Change!

I got tired of having so many blogs. My lives have converged…both vegan & bikeness can now be found on one wonderful location.

mtbVegan.com

 

Ray’s MTB MKE Women’s Weekend

Women’s Weekend at Ray’s was a blast again. Much more organized than last years event, I think that was key for anyone who falls in the beginner group or the “I’ve never ridden a MTB before” group. In the Beginner/Sport section of MTB obstacles they worked line by line. First they would ins[pect the line (walk down it, see it from all sides) then go back a ride it while Leigh would offer help/advise along the way. After finishing the first one, they’d move on down to progressively harder sections. Coaches were available in the pump track as well – which was super fun!

I think it would have been nice to have a coach available for the expert sections of Ray’s, but we worked around and got some coaching help on the Expert Jumps at least. For me, this was huge. My entire focus on ladies weekend was simple to ride the entire Expert Jumps section. I tried the week prior always bashing a pedal on this tricky corner jump and then loosing all my momentum and not making it up the following jump and just becoming overly flustered at my many failed attempts. BUT Tammy Donahugh, Jamie Lilly, Cierra Smith, and Cory Coffy all helped in that area throughout the day…eventually resulting….

WOOT! I Cleared the corner!. My next goal…clearing at least 2 of the jumps. It makes me happy! I am so sore and exhausted from the entire weekend. But, at least The BF got to see me make the corner. Yes, I did skip/run up to him Friday night with my new found cycling talent. You know, believing in yourself!

The other totally awesome part was getting the entire park to be full of ladies! I had so much fun, it was great seeing all the Half Acre Ladies out there and just getting to hang out with all my friends again. I got a little thrill each time I heard someone rode something they weren’t able to before, I get excited for ladies to ride new things and reach new levels. It was amazing. I cannot wait to start MTBing outside again. Come on spring get here!!

Thanks to Amy D & Audrey for the pictures!

Rays MTB – MKE

I’ve been going to Ray’s MTB for a while and consistently fail to get pictures and feel a wordy post about how awesome it is, is somewhat lacking… I finally have a few pictures. Ray’s MTB MKE has something for everyone. Beginner, Sport, Expert, Street Park, Pump Track, Jump Lines, XC Loop, and more. You can rent bikes ($10 fee) and free shin & elbow pads. I recommend renting a bike if you don’t have a dirt jump bike. Simply because it’s affordable and these bikes work so much better on everything at Ray’s than a mTB. If you really want your MTB you’ll be fine, I just recommend the dirt jumpers.

I have my own dirt jump bike (Kona Shonky) and it’s been a blast!

Sport Obstacles

I also go and try something new every time. I focus on a particular obstacle to try and ride it and I’ve gotten all but 2 lines on the Sport section & I’ve managed to ride 3 lines on the expert side. Some of the obstacles I have no desire to ride…mostly because I don’t see when (in the near future) I will encounter anything like it. Perhaps thats a reason to try it, perhaps not.

Latest Line I've ridden

My biggest goal of all…to ride the expert jumps and clear the jumps. I’ve only been on it 4 times. The BF was helping me and I tried when it wasn’t uber busy. I get nervous and worry about the boys following me in and me screwing up and blocking them. But, I learned a ton and found that the line is set up really well to provide you with enough speed to give you lift. I sort of freaked out the firs ttime and almost ate it big time, but then I worked it out. I have trouble making this corner turn, but if I stop and line up at the top of it I’m good. Practice, I’ll get it eventually.

This Friday is the kickoff to Women’s Weekend – so ladies, if your new, experienced, interested in learning about MTBing, live near by COME! It’s a fantastic event. I had so much fun and learned so much last year when I went to the Cleveland event.

Winter…

It’s the time of lack of blogging. No really, it is. I don’t do much bike related post worthy stuff during winter. My life is basically kinda boring and for the most part I’m okay with that. I’m sorry I don’t post more. But really, who wants to see another picture of me on my bike trainer? Not me. I try to ignore the fact that the trainer is my main source of biking these days. I’ve been to Ray’s MTB in MKE and I have failed to take pictures…I should really recruit The BF to get some shots of me riding there and then I can post about that. If you live near(ish) to Ray’s, you should go. it’s the most wonderful place to ride in winter when you don’t want to go outside! It’s exhausting and painful and fantastic all in one.

BUT, on the bright side this past weekend it was finally above 15degrees and I was in Chicago and I got to ride my bike! Lately it has seemed that if it’s nice(ish) I’m in MKE at Ray’s, and if it’s bitter freaking cold with a windchill of 15degrees or less I’m in Chicago and not willing to ride in that kind of coldness. I should schedule better…

This past weekend though, I made it outside. It was fantastic. I did a nice ride downtown and back. It was snowing like mad in the city and it was a blast to ride in. It made me realize how much I love Chicago.

Other than being on the trainer I’m also doing P90X. No I won’t post my before pictures and I doubt I’ll post afters or any combo inbetween. I’m self conscious and just don’t want to put that up on the site (maybe if when I’m done I see the pictures and think I’m a hottie, I might, doubtful though). I like the workouts a lot and am still working on pushing myself to exhaustion (which is the key) I’m finding that point, everyday I try harder and improve. That’s good enough for me.

So there you have it…I’ll try and post more and I’m sorry for being so quite on the bike front. But hey, it’s the off season, what can I say? But, if there’s something you’d like to know about or see more posts of – please let me know!

Legoland!

Yep, on New Years Eve Day The BF & I went to Legoland Chicago! It was fun, but pales in comparison to the actual Legoland – in Denmark, I went back when I was 3 or 4…it was awesome (or so the pictures of it say!) Massive with sandboxes full of lego’s for playing, building, and creating! But…the Chicago Legoland was pretty awesome…see for yourself!

 

The BF’s favorite part of the day:

On of these days

I ought to start posting about some bike related stuff. But I just don’t have a ton to talk about right now. It’s the off season afterall…

OH…but there is this awesome event this weekend presented by:

Details:

Remember what it was like for you last year after Montrose or Nationals, when you finally hung your bike up for the end of the cyclocross season? We do, and we didn’t like it. After the final cowbells were rung and the final whiskey-soaked bacon-wrapped dollar-filled twinkie was handed up, we were left empty. No cigarette, no pillow talk, no phone call the next day.

Half Acre Cycling and Chicago Cuttin Crew decided this didn’t fit our sensitive manners. So, we decided to put on one more race. We wanted to keep the romance alive, unwind after all the championships had finished and cash had been handed out so we could remember what we love about ‘cross and think back at the times we had together without being tempted to post a Missed Connection.

On Saturday December 18^th we invite you all to come out to Humboldt Park in Chicago for one last caress. We want to keep the entry fees lower, the seriousness down and the fun up. Prizes from some fine merchandise sponsors will be handed out, upgrade points will be given and with any luck, some food trucks will be dishing out delicious fried goods. We’ll be running our ever-popular Single Speed category. Pray the sand is frozen.

 

Week #12 – Snuggle

I just love to snuggle, I’m such a lover!

Week #11 – Toes

Each of my feet have different patterns on them. Read: I am special and unique!

I Am Not A Fan

Of cursing, that is. I dislike it greatly actually. Only under sever stress with I actually curse. Otherwise it’s a bunch of alternative phrases. Or, for those on twitter it’s lots of symbols ($%^&#@!*).

So here’s my handy list of alternative phrases, although I will only put the “nice” words on the list…it’s up to you to figure out what they’re replacing.

1. Freakin’
2. Flippin’
3. Darn it
4. Blasted
5. effin’
6. Bugger
7. hogwash
8. OMG=oh my goodness
9. BS=Bull Snarky
10. Son of a Monkey’s Uncle! (Um, yes…I really say this)
11. WTH = what the heck
12. WTF = what the flock
13. bollock (I know, it’s a British curse word, but whatever)
14. For Crip Pete’s Sake
15. You Piece of Shoe!
16. For the Love Of Tofu!
17. Jeezal Pete
18. Shut The Front Door
19. ……

that’s all I can think of right now. What are some of your alternative curse words?

Week #10 – Share

Sharing is nice…now really – give me some soup!