December 1 weekend rides

[EMoonTX]

This weekend was a big change for me (not for you experienced types) because I had the new bike computer and actually broke into plural miles after four months of creeping toward breaking one mile. Friday was my first 2 mile + day, nearly all of it on the street (yay for rear-view mirror!) Saturday was another, even a bit longer on the + fraction. Quite warm, windy, both days. Today only a short ride on the land but managed to ride more of the trail I've been working on (and walk the bike less) than before.

The open part of that trail is no problem now--down across the meadow, over the ditch, up the rise to the dry woods. But the dry woods trail itself is narrow and twisty between thick brush, some of it thorny (cactus), and all of it on a slope with varying ground conditions, from grass on dirt to solid rock. At the highest point, there's a rain barn that provides water for a wildlife guzzler. From there, the trail winds on to the property line, turns abruptly, and comes out in to another big grassy area. It's not long, but for me, still getting pedaling, braking, and steering coordinated, it's technically tricky and in places downright scary. Anyway, today I made the downward ride from the rain barn all the way back to the house--which involved the (for me) scariest downslope on a curve to a slab of limestone, up over a little berm, and down to face an immediate turn between some cacti..then more twisty stuff, in denser brush as tall as I am or taller before emerging on the familiar homeward trail.

My goal this week is to ride 2 miles on the street plus some on the land every day. Right now my legs are complaining fairly loudly, but they'll get used to it.

[Owlie]

EMoon, that's awesome.

[happyscientist]

On Saturday, I rode an easy 35 miles with a friend. On Sunday, I had a strange ride by myself. I live in a hilly area, and in order to really call yourself a hill climber, you have to tackle a certain hill that I had never done. You get extra cred for doing after a gradual 1700' climb. I have done the 1700' climb many times and it was easy on Sunday, so I decided to tag on the short, steep climb. I got nervous and delayed the start after I saw a truck stall out trying to go up. It was slow and I was breathing like a freight train in my easiest gear, but I made it. When I got to the top, rain started pouring down. The hill was too steep and slick to safely descend. I felt like a cat in a tree. After fishtailing one too many times, I veered into a driveway (it was too slick to stand on the pavement) and walked down the hill in rock-lined drainage ditch. That is the first time I have gone up a hill and been unable to make it back down.

[Eden]

The hill was too steep and slick to safely descend. I felt like a cat in a tree. After fishtailing one too many times, I veered into a driveway (it was too slick to stand on the pavement) and walked down the hill in rock-lined drainage ditch. That is the first time I have gone up a hill and been unable to make it back down.

If you couldn't even stand this may not have helped you get down the hill.... but to prevent fishtailing... 1. use mainly to only your front brake *beware* do not ever slam on just your front brake hard - you can go over your handlebars if you do that.... so ease in - go easy and slowly with your braking 2. put your weight as far back as you can get it - push your butt back behind your saddle like mt bikers do. (be in your drops - which I'm hoping/guessing you were)