Excited & Nervous

[limewave]

Have a great time! I was nervous riding solo too, but once I got out there, realized I liked it better than riding in a group--no pressure! Have fun and be safe.

[Catrin]

I had fun It is obvious I need a lot of work, but that is only to be expected. Since I rode solo I chose to walk two sections of Pine Loop that has a steep drop-off. I did ride them during the Clinic, but I fell on those sections a lot and was nervous. I will try those sections again when I am not alone.

For those familiar with Brown County State Park, I rode Pine up from the parking lot, up the North Tower Connector until the section that gets steep and has big roots, turned around & went back to pick up the downhill shortcut back to the parking lot. Then I did it again

I actually had very few real falls, much better than last time. I did stop a lot, and just took my time. It was hot and sweat was just pouring off me. The second time through I tried to ride a little more of the two scary sections before I walked, made much better time the second time through.

I found out what happens when you get fatigued. I didn't actually NOTICE that I was tired, but noticed the second time down the down-hill shortcut that it felt like I had much less control of the bike and was having to stop much more frequently. I did walk a portion of that trail, and it is quite easy - I was just overly fatigued & I think that was the safest way to deal with that. I didn't want crash from being so tired that it affected my reaction time.

I had fun, learned a lot, and am looking forward to the next time! I also have a better idea just what I need to practice...

[Roadtrip]

Glad you had a good ride and continue to learn... Gooooooooo you!!!!

[indysteel]

Good job, Catrin. I'm glad you got out there and that you had fun!

[Catrin]

Good job, Catrin. I'm glad you got out there and that you had fun!

I am glad that I got out there, and even glad it was solo. Less self-induced pressure that way. I did have a problem picking a line on the trail and sticking with it, part of that is experience, but I also wonder if being in a too easy gear makes that more likely. I just stayed in the granny gear, but I've 10 gears to choose from in the back....practice and experience will settle this question. I did shift the rear, quite a bit, but likely stayed in too narrow a range.

[indysteel]

It could be a function of your speed. Momentum can make it easier to remain balanced and steady. That said, it's important to be able to balance at low speeds, so that's a skill worth drilling. I also think it takes some practice to look far enough ahead on the trail. The more I look directly in front of my wheel, the worse I ride. Did you get out of the saddle much?

[Catrin]

It could be a function of your speed. Momentum can make it easier to remain balanced and steady. That said, it's important to be able to balance at low speeds, so that's a skill worth drilling. I also think it takes some practice to look far enough ahead on the trail. The more I look directly in front of my wheel, the worse I ride. Did you get out of the saddle much?

I didn't feel like I was going too slow, and I've been practicing low speed turns. I agree it takes practice to look far enough ahead, especially when there are twisty turns around tree trunks right in front of you - there was one that I kept wanting to crash into At least the second time I was able to just keep going though it was a close call.

The only place I can think of where I was going too slow was the bridge on Pine Loop where there is a hair-pin to get onto the bridge, and one to get off the bridge. The first time through I just walked it. The second time I made it around the curve to get onto the bridge but my speed was so low at that point that halfway across the bridge I just stopped and walked it. Still better than the first time through

The grade of Pine Loop + my full suspension makes it very comfortable to stay seated... there were a few places where I went into the neutral position to go over a root, but in most places I just forgot I had given myself permission to do that my first time through, will do more work on this next time.

People tell me that Limekiln doesn't have the steep drop-off that Pine has. I remember seeing something like that from when I walked it however, though it might be more gentle. I want to get more comfy on Pine before hitting Limekiln...

I hope to go next weekend, but it was almost half a gas-tank round trip