Weekend MTB Rides

[Giulianna23]

Glad you had a good time! They meant that they didn't believe you are a beginner, it wasn't an insult

Yeah I had a great time...... I will meet with them every tuesday if possible. There was another gal in the group and they say they have other females that are not able to make it every Tuesday.

I was the only Newbie yesterday and at the end of the ride they where calling me "Sandbagger Speedy Newbie".. LOL...I was surprised that I was able to keep up with all them big guys. They did ask me if I road bike because they were surprised with my endurance. I did tell them I commute to work every day though.

[indysteel]

Yeah I had a great time...... I will meet with them every tuesday if possible. There was another gal in the group and they say they have other females that are not able to make it every Tuesday.

I was the only Newbie yesterday and at the end of the ride they where calling me "Sandbagger Speedy Newbie".. LOL...I was surprised that I was able to keep up with all them big guys. They did ask me if I road bike because they were surprised with my endurance. I did tell them I commute to work every day though.

That's really great! I'm glad you're having so much fun. How's your bike working out for you?

On a related note, I'm seriously bummed that this weekend might be rained out. After how many weeks of drought, and we get the remnants of a tropical storm over a 3-day holiday weekend? That is just not right.

But I don't want to feel too sorry for myself. I realize this storm is affecting people in much more serious ways. Everybody be safe!

[Giulianna23]

That's really great! I'm glad you're having so much fun. How's your bike working out for you?

On a related note, I'm seriously bummed that this weekend might be rained out. After how many weeks of drought, and we get the remnants of a tropical storm over a 3-day holiday weekend? That is just not right.

But I don't want to feel too sorry for myself. I realize this storm is affecting people in much more serious ways. Everybody be safe!

I really like the bike...and I already know she is going to get a heck of a beat up with the way I ride.... lol.... Thanks for asking

And about the weather?... I know what you mean...But I still have hopes its not going to be that bad

[Artista]

It's hard to beat Labor Day weekend rides! Skills and strength honed from a summer of riding, beautiful weather, three days away from work - what more could we ask for?!

We rode a section of the Indian Creek trail yesterday. Started at a low point, did some tough climbing to the top of a mountain ridge, then turned around for a fun descent back to the car.

Today we rode Spruce Meadow to Spruce Mountain, up and over the mountain, around the base of the mountain, and back through the meadow to the car. I love seeing where other people ride so I decided to pay back by posting some pics from today's ride.

The 1st pic shows Spruce Mountain, our destination, in the background.

The 2nd pic is me playing around on the mountain top with one of the great views in the background.

The 3rd pic is the entrance to one of our favorite parts of this ride - the service road down the mountain. The sign makes me chuckle every time.

The 4th pic is my best friend, favorite riding buddy, and the greatest hubby a gal could ask for. This was taken at a flat-ish spot, part way down the road. Most of the grades on this road range from about 14% - 20%. There are no safe photo ops where it's really steep. The most challenging part of this service road is negotiating all of the deep, criss-crossing, water gulleys in the steepest sections.

The last pic was taken toward the end of the service road, after it smooths and flattens out into a gentle ride.

[ridebikeme]

We rode in Vermont yesterday at the Kingdom Trails, and definitely could NOT have asked for a more beautiful day. One of my customers and her family, Dad with his new Jekyll and two sons, and my new nephews. All of the boys were a bit tired from soccer practice/games over the weekend, but once we hit the trails everyone was ready to go. An INCREDIBLE day!

[limewave]

On a spur of the moment I snuck out of the house (hahaha) leaving the kids in DH's care and hit the dirt for a fun, relaxed ride this weekend. I wasn't planning on riding hard as DH and I had actually done a "tempo" ride the day before and my legs were still feeling it.

I rode easy, stopping to take pictures, enjoy the view (I'll post some tonight when I get a chance). I even stopped and walked a steep downhill section that had been badly washed out in a recent storm, a section I always ride. At this point two cyclists past me. I made a comment about the erosion. I get that look from them--'nother girl that can't ride. Seriously, I know that look. I let it slide because its a nice evening, it's my ride.

Shortly after that I caught both riders on a long, gradual climb. The "person" in back heard me coming, informed the rider in front that there's a rider back while this person starts to slow down and move to the right so I can pass. However, "person" in front turns back and sees my two long braids and decides to take off. Really???

Not a problem. I'd been riding easy all night and I had plenty of gas in the engine. lol. I rode on their wheel for about a mile then got bored so I smoked 'em. I've been laid back about my riding this season, but when someone asks for it, well, I don't want to be rude and NOT dish it out.

Other than that incident, it was a beautiful ride. The sky was cloudy and I even got rained on a bit between rays of sunshine. I found an 'abandoned' cabin near the trail that I never knew existed before. It kind of creeped me out. The wind was so strong that it was blowing the door open and closed. It made the hair on my neck stand up.

[indysteel]

That's awesome, Limewave! I love that you smoked him!

I haven't been mountain biking for a few weeks, but DH and I did several rides along Acadia's gravel carriage roads on our touring bikes this past week. They were a blast. I especially liked the climbs, most of which were long but not overly difficult. I just wish I had disc brakes on tourer (or at least better brakes). Some of the descents were a little unnerving in that the cantis on my touring bike just aren't to my liking. But otherwise, the rides were fun. Vehicular traffic isn't allowed on the carriage roads, so the biggest concern was the piles of horse poop!

[thekarens]

My partner and I went out and did about 13 miles on a beginner trail. I let her lead so she could call out all the upcoming problems As it turns out at one point she went flying over a hump and squished a snake. I was going much slower so I had plenty of time to stop. I felt sorry for the poor thing

I think spending more time on the easier trails is really helpful for me. Keep doing it enough and it helps build up confidence and my complete lack of skills.

[Catrin]

Sounds like fun, Indy and Thekarens! I've not been on the mtb trails for over 3 weeks now, but will do that this Saturday - weather permitting.

theKarens, I hope your partner is all right - did she fall off the bike or did the bike hit the snake after the flying over the hump?

[thekarens]

She hit the snake after flying over the hump and continued tearing down the trail. I came to a dead stop. She came back and moved it off the trail. I just knew it would cause someone an accident if it was left there.

[Catrin]

Finally, after a month off the mountain bike I finally got in 2 hours on the trails today Guilliana23 and I hit the beginner trail at my favorite park so she could check it out for the first time and we had fun! I like the new rear tire, it is quite a lot more aggressive/knobbier than my front tire and I could tell the difference. No crashes, though I did skid on a small mud spot that I was trying to avoid but was able to control what happened next. Guilliana23 did great! We rode Pine Loop a couple of times and also hit part of the NT Connector.

My knee was a little cranky, but I could tell some good improvement, I think the ride was just what it needed. My next ride I will return to the intermediate trail that got me last time and kick it's azz The dust is gone, and I am defiantly getting some traction now so there shouldn't be a repeat - or at least not for the same reason!

The trails had many, many hikers on them, far more than I've seen before. Some didn't seem to be aware they weren't just hiking trails, but they found that out pretty quickly. It will likely be like that for the next month as we reach the peak period for fall color.

[tzvia]

Been avoiding the mountain bike for about a month, just too hot for the local trails. Much easier to grab the road bike and head to where there are some ocean breezes.

But this weekend the temps actually dropped down into the 80s for the first time in several months. So I took down the MTB yesterday, replaced the worn rear tire, set it up tubeless and gave the chain a good clean and lube. And today I rode the local mountains (the trailhead is one mile from the house). Lots of hill climbs, with one that's 12% grade (ouch). It got warmer as I climbed, to the upper 90s but not bad. Once I turned south and started heading down, towards the ocean, it got cooler again and felt great. Lots of dust and sand over hardpack, from a long dry summer, it slowed me down on the way back as I climbed back up and into the valley. I could feel the temperature rise until my cycle computer read 100f. Didn't feel that hot...

Aaahhh, Fall. My favorite time of year. I can ride the local mountains again.

[thekarens]

Did 20 miles with the neighbors at the local state park, very easy, non technical trails. It proved how out of shape I am. My thighs and knee were pretty miserable by the time we were done.

[Irulan]

Bead Lake trail this weekend. It's a quick fix of non-urban. 11 miles up a very mellow logging road grade, then 6 miles of single track. The trail wends through dark cedar groves alternating with lakeside exposure. We got a cold, early start and were done by 2 PM. We were hoping for more fall color; that's next weekend I guess.

[Artista]

Thanks for the pic, Irulan. I love seeing where other people ride.

I'm surprised that you don't have any color yet. Aren't you in the PNW? Our color in the high country is mostly exhausted. It's gotta be the elevation.