Frustrated...

[Tabby]

Also check with the LBS for womens clinics. I'm going to one tomorrow, which is free. I never saw it advertised and only heard about it on local forum.

I've seen them around $20-$40 in Ohio and Michigan. Gosh, hope you can find something reasonable. If not, do try to seek out ladies group rides, they've been very helpful for me.


PJ

[MtnBikerChk]

I am fearful.. of falling.

You said it yourself - fear can be very difficult to overcome.

And I agree with Irulan - PADS PADS PADS! You fall, nothing hurts and the fear will go away! Ain't nothing wrong with riding with them!

Now go get on yer bike and KICK SOME A$$!

[wavedancer]

I just want to echo what everyone has said, especially about doing a women's clinic. I found this one with Mia Stockdale, coming soon to a park near you!

Skills Clinic with Mia Stockdale

OOPS! That's an outdated page. sorry! But maybe that shop would be a place to start?

[Paradox]

So we rode yesterday on a "beginner's" trail. It was a little over 11 miles with over 2,000 feet elevation gain, but not all at once. About 1,200 all in the beginning, then down for a bit, then up again, then down more.

http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=901

Not very many obstacles to freak out over, just a lot of gravelly loose, sandy sections. Steep in parts. I walked my bike up a few of the steeper hills, walked down a couple of the steeper little hills and over two rocky sections that were smooth rocks, but just too steep for my comfort level. I did better on some of the downhills than I have recently. Uphill was still a struggle: had to stop and catch my breath after nearly every steep section. Love how the reviews say the steep section is "not enough to catch your breath". Yeah, right.

It took us 2.5 hours of riding time (not including over an hour total spent stopped) at my speed. That's about 45 minutes longer than the average. All the stopping going up, and my very, very slow pace going down (good thing the brakes work!) We were passed by everyone out there yesterday I think. One guy passed us twice.

I didn't think this was an easy or a quick ride, as some say in the reviews. By the time we got back to the car, I didn't feel so good- headache, a little nauseous. Not sure if I drank too much water (almost the whole camelbak), not enough water, not enough food, or just too much sun and heat (we were in the sun at near 90 degrees all day). Does this ever happen to any of you?

[lph]

I haven't read the whole thread thoroughly, but two things popped into my mind:

your bike doesn't fit you or has a too aggressive set-up, so it's "forcing" you into a position you're not comfortable with

you're out of your comfort zone too much. I'm a beginner at mtbiking proper, but I recognize the same feelings from rock climbing. Some people get better by pushing themselves all the time - I don't. Rock climbing, or biking, or anything that has a bit of risk involved - I do better when I've done the easy stuff a million gazillion times so that I really really really feel comfortable pushing myself a little. If I feel I'm out of my depth I tense up, over-analyze things, over-compensate and do horribly. And riding or climbing with people much better than me I feel out of my depth fast, but if I'm one of the best of the group I feel much more courageous.

If I were you I'd go out and find someone even more of a beginner to ride with!

[TahoeDirtGirl]

Being in CO I'm not sure what your altitude is. And you were climbing 2,000 feet? Not sure of your fitness level either but this might be too much for you right now. I can totally identify with you. Some of my first rides to the Flume trail in Tahoe was a lung buster, and there is the one last bit of hill that they say only a small percentage are able to climb. Yeah, well I climbed that after years of riding on one of my last rides back there last year. That was after lotsa pushing!

I had to giggle when you said the one guy passed you twice. I can identify with that. I hated the 'out and backs' where someone would pass me and then pass me going back. But you get better and just keep in mind, they had to start somewhere too.

Definately get more seat time, that is what makes the difference. I would ride four days a week, then take a couple of days off and do a ride like what you did. Don't ride back to back days of that kind of ride or you'll be hurt.

As for the water, yes, you need it. Everyone is different. I have a 3 L pack and I would drink every drop by the time the VERY FAST decent started. Out here, I drink about 30 oz. but I'm not climbing like I did out there.

Just keep on keeping on but realize you are really pushing it so if you continue like that, you will feel crappy. I noticed once I got back into some kind of 'shape' I felt great, and not so crappy due to the lack of oxygen and a whole lot of wind sucking...

[singletrackmind]

Good for you riding those ball bearings y'all call 'smooth'. I've done Baldy to Gashouse Gulch and it was nice but more technical than a beginner trail you'd find over here, because of those gravelly granite pellets. If you're riding those up or down you're doing a darned fine job, no matter how long it takes you. Keep up the good work, keep pedaling everywhere you can as much as you can and know you're doing well. The speed will follow the experience.

[singletrackmind]

For me headache and nausea especially accompanied with goosebumps means dehydration. I use gatorade because I'll drink more of it than I will water and it replaces more than just the water that got sweated out. On a ride that long I'll go through a whole 70oz camelback and sometimes a bottle or two, depending on the heat, humidity, whether I'm starting out hydrated and how hard I'm working and it sounds like you are working hard.

[Tuckervill]

Don't trust those reviews. They're written by testosterone laden young men whose judgment center in the brain is not fully formed.

Karen

So we rode yesterday on a "beginner's" trail. It was a little over 11 miles with over 2,000 feet elevation gain, but not all at once. About 1,200 all in the beginning, then down for a bit, then up again, then down more.

http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=901

Not very many obstacles to freak out over, just a lot of gravelly loose, sandy sections. Steep in parts. I walked my bike up a few of the steeper hills, walked down a couple of the steeper little hills and over two rocky sections that were smooth rocks, but just too steep for my comfort level. I did better on some of the downhills than I have recently. Uphill was still a struggle: had to stop and catch my breath after nearly every steep section. Love how the reviews say the steep section is "not enough to catch your breath". Yeah, right.

It took us 2.5 hours of riding time (not including over an hour total spent stopped) at my speed. That's about 45 minutes longer than the average. All the stopping going up, and my very, very slow pace going down (good thing the brakes work!) We were passed by everyone out there yesterday I think. One guy passed us twice.

I didn't think this was an easy or a quick ride, as some say in the reviews. By the time we got back to the car, I didn't feel so good- headache, a little nauseous. Not sure if I drank too much water (almost the whole camelbak), not enough water, not enough food, or just too much sun and heat (we were in the sun at near 90 degrees all day). Does this ever happen to any of you?

[Tabby]

Don't trust those reviews. They're written by testosterone laden young men whose judgment center in the brain is not fully formed.

Karen

Thank you fror saying this Karen, I know this is the case around here too!

PJ