I'm back at it!

[jessmarimba]

Ok, so it was fire-road-riding, not mountain biking, but it's a step. Took the Fargo out to my own personal Disneyland (happiest place on earth!) - Buffalo Creek/Pike National Forest. Beautiful rolling hills at 8,000 feet. Did a 3.5 hour spin around some dirt roads, learned a few things in the process:

- I love my bike. On-road, off-road, it's awesome.

- My back can handle 3.5 hours on the bike...though it was irritated that the first 2 were entirely uphill. Seriously. I didn't realize until I finally hit a downhill that I hadn't touched the brakes in 2 hours.

- I like having the drops even when I'm offroad. Enough that I'd consider putting them on my next real mountain bike. They help me stretch my back without getting off the bike.

- A combination of my cheapest shorts and the stock saddle still did not bother me in the slightest after 3.5 hours. Guess I'll stick with 'em!

- It's ok to walk the descent when its a 12% grade through a sandbox on the side of a cliff. No one is watching anyway. :)

- I am not very good at identifying false flats. I had no idea I was going uphill for the stick of the lollipop until I returned to it and it was all downhill!!

I took some pretty cool pictures of the ride that I need to upload...I'll link you guys to them in a little bit!

[redrhodie]

Yay! How long since your surgery? I remember when you were wondering how you were going to get through it, now your back!

[jessmarimba]

10 months. Looking at testing some mountain bikes soon :)

Here's some photos (https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.935019282085.2427618.38418977&l=7b396ae349) - I love this part of the state

[Artista]

Looking at testing some mountain bikes soon :)

Wish I had known that. The Sports Garage in Boulder sponsored a mountain bike demo day yesterday. They had several manufacturers represented including Pivot, Yeti, & Specialized. Hubby & I went & had a blast! I'm pretty sure that I won't be happy until I get a new Pivot now. :D

It would have been fun to meet up there. I'll try to remember to post this kind of stuff to TE in the future.

[Aggie_Ama]

Woohoo! Baby steps are big steps after your injury. So happy for you! :D

[jessmarimba]

Haha thanks guys!

Thanks Artista, my old mountain bike group posts some info on demos on our website too but I'm sort of afraid of demo days because I don't want to clip in again yet. I guess there's no harm in just looking though :)

On the other hand, I figured out that I can probably start using my current bike offroad a bit more as long as the trails aren't really technical!

[OakLeaf]

Yay Jess! Welcome back. :)

[sundial]

Jess, I am so very proud of you! I know what an accomplishment that is after coming back from a big injury. Your Fargo will take you places that you've only dreamed of and you will arrive in comfort. :) Thank you for sharing your latest adventure with us and please post pictures of your epic ride.

[solobiker]

That is great Jess!! I love to ride the trails there. Keep it up!!:D

[Catrin]

Congratulations!

[Artista]

Injury:eek: Surgery:confused: What happened 10 months ago!?

[jessmarimba]

I was viciously attacked by a waterbar...broke my back and had a couple vertebrae fused. All good now! Well, technically forbidden from mountain biking for a couple more months, but I'm figuring out the system :)

[Artista]

Heavens! All of the waterbars I've run across have been docile. I've never heard of one going after a human like that. Glad you're healing well.