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reading back over my post- sorry to seem like I just keep throwing up roadblocks to these wonderful suggestions. I'm not, I just have a hard time finding time to ride anyway. I commute over an hour each way during the week, and live about an hour from just about anywhere. Between leaving early and getting home late, and a 4 year old, and a husband that works or plays golf ALLTHE TIME, my only time to ride is during my lunch break, immediately after work, or weekends (except sunday morning!). So I carry a bike in or on the back of my car just about all the time. I can get in a half hour-45 minute ride during lunch, more if the boss is gone, just about every day. But to get on the trails, pretty much after work or weekends is it. I visit my parents in rolla just about every weekend (one day), so try to combine it with a ride if I can in the rolla area- they can watch my son while I'm riding so it's usually a good time to get in a ride.
anyway, long explanation out of guilt!
thanks
vickie
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My sister is trying to talk me into riding today, 8/13/08, about 6:15 if you're interested. We'll be doing both the flats and some of the hills and I don't care about speed, walking or waiting....though I may ride until I find a less mosquito prone area sometimes. I'm actually hoping for an easy ride today. There should be several other people there of varying abilities as well.
I'm on a grey/black tandem mtb with a small stoker and drive a light blue 4runner, if you'd like/have time to join us. :)
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I may try to find you-- I have to go home and get the mtb first, but will try to make it. If you are already riding, I can ride around and try to find you, you shouldn't be too hard to spot! I drive a gold HHR and will be on the brown wahoo.
vickie
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Thanks for a great ride today Vickie! I was really impressed with your just do it-iveness. I've taken many newbies riding and believe me, you are an impressive beginner with the guts to get even better.
For the record, it was Love to Roller Coaster to Grotpeter (we both walked the drop-offs on Grotpeter) and she rode over roots and rocks and logs and down those loose rocky sections.....just about everything I threw at her and all the while keeping up with my moderate pace.
I'd be happy to ride with you again, great job! :):):):):):)
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I had a blast!! I was determined to keep up, and what a help it was to follow someone and see how they handled different things. I'm sure I went over stuff I would have walked if I was by myself. I didi have to put my foot down several times (like when my front wheel went over a log but the rear wheel didn't) or when I wobbled into a tree.
I was so impressed with little john on the back of that tandem. He stuck there like glue, making dirt bike engine noises, navigating, or just cheerfully talking the whole time. I have a four year old, so it was cool to see them being able to ride together.
Thanks for a great time, I learned a lot and had so much fun!
vickie
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Wow - Vickie! It seems you are ready to ride with the rest of us. There is another ride meeting in the main lot tonight at 6:30. PM me if you are interested and I'll get you specifics.
singletrackmind - those drop offs that you walked on Grotpeter were the same ones my friend crashed on a while back. I've been riding those again - just not at the same pace as before the crash.
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Great to hear you're back at them. We both know you'll be zipping through them again in no time. :) They're still my one of my favorite spots (on my single bike) in St. Louis, especially now that they've tamed the water bars a little further down :( .
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thanks, I think I will try to do one of these rides again, although I'm not confident that I could keep up- as long as everyone doesn't mind me bringing up the rear.
But I'll have to limit them to no more than once a week, I didn't get home till about 9 and my little guy is supposed to be in bed then. I wish I lived closer to castlewood, it's a great park.
vickie
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...and then bring everything you learn to Rolla. Can you jump those logs now?
It's really great that you are taking any extra time you have for this. When he is older he is going to have a great time mountain biking with his mom!
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I'm heading over to C'wood again this eve 8/27 with the tandem if you're interested. Sorry for the short notice, but I've just got myownself motivated to go after back and forthing all day.
If you happen to be there and you want to ride (slowly) with us that's all good with me. :)
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I missed it! I didn't go riding at all today; yesterday and the day before I went to stinging nettle, I've been having a blast over there. I still can't go up steep berms. Tonight I repeatedly tried the berm at my house- the place I was trying to go up was maybe 8 feet tall, kinda steep but not too bad. If I put my weight forward my rear wheel slips, if I don't, my front wheel comes up off the ground. I end up at a dead stop just before the top and almost fall over. I still need a lot of work! I may try stinging nettle after work tomorrow, about 4. I start out at al foster trail and ride to stinging nettle. I'll be in my work clothes with the pants legs rolled up on a brown bike.
thanks for the invite!
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That's ok, it was really short notice. We had a good ride. :)
I've promised JB no rides for a couple of days.....I've ridden 5 out of the past 6 days and he's ridden four of them.....so have a great ride tomorrow!
Sounds like either incredibly steep berms or you've just not found your sweet spots yet. Sit, move forward on the saddle, lean forward towards the bars, suggest the direction you want to go but don't try to steer, spin an easy gear rather than muscle it up at least until you've got it......you're prolly already doing at least some of this, if not all. Sometimes if it's short enough speed and muscle win. Sorry, it's just experience from practice that'll get you up those hills and berms. In which case you're on the right track. :):)
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today I rode 13 miles- that's the furthest I've gone on the chocolate bike so far.
I'd bought some PI sugar knickers today at ghisallo's- it's the first time I've seen knickers in a bike shop in larger sizes. The terry liberator saddle wasn't working out so good, I may try it on my hybrid and see if it does better on that. I got a wtb speed she saddle from a bargain bin at another bike shop, and the jury's still out on that- no cutout.
I took al foster to stinging nettle, and rode the river side of stinging nettle to the far end. I crossed over into castlewood and rode river scene, then back for the upper part of stinging nettle. It's supposed to rain tonight, so it may be a while before I can ride it again.
I attempted every hill, but ended up walking the very top of some of them. I was surprised to make it almost all the way up the root staircase on the way back! I can ride down it, but never thought I could get that far up it. Lots of joggers today, not very many cyclists though.
beautiful weather, great ride. I think I smiled the whole time. saw lots of deer.
vickie
