Whistler

Monday, September 6, 2010

Just home from Whistler. This was the fourth trip up there. I rode a total of about 15 days up there. Two trips were for Simon's clinics which were really good.

Lesson's learned from Simon:

1) dipping the outside foot on turns - outcome, I'm riding much faster

2) My dropping technique is really solid - outcome, I've got more confidence on the drops.

3) My right knee comes in when I'm tired. - outcome, I'm riding with cow bow knees more often

4) toes down pulls me back into neutral saddle - outcome, I'm not getting behind the bike as much.

5) left turns are better than right turns - outcome, I'm paying better attention to my turns.

6) pushing on the pedal (toe down) like it is a starting block (around corners), - able to carry more speed into the corners.

7) keep my body low and chest down towards the bars.

the clinics were expensive, but it raised my riding ability up quite a bit.

Labor day weekend I rode

Friday with Linda and Kathy.

We rode lower Whistler downhill. My first double black diamond. It had two steep (fairly smooth) rock faces which I rode well. I endoed and hurt my upper left thigh (in the tech section) which was fine the next day. It kept me from doing much more riding friday. So I rode crank it up (three times), rode freight train, and lower Whistler downhill. I also introduced Kathy to gin martini's.

Saturday rode with Ray, Linda, Bob, Crash, Kathleen and Stephanie.

Warmed up on crank it up. Then rode original sin, Duffman, no joke with Ray, Linda, Bob and Crash. Followed by freight train and B-line. Then rode Slayer with Ray, Linda, Crash, Bob and Stephanie. I walked a couple of rock faces, and had a great time riding. I found that I really like riding with Ray and Linda and trust them and their judgement. I rode really well. Then rode Crank it up with crash and did a run with Kathleen. I felt like I could have kept on riding for another hour or so. best I've felt on the mountain. And I seemed to get over my nervousness at riding the top of the mountain. I also rode the step up of the road and didn't just roll it, actually got air and made it to the top of it.

Sunday was a disaster (here is a bit of a rant):

I didn't sleep well. Saturday night, another rider asked that I ride Crank it up with her first thing before the park got crowded (which means right when the park opens). She wanted to meet at 9:30am. The lift opens at 10:00am so I said I'd meet her at 10:00am. I felt like I should ride with her, because others have been so gracious to lead me through challenging (for me) terrain. But I had reservations because I had not made it to the slopes at 10:00am the other mornings...and didn't want to rush. Not sleeping well, I had to force myself to get up and get ready. I didn't have time to make breakfast, so I stopped at Hot Buns and got a roll and coffee. I met up with Bob there (he was having his coffee leisurely). I had to gulp my coffee and get moving to get to the lift on time. I got to the lift a little before 10:00am with less than 1/2 the normal amount of sleep and 1/s the normal amount of coffee. It was almost 11:00am before the person I was suppose to meet had rented her bike and was ready. I don't know her well, so I tried not to be too annoyed, then her husband and another woman showed up to ride with her as well. So I missed the best two runs of the day (when there isn't anyone on the mountain), missed extra coffee, and sleep to start riding late. The other woman talked her out of riding Crank it Up and so the four of us rode very very slowly (at her pace) down B-line. So I was annoyed because she was the one that wanted to ride as soon as the lift opened and then she was an hour late getting there and getting ready. Plus as a new rider she wants someone to ride with her, but she arranged for 3 people to ride with her...she didn't need me there at all.

After that 40 minute run (it was pushing noon) I rode with Crash and Bob. They both said they wanted to ride behind me. Which seems stupid because I'm slower than them. We got to the top, and Crash takes off (I'm relieved to not have him behind me) and Bob waits for me to leave. So I start down the trail as fast as I can ride (because I don't want to slow Bob down too much) knowing that Bob is behind me. Then he passes me and cuts me off on a berm. I barely made it through the first three jumps not feeling like I had control. Apparently, he only wanted to ride behind me so he could cut me off! At the bottom, I wasn't feeling well, and I was frustrated and a bit pissed, so I went and ate lunch since it was noon. After lunch I rode a run with Silvia. I just wasn't riding well (imagine that). So then I headed to GLC for a couple of martinis, then went back to the condo and slept. It was a crappy day and expensive day. My learning was that when someone wants me to get up early to meet them while I'm on vacation, I need to say no - even if it seems selfish. If I'd slept in, I probably would have had a much better day on the mountain, plus rushing while on vacation sucks. Also, I just couldn't let go of the other person asking me to ride with her at 10am and then not being ready till 11am. I obviously need to make my expectations clear....