Latest Blogs

The Difficulties of Summer #3: Scary Stuff

This weekend, I spent both days at a local singletrack trail…and I conquered some of the tougher parts, including a bridge and a few steep downhill spots. Or “slightly downhill” according to my boyfriend, Eric. (He lies!) Plus, I went up this steep hill that turns sharply when you’re almost at the top.

What? Why is no one cheering? Really, I’m now an awesome mountain biker. I mean, the sharp steep hill turn thingy - that has taken me down on numerous occasions. So naturally not falling down is a huge accomplishment, and requires some expertise, right?

And I swear the steep downhills are scary. Okay, maybe they’re only like 20 feet long, but there are two rocks that I’m convinced will try to sabotage me. One of them even made me fall, although Eric insists that I just fell over for no reason, and is convinced that the rock is 2 feet off the trail. But it’s not, it’s right on the side, the trail is just 2 feet wider right there. Plus, with my aforementioned fat ass I can’t be sure my tires will stick to the dirt. Eric, says they will, but he weighs like 125 pounds, so what does he know about the dire consequences of being fat assed. Er, well except it turns out they did actually stick to the dirt when I went down the hill…. but it could have been a fluke!

And the bridge is only a foot or so wide, made of 2 skinny logs and a smattering of rotting 2x4’s, and it sags into the water and creaks when you ride over it. The second time I tried to cross it, I fell into the water and had an uncomfortable bike seat-ass encounter. And there’s this little tree stump right where you have to pop up onto the bridge. I swear it gives me the evil eye and taunts me. It’s all, “remember that seat-ass encounter, Kelly, well it’s gonna happen again!” And then I’m like “no, it’s not tree stump!” as I ride over it. Well okay, the first four runs at it, I may possibly freak out, stop, and turn my bike around. But, eventually I make it across. Except if I’m going the other direction, because that involves a right turn as you get up on the bridge. This must be something you need to be a super expert to do, since a normal expert like me has to walk her mountain bike across.

Anyway, the biggest issue now that I’m a successful mountain biker (what? I am!) is how to deal with the scrapes and bruises. Currently, my legs look like I’ve been attacked by a gang of Leprechauns with swords and bats. I guess I need protective pads or something? Except no one else on the trails we do have the pads… so I suspect they’re somehow managing to not get as injured as me, and I’m determined to find out the secret to their success!

For the moment I’m stumped, because the trail is closely surrounded by scrub oak, which are tiny evil oak trees with lots of pointy sticks and/or leprechauns sticking out of them. When I fall over, the trees seem to enjoy giving me a few extra stabs just to add to the embarrassment and pain… and when I don’t fall over, they still jab at me while I’m riding past and make my arms and legs all scraped! How rude!

08.12.09

The Difficulties of Summer #2

Mountain biking is the summer sport of choice for most of my friends in Colorado, so although I never quite got it (it seems like a lot of work, right?) I decided that this summer would be the summer I actually figure out how to not suck at it. This is partly because it looks like it could be sort of fun, and partly because my boyfriend kept suggesting we sell my mountain bike for spare cash since I never used it.

Anyway, since I’ve learned the hard way, I thought I’d share with you some of the pitfalls of learning to mountain bike.

Lesson #2: How to avoid staring at spandex-encased crotches.

08.05.09

The Difficulties of Summer #1

Anyway, since I’ve learned the hard way, I thought I’d share with you some of the pitfalls of learning to mountain bike.

Lesson #1: Don’t have a fat ass.

07.29.09

Meet Christina

Hello all!! My name is Christina and I’m from the wonderful East Coast residing in Upstate, NY. I’m a 24 year old mom and wife who had never even seen an actually mountain resort until 3 years ago. Sad but true. I blame my parents. I was introduced to snow sports by my husband when we first met and my first time was awful!!

05.07.09