Candlemas Plus Two Day: the Sportsmans peered from the windows of their detached home . . . → Read More: February shadows lead to single track sampling]]> Candlemas Day: Punxsutawney Phil stuck his head out of Gobbler’s Knob, saw his shadow (or the dude still rocking a Top Hat), and dashed back into his eco-friendly condo-minimum; glibly announcing to the world that there will be six more weeks of winter.

Candlemas Plus Two Day: the Sportsmans peered from the windows of their detached home in North Vancouver, saw bluebird skies and shadows, and quickly put together a schedule that would allow all Scott, Emily, and Beryl to sample some North Shore single track before the aforementioned six weeks of winter returns (followed by 12 weeks of spring rain).

Straws were drawn and it was my turn to turn the pedals in haste to reach the trailhead meeting time.  I Underestimated the required time to reach the trailhead. I Overestimating the haste in which I could turn the pedals.  And I made bad choice at a city park trail junction resulting in additional climbing and a few extra kilometers.  So, natch, I reached the meeting place five minutes after the group started their ride.

Time to Chase; at least I had already warmed up!

Fortunately,watching ManTracker, is educational as well as entertaining, and I knew that I was on my prey’s trail..

A gutbusting, gasping climb later, and I caught a glimpse of another single speeder (yes, you heard me correctly, ANOTHER SINGLE SPEEDER on the NORTH SHORE!), blurry was the state of my oxygen deprived vision

At last,  I was able to integrate my pony with the other ponies in the group, which was comprised of five bikes; three 29ers, two of which were single speeds. Just two years ago, I’m sure that I had the only 29er on the North Shore (which everyone felt it was their moral duty to inform me that you CAN’T ride a 29er on THE SHORE)

there were skinnies to ride

and rocks and roots to launch

there were even local celebs and pros to make a hole for

following a mad dash home, we bundled Beryl up in the Ergo, and it was Emily’s turn to smile on Fromme.  She was so excited, she wasn’t able to keep her Siren’s front wheel grounded.

the gang rode off, leaving Beryl, myself and my camera to wander the trails

The concentration level was high for Em’s return to single track

and some of her previous lines eluded her

like Andrew’s (still riding his SS) squish and squirt

or the slightly higher choice

but, soon, she’ll be back in her comfort zone; maybe even crossing it up…

somehow, after wandering around for two hours, we managed to leave without any pictures of Beryl. I just brought the wrong lens/camera for self-portraits (since she was hanging from my chest)..

(Sunday was almost as nice, demanding another snack of single track)

While Em returned to Fromme, Beryl and I went for a jog/chariot ride…

1st stage – base layer, accompanied by a definite lack of enthusiasm

next stage – NF fleece layer; slight bewilderment, she’s been here before

strapped into her Chariot; letting her displeasure be known

weatherproof, but not soundproof, Beryl is still letting me know that she’s ready to roll

once the wheels start rolling, the eyelids get heavy..

stopping in a park drew forth a contemplative pose from Beryl

]]> http://www.ssportsman.com/2012/02/february-shadows-lead-to-single-track-sampling/feed 0 http://www.ssportsman.com/2012/01/a-post-of-two-rides http://www.ssportsman.com/2012/01/a-post-of-two-rides#comments Fri, 20 Jan 2012 04:56:08 +0000 Sportsman http://www.ssportsman.com/?p=4629 The first ride was a fixie ride to submit some paperwork for Beryl in downtown Vancouver…

The bike lane across the 2nd narrows was clear and salted, unlike the exit, where someone missed the 1st switchback…

-8C and blue skies combined for an irresistible call to ride on Fromme

. . . → Read More: a Post of Two Rides]]> The first ride was a fixie ride to submit some paperwork for Beryl in downtown Vancouver…

The bike lane across the 2nd narrows was clear and salted, unlike the exit, where someone missed the 1st switchback…

-8C and blue skies combined for an irresistible call to ride on Fromme

snowed in

in the snow covered forest

checking out new sections of The Spirit Trail, a largely separated bike path that will eventually connect Deep Cove to Horseshoe Bay.  It’s only lacking two sections for us to pull the Chariot to Stanley Park with very few traffic interactions

I could see sunlight breaking through to the North Shore from the Dunsmuir Viaduct (under grey skies)

I took the time, and went out of my way, to ride all of the separated bike lanes ending beside the horribly decimated plaza in front of the Art Gallery.  The Occupy Vancouver movement clearly prevented people from using this popular, in-demand plaza…

Body English required to continue occupying the snow packed skinnies

With the mountain to myself, I was able to climb the ever-popular Bobsled trail..

and today’s PSA….

Faced with choices, I deferred and chose them all

big wheels found a few skinnies

. . . → Read More: Banner day on Fromme]]> Taking advantage of an uncharacteristic bluebird December day in North Vancouver, Emily went for a hike on the Baden Powell, her sister went for a run on the Baden Powell, and I went for a ride

Faced with choices, I deferred and chose them all

big wheels found a few skinnies

I admired an upcoming feature on Floppy Bunny

Across many trails, I left little trace…

In total, it was a good day; Upper/Lower Griffen, Leopard, Krinkm Crankm, Pipeline, Baden Powell (looking for my pregger wife), Bobsled (thank you sir, can I have another)X2, King of the Shore, Upper/Lower Griffen with just enough Mountain Highway to link them all together.

It was also a day of firsts.. Hardtails outnumbered Dualies (5 to 4).. I rode the Leopard/Krinkm loop without dabbing, I cleaned the skinny/teeter on Pipeline….

Ready for another first any day now (not as ready as Emily is)…

]]> http://www.ssportsman.com/2011/12/banner-day-on-fromme/feed 1 http://www.ssportsman.com/2011/10/riding-under-the-influence-of-baby http://www.ssportsman.com/2011/10/riding-under-the-influence-of-baby#comments Sat, 22 Oct 2011 00:42:03 +0000 Em http://www.ssportsman.com/?p=4313 Most books and websites treat pregnant women . . . → Read More: Riding under the influence of Baby]]> I have been meaning to share my experiences staying as active as possible while pregnant but this article really got me motivated.  Now for the CYA part.  I’m a geochemist, not a doctor.  I’ve never even taken a biology course.  This is my experience during this normal, healthy, (and thankfully) average pregnancy.

Most books and websites treat pregnant women as incompetent bumblers unable to make reasonable and measured decisions about personal life decisions including exercise.  The most common approach is to place very conservative and, generally scientifically unsupported, cautions on almost all forms of physical activity.   If you don’t want to be resigned to gentle walks around the block, prenantal yoga and water aerobics for 9 months,  I suggest reading the Clapp book on Exercising Through Your Pregnancy (my library had a copy).  So far as I can tell it is really the only scientific source on the benefits and impacts of excerise on pregnancy.  Another great resource for me were all the committed, fast, smart and experienced athletes that shared their stories on their blogs.  

I have never been one to dream of life events like a wedding or having a baby.  For years, I actively made sure that pregnancy wasn’t something that ‘just happened’ to me.  Scott and I happily made this decision together without hesitations or regrets.  There are still about 9 or 10 weeks to go until baby Beryl comes.  I am thrilled to see her rather than just imagining the hand or foot that seems permanetly lodged in my right ribs.  Most of all I am thrilled that part of her will be a reflection of my fantastic husband.  However, it has still been hard to lose my body.  It is unnerving to gain weight, change shape and have my entire core musculature reassigned to another purpose. 

While I have never considered myself a high level athlete, I know that my idea of a little bike ride or regular exercise is different than most people’s idea.  I also know that for fit women, staying active and moving every day helps the body and the mind stay happy. 

Here is what I can say from my own experience:

The First Third:

Beryl slowed me down even when she was nothing but a few hundred cells.  I had no idea that the effects would be so immediate.  It seemed like I simply couldn’t generate any power.  Instead of pedaling through the crest of a hill, I was coasting as soon as the front wheel crested.  There was frustration at not being able to keep up with Scott as handily as previously.  I hadn’t expected that the impacts of pregnancy would happen so soon.  I was able to keep up the ride volume which felt great.

Riding with other women helped me to see that slowing down on the bike during pregnancy doesn’t mean slowing down on the bike forever.  A week of desert mountain biking with Rim Tours in CO and UT with 6 other women all of whom have kids and rocked on their bikes.  Thanks ladies for your stories, sharing your experiences, and killing the singletrack!

All smiles in the UT desert

Although we had plans to race this summer (before my back injury, unrelated to pregnancy, took me off the bike and out of work for 2 months) I had to get rid of the computers, GPSs and heart rate monitors.  My heart rate was not inline with my percevied effort.  My hill interval times were slightly off.   I know pregnancy isn’t a time to get faster but there is the continued desire!  Ditching the electronics made me listen more to my body and less to the HR monitor beeping.

For these weeks I was easily able to keep up the bike commute to work — about 24 kms roundtrip. 

The middle third:

I don’t have a lot say here.  I spent 2 months off work with constant back pain and nerve pain.  It was bad.  I had healed enough to get back to gentle road riding by about 17 weeks and back to dirt a couple weeks later.  After 8 weeks off the mountain bike, I didn’t appreciate the changes that Beryl (she was still called Thor at that point).  An attempt on Kill Me Thrill Me proved that my core was no longer mine to use and technical climbing was now out.  Fortunately, non-technical climbing and all kinds of descending was still accessible.  We managed several good XC days and even a small bikepacking trip.  Some familiar rides on the North Shore. Sunshine Coast favorites.  Squamish happiness.  New joy in Cambell River.

Leavenworth for a long weekend

Ladies Only

Neds on Seymour

Squamish!!

Somewhere at about 22 weeks we found out that Thor is actually Beryl.  Since falling isn’t an option, my riding mantra became ‘Beryl gets her own first crash’.  I walked a lot of features that I’ve ridden without hesitation previously.  We also noticed that I was really seeing technical trail features through ‘preggo vision’.  20 inch wide woodwork looked like 2×4s!  Some folks think that my continuing to riding was risky but I’m a pretty decent mountain biker. I can tone down and slow down my riding a lot and still be comfortable on trails that might not be accesible to others. 

Off the dirt, my cyclocross commuting machine was uncomfortable by about 24 weeks.  We changed the stem to give a more upright position.  By about week 26, I couldn’t push the gearing up the 3rd street hill in North Vancouver so we got the Bandersnatch.  Upright position and mountain bike gearing are perfect for preggo riding.

During this period, I got slower and wider.  No one told me that my hips would get wider before my belly got bigger.   

The final stretch:

I’m just really getting into this phase but one word really comes to mind here:  heartburn.  Every ride. Every commute. Heck, every time I bend down to latch the paniers onto my rack. blah.  The second word to describe this period? SLOW!  I have almost accepted being slow.  That is totally not true. 

I cried on Frisbee Ridge when I saw that it took me over 90 minutes to climb less than 800 m over 12 kms.  Side of the trail. Off my bike. Tears.   I miss my body.  I miss how it would respond to *my* desires and wants.   I miss being able to go hard on a climb and push.  But I can’t.  I simply can’t go hard right now.  I don’t think I could go anerobic if I tried.  My legs don’t respond.  I know my body has changed and isn’t just for me to use!  But 20+ years of athletic training and racing are hard to overcome in 30 weeks.  Objectively I know I feel like this because of being pregnant.  Subjectively I simply miss the body I had used daily for so many years.

attack position compromised by belly!

Climbing shouldn't be this hard

Trying to smile

Thankfull, the smiles always return and Scott always manages to captures smiles as well as the struggles. I am hoping to get a few more days on mellow dirt before the weather turns shitty for winter.  Fingers crossed for Squamish singletrack Saturday!!

Some leftover thoughts:

While the midwives are happy with Beryl’s growth, I seem to be carrying pretty close into my body still and my balance hasn’t been greatly impacted.  Honestly, since I am so comfortable on a bike, I don’t expect that a change in my balance will put me at risk of falling of my bike (the only real risk that people can discuss).  The only way I am going to fall off my bike is if I get hit by a car!!

According to the books, I should be expecting to gain another 1 lb a week until Beryl comes.  Damn.  How do I get through the rainy season once I outgrow my commuting jacket??

Lake Louise, Alberta.

Scott was my +1 at the Mine Closure 2011 Conference.  He turned down all my offers to sign him up for the accompanying persons spa day choosing instead to capture the sunrise and document the singletrack.  I studied how to design open pit mines for . . . → Read More: Rocky Mountain deGroovy, Canadian Style]]> Thanks to my work we went to pretty places.

Lake Louise, Alberta.

Scott was my +1 at the Mine Closure 2011 Conference.  He turned down all my offers to sign him up for the accompanying persons spa day choosing instead to capture the sunrise and document the singletrack.  I studied how to design open pit mines for post-closure uses, helped present at a water mangement short course and debated if the case studies sessions would be more interesting than the session on long-term water management; Scott enjoyed 3 days of work with mountains, his mountain bike, hiking shoes, and his cameras.

We also celebrated our 3rd anniversary!  I reckoned the chances of us ever staying in a fancy hotel like the Cheatau Lake Louise at $300/night for anniversary while greater than zero are still small.  We celebrated with dark chocolate fondue. YUM!

When the conference wrapped up Wednesday, I kicked off the heels, changed to into comfy clothes and we started the 4 day trip to cover the 8 hour drive back to Vancouver.    A 12 km hike to the Stanley Glacier followed by soaking and camping in Radium Hot Springs. Listening to  A history of the world in a 100 objects as we drove to Golden, BC.

The mountain biking in Golden, BC is good!  If we had found good cinnamon rolls then it might give our loved Golden, CO some competition.  The CBT trail trail at the north end of town over to the Canyon Creek and Moonraker trails south of town.   I had issues with the exposure on the Canyon Trail.  Actually, it wasn’t the exposure so much as the abundant evidence of large slope failures within 2 m of the trail.  Scott did not, happily scampering up a tree close to the edge to get a better photo.

A great 4 hours of riding with nice climbs mostly within the limits of my 26 week belly and lots of giggle worthy squish-n-squirt fun.

Next we headed to Revelstoke and set up for 2 more nights camping and 2 planned days of riding. I can say that we NEED more Revelstoke riding in our life!  GOOOOOOD stuff!  The local bike shop recommended the excellent subalpine-alpine Frisby Ridge trail for our Friday ride.
Smooth. Good.

Happy (mostly).

Fewer words.  More riding.

We had met another couple at one of the local bike shops and planned out a shuttle on Sale Mountain for Saturday morning.  Unfortunately, my 26 week belly didn’t cooperate.     This was probably a fortunate thing as hitting a new-to-me downhill trail at that point of pregnancy might not have been my best decision!

When the roads are clear Revelstoke is a 6 hour drive from North Vancouver….can’t wait for our next visit.

Ride more REVELSTOKE.

view more pictures

Missed the meadow shot at the end of . . . → Read More: AWW BC XC]]> Another Wonderful Weekend of BC Cross Country

leads to big smiles

Missed the meadow shot at the end of the Richard Juryn by that much

rolling natural features

Even at 6 mos, Emily still owns this descent down a root

railing manmade TTFs

Final ladder descent on Neds, with a twist

showing text book technique (with lots of kudos to Darren of Endless Biking)

Dropping on Angry Midget

through patches of sunlight stabbing into the dense, green forest

Descending the bridge over Half Nelson

bursts of speed

Off a rock (I think)

and slower riding

I love you toooooooo

but always smiling

lots of smiles

three years of smiles

many more ahead

Slow riding allowed us to admire murals along the Burke-Gilman . . . → Read More: Why all but one of my bikes are single speeds?]]> With time to kill in Seattle, Emily and I joined the Slow Bicycle Movement for a ride around Lake Union. I rode my Cross Check and Emily rode her new-to-us Vassago Bandersnatch to be subverted from riding the alpine near Durango, to commuting and chariot pulling around North Vancouver.

Slow riding allowed us to admire murals along the Burke-Gilman Trail

work on my shouldering technique under The Wall of Death

We used the sundial at UW to confirm that we still had plenty of time

although not enough to add to an origami collection

After a brief lunch, and quick adjustments to the Bandersnatch’s brakes and shifting, we checked out the I5 Colonnade Skills Park. Wow! What a fun, and well executed idea!

Pregger vision, and her new mantra that Beryl gets to have her own first bicycle crash, caused Emily to think twice about this line

instead she relied on her switchback skills

and giggled across the sunlit flexy bridge

It looked so good, I left my Surly for a round on the Vassago

Slid through the switchbacks, bounced over the bridge

pointed the Stans Crests towards some skinnies

onto the unbanked velo turn

a mental lapse, and disaster strikes

in five minutes, I rip the inner cage from Emily’s rear derailleur

relegating Emily to spinning a ridiculously low geared single speed back to the car

Mt. Baker rising above UBC

After meeting us at . . . → Read More: Deep Fried Pickles]]> After leaving a bit early Friday afternoon, Emily and I had plenty of time to enjoy the wonderful weather at Horseshoe Bay, since I ensured that we were two hours early for our departure. On the other plus side, I am no longer permitted to read ferry schedules..

Mt. Baker rising above UBC

After meeting us at the ferry terminal in Nainamo, Dylan and Sarah led the way to ChezCasaSarahDylan complete with large quantities of homemade pizza and breadsticks

One of many

followed by ice cream chasers with freshly gathered blackberries

Blackberries gathered from Sarah's commuting route

More rewarding than Geraldo’s opening of Al Capone’s vault, exploration of Dylan’s cupboards revealed the secret to completing the Tour Divide…

Fred Meyers Shredded Wheat

The next morning, after setting up camp on the shore of Campbell Lake at Big Bay, we were off to enjoy the permagrin-inducing singletrack in the Snowden Demonstration Forest which was featured in the 2011 BC Bike race.

Sporting Hundie Jerseys

mmmmmm permagrin.. we rode so many  trails, over the two days we rode most of the Campbell River 50km course (that will be an excellent race) and others that will be excluded. I think that Wiley’s was my fave, but they all run together.. LookOutLoop-FrogLegs-EnchantedForest-Scottys-UpperLostLake-MudHoney-UpperDeliverance-LowerDeliverance-TenLicks-EleventhLick-HeadbangerHookup-Stickman-AligatorRock-CheshireCat-BocLunch-Oggies!!!  Then there were some that we didn’t have time to hit. ROAD TRIP!!!

Some singletrack runs through it

Sarah had her carbon, dual suspension geared 29er, the rest of us rode with handicaps.. Emily’s power output, perceived effort, and descending limitations were obviously due to Beryl.

Dylan brought a bike with little wheels..

When the rubber meets the rocks

Then Dylan noticed that I had a bike that was missing a bolt on my front brake (!).. To make it more interesting, I broke my shoe  just to experience the joy of riding without being able to clip in..

Riding sans front brake

Back at the campsite, the lake was a wonderful, post ride respite. Once Dylan was convinced (harassed) that the water wasn’t really too cold, he joined in the fun and found a pole to keep him occupied

Dylan works on his balance

We later went to visit the suspension bridge above the John Hart Generating Station…

BC's Lamest Suspension Bridge at the John Hart Generating Station

The suspension bridge was lame, but an axiom rang true (and loudly).. something about a critical mass of cyclists with advanced degrees in engineering and science..  The discussions about the principles of the generating station were light, but the effort to estimate the height of the bridge was serious.  assumptions were made, at least ten rocks were dropped, two timers were used (avg 2.7 s), the formula was derived from basics(h=1/2 gt^2) and we were satisfied with an height of 36 m.

Back to campsite just after sunset

followed by another day of bluebird, greenery, singletrack and permagrin

Lunch over Lost Lake

Emily through a wide turn

What I get for storing my glasses in my fuel tank...

Ending a wonderful weekend with a ferry ride home

a

From the ferry

additional pictures will be found here…

Finally,we stopped for lunch on the waterfront in Campbell River, and to Emily’s culinary delight,

Deep Fried Pickles in Campbell River

Lovely start to the day.. French toast, strawberries and  Kicking Mule coffee outside with a few flowers under bluebird skies

Buckling up for Em’s first descent . . . → Read More: Nachos and fizzy water with fruit juice]]> Nachos and fizzy water with fruit juice were the rewards waiting at the end of another three hour jaunt on the trails on Fromme…

Lovely start to the day.. French toast, strawberries and  Kicking Mule coffee outside with a few flowers under bluebird skies

Buckling up for Em’s first descent on Ladies Only, rocking flat pedals on the Siren

Railing an undulating section of woodwork

Afterwards, still searching for her groove and her very happy place, we took a few laps on the newly -rebuffed Bobsled.  Another trip up Mountain Highway

The first lap created a chronic case of permagrin, and the trail formerlyknownasBobsled was dubbed Preggersled

Prepping for a little squish and squirt

I missed the air, missed the landing, and barely caught her rear wheel blasting by

Playing on the newest structure

The smell of cedar was strong, and I didn’t carry enough speed to stay high on the wall. I remedied this during the next lap

Once she regained her flow, Emily seemed to be everywhere

interesting things seen in open garages while riding through North Van

mmm Nachos and fizzy water with fruit juice, as promised

After missing two months of riding, we are hitting some of our faves through the end of the season; taking them slowly with emphasis on smiles..

. . . → Read More: Thrill Me Kill Me]]> Thrill Me Kill Me.. An excellent trail just north of Whistler, a trail that leads  towards the entrance to Comfortably Numb, linking the trails can create a wonderful day.

After missing two months of riding, we are hitting some of our faves through the end of the season; taking them slowly with emphasis on smiles..

We’ve ridden these trails with full bikepacking gear, we’ve ridden them on bluebird days, we’ve ridden them on cloudy days under the threat of rain. We’ve ridden them slowly, we’ve enjoyed hard paced efforts. This was the first time that we’ve ridden them with Em at five months. She clearly wasn’t Thrilled, but I don’t think that she wanted to Kill Me (yet)

As we learned, core strength is essential to technical climbing; the source of needed power to get up the steeps, over the roots and rocks. Thor is making his presence known.  Fortunately, once past the climbing, the joy returned..

Even coaxing a smile to her lips as the trail turned across this little rock outcrop in the sun…

Rolling a rockface. BTW, Thor seems to really like mountainbiking (and eating, and swimming, and laughing….)

Enough fun for Em to roll it a second time (allowing me to change vantage points).. Assume the attack position…

Concentration

We decided not to follow up with Comfortably Numb, and headed into Whistler for a picnic on Green Lake, and then a little scenic lookout from one of the bikepaths in town

In all, another extraordinaire day playing in BC. Our day didn’t go as planned; we found some of Emily’s current limitations, but we still had a wonderful day, and are tailoring the rest of our weekends to maximize fun.