Beer, Bikes, and Snow

"Oh, you're a teacher? Must be nice to have summers off".  Yeah, I hear it all the time.  And yes, while it is nice to have summers off, I choose to work.  Although some might not call it work.  I get paid to ride my bike. Five years ago, I was posting on MTBNJ about riding during the summer and how my schedule was flexible.  I just happened to post in the right place at the right time.  Someone (thanks Steve!) saw my post and knew of an opening at the Morristown Beard Schools Mountain Bike Camp and asked if I would be interested.  I told them I wasn't an expert rider.  But they needed a female who could ride a bike and is good with kids.  I said "sign me up". Our camp runs Monday through Friday, on a week-to-week basis.  It is part of the Mo-Beard Day Camp program, but we are considered a "specialty camp".  I work with another guy, Brad (who is also on MTBNJ), and one or two counselors.  Our camp has run anywhere from fou...

I was first introduced to track racing two years ago.  We heard that there was a world-class velodrome nearby, so Lance and I went to see what it was all about.  It was something completely new and I didn't really know what was going on, other than people were going really fast in circles. Last year we went to a few more races and learned what goes on and what each race is.  I was obsessed with the Madison  and curious as to what it's like to be on a track.  The Valley Preferred Cycling Center offers " Try the Track " clinics three times a year and I signed up for a Try the Track session last May.  It was the only date that did not conflict with other life events. I was so excited to go but Mother Nature had other plans for us that day.  Due to the rain, the event was cancelled after an hour. It was enough time for me to see what it was like to ride a track bike - which is a fixed gear.  No brakes (for safety reasons) and no coasting (when t...

A few months ago a friend posted the link for a new race, Ramsey's Revenge , and I didn't have much going on in June as far as races.  I had heard of Brandywine State park (where part of the race would be held) but never rode there.  Figured I would show my support to the new venue and sign up. I had no idea what to expect as far as the course.  I heard it was a "mix of everything" to "like Fair Hill with rocks".  I heard that there was climbing.  A friend pre-rode the day before and told me it was "fast".  Hard to get a feeling for what to expect based on other's opinions, but I had to just go with it. I arrived with enough time to see the Cat 1 start.  I got ready in our tent, cheering on friends and teammates as they whipped by.  I didn't get out on the course but saw the hill at the start.  I went over to the prologue to check things out, decide what gear I wanted to be in and check for any sketchy lines.  When it was time to ...

A few weeks ago I got a phone call from Ben.  "I'm just leaving a clinic I did at Bear Creek .  I think you would really benefit from taking it.  And it may give you a chance to see what some of the MASS/Nationals course will be like".  I had considered racing Bear Creek up to that point, but was a bit tentative.  I heard stories about how gnarly the course was.  But this course would also be very similar, if not the same, as the the course for Nationals.  And I didn't want to miss this opportunity. Lance and I signed up for one of Harlan Price's clinics .  We spent some time working on cornering and skills before heading out onto the trails.  While I didn't see much of the course, I did see the infamous "heckling area" and switchbacks.  Harlan spent time going over which lines you could take through the area and what to be aware of.  I decided I was up for the challenge and registered for the race. Race day morning I was start...