The Bike Wife 1.0: Goals

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Goals

I spent this morning looking at the requirements for nursing in New Zealand. Ok, I meet those. But to prove it, I need to send in copies of all my transcripts, take a $200 English test, declare that I am fit, physically and mentally to be a nurse in NZ, get 2 letters from my bosses regarding what an exemplary employee I am, send $485 with my application, get a notary to sign off on my honest filling out of the application with the thumbprints and everything, oh and find the invisible magical kiwi unicorn fairy, capture her, and offer the dust from her wings as a peace offering to the NZ Nursing Council. Eff.
So $685 just to apply to be a nurse, without even mentioning the costs coupled with applying for our skilled migrant worker visas. Oh, and currently its approximately 12 months to get your nursing license. Eff. Eff. Eff.

Just keep ~~swimming~~, Just keep ~~swimming~~, just keep pedaling.

Short term goals to keep me going though: Theres a 12 mile bike race in Ashland every year (12 Mile Super D), and I'm gonna do it! This year it is on June 23, which may seem like a long way away, but I need that time. It's a lot harder than any race I've done before (as I have to go up hill), and I'm going to have to train my ass off to be competitive for it. But that's what I want to be. Competitive. Fit.

So here's to goals, long term and short term. Here's to doing what we always said we would do. It's not New Year's Resolutions and it's not setting goals so someone else will notice. Its about strength, mentally and physically. The stronger you are, the better you feel.

What's your goal?

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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.