Spontinatity

All week long I had been waiting to see if the race course for Cholla had been marked. Dot and I had planned to go down Friday, but only if it was marked. I had an email out and a couple of phone messages to see if it was marked, but no reply. By Thursday afternoon I had consigned myself to the fact that I was not going. Eventually late Thursday night at 9:30 pm I received an email letting me know the course was marked. I forwarded it Dot without much hope of going and then went to sleep.

The next morning I received a call from Dot. She had received my email and wanted to know if I was still wanting to go. Of course I still wanted to go, so off we went to sunny St. George. And sunny it was. It was so nice to have a break from the cold weather and be in the sun.

The course for the race is different from last year. The hill we ended on is the hill we start on, and it is a very fast start. It has me a little worried bombing down a hill so quickly with a group of riders. It would take only one person to slide to take out the rest of the group. At the bottom of the hill you level out a little bit, but continue on a downhill grade. Eventually you turn left and head back towards the slick rock. The course all the way to the slick rock is very fast. For those who did the race last year the slick rock portion is the very same.

At the bottom of the slick rock you take off to the west and ride. This part of the course was completely new to me, and somewhat difficult. There was sand, that was not so deep, but just deep enough that my back tire kept sliding out, and I ended up off my bike a couple of times. The hill climbs are not so bad, and the down hill....well one of them I call chatterbox hill. Dot forgot her fork was locked out on our first lap and rode down the hill rigid. I don't know how she did it, because I thought for sure my teeth were going to get knocked out and I had my front suspension nice and soft.

The course is a lot of fun, and the second lap turned out a lot better than the first, since we had cut a path for our bikes. I am hopeful this will be the case in the race and the riders ahead of me will cut somewhat of a path.

Results from my rear tire sliding out.

It's Tough

Today for work I was at the UV Job Fair. Our company was a sponsor for the job fair and we had jobs available. I got there at 8:30 am to set up and a little before 10 am they opened the doors. From then on it was a non-stop stream of people looking for jobs. I told people about the jobs we had available and showed them how to use Yahoo Hot Jobs to find a job. By the end of the day I was tired, tongue tied and couldn't really think straight.

Although Utah has been doing better than most of the country it was still hard and humbling to see all of the people looking for jobs. It made me appreciate my job even more and I honestly wish I could have helped others in finding a job. I really hope things start to turn around, because I know there are a lot of discouraged people right now that would really like a job.

Great Riding

It has been a great week for riding. The weather has been nice, and I have been trying to take advantage of the great weather.

This is Steve on the BST, getting ready to take off and enjoy the downhill.
Top of the BST overlooking Orem, Lindon & Pleasant Grove.

Rode through a paintball war. Luckily they did not shoot our way.

Top of Chevron--love this climb.

Royce & Mandy riding down Ziggy at Lambert Park.

Mandy taking on Ziggy!

Mandy riding the trail.

Lambert Park on a great sunny day!

Mandy on middle at Lambert Park.

On Monday there was still snow on the river trail after Bridal Veil Falls. Skinny tires are not the best for going over this.

Girls Night Out

Went out Friday night for girls night out. Started out at Happy Sumo and then went to Salt Lake to Keys On Main. Keys on Main is a dueling piano bar. We sat close to the piano and sang all night long. Our table was known as the party table. It is amazing what a couple of sodas will do to you.

Kerry Killed a Rat

Went riding early Friday morning. The whole group made it, although Steve was a little late and didn't catch us until the end of the Provo Trail. While on the trail Eric saw Kerry ride over a rat! Kerry didn't even know it was a rat, all he felt was something hard, and thought it was a rock. Coming back we confirmed it was a rat, and it was pretty gross. Lucky for Kerry it didn't spin up his tire or get get caught in his wheel. Unfortunately for the rat it died. The weirdest thing is I am trying to figure out why the rat was on the trail when it was colder than 26 degrees.

St. George I-Cup 1

The first race of the season actually started 3 days before the race. For some reason I started to get jittery and nervous about the upcoming race. I was surprised as I knew I hadn't been riding like I needed to and well my eating has not been the best. So I had decided this was going to be a wash. however, my competitive nature took over and the nerves began.

We left mid-day Friday so Mandy could pre-ride her course and hang out in the warmer climate. Mandy has move up to the 10-12 division this year and everything is different. The course is more difficult and longer, and the kids are older (there are 4th graders racing 7th graders). We are calling this a practice year, and I think she is okay with that. I am happy she still wants to ride especially, now she does some of the same course we do. I would think it could be a little intimidating. However, Mandy does not take completely after her mom with riding she loves the down hills and does not like the up hills. Hopefully I can get her to like the up hills, and then she will cruise!

After Mandy's pre-ride Friday we took off to stay with family. Just as we were getting to their house I realized I had forgotten my inhaler. This worried me. But my fabulous husband had a brilliant idea. He called Target and found out I could go to the Target in St. George and get it refilled. We took off and less than an hour later I had a new inhaler. I am soooo glad I have such a smart husband.

Saturday morning the nerves were at their highest. I could not figure it out. Why was I so nervous. I got to the race, got my bike ready, said hi to a couple of people and then saw Jen. She gave me the best advice which was to get on my bike and ride, and ride I did. It was exactly what I needed to calm the nerves. I rode around for a bit for a warm-up, and then went to the start line.

There was a lot of women at the start line. Some I knew and some I did not. it was great to catch up and see how everyone was doing. Eventually we got up to the start line and now the race began.

I got off to a good start. I pulled to the front and was there for a short time when a gal on a pink bike came by and went in front. I was okay with this as were were staying fairly close. We rode together into the wash. Hindsight I probably should have passed right here, but I didn't. We rode through the wash and then little by little she pulled away. Like me she was a hill climber, but a little bit better. I could always see her, but never did catch her. The race was great, and I rode hard. I feel like I rode as hard as I could, which is good, because when the race ended I know I gave it my all. And for my all I got 2nd place. Not a bad way to start the season.

Mandy at the start line.
Mandy taking off .

Mandy riding hard with a determined look.

Coming across the finish line.

On the podium. Third place did not show up???

At the start line.

Cruisin' down the final stretch.

Heading to the finish line.

Jen & me at the finish waiting for the other riders.

Podium- first place was sooo fast she cruised past the podium!?!

Female Bike Wrenching

KC held ride like a girl tonight. Instead of going on an actual ride we took our bikes in and changed the tires, and then learned how to fix a chain, do minor brake adjustment and lubing the chain.

I took both my girls and their bikes, and it was great. They both learned to change a tire (well Mandy did it with a little help), and then they broke a chain. Mandy liked the chain part and I ended up bringing home a part of a chain for her to make a bracelet. Anyone have some good degreaser!?! When KC was showing how to lube a chain I loved it when Mandy went "mom, you do that at home" glad she noticed.

It was great for my girls to learn this stuff and now if they get a flat or have a broken chain they will remember what they practiced and learned.

What to do????

So race season is about to start and of course I am beginning to get nervous. Last year at this time I was a newbie to mountain biking and racing. I had only been riding about 3 months and my skills very that of a true beginner. Oh, and I was still over weight, but slimming down every week. When I did the course last year I had brakes held tight as I went down hill, and only hoped I could get through the wash without getting majorily banged up or ending up walking most of it. I completed the race and was happy with how I did, and of course was hooked to do more.

This year is different. I have ridden my bike over a year now. I can go downhill without brakes and not have a panic attack--well at least not an obvious one. And I know what to expect at the race. However, knowing what to expect still does not help with what to do. There is a key element missing this year and that is Dot. Last year I tried to keep up with Dot, this year she is in the Sport division. So what do I do? How do I pace myself so I don't blow up, and yet still feel like I am being competitive? There are so many what if's as you prepare to race, and that is probably what makes me most nervous.

This is my first podium last year. I am planning on this year bringing many more smiles.

St. George Down & Back

I went with Jen & Dot Saturday to St. George to pre-ride the race course. We left at 6 am in the morning so we could get there early enough to ride and get back home by 7 pm. The ride was fun and it was great to hear from Dot herself about her womanhole experience.

The weather in St. George was perfect. We did 3 laps on the racecourse. The first lap was the try and remember which direction to go and practice some of the obstacles in the wash. The second was ride at a steady pace without stopping and the third was recovery with me taking pictures of everyone. Everything went well I took pictures, we rode steady, and I learned how to go downhill without your rear brake working! Yes, my rear brake was not working. The first lap I gripped it all the way to my grips and went for a wonderful ride. Second lap I pumped my brakes and got them to partially work, and third lap the same. The crazy thing is today they are working, so I don't know if I should get them checked or take a chance.

The ride was great an my only regret was I forgot my chamois butter...boy do I wish I had

remembered the chamois butter.