Beer, Bikes, and Snow

I had one more Enduro on my calendar for the 2019 season - the Glen Park Enduro.  It would be the last race for the 2019 MASS series.   I enjoy Glen Park - it's very flowy with some steep chutes and some small hits.  I knew the course would be mostly marked by Friday afternoon, so I headed out after school to pre-ride.  I had two stages under my belt and feeling good.  The sun glare was challenging as the light was getting low.  I started my third stage, which was Stage 3.  Going into one of the early corners, I washed out on a soft berm covered in leaves.  Luckily I was just a bit bumped but as I started my ride again, I heard rattling.  I broke the lever to my dropper post.  My saddle was stuck down - which made for any pedaling or climbing to be a challenge.  I finished out the other three stages but was stiff and feeling a bit anxious. I arrived at Halter's first thing Saturday morning to get my lever repaired....

I was just getting a taste for enduro racing when I had my bumthumb incident.  I missed out on the fall 2017 enduro and CX season.  In 2018 and most of 2019, NICA races and life conflicted with racing enduro.  So be it.  But after talking to a friend who's been racing the past two years in both the MASS and ESC series, I decided to enter a race.  While there was an enduro race somewhat local (the ESC Mountain Creek), I opted for the MASS Raven Enduro .  While not exactly close to home, it was closer to my dad - so I made a weekend of it, spending some time with him (BTW he's doing great all things considered). I have never ridden the trails where the Raven was.  I knew some of the trails were in the Transylvania Epic - and there would be plenty of rocks.  Which I love.  I was a bit nervous that I wouldn't know anyone there to pre-ride with but I managed to hook up with a friend who also raced it last year. The course was posted as 6 s...

I realized I hadn’t updated my blog in a very long time. Lots going on - mostly bike related, specifically NICA. We are in our second season of NICA , and Princeton Progressions grew in size. At the start of the season, we hit the athlete limit for a composite team, and were asked to split into two teams. Mike took the role of Head Coach for the new Central NJ Trail Terminators Composite . With Ben traveling for National NICA and BICP , Fred and I stepped up as Head Coaches for Princeton Progressions. We all know here in New Jersey (and much of the east coast), winter was rough. Our weekend rides were either cancelled due to snow, rain, or both. We did get creative with some of the practices, going to the climbing gym and getting our workouts in at spin class. But Mother Nature didn’t let up come spring. Our first race in early April was postponed due to weather and trail conditions. The rescheduled date almost didn’t happen due to rain and frigid temperatures. R...

It's been a few months since I last checked in - I had just been cleared by my hand surgeon and hand therapist.  That was early November.  A few have asked..."how's the thumb"?? It's ok.  I'd say I'm at 85%.  Opening jar lids and bottles is still a challenge.  It's stiff and and stretching my thumb across my palm is still challenging.  I'm not in pain though, which is a plus.  Many have told me it takes at least a year to be fully healed. I've been reading sports motivation books - this is from The Brave Athlete I've been back on the bike but it's been a struggle - both mentally and physically.  Even though I was running (which I'll get into later), I lost fitness over those months of not training and being off the bike.  I certainly feel it when I climb.  And I notice it while riding with others I used to keep up with. I also lost confidence riding more technical and challenging terrain.  What if I fall and get hurt agai...

I started this blog on the Friday morning after my race... I'm sitting in the Village at Snowshoe waiting for the final results of my Enduro race.  While things are somewhat fresh in my mind, it is a good opportunity to reflect. I'm relatively new to the Enduro scene - only trying it for the first time last year.  Up to Nationals, I have five races under my belt.  Most were small grassroots races but I got to try out two Eastern States Cup races this year.  So going racing a two-day, eight-stage Enduro at Nationals was going to be an incredibly challenging experience. Due to the packed schedule and mountain coverage, pre-ride times were limited and tight.  Monday I walked the DH course first thing in the morning.  I then had to hustle to get in some Enduro pre-riding. I had two hours to try to get in as much riding as I could.  I managed to get in Stages 1-3...with two runs on Stage 2.  After freaking out about the entry to the chute ...

This post is sort of long...well, longer than I'd normally post - but it's two races packed into one post! And I apologize for the lack of photos. I was too busy riding my bikes. So I see on Eastern States Cup website that there are two races at Blue Mountain on the same day.  Both Enduro and Downhill.  Which do I do?? The Enduro was 5 stages, of which 4 had lift-service transfers.  And, if I registered for the Downhill, I'd get a lift ticket for Saturday (not included with the Enduro registration).  How can you argue that deal? I planned on pre-riding Saturday, bringing both my Juliana for the Enduro and the Fury for the Downhill.  I got my registration set away and headed out for the first stage of the Enduro.  My plan was to ride each Stage, go back and re-ride ones I wanted practice.  Then get on the DH bike. I waited patiently in the lift line.  I guess you can say I'm spoiled with the speed and capacity of the gondola at Mountain ...

Two weeks after the ESC Glen Park Enduro, MASS would be hosting the Glen Park Enduro Round 1.  Due to my schedule, I was on the fence about racing since I couldn't get up to pre-ride and inspect the course.  Lucky for me, the course would be the same five stages I raced prior.  So I signed up at the last minute. The day before the race, heavy rain storms passed through, causing some concern about wet roots and slick corners.  As we waited for the racer meeting, it started to rain.  Great.  The promoter announced that there were a few minor changes from the ESC course, but for the most part, everything was the same.  I had a goal of nailing the two spots I struggled with two weeks ago - Stage 1 and Stage 3.  Oh, and to stay upright.   I noted who the Pro women were - and knew that in addition to my friend (who opted not to race) there was only one other girl registered in my field.  So there were two of us. I took my time getting ...