First ride on new bike!

As some of you may remember, I bought a new mtn bike 2-3 months ago. Well, with the shop being busy this fall, I was never able to finish the bike. (Cannonadle Jekyll) I finally put the finishing touches on it and got out on it today. :p
I had a GREAT time and can't wait to get out on it more. The woods are pretty wet here now, and will be wetter the next few days.. but it was fun and I can't wait. I still need to dial the suspension in a bit, but all in all, a great bike and one that will see many more excursions.

The only bad part of this story is that I'm not able to post pictures, but will when my computer allows it.

Congratulations, and looking forward to the pictures!

Awesome and congrats on the new ride!

Thanks to both of you!!

Catrin, have you found any sort of gravel/dirt roads in your area?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ridebikeme

Thanks to both of you!!

Catrin, have you found any sort of gravel/dirt roads in your area?

---

Not in my immediate area, but I've been given some good ideas a couple of counties west of me, and of course there are good ones around the Hoosier National Forest. My bike will need some work to get me into a more appropriate riding position however - but that was expected. It feels great on the trails, awful on the road. It will be far less expensive than a new bike :) So I will be scouting my options as I save for the work, and I am also scouting for a riding buddy as these are pretty remote areas.

Sounds as though you are headed in the right direction. Would posting some info about this with your LBS or a club help to find some people to ride with? There may be others who are interested as you are and are looking as well...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ridebikeme

Sounds as though you are headed in the right direction. Would posting some info about this with your LBS or a club help to find some people to ride with? There may be others who are interested as you are and are looking as well...

---

My bike shop already knows as they are the ones who gave me the information and a contact to help me find places to go scouting out potential rides. I've also posted something on the local women's mtb meetup group, and there are a couple of women interested.

There is a mtb association of course, and I've been on that forum but right now everyone is so focused on single-track. There is a gravel road race on Thanksgiving weekend, but I wouldn't want to slow down someone training for a 60+ mile brutal gravel race. This is in the same area where I want to ride, but I know I will be slower. With all of the injuries and time off the bike this year I don't have the climbing legs I should at the end of the season and that area has some STEEP gravel roads!

Great I'm glad to hear that you are putting some pieces together for future rides! I wish that I were closer so I could race as well, it certainly must be drier than this area is right now. :( What's the name of the race? Is there information on a website/blog somewhere?

Although you may not be in 'climbing' position that you'd like to be, it might be a great time to log some miles and see what you think of this time of riding... at least I always think that I'll spend less days on the trainer that way HA!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ridebikeme

Great I'm glad to hear that you are putting some pieces together for future rides! I wish that I were closer so I could race as well, it certainly must be drier than this area is right now. :( What's the name of the race? Is there information on a website/blog somewhere?

Although you may not be in 'climbing' position that you'd like to be, it might be a great time to log some miles and see what you think of this time of riding... at least I always think that I'll spend less days on the trainer that way HA!

---

The name of the event is the Gravel Grovel and it is always held on the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend. There is a companion event held in very early March called the Death March (for a couple of VERY good reasons). For some reason neither website is responding, but you can check both out from the Sub-9 Productions website later. Their website is down and I've already let them know about that. I will volunteer for the Gravel Grovel again this year - as long as the weather doesn't make me wimp out. I hope to ride at least a portion of the Death March, but time will tell.

HERE is a review of the 2011 Gravel Grovel to give you an idea what it is like.

In order to REALLY do some gravel road riding, I need to switch my stem out and probably throw some riser bars on my bike. My riding position is fine, barely, for single-track, but I am much too hunched over for anything that looks like road riding or for covering distance. In order to keep from stretching my neck out too far we chose to go with a mountain bike one size small for me - and I need to save up for the work.

The website is back up :)

Gravel Grovel information here. This is a combination of a road, mountain, and cyclocross race all rolled up into one!

Death March information here! This is held in the same area, it is a team race of a different type - think orienteering on bikes :)

Have you done it before? My son and I are contemplating doing the lesser-mileage fun ride on our hybrid bikes.

Thanks for the link Catrin... looks very interesting... may have to give it some thought. :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Aromig

Have you done it before? My son and I are contemplating doing the lesser-mileage fun ride on our hybrid bikes.

---

I've not done either, though I have worked both events several times as a volunteer. It is a LOT of fun, and there are families and others who sign up for the 30 mile shorter/non race ride. Last year was the first time that the organizers had a meal catered after the event. There are also showers available. I've not ridden any gravel at all yet or I would consider the short route as well, but I will be there as a volunteer. Look me up if you come - there are usually only a couple volunteers. I will have my mountain bike with me and am planning to do a little gravel grinding myself if time permits.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ridebikeme

Thanks for the link Catrin... looks very interesting... may have to give it some thought. :)

---

Do come! There are never many women competing, however there are more each year. Last year there were some seriously cool prizes for the winners of the different categories, as well as door prizes - and there were only a couple of women competing with each other in the Open Women category. It is a good way to ride off the Thanksgiving turkey :)

If I can get enough gravel practice this winter I would like to enter the Death March...but I will need a riding partner to do that.

The reality of me getting away for Thanksgiving is more than likely just a dream... although I would definitely consider the Death March. I'll wait and see what happens with the other race that I'm trying to get into first ( it's a lottery) and if I don't get in, then I just may make trip back to the Hoosier state. I'll keep you posted...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ridebikeme

The reality of me getting away for Thanksgiving is more than likely just a dream... although I would definitely consider the Death March. I'll wait and see what happens with the other race that I'm trying to get into first ( it's a lottery) and if I don't get in, then I just may make trip back to the Hoosier state. I'll keep you posted...

---

Crossing my finger that I will get to see you for one of them :) I need a partner for the Death March, but it needs to be someone who is more interested in the experience of going to a couple of the cemeteries rather than truly competing and riding the entire 70ish miles. I KNOW my legs won't be up for that in early March...

I guess time will tell... I know what you mean about mileage that time of year. I'm hoping to get into a ride in Iowa at the end of April, and mileage is 325 for two days... so very early indeed. But as always, if things are meant to be they'll somehow sort themselves out. If not, then there always this ride in Indiana that has a focus on riding to cemetaries:)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ridebikeme

I guess time will tell... I know what you mean about mileage that time of year. I'm hoping to get into a ride in Iowa at the end of April, and mileage is 325 for two days... so very early indeed. But as always, if things are meant to be they'll somehow sort themselves out. If not, then there always this ride in Indiana that has a focus on riding to cemetaries:)

---

The historical cemetery thing is cool, but what I find even cooler is the whole partner/"figure out how to get to each one and in whatever order you desire approach". It is basically orienteering on mountain bikes (or cyclocross)! For each cemetery you make (and take a pic of you and your partner to prove both of you were there), a certain number of minutes is taken off of your overall time. A certain number of check-points are required, but several more are optional. The racers know a certain number of check-points prior to the event, but several are selected that morning. Obviously really good maps are required for each team :)