Trail ride :)

[Catrin]

What trail is that?

It is called "River Road Park" and is in Hamilton county at 126th and River Road. It isn't close to you, but it might be worth the drive. Here is the description from the HMBA website:

"Thanks to Hamilton County Parks Dept. we have access to a new trail within River Rd Park at 126th & River Rd. This trail has been built along the White River with access near the south canoe launch or one of the two overlooks off of the paved multi-use trail. It has been designed and built according to IMBA standards for a "Gateway" trail. A Gateway trail is usually near an urban area and designed to introduce people to the sport of Mt. Biking. This trail is nearly a 1 mile loop with an upper and lower trail built above the seasonal flooding of the White River."

I asked Jonathan about it yesterday and while he said he has never seen it, a friend of his built the trail. It is not long at all but that provides more control over how far/long to ride. I am going to go look at it sometime this week, it is supposed to rain so I can take an umbrella and not waste riding time hiking it

I posted a question here asking how it compares to Pine Loop. The person who answered my question mentions Town Run as well but I've been told by everyone I know/trust to avoid Town Run at this time. They said isn't like other mountain bike trails and it would be better to drive to BCSP instead.

There is a new trail opening at Fort Ben, but I've not heard how it will be classified.

[indysteel]

It is called "River Road Park" and is in Hamilton county at 126th and River Road. It isn't close to you, but it might be worth the drive. Here is the description from the HMBA website:

"Thanks to Hamilton County Parks Dept. we have access to a new trail within River Rd Park at 126th & River Rd. This trail has been built along the White River with access near the south canoe launch or one of the two overlooks off of the paved multi-use trail. It has been designed and built according to IMBA standards for a "Gateway" trail. A Gateway trail is usually near an urban area and designed to introduce people to the sport of Mt. Biking. This trail is nearly a 1 mile loop with an upper and lower trail built above the seasonal flooding of the White River."

I asked Jonathan about it yesterday and while he said he has never seen it, a friend of his built the trail. It is not long at all but that provides more control over how far/long to ride. I am going to go look at it sometime this week, it is supposed to rain so I can take an umbrella and not waste riding time hiking it

I posted a question here asking how it compares to Pine Loop. The person who answered my question mentions Town Run as well but I've been told by everyone I know/trust to avoid Town Run at this time. They said isn't like other mountain bike trails and it would be better to drive to BCSP instead.

There is a new trail opening at Fort Ben, but I've not heard how it will be classified.

That sounds like a great place for you to practice. It's way out of the way for me, so I doubt I'll get up there, but if I'm ever going to be in the area, I'll try it. I'll likely just keep doing Pine Loop for the time being. I'm willing to try the other beginner trails, but my guess is that I'll end up having to walk some sections. Good thing DH and I bought an annual state park pass!

[Artista]

Catrin & Indy, which skills did you learn in the clinic? Which skill(s) are you finding to be the toughest?

[indysteel]

Catrin & Indy, which skills did you learn in the clinic? Which skill(s) are you finding to be the toughest?

We practiced neutral and what they called "ready" position, modulated and controlled braking, what they called "window washing," i.e,. getting up out of the saddle and moving our body back and forth over the bike, moving fore and aft over the saddle, ratcheting and tight turns, and getting our front wheel up. At least those are the ones I remember.

I had a bit of trouble with getting my wheel up, although I got better with it as the day progressed, and I still have room for improvement on tight turns. Honestly, I thought I did pretty well during the skills and drills portion; it's simply a matter of integrating it once on the trail. I felt pretty good on the trail itself, too, so long as I wasn't descending. Descending scares me a bit. I think part of it is that I'm having trouble braking with one finger. As I mentioned upthread, DH is going to adjust my levers to a bit easier for me. I'll see if that helps. Part of it is "just" mental. I need practice and exposure to lessen my nerves.

[Catrin]

I had no problems with the neutral/ready/fore/aft positions. The sideways, "window washing" technique was challenging and I am unsure that I actually have that down. Hopping over a little stick with my front wheel was also challenging. I did improve a bit on this, but I do not think that I could actually hop over a real obstacle, that is going to take some time and that is ok. More upper body strength can only help

Shifting was something of a challenge on the trail, but that improved when I just put it in the granny gear and worked with the little gears.

The braking techniques were fun, and I found my balance to be better than I expected, so that was all good. We did some sharp turn practices and I did have a little trouble with this. I think the trouble was more from having others so close to me - most of my road riding is solo so I am just not accustomed to having other cyclists in such close proximity. Ever. Of course, one doesn't normally do such tight turns on the road so I need to practice them anyway.

One cool thing that came out of all of the drills. I got so used to the neutral position that I came out of one drill still standing on my pedals and actually caught myself pedaling! Resistance wasn't high enough for that, not really, but I've NEVER been able to do that on my other bikes

The "ready" position is a little difficult for me to separate from the ready position for some reason...but one of the instructors pulled me aside and helped me to figure it out. This still needs practice, but it was a great start!

[kimikaw]

Quick comment - know I need to post in the clinic thread, too. Hopefully will have sometime at hotel tonight (at Indy airport now, Chicago later).

Realize that Town Run trail is ver close to the hotel I always stay at when in town for biz. Heck I was within a block or two of it in last 24 hours.......but the boys (DH and kiddo) had taken my bike home. Woulda been fun to try it.

Now I'm scheming how I can have a bike on my biz trips

[Catrin]

Quick comment - know I need to post in the clinic thread, too. Hopefully will have sometime at hotel tonight (at Indy airport now, Chicago later).

Realize that Town Run trail is ver close to the hotel I always stay at when in town for biz. Heck I was within a block or two of it in last 24 hours.......but the boys (DH and kiddo) had taken my bike home. Woulda been fun to try it.

Now I'm scheming how I can have a bike on my biz trips

I guess they don't have folding mountain bikes Ya know, BGI North does mountain bike rentals, that might be an option? I won't ride Town Run until I've more experience under my belt, but it sounds like a great option for you for sure. How often are you in town for biz?

[jessmarimba]

kimikaw, I don't guess you have the option of flying Frontier too often but I believe they've recently changed their policy to charge only normal baggage fees ($25) for bikes.

[laura*]

And the regularly scheduled conversation...

I guess they don't have folding mountain bikes

Actually, they do! For example, the full suspension Dahon Jetstream:

http://us.dahon.com/bikes/1637/jetstream-p8

[Catrin]

That sounds like a great place for you to practice. It's way out of the way for me, so I doubt I'll get up there, but if I'm ever going to be in the area, I'll try it. I'll likely just keep doing Pine Loop for the time being. I'm willing to try the other beginner trails, but my guess is that I'll end up having to walk some sections. Good thing DH and I bought an annual state park pass!

I need to get one of those state park passes. I can't go down every weekend as I am further than you are, but will head down as often as I can. The River Road trail is less than a mile, so knowing me, once I get more comfortable I will be pining for Pine Do let me know if the two of you find other beginner trails in the area, though I think most of them are at BCSP.

[indysteel]

I need to get one of those state park passes. I can't go down every weekend as I am further than you are, but will head down as often as I can. The River Road trail is less than a mile, so knowing me, once I get more comfortable I will be pining for Pine Do let me know if the two of you find other beginner trails in the area, though I think most of them are at BCSP.

It's $36 for a calendar year. It's otherwise $5.00 to enter any state park, so if you think you're going to be at a park at least 8 more times between now and the end of the year, then it'll be worth your while. Otherwise, just wait until next year.