P
Penny S.
Guest
My original plan for the day was to scare up someone to join me in an all day epic/explore to a new
area I haven't ridden but it was not to be. So I hit the second tier call list and was able to plan
a little ride with a (single) gal I know who earlier this year had expressed interest in riding.
She's only ever ridden at Riverside so at my suggestion we decided to broaden her trail horizons. We
meet at Beacon where she doesn't seem to be scared off by the prospect of 1.8 miles of climbing to
get up the ridge. It's hot... I had hoped to get out early today but nope, it's noon and they are
predicting into the 90's for today. Michelle has a great attitude... the climbing is a little much
for her and she's walking a lot but I had let her know right off the bat that it was all about fun,
not who gets there first( that would be me of course) then at the top the fun begins... I ask her
how she is on technical stuff, let her know there are a couple of "interesting" corners coming up
and off we go. I'm ahead but I don't worry about her because I hear a couple of whoops and yee-haws
through the brush.
She's liking this. Instead of giving my usual non- stop tour guide commentary, I try to just give
out warnings for things that might be considered "surprises"... for example the gully run that exits
up and a hard 90 degrees around a ponderosa pine. I was hoping that the DH-er's might be practicing
for the Bomber next weekend, so I could show Michelle what that was all about ( she has asked) but
the course is surprising quiet. Eventually we end up down in what I call the play area and we mess
around on the rocks. I give her the camera and here's what she got, for all you that have been
begging for a lycra shot: http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/images/bike/penny6-03.jpg
Michelle is pooped, she hasn't been riding a lot so I can't convince her to do the climb back up the
ridge in the heat, we end up going around on some roads. But she got the bug for the season!
Penny
area I haven't ridden but it was not to be. So I hit the second tier call list and was able to plan
a little ride with a (single) gal I know who earlier this year had expressed interest in riding.
She's only ever ridden at Riverside so at my suggestion we decided to broaden her trail horizons. We
meet at Beacon where she doesn't seem to be scared off by the prospect of 1.8 miles of climbing to
get up the ridge. It's hot... I had hoped to get out early today but nope, it's noon and they are
predicting into the 90's for today. Michelle has a great attitude... the climbing is a little much
for her and she's walking a lot but I had let her know right off the bat that it was all about fun,
not who gets there first( that would be me of course) then at the top the fun begins... I ask her
how she is on technical stuff, let her know there are a couple of "interesting" corners coming up
and off we go. I'm ahead but I don't worry about her because I hear a couple of whoops and yee-haws
through the brush.
She's liking this. Instead of giving my usual non- stop tour guide commentary, I try to just give
out warnings for things that might be considered "surprises"... for example the gully run that exits
up and a hard 90 degrees around a ponderosa pine. I was hoping that the DH-er's might be practicing
for the Bomber next weekend, so I could show Michelle what that was all about ( she has asked) but
the course is surprising quiet. Eventually we end up down in what I call the play area and we mess
around on the rocks. I give her the camera and here's what she got, for all you that have been
begging for a lycra shot: http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/images/bike/penny6-03.jpg
Michelle is pooped, she hasn't been riding a lot so I can't convince her to do the climb back up the
ridge in the heat, we end up going around on some roads. But she got the bug for the season!
Penny