C
Cinder Girl
Guest
Been a long time since my last ride report. In the meantime I found a found a newbie who just needed
a little inspiration.
On his first ride I mentioned that he might want to learn to shift *before* the hills, or he would
rip his derailleur off. Not 10 minutes later I was dodging flying parts and braking hard to avoid
sliding into the guy. On the bright side, he was quite impressive with his repair skills. The
derailleur was toast, but he split the chain with the help of a few tools and large rock, spliced it
back together and rode out single speed.
The newbie has improved a lot since his first ride and installed a new derailleur. I even managed to
talk him into a helmet, but he flatly refused any "gay roadie" clothing. So we grabbed the trusty
bike map and headed for Briones. It looked hilly on the map but what the hell? We have a bright,
sunny Sunday and tons of enthusiasm. Just as we are getting parked, several fire trucks and a few
police cars whiz by and start making their way up the fire road. Hmmmmm? We don't see any smoke or
anything so it can't be a fire. We ask around .. turns out someone broke a leg mountain biking.
Reminds us to be careful for the day.
We have a slight uphill for a while . partner is doing fine but I'm fading out. Sunshine is not this
Oakland resident's normal environment and the heat is really bothering me. We stop a minutes in the
shade and I'm ready to climb. And climb and climb and climb. We pass the fire trucks and stop to
watch them maneuver out (and get a rest!). They have a tough time getting turned around but they
make it. I check the map . good news . the top is just around the next bend and we can downhill all
the way back!
We start pedaling. Its steep. We're tired but we make it to the next bend. There's a great downhill!
Woooo hooooo. Then another bend . then a nice steep climb. Huh?!?! Map check! Oh <blushing> sorry,
seems I read the map wrong . we do have another uphill section or two. I get a dirty look, but we go
on. My partner takes off ahead of me and soon he yells back that there is a truck coming. I pull off
and I see a ranger truck stop. I can hear him asking her about the trail (seems somebody doesn't
trust their map reader, wonder why that could be?). She points out that we can turn around and go
back, someone broke a leg already, its really steep, its far . are we sure?!?! Yes, we are sure, we
keep climbing.
At some point, my partner starts hike a biking. Its steep and the soil is loose . but I'm going to
make it dammit! I'm pushing but I can't get traction. If I move up the back tire spins, if I move
back, the front tire spins . I can't get the right position. Eventually something happens, I'm not
too sure what, but I slip right off the bike and land on my butt. Hard. It hurts. After making sure
I am okay, I get laughed at. Okay, I guess it was funny
Now I'm hike a biking.
We finally make the top and check out some great views of Mt Diablo and the valleys. The downhill is
a rush as always . though I do lose it and panic brake thru one section I manage to stay on the
bike. We make the car and life is good.
Stay tuned!
ps: To the guy in the parking lot who yelled "Hey! Check out the chick with the cigarette!"
: )~~~~~~
a little inspiration.
On his first ride I mentioned that he might want to learn to shift *before* the hills, or he would
rip his derailleur off. Not 10 minutes later I was dodging flying parts and braking hard to avoid
sliding into the guy. On the bright side, he was quite impressive with his repair skills. The
derailleur was toast, but he split the chain with the help of a few tools and large rock, spliced it
back together and rode out single speed.
The newbie has improved a lot since his first ride and installed a new derailleur. I even managed to
talk him into a helmet, but he flatly refused any "gay roadie" clothing. So we grabbed the trusty
bike map and headed for Briones. It looked hilly on the map but what the hell? We have a bright,
sunny Sunday and tons of enthusiasm. Just as we are getting parked, several fire trucks and a few
police cars whiz by and start making their way up the fire road. Hmmmmm? We don't see any smoke or
anything so it can't be a fire. We ask around .. turns out someone broke a leg mountain biking.
Reminds us to be careful for the day.
We have a slight uphill for a while . partner is doing fine but I'm fading out. Sunshine is not this
Oakland resident's normal environment and the heat is really bothering me. We stop a minutes in the
shade and I'm ready to climb. And climb and climb and climb. We pass the fire trucks and stop to
watch them maneuver out (and get a rest!). They have a tough time getting turned around but they
make it. I check the map . good news . the top is just around the next bend and we can downhill all
the way back!
We start pedaling. Its steep. We're tired but we make it to the next bend. There's a great downhill!
Woooo hooooo. Then another bend . then a nice steep climb. Huh?!?! Map check! Oh <blushing> sorry,
seems I read the map wrong . we do have another uphill section or two. I get a dirty look, but we go
on. My partner takes off ahead of me and soon he yells back that there is a truck coming. I pull off
and I see a ranger truck stop. I can hear him asking her about the trail (seems somebody doesn't
trust their map reader, wonder why that could be?). She points out that we can turn around and go
back, someone broke a leg already, its really steep, its far . are we sure?!?! Yes, we are sure, we
keep climbing.
At some point, my partner starts hike a biking. Its steep and the soil is loose . but I'm going to
make it dammit! I'm pushing but I can't get traction. If I move up the back tire spins, if I move
back, the front tire spins . I can't get the right position. Eventually something happens, I'm not
too sure what, but I slip right off the bike and land on my butt. Hard. It hurts. After making sure
I am okay, I get laughed at. Okay, I guess it was funny
Now I'm hike a biking.We finally make the top and check out some great views of Mt Diablo and the valleys. The downhill is
a rush as always . though I do lose it and panic brake thru one section I manage to stay on the
bike. We make the car and life is good.
Stay tuned!
ps: To the guy in the parking lot who yelled "Hey! Check out the chick with the cigarette!"
: )~~~~~~
