First proper off the bike in Labyrinth at Swinley, caused by a combination of incorrect brake setup and hubris.
Even so, first sunny dusty ride of the year, and I went for a jump for the first time. It was so successful that I went for more! I suspect it wasn’t particularly impressive to watch, but there was definite time in the air and I felt in control the whole way through 🙂
First time out on the new MTB and first time on any bike in 5 months. Not lost as much fitness as I feared but leg endurance needs built up a wee bit again. First 10 mins or so was a bit hesitant but settled into it again quicker than I hoped and it was soon like I hadn’t been away (except for fitness levels!).
Managed a drop off into gully that I have always felt to be only marginally in control in the past. Today I actually felt I rode it rather than survived it if you get my drift. Worked out that my entry speed was higher because I was feeling confident on the bike and this made all the difference.
I did have a pratfall SPD moment about 10 minutes later just to provide balance and the required entertainment for my fellow riders
And then found that most rare of rare beasts, a properly built jump in my local woods!
(normally, all “kids built” jumps will have at least 3 of the following traits:
1) A sharp uphill corner, immediately prior too, or after, the jump
2) A ridiculously short transition and steep ramp
3) Either no lip at all, or one so steep it sends you into space
4) Built out of the looses, softest, least strong earth availible
5) If it has a “gap” it will be at least 30 feet long, and filled with rusty wash machines or hungry underfed Crocodiles, and often both)
6) The landing ramp will generally not be in line with the take off, or will require to you narrowly avoid a large tree/fence/pissed off walker (delete as appropriate)
Astonishingly, the jump i found was perfect for none awesome people like me to learn on:
😉
(karma, got it’s own back on the ride back home, when i went to bunny hop up an 18″ wall, miss timed it completely, and had a “stem – groin” interface. Ouch, thank god i don’t want kids eh…. 😉
Obviously the recent “how to ride drops” thread on here has worked it’s subliminal magic and turned you into a terrific dropper!
Must have been really powerful subliminal juju as I hadn’t seen it!
I think “terrific dropper” is being pretty generous. What I need to do is go back and do it a few times more to prove it wasn’t a fluke. I could sell tickets.
Three crap nights with our 1 year old had left me with zero motivation and nearly falling asleep on the bike this morning. Abandoned the training ride a few miles in and headed for home. I was utterly defeated so something/someone must have been victorious 🙁
Getting the motivation to abandon well-known local loops and head out a bit further in search of decent cheeky stuff. Some of it was alreet, the most promising bit on the satellite turned out to be mostly a foot deep rut in the heather – too narrow to pedal through, cue 2km of pushing 😥
Still, lovely weather, decent long ride, all good.
As for todays little ride victorys.
We actualy managed to ride until there was propper leg pain and lack of food bonkage going on instead of bimbling to a watering hole.
Its been my Anniversary today , got up at 7am left the boss in bed and buggered off round the Ladybower Loop , while she took kids to the park , first time I have done the loop and even riding it blind it was a whole lot of fun in the sun , so todays achievement was not being shouted at when I got home …. looks like dinners on me tonight
The other week I dismantled two anti-MTB barricades in some woods local to me. They were fairly big, about thigh height and made up of 10-15 branches and logs each. It took me about five minutes to do each, but it threw all the bits in different directions and broke some up, so I reckon it would take someone at least twice as long to put them all back. Small victory indeed, but they’ve not gone back up yet. They’ll give up before I do!