A Video For You

kd

Recovery

Things that help one come back from a knee injury:

• RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation - learned that running x-country in H.S.)
• Physical Therapy (including ultrasound and electrical stimulation)
• Yoga (stretching, strengthening and mobility)
• Easy Gym Workouts (get strength back and keep mobility)
• Laughter and Tears
• Suportive Friends and Family
• Easy Road Rides Graduating to Trail Rides
• Accupuncture and Herbs

WaLaa . . . back on the trail!!

kd

Freedom

Sometimes I wonder why I love mountain biking so much -- it can be a lot of work, maintenence and some days, frustrating. Then, a conversation with friends after a great ride one evening reminded me of learning to ride a bike as a child in the foothills of Meadow Vista. There was really not a flat, smooth surface around (apart from a section of road that we had to climb a gravelly hill to get to). I remembered that feeling as a kid, when you had no preconcieved notion of how you were "supposed" to do something, and you would see an area you wanted to ride your bike to and would just take off and go in that direction. There were no trails -- just a lot of rocks, fallen tree branches, and piles of slippery pine needles that you just furrowed through to get to your fort or whatever destination called.

Now we ride trails that have built obstacle as well as natural ones -- but the feeling is the same. Freedom. Freedom because you know that you can just take off in a direction (or master a skill or have as much fun as possible) and just go out and do it. (No quote from Nike intended. Swear!) That is ultimate freedom -- and having that ability is what drives us to work even harder to keep it.

Photo: Livewire, Northstar, Ca
kd

Auburn DH on the Map

Saturday Sept. 12th was the first annual Mammoth Bar DH Race in Auburn, CA and while none of the Girls On the East Side participated (coming back from knee injury for one, special out of town visitors for others, etc.) it was still exciting to be spectating -- and planning our attack for next year's race!

The course, Stonewall to Rocky, is one of this rider's favorite in Auburn -- and I plan on getting more practice on Rocky this coming year, especially after watching a few gnarly crashes that left me sort of nauseated for the poor riders that went down hard -- one being carted away by ambulance with a VISIBLY broken wrist and probably nasty concussion.

We spoke to race officials and found out that one pro female rider, Joanna Petterson, was supposed to be at the World Cup in Schladming, Austria and her and her sponsor chose for her to compete in Auburn's race because the purse was bigger -- she came in with a winning time of 2:52 which is amazing! We don't have all the names or race times yet, but below are photos of some riders that literally went flying past us!

It was great to see pro bike handling skills up close and live in our own back yard. (The crappy camera I used didn't do justice for capturing action shots).

A group of local riders coming down during timed trials (which ended up not being timed due to some kind of mechanical failure to much of the riders' displeasure).

Hanging on, keeping speed, and having keen agility on your bike is key to getting through the aptly named "Rocky" trail.

Most riders chose the clearest line. This rider bounced out of that line and managed to choose another on the fly and impressively stayed with it to a clean finish.

Others were not so lucky.

Some flatted out and got passed. Flats -- the bummer of the mtb race.

Looked like this young rider might not have children one day after he got thrashed around so hard he broke his seat clean off (check out the seat area -- gone!). The male dominated crowd responded as audibly as he did. He limped off the course nearly in tears during trials and came back on his friend's bike to race. Nice job man. (Pretty much confirming that he still will be one).

Remnants of his seat on the side of the trail.

One of the pro women lifting up the front end to fly over the very last section to the finish.

One of the men doing the same.

Although it was an unpredicted overcast day, the sun shone through sporadically highlighting the first annual Mammoth Bar DH race . . . can't wait to race it next year!

kd

Fire, Lefty, Nomad and Duende!

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