Good to Be Back(ish)

I have no exciting DH tales to tell -- no new jumps, no big drops, no rock gardens to crush. Just a girl, a bike, and a rolling cross country trail winding along the river. But the excitement inside myself was enormous. Today I rode on the dirt, on a real trail, for the first time in five weeks since I injured my knee (Bla, bla torn meniscus, bone contusions bla, bla, bla, grade II MCL injury).

I slipped out early this morning without telling anyone. I knew my steadfast companions would join me if I asked, just like they had on the two warm up road rides we took in the past weeks, but I didn't want to hold anyone back not knowing how hard I would be able to push myself. Besides, coming back from an injury is an emotional journey as well as a physical one. I knew I could push myself more mentally in the solitude of the trail -- and I did -- and it felt fantastic. It also felt strange trying to resist the auto-pilot urge to launch off a rock or bunny-hop a rut (albeit it's a mild trail) so I set my sites on trying to avoid the obstacles instead of having fun with them.

(Sunshine on my [bike] makes me happy . . . nod to John Denver).

I'm definitely going to need to work on my strength -- cardio and muscular. Climbing some of those hills was tough. I was instructed to not get out of the saddle too much, but you can't sit down when the terrain is steep and the dirt is loose, so after a little standing climbing, a couple times I had to get off and push the bike. I also couldn't pin it too much around some of the corners because the crouched position made me cringe. But all in all, it was a beautiful start!

On my drive out of the canyon I saw Marianne's and Tina's vehicles parked at the trail head of one of our favorite trails we love to rip and a huge smile spread across my face. I'll be joining you ladies soon, is what I thought. I'll be joining you soon!

kd

"Rogue DH MTB Trails"

Thanks to the contribution of one of our readers, an article that mentioned local trails in Auburn was brought to our attention. While I am in NO way aligned with the activities highlighted in this piece, I have to say I do enjoy the spoils of their illegal activities. I also enjoy the use of the word "rogue," "thrill-seeking mountain bikers," and "pirate trail builders" sprinkled in the article. Maybe we should rename ourselves, Girls on the Rogue Side! HaHa!

(My advice [not that you're asking]: Tread lightly, spread cheer, and give back -- at whatever you're doing. Om.)

kd

Kirstie sighting at the Warped Tour!

The bike striking knee did allow Kirsitie to join the Warped tour and get back stage passes for 3OH!3 with Hannah. Nice to see you get your mind off your bike, Kirstie. Who's singing to whom here? Give the mic to Hannah. Looking good in your shades, Kirstie. You don't look like you're missing no canyon!

Tina is Smokin

I met Tina a couple of years ago in the canyon. We rode with a big group that got divided into smaller groups and Tina was the other girl in our small group. We headed down the Confluence Trail and I tried to keep up with Tina. She had an amazing line and a confident style that was admirable. The guys were talking about her. I had never seen a girl ride like that. I couldn't keep up, she so smoked me, but I tried and I had fun during the short distance that I could follow her line. At the end of the ride I asked her if she would ride with me when I got a better bike. She gave me her number. A couple of months went by and I got my new bike and I called her. We met by the Confluence and rode up the hill and had fun getting to know each other until we got to the "no talking down hill" single track overlooking the Middle fork of the American River. Tina joked for me to stay on her ass and it's been a joke between us ever since. (I could return to that in another blog entry). She was nice enough to slow down for me so I could ride her line and we did that every couple of days for at least 50 rides until she felt that she had created her "Mini Me". Often we'd switch so I would ride in front of her and she would stay right on my ass and watch what I was doing and let me know what I could improve. Eventually I would ride her line right on her ass and at times we were flying. But then recently I noticed how hard it is to keep up, she's way ahead of me and all I see is her dust cloud. Tina is really good and she undoubtedly got better. Tina is smokin! I don't know if it's the Gym or the boyfriend or a combination of the two. Whatever it is it's working. I'm sure Tina will be smokin in her next race.

Today my daughter took me to the mall for back to school shopping. She had me come with her to the dressing room of a new store called PINK. On the door of the dressing room I read "Tina is smokin"! I'm not kidding, it was engraved by the store design team. You would think I wrote it but I didn't.

Pretty soon Kirstie will be back riding with us and she'll be smokin in no time because she is so mentally ready to ride with us. When she does I should go to the PINK store to add "Kirstie is Smokin". That Nomad bike is really working for her. (In another blog you'll learn how we met Kirstie).

A Swedish Ride

I'm back from Sweden! It was great to bond with my folks and enjoy their fabulous outdoors. Every day I tried to prioritize bonding with my family and riding my bike around this lake. It's called Lake Siljan and this region is known as the cultural heart of Sweden. It is rich in culinary traditions, art, architecture, music and sports. A highlight for me is bike riding around a smaller part of this lake which is doable because of a long bridge bank called Fornby Banken. I like to ride from our country home down to our village's tiny boat club and then continue along the waterfront. There is a little foot path that goes around the lake but sometimes it's tricky to stay on it with a bike, but I sure try. A big plus for Sweden is a law called "All Mans' Rights" (Allemansrätten in Swedish). It allows us to trespass upon any one's property. Maybe a tenth of the lake is private property and the owners may be sunbathing right by the lake as I ride by on my bike. Everyone seems okay with this. Swedes are proud of All Mans' Rights and take it for granted. I don't miss those "No Trespassing Signs" that are so popular in the U.S. This unique law works in Sweden because it's a big country with 96, 000 lakes and only 9 million people. On my bike ride around the lake I have had some great experiences including lots of skinny dipping, encounters with moose, and one time years ago I saw an owl snatch a rabbit and then struggle with his flight as he tried to take off with his dinner. He dropped down so low that I could hear his wings flap right by my head. Then he gained control of his victim and his flight, and took off across the lake, but he stayed low as the rabbit weighed as much as him. That was an unforgettable visual and I think it is the experience of nature that is the high light of a ride around Lake Siljan. There are no cool jumps or satisfying downhill sections along this path, so when Tina and Kirstie come join me in Sweden we will travel to a bike park for that kind of kick. The lake ride is strenuous enough for an endorphin kick and the scenery is so precious that it induces sweet dreams.

DH riding is just becoming popular in Sweden. Many ski areas are grateful that the mountain attracts business during the summer months so they build fun runs for DH enthusiasts. My cousin Anders, offered to lend us a cabin near a great bike park called Kläppen. I imagine we would have a blast on these trails. Here is a video of a fun run and pardon the Swedish!

Big Fat Finger to Knee Injuries

Arrrgghh.  I haven't blown dirt out of my nose in weeks!  

I haven't escaped.  I haven't been captivated by the sound of dirt tearing underneath my tires. I haven't felt my heart beat blood through every vein in my body.  I haven't been so single minded that all other thoughts are crowded out except for the trail and my bike. 

Instead, I have a constant nagging pain in my knee and the glare of life without my bike. . . (not for too much longer I hope!  Then I will come back with more focus and determination to be faster in the corners and get more heighth to clear bigger jumps!).

kd

Girls on the East Side recently spotted on the Confluence Trail, Auburn, Ca.

Minus one member -- rider down. (Torn meniscus, waaaa! Severely missing my bike!!)

I still ride in my imagination for the time being.

Plenty more sitings ahead as I have temporarily taken the position of photographer.
Please Come Again!

kd