How do you get started?

[emily_in_nc]

Liberty,

I agree with the others - go! I would LOVE to go to a women's MTB clinic. I started riding MTB last summer but am still very much an newbie, tho' I have a great bike - XS Titus Racer-X I bought off eBay that fits great! Wish I could find a clinic around these parts!

Let us know all about it!

Emily

[bike4ever]

Emily - Take a road trip and visit St. Louis - you can stay with my family. The clinic is actually run over two days with day two being riding all day.

[emily_in_nc]

Emily - Take a road trip and visit St. Louis - you can stay with my family. The clinic is actually run over two days with day two being riding all day.

Aww, you're sweet! With gas prices being what they are, though, I think I'll keep looking for a clinic closer to home...

Emily

[bike4ever]

We had a terrific first day at the clinic. We went over many of the topics we will be covering on the bike tomorrow. I left the schedule at work, so I'll have to post the actual skills later.

I am excited to see who can ride the slowest!

[bike4ever]

Day 2 was a blast!! We had about 20 women out at a local state park from 9am until 3pm practicing various skills. We had a small lunch break with some raffles then back on the bike.

We practiced nose lifts, bunny hopping, high speed stops, various drills around poles and tennis balls, one legged drills, and some body language. We also got to try some endos - such a wierd feeling. We did have a couple go completely over (very slowly in a field so no one got hurt).

It was such a positive experience with every participant really trying. We did have a wide range of abilities. Once we got out on a trail, the women were so supportive of each other in completing a challenging hill up and a fun, steep one down. Everyone was cheering for each other. It's great to have a women specific event since it is not as competive but more supportive.

Many, many thanks to everyone who participated. Now to practice the bunny hops.

[liberty]

The clinic was great! Two days afterwards and I am still sore.

I found out my bike fits me pretty well. Just a few minor repairs I need to have done. When we were practicing on a few trails I found I couldn't shift from my easy gears. So I had some good practice spinning.

I don't have the money for clipless pedals right now, so I did the clinic in tennis shoes. Actually, it was fine with those; but my legs are TIRED from having to grip the pedals for the hops. I was able to do just about everything except the endo drills. Never could get that one to work.

We learned out to bunny hop, pop up the front tire, pop up the back tire, rachet the pedals, hover over the saddle, weave between poles, do switchbacks, how to handle the bike to avoid endos (which I stunk at), how to go very slowly... I won a preliminary round in the slowest rider contest, but was eliminated in the finals.

The latter part of Sunday we went for some rides on the trails. It was a blast. Ascending and descending practice. The last trail I went on was mainly gravel. That was a pain in the patooty. Would like to be able to handle the bike better before I descend that fast on gravel again. Some guy came flying up behind me and was sliding all over the place. Not fun to feel pressure from him to go faster or wonder if he was out of control and gonna run into me.

My cousin did great! She has only been on a bike for a week now, so she definitely has thrown herself into cycling. I am very proud of her. She borrowed my brother's cheap $89 bike, so I figure she did three times the work the rest of us did.

bike4ever- thanks for all the help. Put me on the list for future bike events and rides!

-Jenny

[bike4ever]

Liberty (Jenny) did a terrific job. Her cousin was an amazing inspiration to us all for having such limited ride time and completing the tasks that we were doing.

Jenny - thanks for coming. We'll definitely have to ride more.

Traci

[fatbottomedgurl]

I can teach you how to endo...heh heh heh.