Quote Originally Posted by SheFly View Post
I finally, this year, conquered a tough downhill rock to bridge transition that has always scared me. To put it in perspective, if the rock dropped to the trail, I would never have thought twice about it. But it didn't - it dropped to a wooden bridge that was rather long, and had a SLIGHT penalty if you missed.
Oh - I know just what you mean - I have a particular really tight downhill switchback that is nothing special but I just have to unclip that inside foot. I don't even dab with it - it just hangs there "just in case"! It seems to be something in our heads that makes that situation scarier than it should be for us! So, well done on that rock-bridge nasty!

And I should have known I was getting better at hills now I think back. I went for a ride at Bunya the other week and they have a hill that is called "I Hate This One" - seriously - it's on the map! It is not super long (about 300m) and it is not super steep (10-15% grade) but it is just a lovely combination of being a bit long and a bit steep and has a water bar right in the middle of the steepest bit! I always engage granny and up I go. I would never try it in anything else.

Last time I went up it I thought it felt a bit harder than usual and I looked down as I went over the water bar and saw I'd messed up my gear change and was on the middle ring. I nearly fell off there and then in fright, but stood up and managed to get over the water bar, so I did the rest on the middle ring just to prove I could! More Wahoos! Even DH was impressed! Maybe in another few years I'll love hills! Maybe I'll have to have one of Urlea's jerseys!