the student and the master

[Irulan]

Got to ride with one of my mountain biking mentors today, probably the first time we've ridden together in 6+ months. This is the women who used to let me tag along, would lap me, wait for me, make me work, I'd follow her, crash get up and follow some more.

She got a new Klein this summer, and wrecked really bad. It was so strange to out ahead of her while she rode tentatively and conservatively. Wrecking will do that to you, I had a very bad summer 2002. So I was leading the way, first up and down everything (most of the time, she can still beat most people climbing) I was the agressive one, she was holding back. It was still a great fun ride...

It's all good, she wants to get out more as she's been doing a lot of running and not much riding. I offered her my pads for next time.

Irulan

[missliz]

Nobody ever talks about the Fear. It will make you choke with terror, going back out after a bad crash. The only fix for it is to ride, and she's very lucky to have you to be out there with her. Good for you sister.
If she turns down the pads, maybe you could make a mojo? People don't do bike mojos anymore, but I always thought they were appropriate to mountain biking. Getting a new one can be a good head trick. Attitude adjustment is involved- or at least a good laugh when you have Marge Simpson zippy tied to the handlebars
The best thing you can do for your freind is drag her out there as often as possible. The more she rides the sooner she'll be herself, and you don't want to let it go over the winter. I was out for three years and still don't ride some days for fear. You want to clear it up quick.
So is the Klein OK?

Lizzy

[Irulan]

I thinkthe hardest thing right now is just getting her to come out with me... we've all been there, had a buddy for a sport or other activity, and then thier interests/passion change. It makes me sad, but I can't force it if she'd rather run, or go to a PTA meeting or something else.

She was up for the pads tho.. so there's hope yet.

Irulan

[missliz]

Just be gently persistant- even if it wasn't a bad crash, if it was on a bad day it could really rattle ones head and she may be avoiding the bike to avoid the Fear. I do that days out of every week. For some strange reason I'm still trying to dance with it, but taking a hit to the self confidence is tough. The tentativeness you mention sounds like the Fear, not change of interest. But I could be wrong, and she could need more time. You're in a better position to feel that out, I just think that once you've learned to fly it never lets you go. But I guess she needs to decide whether to fight that battle or let it go.
And you never know- your freind may come roaring out of the box next summer.

Lizzy

[karen_fish_bio]

Even the little ones rattle your cage. My second ride withteh guy I have now been dating for 6 months proved to me how great a guy he was. He knew I was a racer, had ridden with me only once before... I swear 1 mile into our second ride I fell hard. Bloodied my nose, hurt my hand and bruised and tweaked everthing. I rode like crap the rest of the ride. Big surprise there, right? The ride was with all his buddies where he was trying to "show off" his new riding partner. I kept appologising to him for not keeping up like I knew I could and such. He finally turned to me and said..."look, its raining, you are on an unfamilar trail, you crahsed really hard, you have a headache and you did NOT once say you wanted to turn around and go back. I am soo proud to have you here with me!" You have nothing to prove to me, now relax and ride at the pace you are comfortable with.... no one rides hard after a crash like that!

Confidence come back after crashes we know that, just takes time and of course more trails! How cool was it that you got to actually ride better than some one you never have beaten though...love that feeling. You know things will be in order again eventually, but for a little while you can enjoy the "top dog" seat.

[bayleigh]

[QUOTE He finally turned to me and said..."look, its raining, you are on an unfamilar trail, you crahsed really hard, you have a headache and you did NOT once say you wanted to turn around and go back. I am soo proud to have you here with me!" You have nothing to prove to me, now relax and ride at the pace you are comfortable with.... no one rides hard after a crash like that!

[/QUOTE]

Wow- what a great guy! Good for you for showing him what you are made of!

[Irulan]

I dunno, I"m still struggling with the

The ride was with all his buddies where he was trying to "show off" his new riding partner.

sounds like a bit of pressure right off the bat if you ask me. I much prefer rides where the women outnumber the men, or at least are in equal porportion.

Irulan

[karen_fish_bio]

Irulian...on the East coast women riders are more than an oddity...we are almost unheard of! If I waited to ride with other women, I would never get to ride. On the average I get to ride with another woman on the trails about 3 times a year, and on the road about 4 times. Perhaps I am haning out with the wrong crowd, but I honestly don't have any female friends that ride I don't mind riding with the guys though, being surrounded by all those spandex clad butts....it really could be worse

[Irulan]

spandex butts are way better than guts w'baggies if you ask me.

I feel pretty lucky but it's taken YEARS to build this group of riders.

I know a lot of really great guys that are fun to ride with, a lot of fun... most but not all of the male riders. I also know some some real testosterone poisoned idiots that are really full of themselves and deserve to someday have thier hairy behinds kicked by some smoking women just to take them down a notch or two.

I.

[karen_fish_bio]

It takes all kinds to make up a sport. Some days I get my tail kicked and some days I come out of the woods so far ahead I wonder if I missed a turn. On the days I am riding with the "Mr. Testosterone" type..I play up the 'I am just a little girl image' until I have a good feel for who's tail I can leave in the dust.... then I do some dusting. The key is to come up all the hills faster than they can, I don't care who can descend faster, but out climbing them is sooo hard on their delicate egos! The guys who cheer and congradulate you for a nice climb as you go by...those are the ones I like to go back out with again, they respect you for your skill and don't care if your a girl or a guy.--Karen