Feelin' good!

[limewave]

Local mountain bike loop that is my nemesis (approx 10 mile loop):

2007 (fastest average): 6.9 mph
2008 (fastest average): 8.35 mph
2009 : Had a baby
5/12/2010: 8.3 mph
5/15/2010: 8.7 mph
5/19/2010: 8.8 mph
6/4/2010: 9.7 mph, lap 2: 9.3 mph

[nolemom]

Way to go!!!!

[tzvia]

Whatever you've been taking between 5/19/10 and 6/4/10- I want some

Good improvement there!

Frankly, I've discovered the same thing. That is, when I ride the same loop with various challenges (climbs, sand, stairsteps, rockgardens, downhills) over the course of time, the familiarity of it encourages me to attempt things that made me nervous before and my time improves. But not as dramatically as yours. The loop I take I have used, off and on, for over 14 years and has become more eroded in spots and some areas are totally different due to flash flooding.

Sometimes familiarity does NOT breed contempt, it removes uncertainty and allows improvement.

[limewave]

Whatever you've been taking between 5/19/10 and 6/4/10- I want some

Good improvement there!

I think the key is that I've started riding by myself. I used to do all my mountain biking in a group. I was always really tense: worried about crashing, worried about not keeping up, etc. I go out there alone and I feel free. It's been an amazing experience.