The Bike Wife 1.0: Here we go.....!

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Here we go.....!

Its been forever since I had a blog. Do you remember livejournal.com? Does that still exist? We all had one, to bitch about people using fake names, to insinuate crushes on people using fake names, to play pranks on friends using fake names... yeah I was real mature at 13. But really, how is a blog different from livejournal? I mean, I intend to filter myself (a little). And I assume a rant from a 26 year old has more substance than that of a teenager (...maybe). I mean, we're all adults here, right? Blogging isn't just a way for everyone to bitch about their jobs, their in-laws, and their weight gain, right? Oh fuck it, here we go....!

I'm starting the blog of a bike wife. You heard me. I've been married 9 months, so I am a wife. I've been riding mountain bikes for 3 years, so I'm a mountain biker (or so my husband says). So you put the two together: Bike Wife.

I googled "bike wife", looking for someone like me. I wanted to know if someone's already writing this blog, then maybe I could achieve one follower. Anyway, I found lots of message board postings of "how do I get my wife to ride" (I'll get to that later), and "My wife needs a beginner bike", and under google's image search, I got mostly naked chicks sprawled on motorcycles. So there's no one out there like me. Good to know.

Promise #1: I won't lie. (Well, thats all the promises I can come up with for now)

In the spirit of promise #1, here's the background, condensed:

I am 26 years old. I'm not a girly girl, but I'm not a tomboy. I've always had more guy friends than gals, but I absolutely cherish my few girl friends. I grew up swimming, playing piano, and being a real class-A nerd in school. I barely ever rode a bike. I went to college, graduated nursing school, and also became a class-A drunk (a requirement in nursing school, or else one may consider suicide). I didn't ride my bike the 5 blocks to college because I felt like a dork. Currently I am a surgical nurse who loves travel, reading, gardening, and adventures.
So I met a boy while I was working at a sporting goods store, and he had a killer smile. I kissed him on my 21st birthday, but I didn't remember it because I was blacked out. I married the boy a little over 4 years later.
Scott happens to be a professional downhill mountain biker. To get a feeling of downhill racing, educate here:

Okay, you get the picture. So since this is what he DOES, this is who he IS, this is what he LOVES, BREATHES, and seriously thinks about more than sex... I decided to start. 3 years ago I bought my first mountain bike. It did not go well. I cried like a baby on my first ~~few~~ 20 rides. I skinned my knees a million times. I threw my bike down a hill. Half way up a steep climb I've thought to myself, this is my last ride EVER. But it never was, because the good part is too good. The downhill.
Today I have an XC mountain bike, a DH bike, a town bike, and a road bike. I have done ONE race, but been to at least 40 of Scott's. He rides every day. I ride at least every week. His is a passion that I can only be jealous of. Mine is hobby that I really like, but I dont live it (yet). Here's the not lying part: I started doing it for him. And now? Some days I ride for him. And others, for me. This blog is about the journey of my last 3 years doing this so unladylike sport, and the journey as it continues.

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Bike Babble

Here's a list of terms to help decipher what the #@&*! I'm blogging about:

Berm - a turn in a trail, usually built up with hard packed dirt, or sometimes wood/rock. A berm's purpose is to allow/withstand the weight of a rider making an aggressive turn.

Chamois - the padded spandex shorts worn under loose mountain bike shorts, and never, ever on its own. Also, should never be worn a minute longer than absolutely necessary. Like a condom.

Clapped Out - and old, well used bike. It may have been nice at one time, but is now a POS.

Clipless - bicycle pedals that clip in to one's bike shoes, thus making the human and the bike into one cohesive unit.

DH - downhill; as in DH bike (more travel), or DH trail. Downhill mountain biking is gravity assisted decent down a mountain, usually with technical features like jumps, drops, and rocky sections. DH races are very technical, usually no climbing, and are only a few minutes in length.

Enduro - A multi-staged race that includes both climbing and descending, and can also include being shuttled to the top of a trail or mountain. Timed stages are usually downhill, un-timed stages uphill.

Fire Road - a large, wide open trail, usually the width of a 4-wheeler or truck, typically smoother dirt or gravel. Preferred by roadies who are trying to mountain bike.

Fork - the front end of the bike, below the handle bars. The fork compresses (see "travel") anywhere from 2-8 inches on a mountain bike , depending on the type, to allow for more aggressive riding.

Free Riding - a broader range of mountain bikers; generally used to describe individuals who build their own trails, use natural features as stunts, are creative in trail/jump building. Will hike-a-bike for good DH trail riding, will put blood, sweat, and tears into good trail building.

Full Suspension - front and rear suspension on a mountain bike: the fork in front, and a rear shock in back. Contrasts with a hard tail (a mountain bike with suspension only in the front) or a road bike or cruiser (no suspension at all).

Gap - the distance between the take off and landing of a jump or drop, ie: the spot where you and your bike are in the air.

Hucking - to commit to a very large jump, drop, or gap, usually a very large stunt.

Loamy - soft, highly organic dirt. Desirable. Not rocky. Think Oregon and Washington conditions.

MTB - Mountain Biking

North Rim - A local Chico trail that is extremely rough and rocky. Quite steep in some places, less in others, but a steady climb for several miles. There are barely any trees, and it is the bane of my existence.

Shred - to ride vigorously, synonymous with "ripping" and "killing it".

Shuttle - the means of getting up to the top of a mountain/hill where a downhill trail starts. Usually in the form of a truck, or "shuttle truck".

Single Track - a narrow trail that is approximately the width of the bike. It is frequently smooth and flowing, but it may also exhibit technical rocky sections and may be criss-crossed with tree roots. Considered the best type of trail on which to ride mountain bikes.

Super D - a long downhill race with some climbing. Not nearly as much climbing as in XC, or as long of a race. Usually Super D has more technical downhill features, and lasts 20-30 minutes.

Travel - the amount that the fork is able to compress, thus, the larger amounts of force the bike can withstand.

XC - Cross Country, as in XC bike (less travel) or XC trail (uphill & downhill). XC racing is up and down hills, and courses are typically several miles long, and can take 2-4 hours to complete.