We've created a monster!

-
Quick - what's scarier then Grandma out driving around on some of the high mountain passes in Colorado? Grandma on a decked out mountain bike!
Some one's getting an upgrade.... 
In 2007, Mom (who is actually a grandma - my sister has four boys) decided she wanted to get a mountain bike so she could explore some of the dirt roads and really easy single track trails. We decided to get her the best (and smallest) bike we could at the time, the Specialized Era. It was the same bike I had, a nice race worthy bike that fit her and could handle everything she would throw at it. Which wasn't much - she would still get off the bike to walk down curbs. That took a little time for her to realize that she could ride over some of those things. In 2009, she came with me to the Xterra North West Championships in Idaho and raced on the short course. She wasn't fast, but she was having fun. Skills improving ever so slowly, she started wanted to try more and more on the bike. We took her to Lake Pueblo to ride. She signed up for a few more Xterras. And she started doing the Women's Mountain Biking Association of COS rides. Always in the beginner group, but she was out there, riding that reliable blue Era.

This year, she decided to sign up for the RMES - racing the beginner races. And she had a lot of fun. But she was starting to complain about the bike - about feeling like the rear wheel was stalling on rocks that she should be able to just ride over. Nick explained that it was because of the Brain suspension that Specialized uses on the XC race bikes. It's awesome for me and him for racing because the bikes climb so well and are very efficient. We can stand up and attack a rock garden or climb without worrying about pedal bob or loosing power. But Mom doesn't stand up - ever. So for her, the Brain was making the bike behave like a hard tail. She was also starting to ask about replacing this component and replacing that component. Which, given the age of the frame and the fact that the Brain wasn't working well for her riding style, didn't make sense.

Finally, she went to Colorado Cyclist and test rode a Giant Anthem 26 XS. Yep, extra small! And was in awe of how well the bike handled for her. So we got to go the Colorado Cyclist with her to pimp out this tiny little bike. They don't normally strip a pre-built bike and rebuild with new components, but made an exception for her. Nick was having a blast. "I get to spend some of your moldy money" he kept saying as he marked up XO everything, Stan's wheels with Hope hubs (Mom did customize her wheels - blue hubs, black spokes, silver nipples, black rims) - pretty much the works! She took her new ride for a spin on Saturday and was gushing about the handling, the lightness of the bike, the way she was able to ride over rocks in Zook Loop at CMSP. Pretty much in love with the bike. I think she's gonna be dangerous in the Women's 65+ Cat 3 races next year! We might even get her up to Cat 2...

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A long way on foot - Sheep Mountain Endurance Run

-
Image
Fifty miles is a long way - regardless of how you travel. As I was training and preparing for Sheep Mountain Endurance Run, I knew that it would be a long day - I knew that there would be ups and downs, that the plan would have to be fluid and goals adjusted mid-race. That is the nature of endurance sports and the people who achieve are the ones who can go with the flow and find the ability to turn things around if they do go south. Obviously, for my first 50, I was hoping for nothing but smooth sailing - with no dark spots, no demons and smiling the whole way. A girl can always hope, right? Runners assembled for the start Photo - Human Potential Running The sun was just starting to brighten the clouds as we walked to the starting line with nearly 100 other runners. The race director went through a few things, noting that there had already been some DNS's due to the elevation and to be smart. Smart... Most people would say smart would mean not doing something like a 50 mile
the full story...

Mortality

-
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention to arrive safely in a pretty and well preserved body; but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming 'Wow! What a ride!'” - Hunter S. Thompson It seems such a trite quote, but true at the same time. Life is about the journey - the adventures along the way, the failures and successes. A life well lived is a person with stories to tell, taking the chances along the way that will provide fulfillment. You don't realize how close we are teatering to the edge until something happens that affirms our mortality.  In eleven years of practicing physical therapy in a nursing home setting, I've had my share of experiences with death. Never close though - far enough removed to be touched by the passing but not affected. Sometimes it's expected and everyone says "it's for the best. They are happier now." Other times, it's not and we are all shocked
the full story...

Regaining my mojo

-
Image
I'll be honest. The two months between the middle of July and middle of September just about crushed me. Tired all the time, unable to muster more then a slug pace for most rides, and shuffling my way through my runs. It was the worst two month I've had - made worse by my continuing to try to push through the fatigue. So after Vapor I made sure that I would listen to my body and not pressure myself into training until I felt ready. No matter how long it would take, I would take the recovery I needed. Two weeks of minimal activity - short swims that were mostly just paddling around, very short runs where I didn't look at my watch at all and the easiest of rides imaginable. After those two weeks, I was still tired, but feeling better. Getting more like myself again, with a little more energy. That meant I needed at least another week of easy recovery! It was not the time to succumb to FOMO and start up with the big rides and hard runs again. So I behaved even more, knowing ev
the full story...

Friends with the Monsters..

-
And the voices inside of my head.  As Saturday approaches, the voices - the demons - have begun talking to me. Sometimes a whisper, sometimes a scream. 54 miles. It's the distance from Colorado Springs to Lake Pueblo State Park. Or the top of Wilkerson Pass... A long bloody way to cover on two wheels, let along two feet! Yet that is my goal. Traverse the trails and roads west and east of Fairplay, covering more then the distance of two marathons. Theoretically, it should be nothing. After all, I've run back to back marathons many times - once getting both under 3:10. Fifty two miles, in just shy of 24 hours at a pace much faster then I'm planning. But in this ventures, I had time to recover between races and took the recovery seriously. Here, nothing but continuous forward movement. One step in front of the other, no breaks between efforts and the the clock doesn't stop ticking.  As Saturday approaches, those voices are getting louder. Ever doubting, ever questioning -
the full story...