P
Penny S
Guest
Honestly, I don't know why some people complain about a dearth of female riders, certainly not
around here....
Thursday morning girls club is in full swing, and the awesome newbies are coming out of the wood
work. Two weeks ago Kamikaze #1 showed up with "I'm say I'm a Barney but I'm not", a natural athlete
who just needs her own bike and a few more rides to be really solid.
Today, Kamikaze #2 shows up with her neighbor, a marathoner , on a rigid bike. My first thought was
oh, no a beginner on a rigid but I banished it quickly as K2 is the one that taught me to ride.
We've also got a gal, who's just moved here from Syracuse, strong rider and looking for trails. And
then there's LaRae, one of my bike camp pals who hasn't gotten out a whole lot this season.
The 8:30 start somehow turns into a 9am one, . Off we go.. and the newbie is strong!! This gal -
well here's another one that with a few more rides will go anywhere. And she did, we were all blown
away by her trooper-ness and her ability to keep up and just follow us. K2 sort of keeps tabs on
her, and I'm elected "trip leader" for the ride. I'm always surprised to be put out front. Every
time I do a check at a junction they are right there. Very cool. The transplant is loving this: our
local riding is just blowing her mind. I don't think it's that great, but she begs to differ.
Down in the boulder playground we stop as always to goof around a bit. We discuss riding UP the big
rock, and Larae and the transplant have at it. K2 is off to the side to catch bikes and spot the
riders so that no one wrecks. I watched with interest... this is a move I haven't attempted yet. A
very techinical discussion over gearing, lines and speed insues, with the transplant showing us all
how it's done by her third attempt. Sucess seems dependent on a bit of speed, plus a critically time
shift and power move to crest the rock. I've decided I have to try this next time, no excuse not to.
Then back up and over the top... that last hill up is always such a grunt, with the pay off of 2
miles of sweetly banked turns back down to the parking lot. The new gal is completeley stoked, only
hadd a tiny bit of hesitation in 9 miles of riding.
Woo- hoo, welcome to thursday mornings!!
now, onto to my great photographic methods.
someone else: "Hey, you have your camera? Here, let me take some photos. Which button does
what now?"
They aren't meant to be keepers, just for fun.
http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/images/bike/Picture-001.jpg
http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/images/bike/Picture-002.jpg
http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/images/bike/Picture-003.jpg
http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/images/bike/Picture-005.jpg
around here....
Thursday morning girls club is in full swing, and the awesome newbies are coming out of the wood
work. Two weeks ago Kamikaze #1 showed up with "I'm say I'm a Barney but I'm not", a natural athlete
who just needs her own bike and a few more rides to be really solid.
Today, Kamikaze #2 shows up with her neighbor, a marathoner , on a rigid bike. My first thought was
oh, no a beginner on a rigid but I banished it quickly as K2 is the one that taught me to ride.
We've also got a gal, who's just moved here from Syracuse, strong rider and looking for trails. And
then there's LaRae, one of my bike camp pals who hasn't gotten out a whole lot this season.
The 8:30 start somehow turns into a 9am one, . Off we go.. and the newbie is strong!! This gal -
well here's another one that with a few more rides will go anywhere. And she did, we were all blown
away by her trooper-ness and her ability to keep up and just follow us. K2 sort of keeps tabs on
her, and I'm elected "trip leader" for the ride. I'm always surprised to be put out front. Every
time I do a check at a junction they are right there. Very cool. The transplant is loving this: our
local riding is just blowing her mind. I don't think it's that great, but she begs to differ.
Down in the boulder playground we stop as always to goof around a bit. We discuss riding UP the big
rock, and Larae and the transplant have at it. K2 is off to the side to catch bikes and spot the
riders so that no one wrecks. I watched with interest... this is a move I haven't attempted yet. A
very techinical discussion over gearing, lines and speed insues, with the transplant showing us all
how it's done by her third attempt. Sucess seems dependent on a bit of speed, plus a critically time
shift and power move to crest the rock. I've decided I have to try this next time, no excuse not to.
Then back up and over the top... that last hill up is always such a grunt, with the pay off of 2
miles of sweetly banked turns back down to the parking lot. The new gal is completeley stoked, only
hadd a tiny bit of hesitation in 9 miles of riding.
Woo- hoo, welcome to thursday mornings!!
now, onto to my great photographic methods.
someone else: "Hey, you have your camera? Here, let me take some photos. Which button does
what now?"
They aren't meant to be keepers, just for fun.
http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/images/bike/Picture-001.jpg
http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/images/bike/Picture-002.jpg
http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/images/bike/Picture-003.jpg
http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/images/bike/Picture-005.jpg