For those of you who have wondered (or care) why so long since the last post, let's just say a whole lotta life got in the way!!!
Moving forward, the season changes and duties of homeschool mom and healthcare overseer of parents has limited my time outdoors. I will still post from time to time when I get a chance to ride, but for now, my focus is on a new venture - my first triathlon!!!
I've created a blog for just such a purpose, and will be updating there. Feel free to join and follow!!!
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Cripple Fly Ranch Road
I talked Jim into a ride this evening up Cripple Fly Ranch Road. No, I did not make that name up, it really is a road in rural WV. It's a 1 mile climb up non paved, gravel road. The climb is pretty hard, I used to think it must be akin to Mt. Everest - until I met Vomit Hill. Now I just call it Mount Everest Junior.
This road was my first ride outside of my yard back in May. I thought I was going to die before I got halfway up. I stopped on the way and almost didn't make it back on the bike because it was up hill (and we all know I struggle getting back on the bike up hill.) I thought to myself, "I will never get the hang of this and be able to breathe at the same time!" But we kept at it and saw improvement. Then we ventured out to other trails, Vomit Hill, rattlesnake trail, and of course, the great single tracks at Stonewall Jackson - which were not a success, but still.
On the ride, I realized I can balance myself and adjust my shirt or my sun glasses, without a major spill. Do you realize what an accomplishment this is? I've been working on my balance, lateral lunges, sideways sprints on the treadmill, etc. When I first started, I gripped those handlebars like they were gonna save me from ever falling. Boy did I get that wrong!!!
I decided to implement my new breathing techniques - in through the nose, out through the mouth, no panting. The climb was tough - my quads were screaming - but I didn't grip my handlebars. Slow and steady, keep breathing, push down on the handlebars (still don't know why), "lasso" a landmark up ahead. We made it to the top with our best time ever!!! I resisted the urge to let go and pant even then. Wow, what accomplishments we've both made in the past few months!
The ride down was a bit scary, it's pretty dry here and the stones were flying. I decided to keep a tight grip on my brakes, my whole body tense. Now that I have the hang of relaxing on the climb, I've gotta work at it on the sail back down! Jim was flying, and I want to note right here that this is a remote, wooded area. Sometimes we'll encounter a car. Jim has made me promise not to ride here without him. I wonder what he thinks flying down the hill, around several curves, and out of sight is?!? I could've wrecked and he'd have never known! Maybe he's gaining confidence in me, that'd be something, seeing as how he's observed me at my worse.
Afterwards, I rode up my driveway and around the house, down the hill and into my mom's yard. The first time I ever did that I was scared out of my mind. I split my mom's little flower patch wide open, mowed down a gladiola, unearthed a rock, and fell over. Daughter #1 sitting on the porch above me heard the ruckus, jumped up and yelled, "MOM!!!" Of course I ran back and propped up the flower before mom saw it. "Mamw's right there!" She was sitting on her porch facing the opposite direction, but she can't hear too well, so that worked to my advantage that time. "I don't know if you need to ride a bike or not...." If only that kid knew what was to come, huh?!?
This road was my first ride outside of my yard back in May. I thought I was going to die before I got halfway up. I stopped on the way and almost didn't make it back on the bike because it was up hill (and we all know I struggle getting back on the bike up hill.) I thought to myself, "I will never get the hang of this and be able to breathe at the same time!" But we kept at it and saw improvement. Then we ventured out to other trails, Vomit Hill, rattlesnake trail, and of course, the great single tracks at Stonewall Jackson - which were not a success, but still.
On the ride, I realized I can balance myself and adjust my shirt or my sun glasses, without a major spill. Do you realize what an accomplishment this is? I've been working on my balance, lateral lunges, sideways sprints on the treadmill, etc. When I first started, I gripped those handlebars like they were gonna save me from ever falling. Boy did I get that wrong!!!
I decided to implement my new breathing techniques - in through the nose, out through the mouth, no panting. The climb was tough - my quads were screaming - but I didn't grip my handlebars. Slow and steady, keep breathing, push down on the handlebars (still don't know why), "lasso" a landmark up ahead. We made it to the top with our best time ever!!! I resisted the urge to let go and pant even then. Wow, what accomplishments we've both made in the past few months!
The ride down was a bit scary, it's pretty dry here and the stones were flying. I decided to keep a tight grip on my brakes, my whole body tense. Now that I have the hang of relaxing on the climb, I've gotta work at it on the sail back down! Jim was flying, and I want to note right here that this is a remote, wooded area. Sometimes we'll encounter a car. Jim has made me promise not to ride here without him. I wonder what he thinks flying down the hill, around several curves, and out of sight is?!? I could've wrecked and he'd have never known! Maybe he's gaining confidence in me, that'd be something, seeing as how he's observed me at my worse.
Afterwards, I rode up my driveway and around the house, down the hill and into my mom's yard. The first time I ever did that I was scared out of my mind. I split my mom's little flower patch wide open, mowed down a gladiola, unearthed a rock, and fell over. Daughter #1 sitting on the porch above me heard the ruckus, jumped up and yelled, "MOM!!!" Of course I ran back and propped up the flower before mom saw it. "Mamw's right there!" She was sitting on her porch facing the opposite direction, but she can't hear too well, so that worked to my advantage that time. "I don't know if you need to ride a bike or not...." If only that kid knew what was to come, huh?!?
Sunday, September 12, 2010
An unexpected crash of a different sort
What a beautiful day! Jim and I took our two youngest for a trail ride. My youngest daughter (we'll call her daughter #3) is a good rider with a good bit of experience. Daughter #2 is new to the mountain biking scene so we weren't sure how she'd do. We picked the trail I learned on - nothing drastic, dual track, very scenic, all wooded area beside a creek. The only thing a little hard is the gradual climb, but the reward is the coast back down! It's 6.5 miles round trip.
Jim appointed me the leader (the person with the shortest legs and the smallest bike), the girls came next, with him the rear. Everyone in the family is taller than me. Daughter #3 (the tallest daughter out of my three girls) was in the rear with Jim. She kept running into her sister, who would inform me that I needed to go "just a tiny bit faster". I had to pump my stubby legs pretty hard in order to keep ahead of the gang!
Daughter #2 is a like me in a lot of ways, and we're finding out that includes riding skills. We both have trouble pushing off and getting the bike started. We both find railroad ties a challenge, single tracks are scary, and we don't always have the most graceful stops. Today was no exception. I had lots of trouble getting started after we'd take a break. Everyone else would push off and then I'd hop back off. I'd hear them brake, stop, and run into each other (with a few groans, as in, "Oh not again."). It was actually kinda funny, I got a kick out of that.
On the railroad ties, I guess I went too slow (Jim says I've still got to get more momentum) and they were all struggling to stay up. I heard a few grumbles there, but I was looking ahead to the group of people waiting for us to pass, not wanting to look like a fool and wreck in front of them.
The trip was a success all around, though. No one wrecked, we enjoyed the coast back down, and stopped to check out the views of the New River below.
Upon our arrival back home, Jim told us all to ride around in the driveway to check our gears. Mine had been knocked out, so my chain was loose. The girls were behind me on their bikes, my parents - who were walking the lane - heading towards me. I tried to hurry up before mom and dad came near enough for me to run them over (they're getting tottery, they don't need any help). I pushed off, distracted with the chain. When I looked back up, I was headed off the pavement, over the bank, and towards 2 bushes tightly clumped together (one of them full of long briars). I yelled, forged through, all the while thinking, "I never ever would've picked these bushes to ride through intentionally". I felt thorns rake along my arms, one long rope-like strand stretching from both bushes catching me under my chin. I imagined that "rope" snatching me off my bike and keeping me suspended like in the movies. I could hear my girls giggling and I was too as soon as I got through the mess. Jim just stood there shaking his head, my mom worrying about my scratches, while I rode off down the lane laughing hysterically.
Talk about random, it looked like I just took off and decided to squeeze myself through bushes just for the fun of it! I'm still laughing as I write this. Talk about ridiculous. I bet my mom is going to worry now every time I get on that bike...if she only knew, huh?!? She hasn't taken a gander at my bruised legs from last weekend's single track fiasco! (She doesn't know about the blog, nobody tell her, please!)
Jim appointed me the leader (the person with the shortest legs and the smallest bike), the girls came next, with him the rear. Everyone in the family is taller than me. Daughter #3 (the tallest daughter out of my three girls) was in the rear with Jim. She kept running into her sister, who would inform me that I needed to go "just a tiny bit faster". I had to pump my stubby legs pretty hard in order to keep ahead of the gang!
Daughter #2 is a like me in a lot of ways, and we're finding out that includes riding skills. We both have trouble pushing off and getting the bike started. We both find railroad ties a challenge, single tracks are scary, and we don't always have the most graceful stops. Today was no exception. I had lots of trouble getting started after we'd take a break. Everyone else would push off and then I'd hop back off. I'd hear them brake, stop, and run into each other (with a few groans, as in, "Oh not again."). It was actually kinda funny, I got a kick out of that.
On the railroad ties, I guess I went too slow (Jim says I've still got to get more momentum) and they were all struggling to stay up. I heard a few grumbles there, but I was looking ahead to the group of people waiting for us to pass, not wanting to look like a fool and wreck in front of them.
The trip was a success all around, though. No one wrecked, we enjoyed the coast back down, and stopped to check out the views of the New River below.
Upon our arrival back home, Jim told us all to ride around in the driveway to check our gears. Mine had been knocked out, so my chain was loose. The girls were behind me on their bikes, my parents - who were walking the lane - heading towards me. I tried to hurry up before mom and dad came near enough for me to run them over (they're getting tottery, they don't need any help). I pushed off, distracted with the chain. When I looked back up, I was headed off the pavement, over the bank, and towards 2 bushes tightly clumped together (one of them full of long briars). I yelled, forged through, all the while thinking, "I never ever would've picked these bushes to ride through intentionally". I felt thorns rake along my arms, one long rope-like strand stretching from both bushes catching me under my chin. I imagined that "rope" snatching me off my bike and keeping me suspended like in the movies. I could hear my girls giggling and I was too as soon as I got through the mess. Jim just stood there shaking his head, my mom worrying about my scratches, while I rode off down the lane laughing hysterically.
Talk about random, it looked like I just took off and decided to squeeze myself through bushes just for the fun of it! I'm still laughing as I write this. Talk about ridiculous. I bet my mom is going to worry now every time I get on that bike...if she only knew, huh?!? She hasn't taken a gander at my bruised legs from last weekend's single track fiasco! (She doesn't know about the blog, nobody tell her, please!)
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Vomit Hill
I knew what Andrea had up her sleeve today when she met me for our ride. She told me she'd already ridden around the neighborhood and now she knew FOR SURE where we were going, and how to get out of there. We were going up Vomit Hill. She had done this a few times in the previous weeks. This would be my first. We tried once before, (with my heavy mountain bike) and I quit right off the bat. We rode the bottom of it last week - that's when we named it Vomit and Diarrhea Hill. Today, we were goin' all the way to the top. It's a scary view from down below.
As I said before, I got a light hybrid so I could road ride. This baby is so light it's like a song! We took off at our regular pace, warming up first before the big climb. I knew this was coming so I did a little research on hill climbing last night.
The basics I got out of it were: try not to pant like a dog - get some steady rhythm to your breathing. Push all the way through the pedals, not just down, keeping momentum. Also, when pushing the pedals down, push down on the handlebars - but don't GRIP LIKE CRAZA!!! I'm not sure what that does, but I tried to do it so I could focus on not passing out. Fix your eyes on a reference point, and pretend to "lasso" it, an imaginary rope pulling you toward that point. Once there, pick something else. Lastly, don't power through in higher gears just 'cause you can stand on your pedals. This will tire you out for the long haul, conserve your energy and gear down, take it slow and steady.
We started up. This is not a straight hill. This hill curves several times and reminds me of one of those winding staircases. We geared down. I felt myself starting to pant recklessly, and told myself to get a grip. I found a rhythm coinciding with my pedaling - breathing in the nose, out the mouth. I had to pass Andrea, sounding like Darth Vader as I went by. "You're doing great, you're doin' it!" She cheered. Half way up, I was dying, reminding myself to keep the breathing under control, push through the pedals, and push down on the handlebars (who knows why, it kept me occupied). I "lassoed" a white PVC pipe sticking up out of the ground. Made it past that, and the stop sign was the next goal, at the top of the hill!
I reached the top and forgot all about my breathing, gasping for air and maybe an extra oxygen tank lying around. I DID it!!! (I had also researched how to get back on up a steep hill, hoping against hopes I wouldn't have to stop!!)
The rest of the ride was great except for that last killer hill (the one I pushed my mountain bike up the first time). Now you have to know that I did finally do legs yesterday - weighted squats and side lunges. So I was pretty sore, especially in the derriere, but I was trying to implement our target (the buttox) by leaning forward in my seat on this climb. It got painful (it was a very long climb) and I tried sitting up, but that hurt my already sore thighs as well. I assumed the former position, when a very slow, big truck carrying an inloader sped up the hill, then slowed to a crawl right beside us!!! It was very unnerving, very rude, and he knew what he was doing - JERK! I saw Andrea swerve when he got up beside her. He made the last part of our last climb of the day TORTURE!
After he finally moved on and we got up that hill, Andrea and I trashed him. Of all the nerve, who would do that to a couple of girls just minding their own business, just trying to BREATHE!!! UHG!!!
Aside from the jerk, this was a great day for me. I conquered Vomit Hill!!! I can now sleep at night. What's the next goal? Well, I'm sure I'll think of something - or someone else will think of it for me! At least I didn't choke up a lung - sheesh!
As I said before, I got a light hybrid so I could road ride. This baby is so light it's like a song! We took off at our regular pace, warming up first before the big climb. I knew this was coming so I did a little research on hill climbing last night.
The basics I got out of it were: try not to pant like a dog - get some steady rhythm to your breathing. Push all the way through the pedals, not just down, keeping momentum. Also, when pushing the pedals down, push down on the handlebars - but don't GRIP LIKE CRAZA!!! I'm not sure what that does, but I tried to do it so I could focus on not passing out. Fix your eyes on a reference point, and pretend to "lasso" it, an imaginary rope pulling you toward that point. Once there, pick something else. Lastly, don't power through in higher gears just 'cause you can stand on your pedals. This will tire you out for the long haul, conserve your energy and gear down, take it slow and steady.
We started up. This is not a straight hill. This hill curves several times and reminds me of one of those winding staircases. We geared down. I felt myself starting to pant recklessly, and told myself to get a grip. I found a rhythm coinciding with my pedaling - breathing in the nose, out the mouth. I had to pass Andrea, sounding like Darth Vader as I went by. "You're doing great, you're doin' it!" She cheered. Half way up, I was dying, reminding myself to keep the breathing under control, push through the pedals, and push down on the handlebars (who knows why, it kept me occupied). I "lassoed" a white PVC pipe sticking up out of the ground. Made it past that, and the stop sign was the next goal, at the top of the hill!
I reached the top and forgot all about my breathing, gasping for air and maybe an extra oxygen tank lying around. I DID it!!! (I had also researched how to get back on up a steep hill, hoping against hopes I wouldn't have to stop!!)
The rest of the ride was great except for that last killer hill (the one I pushed my mountain bike up the first time). Now you have to know that I did finally do legs yesterday - weighted squats and side lunges. So I was pretty sore, especially in the derriere, but I was trying to implement our target (the buttox) by leaning forward in my seat on this climb. It got painful (it was a very long climb) and I tried sitting up, but that hurt my already sore thighs as well. I assumed the former position, when a very slow, big truck carrying an inloader sped up the hill, then slowed to a crawl right beside us!!! It was very unnerving, very rude, and he knew what he was doing - JERK! I saw Andrea swerve when he got up beside her. He made the last part of our last climb of the day TORTURE!
After he finally moved on and we got up that hill, Andrea and I trashed him. Of all the nerve, who would do that to a couple of girls just minding their own business, just trying to BREATHE!!! UHG!!!
Aside from the jerk, this was a great day for me. I conquered Vomit Hill!!! I can now sleep at night. What's the next goal? Well, I'm sure I'll think of something - or someone else will think of it for me! At least I didn't choke up a lung - sheesh!
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Kind riding friend has the patience of Job
I haven't told you about my friend Aimee. She is the one who patiently taught me to ride, and was with me when I rode my first rails to trails. There are poles at the intersections where trail meets public road. About 10 feet from the poles I would start weaving every time, usually tipping the bike at the pole. If I knew there was a landmark I was supposed to go around, I went toward it every time. Her very sound advice was to always look ahead 15 feet and not focus on the ONE THING I wanted to avoid.
The other thing I did was grip the handlebars like mad. At first I did this constantly. I was so scared and tense! "Relax your hands, are your knuckles white?" she would say. Of course then the closer that pole came, the harder I gripped.
Poor Aimee. That first ride, I was so scared to stop the bike for fear of never getting started again! It took me about 5 tries every time. I stared straight ahead, too, no looking around for me. "Just relax, you're doing great!" She was so kind. So pitifully kind.
We went to the beach together and took our bikes. Jim would take the lead, Aimee in the rear, with me in the middle, they were my armored guard. "Car's coming..." She would say. I went immediately into weave mode, trying not to hit it as it passed. We turned right, down a short street, Jim took a quick, unexpected left, Aimee and I went right. She used her expertise turning skills. I hadn't yet learned sharp turning skills, so in my attempt, I took a turn into a square of gravel, which turned out to be a pit (Jim says this was a freshly graveled parking area, I say it was a trap). I ground harder and harder till I got stuck and toppled over, Jim and Aimee chuckling.
The two of them traded off babysitting so I would have someone with me at all times. He got daring and took me to the front of the street, around civilization (and cars). Around a gas station, small strip mall, and down the next street.
I took Aimee for a spin around the gas station once, just to show her I could. We passed a curve with a berm and guess who got their pedal caught on it. It was a possible crash, but I righted myself. Of course, Aimee, ever kind, says, "I've done that before!"
On a morning jaunt, Jim and I rounded a curve and turned down a block with a stop sign at the end. He should've known better than to change his mind at the last minute about heading onto the next street. I didn't know whether to stop or go, so I ran into the stop sign and toppled over. "I'm ok!" I yell. He shakes his head, again in wonder at what he's gotten himself into.
Later, we head back up that same street, and a guy comes jogging by, making a WIDE berth around us. He yells, "Are you ok? I saw you crash the stop sign earlier!" Marvelous. Someone was watching.
Next morning, not realizing we're headed down the same street, I hear a voice from above: "Hey, watch that stop sign." I realize he's watching me - not God, the guy from yesterday! He's up on his porch, which is where he saw me yesterday. I coast through the sight of the accident - "Good job!" says the voice from above. I told Jim, "Remind me never to come down this street again."
Aimee and I got to ride about a month ago, and she was so pleased with my progress! "It's just so much fun watching you learn, seeing you progress in your confidence in yourself!" What a cheerleader she is. This is a girl that rides that rattlesnake trail like it's nothing. I saw her once after a bad wreck. She was bruised head to toe and had some pretty bad gashes. Does she ever quit? Heck, no! The girl's 6 months pregnant and finally just hung up her bike!!! Her words to me after the great rattlesnake "real mountain bike trail" ride: "I hope this doesn't discourage you from going back. Rarely do you ever see a snake when riding like that." Now THAT'S who I wanna be like!
The other thing I did was grip the handlebars like mad. At first I did this constantly. I was so scared and tense! "Relax your hands, are your knuckles white?" she would say. Of course then the closer that pole came, the harder I gripped.
Poor Aimee. That first ride, I was so scared to stop the bike for fear of never getting started again! It took me about 5 tries every time. I stared straight ahead, too, no looking around for me. "Just relax, you're doing great!" She was so kind. So pitifully kind.
We went to the beach together and took our bikes. Jim would take the lead, Aimee in the rear, with me in the middle, they were my armored guard. "Car's coming..." She would say. I went immediately into weave mode, trying not to hit it as it passed. We turned right, down a short street, Jim took a quick, unexpected left, Aimee and I went right. She used her expertise turning skills. I hadn't yet learned sharp turning skills, so in my attempt, I took a turn into a square of gravel, which turned out to be a pit (Jim says this was a freshly graveled parking area, I say it was a trap). I ground harder and harder till I got stuck and toppled over, Jim and Aimee chuckling.
The two of them traded off babysitting so I would have someone with me at all times. He got daring and took me to the front of the street, around civilization (and cars). Around a gas station, small strip mall, and down the next street.
I took Aimee for a spin around the gas station once, just to show her I could. We passed a curve with a berm and guess who got their pedal caught on it. It was a possible crash, but I righted myself. Of course, Aimee, ever kind, says, "I've done that before!"
On a morning jaunt, Jim and I rounded a curve and turned down a block with a stop sign at the end. He should've known better than to change his mind at the last minute about heading onto the next street. I didn't know whether to stop or go, so I ran into the stop sign and toppled over. "I'm ok!" I yell. He shakes his head, again in wonder at what he's gotten himself into.
Later, we head back up that same street, and a guy comes jogging by, making a WIDE berth around us. He yells, "Are you ok? I saw you crash the stop sign earlier!" Marvelous. Someone was watching.
Next morning, not realizing we're headed down the same street, I hear a voice from above: "Hey, watch that stop sign." I realize he's watching me - not God, the guy from yesterday! He's up on his porch, which is where he saw me yesterday. I coast through the sight of the accident - "Good job!" says the voice from above. I told Jim, "Remind me never to come down this street again."
Aimee and I got to ride about a month ago, and she was so pleased with my progress! "It's just so much fun watching you learn, seeing you progress in your confidence in yourself!" What a cheerleader she is. This is a girl that rides that rattlesnake trail like it's nothing. I saw her once after a bad wreck. She was bruised head to toe and had some pretty bad gashes. Does she ever quit? Heck, no! The girl's 6 months pregnant and finally just hung up her bike!!! Her words to me after the great rattlesnake "real mountain bike trail" ride: "I hope this doesn't discourage you from going back. Rarely do you ever see a snake when riding like that." Now THAT'S who I wanna be like!
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Straps bikes on, will travel (and get myself in more trouble)
Over the past couple months I've been working to perfect this art. The first time I got my bike on the rack, I was so exuberant I just had to take a ride somewhere, not in my yard. I begged one of my children to go with me, even though she didn't yet have a bike. I told her we'd pick up a friend for her!
We headed to the YMCA soccer complex. There were large rigs, it looked like the carnival had come to town. The crew was working on setting up the rides, there were lots of people (some rather rough looking) getting the place ready. I rode and rode around that thing, all the while looking for the famed "bike trail" that was supposed to be behind the complex. I couldn't spot it anywhere, but I did see where the pavement dipped off into an old gravel road. That surely must be it, I thought. After about 5 turns around the place and eyeballing that road, I decided to try it. There were men working near there, and I tried to look like I knew where I was going.
This was some steep road! Very rough, graveled, rivuleted road, immediately surrounded by deep woods and no sounds of civilization. Ever hear of the book, "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe", by C.S. Lewis? It felt like I'd just stepped through the wardrobe into another world. "Wow!" I thought. "This is pretty rough!" It kept a steep desent, down, down, down! The more I rode, the rougher it got, and I thought I was gonna take a pretty bad spill more than once. I could hear things in the woods. Live, animal things. And little waterfalls - or I was hoping all that rustling was waterfalls (I was thinking bear at this point). I took this road for about half a mile, wondering when this "trail" was going to start back up - towards the complex. I saw another curve up ahead and still more downward layout, and I decided to stop.
I was scared by this time. I decided to push the bike back up, the road was so steep and rough. As soon as I started up, something HUGE flew out of the bushes to my right, and I ducked in fright! I saw the hind end of some big bird fly to the other side of the road into the trees. I tried running and pushing past that scary place, when two more GIANT flying things took off in the same direction! I later learned these were most likely wild turkeys. Of course, this info from my husband, who was excited I'd seen the turkeys. That's the hunter coming out in him. He loves wild things in the woods.
I pushed/ran for what seemed like forever. I came to one spot that was somewhat level and decided I HAD to get back on the bike and ride up the way I came down so I wouldn't look like a big baby who bit off more than she could chew. Of course I was, but noone else needed to know that.
I came riding victoriously out of that place, and boy, was I GLAD to be around people again! I saw my daughter and her friend coming toward me. "Mom!!! I was so worried! You waved at us every time you came around, and then, I didn't see you anymore! Where did you go? I thought maybe some of the scary circus people took you!!!" (She forgot it was a carnival.)
I later learned this trail was two miles of steep descent and not for the faint of heart. It would have put me out in a place called Glade Creek, which was definitely NOT the soccer complex. I found out where the real bike trail was. The end of it was in the wide spot where I climbed back on to my triumphant ride out of that wild and scary place. I was WAY off!!!
Tonight, I strapped on not only my own bike, but my two youngest daughter's (bikes, not the girls), and off we went for a little jaunt about 10 minutes from the house. I have to say, for a couple of teenagers, they sure were ready to quit a lot sooner than I expected. Oh well, after they've ridden Vomit Hill and maybe a few root ridden, rocky, rattlesnake trails, they'll be ready to hang with their ole mom!
We headed to the YMCA soccer complex. There were large rigs, it looked like the carnival had come to town. The crew was working on setting up the rides, there were lots of people (some rather rough looking) getting the place ready. I rode and rode around that thing, all the while looking for the famed "bike trail" that was supposed to be behind the complex. I couldn't spot it anywhere, but I did see where the pavement dipped off into an old gravel road. That surely must be it, I thought. After about 5 turns around the place and eyeballing that road, I decided to try it. There were men working near there, and I tried to look like I knew where I was going.
This was some steep road! Very rough, graveled, rivuleted road, immediately surrounded by deep woods and no sounds of civilization. Ever hear of the book, "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe", by C.S. Lewis? It felt like I'd just stepped through the wardrobe into another world. "Wow!" I thought. "This is pretty rough!" It kept a steep desent, down, down, down! The more I rode, the rougher it got, and I thought I was gonna take a pretty bad spill more than once. I could hear things in the woods. Live, animal things. And little waterfalls - or I was hoping all that rustling was waterfalls (I was thinking bear at this point). I took this road for about half a mile, wondering when this "trail" was going to start back up - towards the complex. I saw another curve up ahead and still more downward layout, and I decided to stop.
I was scared by this time. I decided to push the bike back up, the road was so steep and rough. As soon as I started up, something HUGE flew out of the bushes to my right, and I ducked in fright! I saw the hind end of some big bird fly to the other side of the road into the trees. I tried running and pushing past that scary place, when two more GIANT flying things took off in the same direction! I later learned these were most likely wild turkeys. Of course, this info from my husband, who was excited I'd seen the turkeys. That's the hunter coming out in him. He loves wild things in the woods.
I pushed/ran for what seemed like forever. I came to one spot that was somewhat level and decided I HAD to get back on the bike and ride up the way I came down so I wouldn't look like a big baby who bit off more than she could chew. Of course I was, but noone else needed to know that.
I came riding victoriously out of that place, and boy, was I GLAD to be around people again! I saw my daughter and her friend coming toward me. "Mom!!! I was so worried! You waved at us every time you came around, and then, I didn't see you anymore! Where did you go? I thought maybe some of the scary circus people took you!!!" (She forgot it was a carnival.)
I later learned this trail was two miles of steep descent and not for the faint of heart. It would have put me out in a place called Glade Creek, which was definitely NOT the soccer complex. I found out where the real bike trail was. The end of it was in the wide spot where I climbed back on to my triumphant ride out of that wild and scary place. I was WAY off!!!
Tonight, I strapped on not only my own bike, but my two youngest daughter's (bikes, not the girls), and off we went for a little jaunt about 10 minutes from the house. I have to say, for a couple of teenagers, they sure were ready to quit a lot sooner than I expected. Oh well, after they've ridden Vomit Hill and maybe a few root ridden, rocky, rattlesnake trails, they'll be ready to hang with their ole mom!
Sunday, September 5, 2010
NOT riding - just recouperating and reflecting
I awoke this morning to a sore, aching body, but man, did I sleep well! We had a scrumptuous breakfast down in the Stillwaters buffet for a total of at least 20,000 calories between that and last night's feast. It was a beautiful drive back home on this crisp, fall like day.
We even saw the famous mountain goat that lives on the rocks above the interstate near Flatwoods. I don't think he's really a mountain goat, but he thinks he is. The story goes that he was once owned by a local farmer, but was too mean to tame and kept getting out. He finally got fed up with the ornery thing and let it go. It just stays up there on those rocks around the area feeding all the time. Jim and I have both seen it several times while passing through. He's pretty fat, so I guess he's doing ok. I mentioned as much to Jim. "Well, goats eat everything - weeds, briars, grass, they're not picky." He replied. "What do they drink?" I brainlessly asked. What a stupid question. "What do they drink?!?" Jim was incredulous, and I knew it was coming. "Well, every once in a while some of them go down to the local GoMart for a cherry 7-up." That's why I married him - he's quick on the draw, and funny as all get-out.
When we got home and unloaded, I noticed the giant box of granola bars we bought at Sam's in anticipation of our great riding adventures. We ate one the whole time. Not even we. Just "he".
I forgot my beloved pillow back at the resort. I'll be in mourning for nights....
You need to know that I'm very much a girly-girl. People who know me are probably stunned that I've taken up this biking hobby. I like my nails done. I like a little makeup, usually don't go anywhere without my hair fixed and never was a tomboy. Yesterday on my first spill, I almost ripped my fake nail off. I had accidentally thrown my contacts in the trash as soon as we got there, so I had to wear my ritzy J-Lo glasses the whole time. They have little fake diamonds on the sides. I was almost as scared I would break them during one of my falls as I was scared of encountering a rattlesnake.
Yes, I said I threw away my contacts. This is nothing new for me. I'm always accidentally throwing away valuable stuff. Once, I threw away 150 bucks during my son's birthday party. Just cleaning up paper dishes and trash, it went in the compactor and I never knew it. We finally figured it out a week later. The day we got my road bike I came home and threw away my cell phone. I was throwing away the tags I'd just taken off my bike, my cell was in the same hand. Later I had to dial it twice to figure out where that remote ringing sound was coming from - none other than the garbage compactor. I did not tell Jim this right away. He's well aware of my track record.
Jim and I are working on this bike hobby because one day we realized the kids were growing up. It's like we woke up and they were all teens and young adults! We decided we better start doing something together or we'd just end up staring at one another after they were gone. I'm a die hard gym rat. He hates working out but loves to hunt and be outside. We made a compromise, and I'm SO glad we did! It has really brought us together - finally, we share something that gets us physically fit, yet we both enjoy it.
I'm so glad we decided on biking, even though Jim has had his share of scares with me. It has truly brought us closer. We're working on our health so we can hopefully have many more happy years together!
We even saw the famous mountain goat that lives on the rocks above the interstate near Flatwoods. I don't think he's really a mountain goat, but he thinks he is. The story goes that he was once owned by a local farmer, but was too mean to tame and kept getting out. He finally got fed up with the ornery thing and let it go. It just stays up there on those rocks around the area feeding all the time. Jim and I have both seen it several times while passing through. He's pretty fat, so I guess he's doing ok. I mentioned as much to Jim. "Well, goats eat everything - weeds, briars, grass, they're not picky." He replied. "What do they drink?" I brainlessly asked. What a stupid question. "What do they drink?!?" Jim was incredulous, and I knew it was coming. "Well, every once in a while some of them go down to the local GoMart for a cherry 7-up." That's why I married him - he's quick on the draw, and funny as all get-out.
When we got home and unloaded, I noticed the giant box of granola bars we bought at Sam's in anticipation of our great riding adventures. We ate one the whole time. Not even we. Just "he".
I forgot my beloved pillow back at the resort. I'll be in mourning for nights....
You need to know that I'm very much a girly-girl. People who know me are probably stunned that I've taken up this biking hobby. I like my nails done. I like a little makeup, usually don't go anywhere without my hair fixed and never was a tomboy. Yesterday on my first spill, I almost ripped my fake nail off. I had accidentally thrown my contacts in the trash as soon as we got there, so I had to wear my ritzy J-Lo glasses the whole time. They have little fake diamonds on the sides. I was almost as scared I would break them during one of my falls as I was scared of encountering a rattlesnake.
Yes, I said I threw away my contacts. This is nothing new for me. I'm always accidentally throwing away valuable stuff. Once, I threw away 150 bucks during my son's birthday party. Just cleaning up paper dishes and trash, it went in the compactor and I never knew it. We finally figured it out a week later. The day we got my road bike I came home and threw away my cell phone. I was throwing away the tags I'd just taken off my bike, my cell was in the same hand. Later I had to dial it twice to figure out where that remote ringing sound was coming from - none other than the garbage compactor. I did not tell Jim this right away. He's well aware of my track record.
Jim and I are working on this bike hobby because one day we realized the kids were growing up. It's like we woke up and they were all teens and young adults! We decided we better start doing something together or we'd just end up staring at one another after they were gone. I'm a die hard gym rat. He hates working out but loves to hunt and be outside. We made a compromise, and I'm SO glad we did! It has really brought us together - finally, we share something that gets us physically fit, yet we both enjoy it.
I'm so glad we decided on biking, even though Jim has had his share of scares with me. It has truly brought us closer. We're working on our health so we can hopefully have many more happy years together!
Saturday, September 4, 2010
I am a single track failure
Jim and I took advantage of the holiday weekend and headed to Stonewall Jackson Resort, bikes in tow, ready to tackle all surrounding trails!
Beautiful, mountainous scenery, abundant wildlife, and hopefully no rattlesnakes. "They don't have rattlesnakes here, right? Surely not, right?!" I pressed for the answer I so desperately wanted. "Nah...not around here." Jim, giving me a load of hooey, because he knew that's what I wanted to hear.
We rode like mad people because today was the only day we really had to explore the trails. So here's the low down: this place only has single lane trails. Some are not well kept. There are hairpin turns, Lots of roots sticking out of the ground, and most of it just goes up, up, and more up.
Granted, there's plenty of road to travel, people know to watch out for bikers. All the bikers I saw stuck to these roads, and we rode all of them as well. I never saw a single biker on the single track trails.
Bike trail #1: it goes up. Tree roots right at the beginning, narrow trails, sharp turns. I fell off the right side of my bike only a few yards into it. Jim, (running back to help) "OK, that bike's for sale." "Just give me a CHANCE!!" I cried, tears of frustration already at the surface. He was immediately sorry and told me he just didn't want me to get hurt (but he knew full well it would happen a lot more). I stomped on, pushing up and down everything, it was too steep and narrow and I was frustrated. I'd get back on and ride a few yards, only to have to dismount and push some more. Jim was out of sight, I came to the top of the hill, he's standing there holding his bike looking at me. "The trail was overgrown right here, I didn't see a huge hole in the ground and I flipped over the bike." This was NOT looking good for us. The trail up ahead looked overgrown as well, and we decided to turn back.
Trail #2: It's really more of a place for maintainance vehicles and ATV's, but it was more clear and roomy. "That's what I'm talkin' about!" I said. We stopped after a couple minutes for Jim to adjust his seat, and me to get a drink. As soon as Jim started off again, he made sort of a hiccuping sound and looked back at me, worried. "What?" I said. His look was indistiguishable. "WHAT?!?" I yelled this time. "Uh. I just ran over a baby rattlesnake." He confessed. "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?" I almost fainted right there. "I can't do this again..." Then he appeased me by telling me he was probably wrong (just so I'd stay calm till we came out of the woods). I knew what he was doing. But I really wanted to buy into his crap so I just decided to let it go...for now.
When we got out of there he admitted it really was a baby rattler and he didn't know how I didn't hear it. All day long every time a leaf would get stuck in my spokes and rattle my heart would leap. I had about five mini-coronaries just in one day. I was gun shy. It wasn't a good combo, my skittish-ness and the single lane trails. We broke for lunch and a bit of a respite, just enjoying the scenery.
We started again in the late afternoon, riding the main road to another trail we'd scouted the day before. I thought Jim was gonna have a cardiac arrest by the time we got up the road to the actual trail. I, on the other hand, was good to go, having done the roller coaster hills and Vomit and Diahrrea Hill twice last week.
Trail #3: Right off the bat this single lane trail went UP (big surprise). The bank dopped off to our left, which was a concern to me. After Jim got his heart rate back from the hyperventilating, he started. I tried to start up. You know by now my track record for mounting the bike on a hill. I tipped over once, caught myself, backed up a bit, and started again. This narrow trail was kicking my butt and I wasn't even ON it yet!!! I got back on (Jim now out of sight), and the thing I never wanted to happen (besides the rattler) did happen. I lost my balance and smacked myself right down on my bar. Now I know the joke with men when something like that happens, they can never have any more kids, it can get pretty crude, I won't go there. I don't know if that rule applies to women or not, but if it did, and if it was humanly possible for me to still have kids, that possibility would've been taken away at that very second in time.
I regained my composure and decided that I would probably live, and somehow got up that hill. Jim kept having to stop and wait on me. Hairpin turn (dismount and walk) get back on, ride some more, another switchback. This time the trail was more narrow, and not level at all. My legs were getting weak. I tried two times to get back on, and jumped off both times. That third time, I started, but there was no momentum, and I went down hard, this time on my left side.
I now had two skinned up arms, cuts and bruises on both legs from top to bottom, and one very sore bottom. Jim scrambled back down, exclaiming over the narrow tree stump sticking up out of the ground, right near my head. (He didn't even know about my mishap at the beginning of the trail yet.) To make a long story short, I pushed it up the hill, tried riding some more, kept tipping over, and we finally decided to turn back. Towards the end, we met a family hiking up. I hopped back on and pretended to be brave on this stinking, narrow trail that kicked my butt. For some reason, I do better when people are watching me, like I have to prove that I'm not a total moron.
I am totally exhausted tonight. Jim is mentally spent from worrying about me. At dinner, we got the buffet and revenously ate everything in sight!!! Jim did an impression of me with a piece of bread. He made a low humming sound, crept the bread along the plate, then suddenly flopped it over on it's side. We cracked up. "It's like you couldn't get any momentum at all. You'd get on the bike go a foot, and fall over. If you just could have had your momentum, you could've gotten it. Maybe you overtrained this week with all those hills you climbed."
I hate to admit it but I think he's right. I think tomorrow, I'll take the day off from riding, even if it kills me. Because if I don't, it probably will!
Beautiful, mountainous scenery, abundant wildlife, and hopefully no rattlesnakes. "They don't have rattlesnakes here, right? Surely not, right?!" I pressed for the answer I so desperately wanted. "Nah...not around here." Jim, giving me a load of hooey, because he knew that's what I wanted to hear.
We rode like mad people because today was the only day we really had to explore the trails. So here's the low down: this place only has single lane trails. Some are not well kept. There are hairpin turns, Lots of roots sticking out of the ground, and most of it just goes up, up, and more up.
Granted, there's plenty of road to travel, people know to watch out for bikers. All the bikers I saw stuck to these roads, and we rode all of them as well. I never saw a single biker on the single track trails.
Bike trail #1: it goes up. Tree roots right at the beginning, narrow trails, sharp turns. I fell off the right side of my bike only a few yards into it. Jim, (running back to help) "OK, that bike's for sale." "Just give me a CHANCE!!" I cried, tears of frustration already at the surface. He was immediately sorry and told me he just didn't want me to get hurt (but he knew full well it would happen a lot more). I stomped on, pushing up and down everything, it was too steep and narrow and I was frustrated. I'd get back on and ride a few yards, only to have to dismount and push some more. Jim was out of sight, I came to the top of the hill, he's standing there holding his bike looking at me. "The trail was overgrown right here, I didn't see a huge hole in the ground and I flipped over the bike." This was NOT looking good for us. The trail up ahead looked overgrown as well, and we decided to turn back.
Trail #2: It's really more of a place for maintainance vehicles and ATV's, but it was more clear and roomy. "That's what I'm talkin' about!" I said. We stopped after a couple minutes for Jim to adjust his seat, and me to get a drink. As soon as Jim started off again, he made sort of a hiccuping sound and looked back at me, worried. "What?" I said. His look was indistiguishable. "WHAT?!?" I yelled this time. "Uh. I just ran over a baby rattlesnake." He confessed. "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?" I almost fainted right there. "I can't do this again..." Then he appeased me by telling me he was probably wrong (just so I'd stay calm till we came out of the woods). I knew what he was doing. But I really wanted to buy into his crap so I just decided to let it go...for now.
When we got out of there he admitted it really was a baby rattler and he didn't know how I didn't hear it. All day long every time a leaf would get stuck in my spokes and rattle my heart would leap. I had about five mini-coronaries just in one day. I was gun shy. It wasn't a good combo, my skittish-ness and the single lane trails. We broke for lunch and a bit of a respite, just enjoying the scenery.
We started again in the late afternoon, riding the main road to another trail we'd scouted the day before. I thought Jim was gonna have a cardiac arrest by the time we got up the road to the actual trail. I, on the other hand, was good to go, having done the roller coaster hills and Vomit and Diahrrea Hill twice last week.
Trail #3: Right off the bat this single lane trail went UP (big surprise). The bank dopped off to our left, which was a concern to me. After Jim got his heart rate back from the hyperventilating, he started. I tried to start up. You know by now my track record for mounting the bike on a hill. I tipped over once, caught myself, backed up a bit, and started again. This narrow trail was kicking my butt and I wasn't even ON it yet!!! I got back on (Jim now out of sight), and the thing I never wanted to happen (besides the rattler) did happen. I lost my balance and smacked myself right down on my bar. Now I know the joke with men when something like that happens, they can never have any more kids, it can get pretty crude, I won't go there. I don't know if that rule applies to women or not, but if it did, and if it was humanly possible for me to still have kids, that possibility would've been taken away at that very second in time.
I regained my composure and decided that I would probably live, and somehow got up that hill. Jim kept having to stop and wait on me. Hairpin turn (dismount and walk) get back on, ride some more, another switchback. This time the trail was more narrow, and not level at all. My legs were getting weak. I tried two times to get back on, and jumped off both times. That third time, I started, but there was no momentum, and I went down hard, this time on my left side.
I now had two skinned up arms, cuts and bruises on both legs from top to bottom, and one very sore bottom. Jim scrambled back down, exclaiming over the narrow tree stump sticking up out of the ground, right near my head. (He didn't even know about my mishap at the beginning of the trail yet.) To make a long story short, I pushed it up the hill, tried riding some more, kept tipping over, and we finally decided to turn back. Towards the end, we met a family hiking up. I hopped back on and pretended to be brave on this stinking, narrow trail that kicked my butt. For some reason, I do better when people are watching me, like I have to prove that I'm not a total moron.
I am totally exhausted tonight. Jim is mentally spent from worrying about me. At dinner, we got the buffet and revenously ate everything in sight!!! Jim did an impression of me with a piece of bread. He made a low humming sound, crept the bread along the plate, then suddenly flopped it over on it's side. We cracked up. "It's like you couldn't get any momentum at all. You'd get on the bike go a foot, and fall over. If you just could have had your momentum, you could've gotten it. Maybe you overtrained this week with all those hills you climbed."
I hate to admit it but I think he's right. I think tomorrow, I'll take the day off from riding, even if it kills me. Because if I don't, it probably will!
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Paved Rolling Hills Subdivision with Andrea Take Two
I may have to change the name of my blog because I now own a road bike as well as a mountain bike. How it came about is a story which we shall revisit at a later time, but suffice it to say, that last pitiful story made Jim feel sorry for me enough to get one. Either that, or he's afraid I'm gonna wear the tread off my nice mountain bike tires!
This bike is actually a hybrid, with skinny tires and is so light I can lift it with one arm. Talk about a difference in performance! I was actually in front of Andrea, or at least keeping up with her today.
We started out in the nice, calm subdivision and worked our way toward the marked triathalon trail. We started in on those rolling hills. They lead to steep, roller coaster like hills, so if you get a good run at it on the way down (and your bike is light) you can pretty much coast up the next hill, pedaling more toward the top. I couldn't believe it! I was smoking this ride!! I don't stink at this after all!!!
The turns got sharper, the hills got steeper. I was looking for Vomit Hill (Edwards Drive), I knew it was coming. She tried to slip it by me but I saw the sign as we turned. "Edwards Drive." I said. "You noticed that, huh?" She laughed. O boy. More steep hills and curves, nothing too awfully bad. I saw the street of doom from the last ride, the one where I was in a horizontal position PUSHING my bike. This was the area she got us lost in before, and I pointed out as much. She just laughed and said we'd be ok if we just followed the arrows, and then, the arrow looked like a U-turn. "What?!" She exclaimed. "We TURN around?"
Now we were lost again. She had just asked me 10 minutes before if I had time and here again, I told her I had TEN minutes. When will I ever learn?!? "Ok, I just know that we'll eventually make it back if we follow these arrows! We followed the arrows and before I realized it, we were ON Vomit Hill.
I had read in a blog yesterday that if you sit straight up on the hills, you are working your thighs. If you lean forward, you work your butt. We girls had already decided we needed the latter working for us, so the steeper this hill got, the more forward I leaned. Andrea was behind me giggling, watching my form and working on her own, she knew our goal here. Of course, I was hollering and exclaiming, which was making it worse to keep composure and push through. We made it half way up to a street veering left, and thankfully this was where the blue arrows pointed, YAY!!!!
We stopped here, because we couldn't breathe. Actually, I was the worse for wear, practicing my dog-in-heat pant. I let out a few moans and groans too. And then, Andrea named it "Vomit and Diahrrea Hill". Which is what we would have done, had we climbed the entire thing.
I told her next time, I was driving us right to Vomit and Diahrreah Hill, we were riding up, back down, and leaving. That would be enough workout for that day. And after that, we would drive the entire neighborhood with my GPS so that next time I told her 10 more minutes, it could actually BE TEN MORE MINUTES!!! (Pretty sure we ended up doing 30 more minutes instead of ten.)
I also told her I had no need to do leg day at the gym anymore as long as I rode with her twice a week. One day riding with her getting us lost more than makes up for two days at the gym! Love, you, Andrea!! (Someday I'll tell you about Andrea teaching me to swim laps. She's so resourceful!)
This bike is actually a hybrid, with skinny tires and is so light I can lift it with one arm. Talk about a difference in performance! I was actually in front of Andrea, or at least keeping up with her today.
We started out in the nice, calm subdivision and worked our way toward the marked triathalon trail. We started in on those rolling hills. They lead to steep, roller coaster like hills, so if you get a good run at it on the way down (and your bike is light) you can pretty much coast up the next hill, pedaling more toward the top. I couldn't believe it! I was smoking this ride!! I don't stink at this after all!!!
The turns got sharper, the hills got steeper. I was looking for Vomit Hill (Edwards Drive), I knew it was coming. She tried to slip it by me but I saw the sign as we turned. "Edwards Drive." I said. "You noticed that, huh?" She laughed. O boy. More steep hills and curves, nothing too awfully bad. I saw the street of doom from the last ride, the one where I was in a horizontal position PUSHING my bike. This was the area she got us lost in before, and I pointed out as much. She just laughed and said we'd be ok if we just followed the arrows, and then, the arrow looked like a U-turn. "What?!" She exclaimed. "We TURN around?"
Now we were lost again. She had just asked me 10 minutes before if I had time and here again, I told her I had TEN minutes. When will I ever learn?!? "Ok, I just know that we'll eventually make it back if we follow these arrows! We followed the arrows and before I realized it, we were ON Vomit Hill.
I had read in a blog yesterday that if you sit straight up on the hills, you are working your thighs. If you lean forward, you work your butt. We girls had already decided we needed the latter working for us, so the steeper this hill got, the more forward I leaned. Andrea was behind me giggling, watching my form and working on her own, she knew our goal here. Of course, I was hollering and exclaiming, which was making it worse to keep composure and push through. We made it half way up to a street veering left, and thankfully this was where the blue arrows pointed, YAY!!!!
We stopped here, because we couldn't breathe. Actually, I was the worse for wear, practicing my dog-in-heat pant. I let out a few moans and groans too. And then, Andrea named it "Vomit and Diahrrea Hill". Which is what we would have done, had we climbed the entire thing.
I told her next time, I was driving us right to Vomit and Diahrreah Hill, we were riding up, back down, and leaving. That would be enough workout for that day. And after that, we would drive the entire neighborhood with my GPS so that next time I told her 10 more minutes, it could actually BE TEN MORE MINUTES!!! (Pretty sure we ended up doing 30 more minutes instead of ten.)
I also told her I had no need to do leg day at the gym anymore as long as I rode with her twice a week. One day riding with her getting us lost more than makes up for two days at the gym! Love, you, Andrea!! (Someday I'll tell you about Andrea teaching me to swim laps. She's so resourceful!)
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Why didn't I let Jim buy me two bikes?
Today my ride showed me exactly why I need a road bike too. My mountain bike is designed for exactly what it's named for. It pulled that trail last week like nothing (the problem was the driver), but it was not designed for what I did today with my friend Andrea.
She invited me to go to a local resort subdivision where she's been riding her hybrid. There are rolling hills and it's a beautiful ride. However, her bike pulls the hills way better than mine. This is paved road we're talking here, and my bike is about 5-6 pounds heavier than her's. We rode about 10 miles, and there were some pretty bad pulls. We tried to do "Vomit Hill" but I could only go halfway up before vomiting, so we quit that one. I felt like a weenie.
Just so you can appreciate the fact that I CAN pull hills, let me pause here and tell you about Cripple Fly Ranch Road. This is a non-paved road that Jim and I ride near our house. It is the first ride we ever did outside our yard, one mile up, and I thought I was dying. This was during the period of time when I still couldn't get started on the bike after I stopped. Especially on a hill (matter of fact, I still have trouble with that). After I thought my lungs were going to explode, I stopped. We were halfway to the top. Jim stopped with me, lectured me once again about the art of the lower gears on a hill (I was in 3) and we started again. Well, he started, and I tried to start. I toppled, tried again, toppled some more, Jim was out of sight by this time (did I mention this is a very wooded, somewhat scary area), and started to think I might never make it up this hill. Somehow I did get on, by the time he turned around to come back. We finished the hill, but again, I was panting like a dog in heat all the way up. (I also didn't know the first thing about "locking my bike in", but we'll save that for another time.)
On the way down, I feared for my life, scared to death to go fast in the gravel. It was almost as bad as the ride up! And I never mentioned the fact that we had to cross a real road (with cars) to get there. Probably THE biggest fear on my list at that date. I was bad about going directly toward the object that I was trying so hard to avoid - that would be a car.
Well I lived through the experience, and since then, we've returned, many times. Twice in a row, one day. Talk about progress!!!
So yes, I can pull hills. Yesterday I looked in the mirror at my legs and saw something buldging in the back. What is this? A hamstring? No amount of squats, lunges, or running had EVER produced that definition!
Back to the story of today. After the 10 miles, she asked me if I had time for more. "Yeah, let's do abut 9 more minutes." We turned down a side street. Little did I know we were going to get lost for 20 more minutes while Andrea decided which street (complete with hill) was the way back. I was almost exceeding the 25 mile and hour speed limit down the hills just to make it up the other side!!! "No, it's this way." More hills. She turns around, "Sorry, it's the other way!" Again, hills. By this time, I was PUSHING the bike, almost in a horizontal position. Did you know you can get just as much exercise by pushing a mountain bike up a small mountain? The dog-in-heat panting style had returned. "I've got it now, this is the way out!" She assures me. "OK, I'll be there in an hour..." I barely eek out. And then, there was the somewhat tame hill where I knew I could begin riding again. By now, the hammies and quads were so spent it took this weenie 3 tries to get back on the bike!
I had thought after the ride I might go do legs at the gym. I reconsidered that idea. I did have a blast, and Andrea knows it! But I did come home and tell Jim I needed a road bike now. We'll see how that goes!
She invited me to go to a local resort subdivision where she's been riding her hybrid. There are rolling hills and it's a beautiful ride. However, her bike pulls the hills way better than mine. This is paved road we're talking here, and my bike is about 5-6 pounds heavier than her's. We rode about 10 miles, and there were some pretty bad pulls. We tried to do "Vomit Hill" but I could only go halfway up before vomiting, so we quit that one. I felt like a weenie.
Just so you can appreciate the fact that I CAN pull hills, let me pause here and tell you about Cripple Fly Ranch Road. This is a non-paved road that Jim and I ride near our house. It is the first ride we ever did outside our yard, one mile up, and I thought I was dying. This was during the period of time when I still couldn't get started on the bike after I stopped. Especially on a hill (matter of fact, I still have trouble with that). After I thought my lungs were going to explode, I stopped. We were halfway to the top. Jim stopped with me, lectured me once again about the art of the lower gears on a hill (I was in 3) and we started again. Well, he started, and I tried to start. I toppled, tried again, toppled some more, Jim was out of sight by this time (did I mention this is a very wooded, somewhat scary area), and started to think I might never make it up this hill. Somehow I did get on, by the time he turned around to come back. We finished the hill, but again, I was panting like a dog in heat all the way up. (I also didn't know the first thing about "locking my bike in", but we'll save that for another time.)
On the way down, I feared for my life, scared to death to go fast in the gravel. It was almost as bad as the ride up! And I never mentioned the fact that we had to cross a real road (with cars) to get there. Probably THE biggest fear on my list at that date. I was bad about going directly toward the object that I was trying so hard to avoid - that would be a car.
Well I lived through the experience, and since then, we've returned, many times. Twice in a row, one day. Talk about progress!!!
So yes, I can pull hills. Yesterday I looked in the mirror at my legs and saw something buldging in the back. What is this? A hamstring? No amount of squats, lunges, or running had EVER produced that definition!
Back to the story of today. After the 10 miles, she asked me if I had time for more. "Yeah, let's do abut 9 more minutes." We turned down a side street. Little did I know we were going to get lost for 20 more minutes while Andrea decided which street (complete with hill) was the way back. I was almost exceeding the 25 mile and hour speed limit down the hills just to make it up the other side!!! "No, it's this way." More hills. She turns around, "Sorry, it's the other way!" Again, hills. By this time, I was PUSHING the bike, almost in a horizontal position. Did you know you can get just as much exercise by pushing a mountain bike up a small mountain? The dog-in-heat panting style had returned. "I've got it now, this is the way out!" She assures me. "OK, I'll be there in an hour..." I barely eek out. And then, there was the somewhat tame hill where I knew I could begin riding again. By now, the hammies and quads were so spent it took this weenie 3 tries to get back on the bike!
I had thought after the ride I might go do legs at the gym. I reconsidered that idea. I did have a blast, and Andrea knows it! But I did come home and tell Jim I needed a road bike now. We'll see how that goes!
Monday, August 30, 2010
My first "real" mountain bike trail/The Rattlesnake Adventure
Several months have passed between the happenings of the first two blogs and this one. We're skipping today to an adventure I had last Friday, just 3 days ago!
I've been ready for some time to move on to a more challenging trail. It is 12.4 miles round trip, and single track. I'd only heard about this trail from friends, never actually seen it myself.
We set off in the afternoon, excited about our new venture. We were right beside an old railroad, narrow trail with a pretty steep bank and then LOTS of the New River on the other side. I was paying close attention. It didn't take long to realize this was going to be a BIG challenge for me. I saw before me LARGE, thick, mucky, dark mudpits. We did our best to ride around them, but I soon realized I was going to need to push forward and NOT turn my wheel! Next, the tree roots. Who knew how many tree roots one could ride over in just the span of five minutes! After that came the occasional railroad ties interspersed with more tree roots and ROCKS. I had a few spills. Jim kept saying, "Power through, don't stop, keep pushing, and stay in first gear!" One railroad tie looked especially TALL. I let my fear get the best of me and before I knew it, took my first full fledged plunge, complete with head crashing against log! "Wow!" I thought, "Now I know why we wear helmets! That didn't even hurt!" All at the same time trying to jump up before Jim saw what I'd done. Too late. He was already heading toward me, helping me up. He hadn't seen me hit my head, and I was a bit put out with myself so didn't mention it. He dusted me off, made sure I was ok, saying once again, "Oh man, are you SURE you wanna do this? I think you're gonna kill yourself!" Of course I said yes. "Well at least you fall loud!" "Why, did I yell?" I asked. "No, you just crashed really loud." As he started off again. "Well, I hit my head on the log." "YOU DID?!?!?" (Thankfully, he had already started on, so we continued.)
And then, there were the hills. The rocky, bumpy, hilly hills. Complete with more tree roots, bridges, and general rattling of the teeth. Some of these I rode, some of these I walked. Mostly walked. To a young rider, who just learned how to stay upright on flat ground, this was a whole new challenge!
We came to a bridge. At the end was a pole. You were supposed to ride on either side. There was not much room on either side, and I almost lost control coming out of it, but I righted it. Then, the trail narrowed even more, through lots of HIGH weeds. I imagined lots of wild things waiting in those weeds that were slapping against my legs and arms. I peddled on. We stopped a couple times for water. One of these times I looked up, and to my surprise, two guys came riding down the highest hill I had seen yet - like it was nothing. I let them pass. I tried to ride up but had to jump off towards the top, there were lots of rocks, and I chickened out. Then next hill was even worse, a large hole in the bank on the other side, in between the tree roots, and then a shallow stream at the bottom. I walked.
Eventually, the trail widened into an old road. This was a bit easier to ride, although there were still lots of the mucky mud pits, an occasional tree down to walk over, and more hills. We made it the 6 miles in and took a breather, proud of our accomplishments. I noticed someone had a tent set up. Jim heard something moving in the woods. I felt a measure of comfort when the park ranger drove into the little camping area, making his rounds. It was awfully deep in the woods. And then, the guys that passed us on our way in came riding out, waving as they followed the road the ranger came down. "I wonder if there's another way back?" I ventured. "Uh, well, we can take that road on up and around, but it'll be even a longer treck back, is that what you want to do?" Jim asked, rather amused and yet, sympathetic.
We started back. This part of the ride was relatively easy compared to the rest, and we joked and rode. I actually led for a while. We traded places back at the mudpits, and at one point Jim chose the wrong direction and we both got bogged down, laughingly sloshing our way out. I decided to tackle the whole trip more bravely, now that I was retracing where I'd already been. I was relaxing, enjoying, and then, it happened.
Jim was about 5 yards ahead of me when he screamed and kicked his leg out, motioning with his hand and yelling, "Stop!!!" I did, and I heard the dreaded sound. "RATTLESNAKE!!!" He was off his bike and looking for it, when he did some kind of jig that scared me to death. "Where is it?!?" I yelled. "I see it now!" He yelled. "He was lying beside the trail and when I rode by he struck my bike, then tried to cross the trail and I ran over him with my back tire. He's MAD now!!! Can you hear him?" Could I HEAR HIM?!?!? It sounded like the loudest thing I'd ever heard in the woods!!! Of course, it was the only thing making noise in the woods, so that magnified it even more. Jim started throwing things at it to get it to move off the trail - rocks, large limbs, anything he could get his hands on. All I knew was, once he got it off the trail, your's truly was going to have to ride right by it, because that was the only way out!!!
Jim proceeded to document the snake's every move and how large he was and how his rattler was the longest he'd ever seen out in the woods. And Jim has had his share of rattler encounters growing up in the hills of WV. I thought to myself, "There is a little muddy ditch in the trail right there across from that snake. I cannot waver, I can't lose power, and I can't turn my wheel when I get in that ditch!" Of course, this ditch was very small, but to me it seemed like a cavern at that point!!!
Finally, he got it about 4 feet off the trail, made sure I had backed up sufficiently enough to lower my gears when taking off, and said, "Come on, full speed ahead, don't stop, just keep comin'!" I did. The closer I got, the louder the rattling became - "Keep coming, keep coming, don't stop, just keep coming!" It was THE scariest thing I've ever done. Literally. Hands down. I blew by Jim and kept going a few more yards. "You ok?" He asked. "Yeah, let's get out of here!" and I was off! But then, I slowed to let him pass, knowing I would NOT be leading on this trail anymore!!! My adrenaline was pumping so hard I knew I was going for every hill, every rock, every root, every ditch, every ANYTHING because I was NOT getting off that bike anymore!!! I amazed myself. And as I continued to amaze myself I thought, "It's all in the perspective. What was once scary, is now nothing compared to what I've just done. If I can do that, I can do anything." And, I did. I plowed right into the side of that bridge with the pole in the center and not enough room on the sides. More wounds, but who cares, I'm staying ON!!! I even scaled the large, rocky, steep hill that I saw those guys ride down!
Towards the end of the ride, I saw Jim stop up ahead as a deer tail leaped up and down beyond the brush and then came into full view and up the mountain. He commented that he'd seen deer tracks on the way up, but now coyote tracks were in full view. EEK!!! We rode out of there.
My left leg was cut and bruised, pedal markings now dotting the front from several slip ups. I was covered in dirt and mud. I don't know if I'll ever be back to that trail - maybe I'll wait till the snakes hybernate - but I do know this: I'm proud of me. I faced my fears. And I conquered them! In mid life, I am finally getting some courage. I'm finally growing up, and it feels pretty good!
I've been ready for some time to move on to a more challenging trail. It is 12.4 miles round trip, and single track. I'd only heard about this trail from friends, never actually seen it myself.
We set off in the afternoon, excited about our new venture. We were right beside an old railroad, narrow trail with a pretty steep bank and then LOTS of the New River on the other side. I was paying close attention. It didn't take long to realize this was going to be a BIG challenge for me. I saw before me LARGE, thick, mucky, dark mudpits. We did our best to ride around them, but I soon realized I was going to need to push forward and NOT turn my wheel! Next, the tree roots. Who knew how many tree roots one could ride over in just the span of five minutes! After that came the occasional railroad ties interspersed with more tree roots and ROCKS. I had a few spills. Jim kept saying, "Power through, don't stop, keep pushing, and stay in first gear!" One railroad tie looked especially TALL. I let my fear get the best of me and before I knew it, took my first full fledged plunge, complete with head crashing against log! "Wow!" I thought, "Now I know why we wear helmets! That didn't even hurt!" All at the same time trying to jump up before Jim saw what I'd done. Too late. He was already heading toward me, helping me up. He hadn't seen me hit my head, and I was a bit put out with myself so didn't mention it. He dusted me off, made sure I was ok, saying once again, "Oh man, are you SURE you wanna do this? I think you're gonna kill yourself!" Of course I said yes. "Well at least you fall loud!" "Why, did I yell?" I asked. "No, you just crashed really loud." As he started off again. "Well, I hit my head on the log." "YOU DID?!?!?" (Thankfully, he had already started on, so we continued.)
And then, there were the hills. The rocky, bumpy, hilly hills. Complete with more tree roots, bridges, and general rattling of the teeth. Some of these I rode, some of these I walked. Mostly walked. To a young rider, who just learned how to stay upright on flat ground, this was a whole new challenge!
We came to a bridge. At the end was a pole. You were supposed to ride on either side. There was not much room on either side, and I almost lost control coming out of it, but I righted it. Then, the trail narrowed even more, through lots of HIGH weeds. I imagined lots of wild things waiting in those weeds that were slapping against my legs and arms. I peddled on. We stopped a couple times for water. One of these times I looked up, and to my surprise, two guys came riding down the highest hill I had seen yet - like it was nothing. I let them pass. I tried to ride up but had to jump off towards the top, there were lots of rocks, and I chickened out. Then next hill was even worse, a large hole in the bank on the other side, in between the tree roots, and then a shallow stream at the bottom. I walked.
Eventually, the trail widened into an old road. This was a bit easier to ride, although there were still lots of the mucky mud pits, an occasional tree down to walk over, and more hills. We made it the 6 miles in and took a breather, proud of our accomplishments. I noticed someone had a tent set up. Jim heard something moving in the woods. I felt a measure of comfort when the park ranger drove into the little camping area, making his rounds. It was awfully deep in the woods. And then, the guys that passed us on our way in came riding out, waving as they followed the road the ranger came down. "I wonder if there's another way back?" I ventured. "Uh, well, we can take that road on up and around, but it'll be even a longer treck back, is that what you want to do?" Jim asked, rather amused and yet, sympathetic.
We started back. This part of the ride was relatively easy compared to the rest, and we joked and rode. I actually led for a while. We traded places back at the mudpits, and at one point Jim chose the wrong direction and we both got bogged down, laughingly sloshing our way out. I decided to tackle the whole trip more bravely, now that I was retracing where I'd already been. I was relaxing, enjoying, and then, it happened.
Jim was about 5 yards ahead of me when he screamed and kicked his leg out, motioning with his hand and yelling, "Stop!!!" I did, and I heard the dreaded sound. "RATTLESNAKE!!!" He was off his bike and looking for it, when he did some kind of jig that scared me to death. "Where is it?!?" I yelled. "I see it now!" He yelled. "He was lying beside the trail and when I rode by he struck my bike, then tried to cross the trail and I ran over him with my back tire. He's MAD now!!! Can you hear him?" Could I HEAR HIM?!?!? It sounded like the loudest thing I'd ever heard in the woods!!! Of course, it was the only thing making noise in the woods, so that magnified it even more. Jim started throwing things at it to get it to move off the trail - rocks, large limbs, anything he could get his hands on. All I knew was, once he got it off the trail, your's truly was going to have to ride right by it, because that was the only way out!!!
Jim proceeded to document the snake's every move and how large he was and how his rattler was the longest he'd ever seen out in the woods. And Jim has had his share of rattler encounters growing up in the hills of WV. I thought to myself, "There is a little muddy ditch in the trail right there across from that snake. I cannot waver, I can't lose power, and I can't turn my wheel when I get in that ditch!" Of course, this ditch was very small, but to me it seemed like a cavern at that point!!!
Finally, he got it about 4 feet off the trail, made sure I had backed up sufficiently enough to lower my gears when taking off, and said, "Come on, full speed ahead, don't stop, just keep comin'!" I did. The closer I got, the louder the rattling became - "Keep coming, keep coming, don't stop, just keep coming!" It was THE scariest thing I've ever done. Literally. Hands down. I blew by Jim and kept going a few more yards. "You ok?" He asked. "Yeah, let's get out of here!" and I was off! But then, I slowed to let him pass, knowing I would NOT be leading on this trail anymore!!! My adrenaline was pumping so hard I knew I was going for every hill, every rock, every root, every ditch, every ANYTHING because I was NOT getting off that bike anymore!!! I amazed myself. And as I continued to amaze myself I thought, "It's all in the perspective. What was once scary, is now nothing compared to what I've just done. If I can do that, I can do anything." And, I did. I plowed right into the side of that bridge with the pole in the center and not enough room on the sides. More wounds, but who cares, I'm staying ON!!! I even scaled the large, rocky, steep hill that I saw those guys ride down!
Towards the end of the ride, I saw Jim stop up ahead as a deer tail leaped up and down beyond the brush and then came into full view and up the mountain. He commented that he'd seen deer tracks on the way up, but now coyote tracks were in full view. EEK!!! We rode out of there.
My left leg was cut and bruised, pedal markings now dotting the front from several slip ups. I was covered in dirt and mud. I don't know if I'll ever be back to that trail - maybe I'll wait till the snakes hybernate - but I do know this: I'm proud of me. I faced my fears. And I conquered them! In mid life, I am finally getting some courage. I'm finally growing up, and it feels pretty good!
Learning to ride/how to teach a 45 year old woman new tricks
As I said in my first post, there were many adventures in learning to ride that lead up to this blog. They were pretty ridiculous, to say the least. First, I just tried riding around my yard and down my paved lane. For someone who grew up only riding a cruiser, adjusting to a bike with different speeds is a bit of a challenge. Especially if that person is NOT in ANY WAY athletic. Not to mention having no sense of balance. I did not know how to even get on the bike. I did not know how to start the bike in motion. The guy at the bike store showed me that I need to have the seat pretty high. You need to realize that I am all of 5 feet, 2 inches. So raising the seat was a BIG deal for me. Once I raised the seat, I couldn't just sit on it to start the bike in motion, because my feet now could not touch the ground. Every time I tried to raise my feet to pedal, I fell over. I had yet to realize the need to actually push off with one foot. This too was scary to me. I was like my mentor bike friend Luke's 4 year old son learning to ride - I tried to hold onto something to keep the bike upright while getting both feet on the pedals. Jim's truck, a tree, bushes, anything! (BTW, that four year old kid blew me out of the water and learned to ride within a week.)
Jim, who grew up riding bikes, motorcycles, etc. with brothers and cousins, stared at me in amazement. "Ruthie, just PUSH OFF, like this!" No dice. I'd fall over sideways. He knew then this was gonna be a long road. Once on the bike and in motion, things weren't too awfully bad. Except then I had to change gears. I had already broken one of my kid's bikes trying to do that before, not understanding the whole "You have to be moving in order to change the gears" concept.
I did wear my helmet at all times. I had watched this amazing video of mountain bikers where one guy rode across a narrow precipice, the ground gave way, and he rolled halfway down the mountain. He jumped up and lived to tell it, though, and the tuck and roll was to his advantage. This came in handy during our yard ride on the side of our grassy hill one day. Jim rode up oh, say 6 feet. I thought, "I can do that! I was in third gear. I got three feet up and ran out of steam, the bike started to tip, and I did a tuck and roll. Hopped up just as Jim was turning around (was hoping to avoid him seeing that). "Ruthie, are you ok?!?" Me: "Yeah! That was FUN!!" Him: "Woman, you're gonna give me a heart attack!!!" He was just sure he had made a major mistake buying this bike by this point. But oh, there was much, MUCH more to come!
Jim, who grew up riding bikes, motorcycles, etc. with brothers and cousins, stared at me in amazement. "Ruthie, just PUSH OFF, like this!" No dice. I'd fall over sideways. He knew then this was gonna be a long road. Once on the bike and in motion, things weren't too awfully bad. Except then I had to change gears. I had already broken one of my kid's bikes trying to do that before, not understanding the whole "You have to be moving in order to change the gears" concept.
I did wear my helmet at all times. I had watched this amazing video of mountain bikers where one guy rode across a narrow precipice, the ground gave way, and he rolled halfway down the mountain. He jumped up and lived to tell it, though, and the tuck and roll was to his advantage. This came in handy during our yard ride on the side of our grassy hill one day. Jim rode up oh, say 6 feet. I thought, "I can do that! I was in third gear. I got three feet up and ran out of steam, the bike started to tip, and I did a tuck and roll. Hopped up just as Jim was turning around (was hoping to avoid him seeing that). "Ruthie, are you ok?!?" Me: "Yeah! That was FUN!!" Him: "Woman, you're gonna give me a heart attack!!!" He was just sure he had made a major mistake buying this bike by this point. But oh, there was much, MUCH more to come!
Where to begin
My husband, Jim, bought a mountain bike for me as a present for Mother's Day, May 9, 2010. You may be thinking, "Why on earth would he do such a thing for his wife, why would she even want that?" My answer is: because I asked for it! Well, I asked for a bike. We went to a bike store. The guy says, "Do you want a road bike or a mountain bike?" I look at Jim, because I have no idea the difference between the two (hence, the name "novice mountain biking adventures"). Jim looks at me (knowing I have almost zero experience in ANY type of biking) and says, "Well, you don't really want to ride on the road, do you?" (Thinking I may kill myself more quickly that way.) "No", I reply, not realizing the alternative. "So you want a mountain bike, then." ...."Yes...." I reply, wondering what all that entails.
As it ended up, Jim and I both left the bike store that day with mountain bikes, and I am so glad, because I would never have had the courage to go it alone. Since that day, I have learned a lot, wrecked a lot, and ENJOYED it a lot! I only wish I had started the blog then, as I have many stories already. As it is, I will highlight these adventures as I go, interweaving them with my daily adventures from this point on.
As it ended up, Jim and I both left the bike store that day with mountain bikes, and I am so glad, because I would never have had the courage to go it alone. Since that day, I have learned a lot, wrecked a lot, and ENJOYED it a lot! I only wish I had started the blog then, as I have many stories already. As it is, I will highlight these adventures as I go, interweaving them with my daily adventures from this point on.
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