a real rookie's castlewood ride

[bike4ever]

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.

[singletrackmind]

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 .

[fastdogs]

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

[uforgot]

...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!

[singletrackmind]

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.

[fastdogs]

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!

[singletrackmind]

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.