Boarderchick, I love the idea of mountain biking so much, and do OK on the easy trails, but I find I'm terrified of falling (or being a pincushion for the nearest cactus, like I did on Saturday). Any tips for keeping calm? Do you clip into your pedals? I'm thinking about putting my flat pedals on again until I get more used to it. The problem is that I've been clipped on the road bike so long, I tend to lift my feet off on the upstroke, which causes problems of its own.

Anne

got in a good ride today ... 12.5mi felt sooo good after doing nothing all weekend. I feel the inner me wants to go mountain biking but is afraid of hitting the dirt, and screwing up my back further. I truley enjoy listening to everyone's adventures have fun!!


Rhonda

I finally psyched myself up to ride to work today! The weather was beautiful. So, that's 6 miles this morning and then another 6 miles this afternoon. I also rode 3 miles each way to my yoga class yesterday, so I'm feeling pretty good!

O.K. It's been 3 days and I haven't been able to ride, and I am having withdrawls If I"M not able to get a bike ride in soon I'm going to drive my family nuts!!! Never thought I'd feel this way about a workout. Now if I can feel this passionate about eating healthier I'll have It made


Rhonda

Anne-- hi! I ride various conditions right from full armour at the whistler bike park. You go up the chairlift on a dual suspension bike and then ride down the ski runs. I also do corss coutnry on a hardtail with spiky flat pedals, which I love. I also clip into a hardtail for more of a comute-type ride. I'm scared of clipping in on anything technical. Psyches me out actually. Love taking risks but mostly only when I'm in body armour. RE keeping calm--it's like skiing...whatever's underneath yo it's too late to do anything about. Focus on the trail ahead. If you're really unsure about a stunt, try doing it with a spotter ie with a big log or drop. Very confidence boosting. You ride longer than me though, I usually do about 2-3 hours unless I'm at whistler. You should be giving me advice aobut endurance!

mudbug--you sound like you need to ride! Come heck or high water. Get out there if you can! Hope your back allows it soon!

Incidentally, I have two rides going this weekend. will let you know how it goes. I'm psyched, but first I have to get through a long 2 1/2 hour run tomorrow...

Where'd everybody go?

I rode 4 miles this afternoon on the mountain bike. Went on some of the jeep roads around the house, and a little bit of singletrack, just to see if I was less of a coward with the flat pedals on, instead of being clipped in. Yep, much less of a coward, but I could also feel that I lost a lot of power on the hills. Trade offs. Going to look for some new pedals where I have options.

Oh yeah, 35 minutes.

Anne

Anne.... I'm still here! just waiting for it to warm up outside. We actually had sleet here in Southern Lousiana!! Should be back in the 80's in 2 days. I know I'm a wimp when it comes to the cold. Once my ears and nose get cold it's over for me I go into survivor mode I've been looking for a bottle cage that I don't have to screw on, and found one on Bike Nashbar.com
just waiting for it to come. I just have a problem putting holes in my new bike.Well, Everyone have a great Monday !!

Rhonda

Hi-- Still here! computer crashed a bit and had to slightly go to hospital. I think they call it "blue screen of death'. Recovered though.

Had two rides this weekend, both cross country. One 90 minutes or so, felt like I wanted to do more, and the other one was 60 minutes. This was after my 2 hour 20 minute training run on Good Friday. Needless to say, I'm a tad tired.

I also have a huge back/neck spasm, so not allowed to exercise at the moment. Not good with that at all!

The weather's improving here, and I'll try and be out at least one day this weekend, if my neck situation improves.

Anne, I like flat pedals with spikes, so you can still do a bit of lifting on the upstroke. Jsut make sure you don't gouge your shins with them!

Later all!

Sounds like the perfect excuse for a massage.

Anne

hmmm... gonna have to get on my real bike soon. Been doing recumbent stationary biking ~ 2x a week. Time to tune up the butt and wrists.

Hi everyone. I'll be joining you as soon as it stops SNOWING here in MI. I just had to share the news of a new bike. I purchased a Specialized Dolce road bike to supplement my riding (have a nice Trek MB I love). I'm very excited. I got to bring it home today, but the weather is not being nice.

Here's the link, but I'm not sure its working.

http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=21880

Nice bike Artsy... My MB is a Specialized...

I am soooo looking forward to the nice weather!!!!!!

Brandy, my road bike is also a Specialized Dolce, I think about a 2004 model. I love it.

Anne

Finally got to ride yesterday and today 90 min.ea.
I hope when I lose more of my weight it will be easier to go longer and farther.

Sweet ride, ArtsyGirl

Rhonda

Well it's finally starting to feel like spring, we just dodged more snow the other day.......it was all around us but never made it this far north. So I got the bikes down and got them all ready yesterday! The kids were then BEGGING to go out and ride today, had to give in

Wow, you gals really get out there!!! I don't know if I could do 20 miles I just got my bike a year ago, hadn't been on one in 10 years It's nothing fancy AT ALL!
I was able to lose 19 lbs. last summer by just biking around town. We have trails here, but I'm in Eastern North Dakota and there is not a hill in sight. So nothing real challenging. It was mostly just a way to get moving at first and then with gas prices the way they are, I decided to run my errands on the bike as much as I could! I honestly don't even know how far we made it around town!! I need to figure out what that is in miles