Let's get this group moving!

[rocknrollgirl]

OK, I usually hang out in the tri forum, but I agree, we need to get this board perked up. I normally ride all winter, snow and all, but I was out for 3 months with an injury. I started back slowly in March and I am currently riding 2x a week and starting to feel better.

It was amazing to me after that time off the bike how really hard this sport is. I did not feel like I lost bike handling skills, but holy cow, my leg strength climbing hills was gone. We have mostly short steep rooty, rocky stuff. No fire roads, so it is that fast burst speed that is missing. The stuff that is very quad intensive.

It is pretty humbling to have to granny up stuff that I could do in middle ring last fall, but hey at least I am back on my bike, right!!!

DG, great job on the Sea Otter Race. I would love to go out and race there.

OK ladies, keep the threads coming! I am riding today so I will report back later.

[madisongrrl]

Wisconsin weather has been terrible. I haven't been able to get on the trails yet as most have been closed. The last time I rode/raced my mountain bike was June 2007. Two pretty significant injuries put me on the sideline for most of the year and are still bothering me.

My first race is next weekend for which I wont be able to pre-ride the course because of a wedding. So my first mountain bike experience in almost a year, is going to be the Elite race at the WORS opener (www.wors.org). I think I'm in some pretty big trouble....but we'll see.

Hope everyone else who doesn't live in the god-forsaken state of WI has been getting some decent trail riding in.

[rocknrollgirl]

Oh MG...geez...not a great way to start the season, but remember if the weather has been bad for you, it has been bad for all of the other locals too.

Good Luck and let us know how you do.

[sundial]

I think I'm in some pretty big trouble....but we'll see.

I was talking with a racer the other day and he has not been able to train for his first race because of the erratic weather patterns and flooding. He was at the starting line with no training yet this season. So I'll bet you are in good company.

[madisongrrl]

Most elite (expert/pro) riders around here are training 8-15 hours per week. I got a late start on my base training because of my injuries so I'm quite a bit behind. Plus I haven't ridden on singletrack so long. The good news is I can only go up from here....and the weather can only get better.

Happy riding.

[emily_in_nc]

I've only managed two trail rides this spring (10 mile loop of fire road/double track at Umstead Park in Raleigh) so far due to weather and work duties, and in just two rides on my most excellent Selle San Marco saddle and PI shorts, my saddle-sore-from-hell from last year has re-erupted, as angry and sore as ever!

I had a cortisone shot in it over the winter at my dermatologist's, which instantly took all the anger out of it, but I guess it was just lying in wait for me to get on a saddle again. Sigh!

So, I'm mostly a runner these days.... I sure wish I could figure out why this one saddle sore just won't GO AWAY and leave me alone!

Emily

[madisongrrl]

Have you tried A&E ointment....it's what my doctor recommended.

[bluebug32]

OK, I usually hang out in the tri forum, but I agree, we need to get this board perked up. I normally ride all winter, snow and all, but I was out for 3 months with an injury. I started back slowly in March and I am currently riding 2x a week and starting to feel better.

It was amazing to me after that time off the bike how really hard this sport is. I did not feel like I lost bike handling skills, but holy cow, my leg strength climbing hills was gone. We have mostly short steep rooty, rocky stuff. No fire roads, so it is that fast burst speed that is missing. The stuff that is very quad intensive.

It is pretty humbling to have to granny up stuff that I could do in middle ring last fall, but hey at least I am back on my bike, right!!!

DG, great job on the Sea Otter Race. I would love to go out and race there.

OK ladies, keep the threads coming! I am riding today so I will report back later.

That's great that you're back on the bike at least. It'll come in time. Just have to be patient and keep riding, but patience is the hard part.

I'm in southern NY where the terrain is definitely rocky and rooty. We do have some fireroads. Not sure how close you are to the border. Are you in Northern NJ?

[Irulan]

I did double duty today.
Spent all morning in a mapping session at our bike park. This involved taking a local survey instructor with a professional level GPS all over the trails, by foot, to pick up the sections her class missed earlier. We must have hiked up and down the hill at least 4 times.

When we were all done, I ate a sandwich and then took my bike off my car and rode the trails around to the top, (ouch, first time this season) and then straight down to hook up with the guys. We then pushed and rode straight back up to the top for some sessioning on the DH course. I have a brand new bike I'm still getting the feel for for more technical stuff.

Then the guys took me over to the new dual slalom course. I sucked pretty bad, but I got some lessons on how to pump up to my advantage.

Now I am home and I hurt all over.