Your Season?
 

Ok I realize you CAN ride all year and some of you have no issues riding all year at all (cali and florida people) but my season is 90% done. This is gonna be a huge year for snow and we just got our first taste. So I am officially ending my seasons and relegating myself to training and the odd snowjump or possibly north shore ride.

So I am wondering, how was everyones year. Did you progress, did you get to ride somewhere never before. An epic, a trick learned...anything at all.

For me in my second year of being on a bike I was able to progress a lot. While I didn't do any of the longer epics this year I focused on basic bike skills. An area I am really weak. I foudn body positioning to be the hardest thing to work with and have gotten much better thanx to Crashing_sux. I also continued focusing on riding skinnies and more technical trails which I seem to enjoy riding more than most other types.

I got a bit of djing in at the end of the season which really got me psyced for next year on the mountain. I think I have a crush on catching air. I even got my cousin out on my other bike trying to get him in the air. Good times.

This was a great year and I expect next yearto go even further with my new bike. Since the bighit I have improved even more and my confidence has sky rocketted with a dc fork on the front. But for now I semi-retire the bikes and buckle down and start working a lot of OT to bank time for the spring. I am already thinking of nextseason on the mountain. Cheers.

So how was your year?

I stopped progressing the day I started riding mnt. bikes. but I have a ton of fun simply pedaling around the dirt trails.

we don't have to stop riding down here to much, some trails get closed but PLENTY are open all year 'round.

Mal, you should try and get down here for a ride or two over the winter. kinda get back at all the folks that head north and ride your trails.

Although my riding year is never officially over, the snow has started falling in the mountains, so these are going to be the last few weeks of routine riding.

This year was basically about putting in hours on the bike, working on all aspects of riding. I started road riding this year, too, which really helped my balance on the trails.

I started spending some time learning basic trials sort of stuff, which also helped out on the trails.

My riding buddies and I got into building bridges and other stunts this year, and had a blast. We also found a few new places in Oregon with impressive stunts... Falls City, Astoria, and new Hood River trails.

My favorite ride of the year was the 14 mile downhill from Timberline to Rhodedendron.

I fell even more in love with mountain biking this year.

We simply move off the road and onto MTBs starting last week. Ride throughout the winter unless the snow is too deep (only lost a couple of rides last winter, which was just 1" below the all-time record). So anticipate a full winter of riding. We rode throughout the low temperatures, which often as not would stay in the teens. Amazing how much heat (energy) one generates on an MTB. And being in the woods 90% of the time we don't get cold when properly layered (and with chemical warmers in our shoes). So, we are off to another "Banging" winter of MTB fun!!

I have thought of doing that. Need to find someone with a rig to get down there. I would also love to make it to cali but that is kind of hard in the winter when I am working all the time :)...

Paramount, I will try to ride through the winter but the snow texture is almost pure powder here. Very hard to get walking traction let alone biking :)

Ha, ha. Hadn't thought about that. Skied powder a couple times and watched myself and others disappear when fell over. Am sure that could also be the result on an MTB.

Our snow very rarely is that dry. And once it gets packed down it is not too bad. We had a couple of days where it melted and then more snow. Result was ice under six inches of fresh snow. Made for some very interesting riding. Especially when clipped in. We eventually decided getting breakfast at the local diner was the better choice. Now I have the clips on one side and platforms on the other. Makes skating on the bike a lot more stable. And much easier to bail out. Only took one large, sore bruise on one cheek to make that move.

Have fun!!

Well im coming up to my first year of proper mountain biking (Christmas) and Im pretty sure ive improved on all aspects of it... My overall balance has improved, Speed, agility, Confidence and health.... i feel so much better than what I did last year... I think i need to practise the balances of my new bike and basic skills like the trackstand, bunnyhop and wheelie.... Ive also got 2 other people into mountain biking.... Ive never really got into any other sport... but this is alot different... I can go and ride any time, night or day and still enjoy it :)

Learned a lot but I have so much more to learn.

My goals for next year:

- Get off the flatland trails and freeride.
- Dirtjumping.
- Get that 180 bunnyhop!
-

Was a so-so year, had it's up and it's downs, mine finished early due to tearing my left acl so my goal for next year is to get back my level of competitiveness that I was at.

My season was good, I went the biggest I have gone this year, which was only 17 feet or so but it was pretty cool. I am really stoked to start snow jumping and my new bikes are going to be here in the next month. Built that new bridge to do drops off of and stuff and I might make a quarter pipe on one side of it or something. Working at the bike shop is the best job I could ever have.

http://www.anthonysloan.com/Cycling_Destinations.html

With the exception of the First Real de Catorce trip. everything from South Mountain down to the bottom of the list was this year.

It was nice.

A

I'm coming up on my first year of riding since I was a kid. I did two races and have improved tremendously. My fitness has also improved drastically. I'm in Arkansas and it's about 70 degrees here now, so year round riding is the norm. It rarely gets below 30 and that's only at night. I'm gonna work on everything this winter so I can try and keep up with the guys a little better since I'm the only girl that rides in my circle.

Well, overall I'd say my year wasn't bad. I've progressed on my confidence a little, but I'm rather disappointed that I don't seem to have the wreckless abandon that I used to have for big air and riding agressively. I'm not sure I'll ever get that level of comfort back because I simply don't have the time to ride as much as I used to. Most of the progression I made was on physical endurance. I've got most of my handling skills down pat, and I'm an excellent descender. I wanted to brush up on my climbing a bit, but didn't really have the chance. My spring break trip was basically the best riding experience I've had in my life much less this year. We rode epic rides on several occaisions and I think I progressed as a rider and realized some things about myself. All in all not a bad year.

Oh yeah.. and I placed 12th in my first race this year, and I must admit I was rather impressed with my performance despite the conditions. I rode a bit more conservatively than most and I think that was what put me out ahead. Not to mention I came prepared and had no mechanical issues.

well, first i have to say i'm surprized at how many of you are so new to MTBing and cycling... i started road racing as a college freshman (uh, 14 years ago!), then got into MTBing seriously starting in 1997... awesome that we have so many new enthusiasts!

my season is pretty much over although i do ride all year --- in winter i continue to commute to work (about 100km/week) plus i ride an average of about once a week on trails (january when things are frozen rather than wet is good) --- but the snow is already accumulating in the mountains (although we had 3 weeks warm weather and i had an awesome ride in the mountains last Sunday) -- i might take a mid-winter trip to southern Europe... otherwise my real "season" is over until late March/April when i make my first trip to Lake Garda Italy.

anyhow, this year was great for me, with the first half of the year devoted to getting fit and strong and race-ready and the 2nd half devoted to technical riding and Freeride stuff - after many years of MTBing i made some new steps:
* i was also very fit and did my longest race ever: the Lake Garda MTB EXTREME distance (in May) with 3650meters vertical (12,050 ft) over only 104km (65miles) -- i finished in 7 hours (first place was an amazing 4:45)
* i finally moved from doing XC racing/riding to technical/extreme/freeride -- no jumping or major drops or stunts, but extremely steep natural downhill trails and LOTS of vertical (now have full-face and armour)
* plus i completed my MTB Guide certification (German Alpine Club)
* and led my first "real" tour - a 9-day TransAlp MTB Tour with a group of 10 (plus me, co-guide and practicant) and got PAID to ride!

next year---->
* i will be continuing my MTB Guide training - the next level
* and offering more tours:
-- an 8-9 day TransAlp
-- a 3-4 day "freeride" clinic
+ not sure yet?
* plus leading moutain bike skills training courses -> teaching other how to ride
* am considering entering the TransAlp Challenge - the 8day, 20,000meters vertical "toughest mountain bike race in the world"... but my girlfriend and i are not sure if our vacation might be better spent on something else...
* want to do at least one Epic MTB vacation with some serious technical trails... maybe Canadian Rockies or Moab although there are lots of European options too...

dude, you live in Whistler! learn to snowboard or ski --- or if that's _really_ not your thing try out a snow-bike or something... (pay for my ticket and i'll teach you personally, but there should be plenty of friends in Whistler to help - or ask a snowboard chick to teach you!)

for me the "end" of MTB season marks the beginning of snow season --- alpine skiing, snowboarding (mostly freeride/extreme stuff) plus ski touring and winter mountaineering -- in February i will be again entering the Damkar Ski Tour race in Germany with 1950meters vertical: climb (using skis and skins) from the base to the summit, ski half-way down, climb back up and ski down --- last year it conflicted with my Chamonix ski/snowboard trip but in 2002 i finished in just under 4 hours --- i'd like to get closer to 3 this year (the top pros finish in like 2:30) ---- and since i live right next to the Alps, the end of summer is not the end of mountain sports for me!

I started this year running. Even got into racing. Then my knee started giving me problems. Then I spent a couple of months in PT. All the while my bike sat in the garage. Finally I was able to start riding. Being new to MTB I learned a great deal in the past few months.

Next year, I'd liike to switch back to my clipless pedals (had to go to toeclips due to my knee) and maybe get in shape enough to enter a race or two. Luckily, I will have all winter to ride. Winters are VERY mild here. I can only think of 2 real heavy snow storms (2 inches or more) that we've had in the past 10 years. Saturday forcast: Sunny, highs in the low 70's. ;)

Also, I'd like to master the bunny hop.

This year was pretty rough for me. My wife's been sick (still is), so I was busy taking care of her and my son. Work was stressing me out, and I wasn't riding very much. When stressed I drink a lot of Mt. Dew's, so the lbs got piled on. This summer I was the heaviest I'd ever been and finally decided to do something about it. I've lost 25 lbs since August, and want to drop another 10 to 15 by then end of the year.

Although I never stopped riding, I slowed WAY down in the late Spring and Summer. Now, I'm back to normal and riding 5 or 6 days a week.

As far as milestones and accomplishments. I don't really have any cycling related. But, my wife is still alive and I have a wonderful 3.5 year old boy who's well mannered.

My goal for the upcoming year is to lose even more weight and finally move to either CO or NC or ?. I'm planning on riding in a 50 mile off-road ride in the end of Jan. so that'll be a decent accomplishment. I've done road centuries before, but never ridden off road for long distances.

L8R
L8R

Take me with you A2... I've got to get out of this godforsaken state.

Washington :D...close to heaven ;)

You should try a race here (fi you ever move out here) called Test of Metal. 76km of single track and one of the most hellish races around. Definately worth the drive to squamish :)

I hate the winter time. West coast is the easiest place to escape the nasty cold and horrible snow of the east, but I really don'tlike it. Snow bikes aren't allowed on the mountain. I do know many people willing to train me. More than my fare share of friends bug me to get out and try it. I am still considering. But with equipment being around 400 to 500 cdn then my snow gear (pants and jacket, gloves, helmet etc...) probably topping in at 400 to 500 and then my pass being 500 (for a 15 day) I can easily find something I prefer more to spend 1500$ on. :)...

Now unless I can get an 'in' with a rental shop. Then I might be able to do it cheap :)

I have improved most skills this year. (My first year on a MTB). Just recently began working on going over obsticles. (parking blocks, trees, rocks etc...) Also working on track stands and 180 hops.

My miles are WAY down due to my excuses of cold, snow, and wind. :-( I have the cold wx gear, so there really is not a good excuse for not getting out! SHAME ON ME....

I just got back into riding in April after a 10+ year break. Now I have suffered through the hot & steamy FL summer and am really ready to start working on my riding skills. I ride the same trail almost exclusively because it is so close, so my goal for this season is to get around to some other trails. I also want to slow down on the injuries and bike damage. I just want to ride long and ride hard! (why am I at this computer instead of riding right now? it's sunny & 75)

:p Thats it, rub it in! :p

Mine was a bust. Did not push myself hard enough. I kinda got lazy.

:beer:

You got a new addition to the family. I am sure laziness is not the reason ;)..you have other excuses now.