RR: Teach 'em and Leave 'em

"Ride-A-Lot" <mitchell@[nospam]schnauzers.ws> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

4/11/04

Considering that Saturday was going to be the best day for the next seven
days (wash out), JAR (Jersey Action Riders) decided to get as much out of

it

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as possible. Today was the first beginners skills clinic. By 10:00 we

had

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amassed a nice crowd at Gloucester County College and started to bring
another set of MTB'ers into the world. After going over some basic

handling

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and techniques we put the newbies through the paces on the trail. This
small (5 mi loop) trail is actually one of the more challenging in the

area

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and many races are held here. I remember the first time I rode this trail

I

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couldn't even d0 2 miles. Now, it seems like a ride around the block. We
stopped every so often for others to catch up and explain how to tackle

the

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different obstacles. It was a fun experience that we'll be doing once a
month.

Once the class was over, a few JAR die-hards (the ones either not married,
begged their wives enough, or promised them gifts) headed southwest to

White

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Clay Park, Delaware. White Clay is part of a three park area (White Clay,
Middle Run, and Fair Hills) that encompasses the western part of that

state,

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bordering Maryland and Pennsylvania. I have only ridden Fair Hills, which

I

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find to be a fairly tough ride with some very steep climbs. We park (it's
now 2:00) and saddle up the bikes. The first part is some incredibly

sweet

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single track that meanders over some farm land. It's mostly down hill,

and

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so fast! It kind of reminds me of some of the photos I've seen of trails

in

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high plateau areas out west. There's six of us and for this first part we
are all together in the pack. My winter training is paring off and I'm

part

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of the A-team (well, for the moment). We then hit some nice twisty loops

in

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the woods with some cold water crossings (it was warm today which made

them

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feel good) and some great drops around the water bars. I'm liking this!
Around the bend, and over the bridge brings the ascent. A long ascent.

So

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I hunker down and power through it. Two of us have dropped back a bit

(only

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about 30 seconds or so) from the other pack. Now something wonderful
happens. For the first time since XC'ing I don't look at the hill as a
challenge. At the top of the hill I pause with the group and one of the
guys looks at me and says, "you're here?" I smile, shake my fists in the
air, and proclaim to the group that the journey isn't over, but thanks for
noticing. We hit a fantastic technical DH section and then back up the

way

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we came. The funniest moment was when one of the guys washed out on a
bridge. Mind you a double wide 4' bridge in slow motion with groaning
sound-effects and landed ass first in the stream below. Total miles for

the

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day were around 20. I'm feeling confident and proud now. I don't fair

the

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Colorado trip as much and next weekend I'm on a business trip to Anaheim,

so

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the bike is traveling with me. I'll have Saturday and Sunday to ride from
SoCal trails. If anyone has some recommendations or wants to ride, e-mail
me. Just remove the [nospam] from the e-mail address of this posting.
--
o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
www.schnauzers.ws

--
o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
www.schnauzers.ws

Nice RR.

Marty (Cape May native)

The days of my youth in Wildwood.

I MTB 2004

Ride-A-Lot said:

Once the class was over, a few JAR die-hards (the ones either not
married, begged their wives enough, or promised them gifts) headed
southwest to White Clay Park, Delaware.

<minor rant>
why do you guys complain so much... remember, you picked these partners!! I
think I picked right... My HUSBAND says "bye have fun" if I go riding
without him and he chooses to do something else. He thinks me taking a
weekend off to go to bike camp is a great idea. These arrangements are
always a two way deal.

</rant>

Penny

Haha, I went to Lower Cape May Regional HS. Graduated in '76 and went right
into the Marine Corps. Great place! I killed a few brain cells in Wildwood
on (and under) the boards.

Marty

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

The days of my youth in Wildwood.

I MTB 2004

"Penny S" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Ride-A-Lot said:

Once the class was over, a few JAR die-hards (the ones either not
married, begged their wives enough, or promised them gifts) headed
southwest to White Clay Park, Delaware.

<minor rant>
why do you guys complain so much... remember, you picked these partners!!

I

Quoted message said:

think I picked right... My HUSBAND says "bye have fun" if I go riding
without him and he chooses to do something else. He thinks me taking a
weekend off to go to bike camp is a great idea. These arrangements are
always a two way deal.

</rant>

Penny

Penny, I'm with you. I ride and my wife has an unhealthy addiction to Tim
McGraw. It works out.

She says "have a great time" when I head out and when she asks me if it's ok
if she goes to a concert or to visit some friends I say "have a great time!"

Marty

Penny S said:

<minor rant>
why do you guys complain so much... remember, you picked these partners!! I
think I picked right... My HUSBAND says "bye have fun" if I go riding
without him and he chooses to do something else. He thinks me taking a
weekend off to go to bike camp is a great idea. These arrangements are
always a two way deal.
</rant>

My turn to rant:
Some of us have had these partners a very long time. I'd never even heard
of mountain biking when I "picked" mine. A lot of twenty-something
newlyweds think its all a matter of "picking the right one", on the
mistaken assumption that once we hit adulthood we'll never change again.
</rant>

For my part, I at least have a partner who's willing to let me do things I
like (even if it doesn't involve her), but I have to be careful to keep it
within an amount she feels is reasonable. Its all about negotiation.

--
-BB-
To reply to me, drop the attitude (from my e-mail address, at least)

BB said:

On Sun, 11 Apr 2004 09:23:16 -0700, Penny S wrote:

For my part, I at least have a partner who's willing to let me do
things I like (even if it doesn't involve her), but I have to be
careful to keep it within an amount she feels is reasonable. Its all
about negotiation.

you aren't complaining about her, either. ;-) I guess that's my beef...
the complaining, and not just accepting the fact that you can't always get
everything that you want. No one can, no matter how well you choose.

penny

BB said:

Penny S said:

<minor rant>
why do you guys complain so much... remember, you picked these
partners!! I think I picked right... My HUSBAND says "bye have fun"
if I go riding without him and he chooses to do something else. He
thinks me taking a weekend off to go to bike camp is a great idea.
These arrangements are always a two way deal.
</rant>

My turn to rant:
Some of us have had these partners a very long time. I'd never even
heard of mountain biking when I "picked" mine. A lot of
twenty-something newlyweds think its all a matter of "picking the
right one", on the mistaken assumption that once we hit adulthood
we'll never change again. </rant>

For my part, I at least have a partner who's willing to let me do
things I like (even if it doesn't involve her), but I have to be
careful to keep it within an amount she feels is reasonable. Its all
about negotiation.

What he said! Thank you BB!
--
o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
www.schnauzers.ws

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

The days of my youth in Wildwood.

NJ?? I was there about five years ago. Had a great time! It was there, or
Atlantic City. I chose Wildwood.

BB says:

Quoted message said:

For my part, I at least have a partner who's willing to let me do things I
like (even if it doesn't involve her), but I have to be careful to keep it
within an amount she feels is reasonable. Its all about negotiation.

That's pretty much where I stand. I can get the occasional day-pass, and even
the occasional "weekend" pass if it's something really special. If she has a
honey-do list that is overwhelming, then it gets first attention. A little
give, alittle take, and everyone is happy.

Steve "HAPPILY married"

Penny says:

Quoted message said:

I guess that's my beef...
the complaining, and not just accepting the fact that you can't always get
everything that you want. No one can, no matter how well you choose.

That, too. It goes both ways, but so few people seem to realise that, hence
the mounting divorce rate (at least, that's my viewpoint)

Steve

Stephen Baker said:

Penny says:

Quoted message said:

I guess that's my beef...
the complaining, and not just accepting the fact that you can't
always get everything that you want. No one can, no matter how well
you choose.

That, too. It goes both ways, but so few people seem to realise
that, hence the mounting divorce rate (at least, that's my viewpoint)

Steve

I just had my chocolate fix : Jamocha Almond Fudge, with Pralines and
Cream, hot fudge whip cream and a cherry, make that two cherries cuz Mr.
Adventure gave me his... so I'm all better now.

;-)

Penny

Penny says

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I just had my chocolate fix

<snip unimportant stuff>
.. so I'm all better now.

Heh heh! Good on ya.
Steve

Penny S said:

BB said:

On Sun, 11 Apr 2004 09:23:16 -0700, Penny S wrote:

For my part, I at least have a partner who's willing to let me do
things I like (even if it doesn't involve her), but I have to be
careful to keep it within an amount she feels is reasonable. Its all
about negotiation.

you aren't complaining about her, either. ;-) I guess that's my beef...
the complaining, and not just accepting the fact that you can't always get
everything that you want. No one can, no matter how well you choose.

penny

I thought that's what divorce is for?

If you can't beat'm, leave'm
--
Slacker

"Slacker" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Penny S said:

BB said:

On Sun, 11 Apr 2004 09:23:16 -0700, Penny S wrote:

For my part, I at least have a partner who's willing to let me do
things I like (even if it doesn't involve her), but I have to be
careful to keep it within an amount she feels is reasonable. Its all
about negotiation.

you aren't complaining about her, either. ;-) I guess that's my

beef...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the complaining, and not just accepting the fact that you can't always

get

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

everything that you want. No one can, no matter how well you choose.

penny

I thought that's what divorce is for?

If you can't beat'm, leave'm

It worked for me.

Stephen Baker said:

Penny says:

Quoted message said:

I guess that's my beef...
the complaining, and not just accepting the fact that you can't
always get everything that you want. No one can, no matter how well
you choose.

That, too. It goes both ways, but so few people seem to realise
that, hence the mounting divorce rate (at least, that's my viewpoint)

"Mounting divorce" rates right up there.

(That's where hubby and wifey split but keep doing it, right?)

Bill "will grab me hat now" S.

Marty wrote:
<snip>

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Penny, I'm with you. I ride and my wife has an unhealthy addiction to
Tim McGraw. It works out.

She says "have a great time" when I head out and when she asks me if
it's ok if she goes to a concert or to visit some friends I say "have
a great time!"

Marty

Sorry to hear that man. Hopefully there's a good support group for you.

Matt

Stephen Baker wrote:
<snip>

Quoted message said:

A little give, alittle take, and everyone is
happy.

Steve "HAPPILY married"

So true. We have slightly different negotiations about who rides or skis the
morning shift and who gets the afternoon and who hangs out with the kid. Of
course on days when there's an obvious weather/temperature/powder that makes
one half clearly better than the other, the negotiations can be "spirited".
Sometimes we solve it with money: we hire a sitter and go together. I'm so
glad my partner looks at the DeBeers commercials with as much contempt as I
do so I don't have to waste precious disposable income that we could put
into bikes and skis on stupid stuff.

Matt (also still happy with my selection)

MattB said:

Stephen Baker wrote:
<snip>

Quoted message said:

A little give, alittle take, and everyone is
happy.

Steve "HAPPILY married"

So true. We have slightly different negotiations about who rides or
skis the morning shift and who gets the afternoon and who hangs out
with the kid. Of course on days when there's an obvious
weather/temperature/powder that makes one half clearly better than
the other, the negotiations can be "spirited". Sometimes we solve it
with money: we hire a sitter and go together. I'm so glad my partner
looks at the DeBeers commercials with as much contempt as I do so I
don't have to waste precious disposable income that we could put into
bikes and skis on stupid stuff.

Matt (also still happy with my selection)

Wish I could say it is as blissfull as yours, but its not. So, for the sake
of my kids, my house, and my money, I have to negotiate calmly to get my
time. If that means buying something (usually an item for the house), then
so be it. You can call it extortion, but I call it civilized freedom.
Maybe when you have two active and healthy people, you can negotiate easier.
But when one partner chooses to basically lay around and do nothing, it gets
hard. I'm happy this way. I've learned to deal with it. Fourteen years of
marriage, but together for 22.