It was the weekend to practice hill climbs. To me, this is like eating peas: nutritionally beneficial, but not my favorite. I usually ride with other spodes, but Nicole met us on Saturday. Beautiful warm sunny day. ‘Geared up and headed out towards the bluffs.
The guys had been working on one impressive looking climb for a few weekends. At first, they just looked at it. Then, they saw a guy do it. That spurred one of ‘em to try it. Then they all had to try. (Not me. Like I said; peas.) It’s a two-section climb up the face of a bluff that’s fairly loose with some curves to it so it isn’t just straight up. They all made the bottom section. Maybe because of the added exposure or maybe because it was more loose up top, everybody had trouble on the first try of the second section. However, they worked on it and made it up. I’m thinking that I’ll NEVER try this one and I wonder if my bike could even make it.
OK, back to this weekend’s story. I led Nicole over to the base of the climb. She took one look at it, rev’d the engine a little, and sailed up the climb like it was flat ground. Smooth as silk. Made it look easy. Then she rode back down it, swapped bikes with me, and did the same thing on my bike. As she was heading back up, two guys stopped to chat and watch. I said, “Look look; that’s my bike up there!” They watched more closely and said, “That’s a girl making that climb? We gotta get outta here!” and they high-tailed it away. Hillarious!
So with major confidence in her voice, Nicole said that my bike handles well and I should at least try the bottom section. Not pretty, but I did it! Then we moved to a bit shorter, but similarly steep climb. Nicole had me work on standing up through the entire climb. I tend to panic-sit when it gets steep, but I worked on standing. I may have wrecked a few times this weekend and had a heck of a time getting the bike turned around, but at least I’m not so scared to try anymore!
On Sunday, Will and I met up with some of our other spodely friends at the same area. A bit cooler and very windy. Felt much more confidant to follow the guys up the steeps. I still tend to panic-sit at times, but it’s not so much like peas, I don’t think NEVER anymore, and it’s fun!
The guys had been working on one impressive looking climb for a few weekends. At first, they just looked at it. Then, they saw a guy do it. That spurred one of ‘em to try it. Then they all had to try. (Not me. Like I said; peas.) It’s a two-section climb up the face of a bluff that’s fairly loose with some curves to it so it isn’t just straight up. They all made the bottom section. Maybe because of the added exposure or maybe because it was more loose up top, everybody had trouble on the first try of the second section. However, they worked on it and made it up. I’m thinking that I’ll NEVER try this one and I wonder if my bike could even make it.
OK, back to this weekend’s story. I led Nicole over to the base of the climb. She took one look at it, rev’d the engine a little, and sailed up the climb like it was flat ground. Smooth as silk. Made it look easy. Then she rode back down it, swapped bikes with me, and did the same thing on my bike. As she was heading back up, two guys stopped to chat and watch. I said, “Look look; that’s my bike up there!” They watched more closely and said, “That’s a girl making that climb? We gotta get outta here!” and they high-tailed it away. Hillarious!
So with major confidence in her voice, Nicole said that my bike handles well and I should at least try the bottom section. Not pretty, but I did it! Then we moved to a bit shorter, but similarly steep climb. Nicole had me work on standing up through the entire climb. I tend to panic-sit when it gets steep, but I worked on standing. I may have wrecked a few times this weekend and had a heck of a time getting the bike turned around, but at least I’m not so scared to try anymore!
On Sunday, Will and I met up with some of our other spodely friends at the same area. A bit cooler and very windy. Felt much more confidant to follow the guys up the steeps. I still tend to panic-sit at times, but it’s not so much like peas, I don’t think NEVER anymore, and it’s fun!
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