I did my first ride with the group a couple of weeks ago, and really enjoyed it! The location of the ride was at a state park that we used to live across the street from and Tomme and I rode there all the time. Also they split us up into two groups for the ride, a not so easy group and an easy group. Since it was my first ride with WMBA I chose to ride with the easy group, and I had a really pleasant time riding in a park I know like the back of my hand, on a non-technical trail, at a relaxed pace, with no falls or injuries.
This past week was a different story. We went on a very well known trail around here called The Chutes, that I had never been on before. Confident from my nice relaxing ride the previous week I decided to go with the faster group this week. In addition to my lack of knowledge of the trail, what I know about how much air to put in my tires stems completely from the range given on the side of the tire. Mine states a range between 30 and 60 PSI. So when I pulled into the parking lot I knew that my tires were sitting at around 20 PSI, so I dutifully pulled out my air pump and cranked those tires up to about 55 PSI. This is not the way to do this as I learned later in the ride the hard way.
The day starts out fine. The trail is a long consistent uphill for about the first 30 minutes, and for the first 10 I am keeping up right behind the leader with no problem. Then as the trail begins to get drier with more loose dirt and gravel my overinflated tires are spinning out all over the place and I am beginning to fall and crash like crazy as the rest of the group passes me by. Eventually we pause to practice on a more technical section of the trail, and the WMBA leaders realize during their instruction to me that I keep spinning out because my tires have way to much air in them. A learning experience from the ladies I will not soon forget. So after they most honorably were able to hold back their outright laughter at my ignorance they tried to get some of the air out of my tires before moving on. Now I'm thinking that with the tire situation much improved so will be the rest of the ride.
Wrong. It becomes painfully clear to me about 3/4 the way through the ride that I am not at a fitness level appropriate for me to be with the fast group, as I am completely out of breathe any time we stop while everyone else is chatting comfortably. Then finally it is time to start going back downhill toward the parking lot, and now I'm thinking I might be home free. Then right at the end of the ride the trail splits, and after already committing to one side I realize that I had chosen poorly and tried to quickly correct myself to get back on the right trail. I hit my break too hard, while going too fast, and trying to make a sharp turn, which resulted in my spinning out once again and sliding my elbow and thigh along the trail. Trying not to look like too much of a doofus (although I had already) I hopped right back up the way people do when they trip and then try to act like it never happened. I got back on the bike and made it down to the parking lot without looking at my injuries to see the damage. In the parking lot, however, I check out the elbow and realize I am actually bleeding profusely from a decent size gash.
Needless to say it was not my best day on the trails, but I have to say that both the WMBA leaders, and the other members on the group ride were great. They were patient, kind, helpful, encouraging, and most importantly were not adventure snobs when it came to dealing with a mediocre adventurer such as myself. I would encourage any women in the Springs area that are interested in mountain biking to sign up, even if they are a beginner. Thanks again ladies for all the help and patience, and for your first aid kit.
Mediocre tip: Before biking try to have some basic knowledge of bikes, bike maintenance, bike mechanics, physics, and tire pressure (you will look cooler than I did, and most likely you won't hurt yourself as much).
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