year Kim rode the "tree line" but I didn't have the courage. This time I approached it and as I rode up to it - i thought - 'hmmm....i should be able to ride that' and let go of the brakes and cleaned it. Man - I was super stoked!
Here's Kim version of the story.
Kim showing good form and massive calf muscles on a techy bit
I was a little concerned my Wed/Thursday/Friday activities had taken it's toll on my legs when we hit that first bit of singletrack and I had to get in my little chain ring. I pretty much always ride that bit to Lenny's Rest in my middle ring. I thought to myself 'ruh roh...this might be a long day'. Kim is super fast on her new bike and FLEW up the trail to wait for me. but i didn't worry about her waiting on me - it had promised to be a low-key day...and I knew I'd get there...eventually. ;)
The trail was in great shape and I don't think I've ever seen it so green. Kim rocked it on the new bike.
Kim getting through a tricky bit
We didn't see many mtn bikers - but there were several groups of horse riders. I had heard the horse people had cleared the trail and there evidence that they had done a lot of work!
We did session a few things here and there. But in general we kept moving. There were 3 parts that I had not ridden before today - so I'm excited that I've been able to conquer some of the things that had vexed me in the past. I wrote the details on these 3 sections below - just so i could re-live those happy moments. ;)
stats - which includes our 'sessioning' time
The bridge - 'ok..i'm happy'
I don't like bridges or exposure - Kim on the other hand has a great talent for bridges - so when we got to the right hand turn and bridge over a creek - she rides it with ease.
We stopped and she encouraged me to try it. I kept balking on the approach. Then she rode it in both directions. (actually this reminded me of how Dave and I session. Like Dave - she's a good teacher).
So I *finally* let go of the brakes and rode the bridge. WHEW! I told her - 'it's that's the only thing I do on this ride - I'm super happy!'
The step-up - 'ok - I'm *really* happy'
Last year when I rode the trail with Kim and Dan - Kim and I were struggling to get up this step-up. Last year Kim finally got up the step-up but struggled with the rocky climb afterward. Me - I could only get my front wheel up but not my rear tire over the step up.
2008 - only able to lift my front wheel
I couldn't get my rear wheel up-and-over = boo!
I couldn't get my rear wheel up-and-over = boo!
So we tried tried it this time and Kim got the step-up on the 2nd try - after a couple of more tries she's cleaned the rocky climb afterward. Me - I got the step-up on my 2nd try . Woot! I was so happy. I told Kim 'ok - I know i didn't clean the rocky part after the step-up but for now I'm stupid happy with the bridge and the step-up!'
The tree line - 'ok I'm *extremely* happy'
Toward the end of the ride on a fun, rocky descent there is this big tree. There is a "B" line to the rider's left of a big tree and then there's the "tree line". Of course - last year Kim rode the "tree line" but I didn't have the courage. This time I approached it and as I rode up to it - i thought - 'hmmm....i should be able to ride that' and let go of the brakes and cleaned it. Man - I was super stoked!
Here's a pic i stole off of mtbr showing some guy riding the "tree line".
Here's Kim version of the story.
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