Pump Station to South Mopac - Apr 17 2005

I had a good ride Sunday morning. I learned two important techniques I think I'll share:
1. When you see a low hanging oak tree...duck. I had a headache for half an hour.
2. When loosing your balance don't try to right yourself by planting your shoulder into a tree...I did this on purpose...why? It worked I guess.
3. Some joggers just don't like you.

This last one I learned after I came to a complete stop to let a runner have the right of way. I pulled way over, smiled big and said: "Good morning, great day isn't it". He gave me only what I can describe as...(sorry for this) a "dirty look". And I thought I would never use the phrase dirty look in my entire life.

I went farther south in the GreenBelt than normal. I enjoy the north better I think.

North Travis Country Trail

http://www.ramsays.us/ramsays2/trails/20050415/index.html

I put in off of Sendora in Travis Country Trail. I took the north trail and had a lot of fun. I made some up-hill climbs I hadn't the week before, was braver on some downhills but still walked a lot through many sections.

I continued downstream on the west side of the Barton Spring Creek, crossed at Rock falls and...ANSWERED A CALL FROM MY CELL PHONE. I was going down-hill. My 7 year-old son I sure heard me as I went over the handlebars. He has now a couple of new words in his vocabulary.

It reminded me of a ski instructor once telling me to leave the cell phone behind when skiing. The distraction is just enough to throw you and cause possible injury. He said he's seen many occasions of people doing this...I just did. ...how stupid.

Because I usually ride alone, I'll continue to take my phone (when in range) but have learned my lesson. I'll pull over before I answer.

Pump Staion in Travis Country is for the Young

Rode after work today. I went to the Pump station in Travis County Estates where I live, which is a popular MTB trail for real bikers. Friday was a great ride, this one made me feel old, tired and quite the novice. I ended up walking more than I rode...oh well, maybe in a year or so.

http://trails.ramsays.us

My brother-in-law pointed me to a great site for uploading trails: www.motionbased.com

Viewhis first post here: http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/invitation/accept.mb?key=Nzk4OTI=&senderPk.pkValue=4594

Regent Hills Kids Trail

Today I took the Charley and Laura on a short 2m ride on the Regent Hills "Kids" Trail. It was too simple a trail to do anything but practiced leaning back on the seat as not to repeat my over-the-handle bars flip on the Hill of Life.

The kids were great sports, especially Laura who keep explaining she doesn't own a MTB so this was not fair. This all on cinder track.

Commute from work - Apr 8 2005

This was a great time. I put in at Hill of Life. My batteries were dead on the GPS so I couldn't track anything but wish I had.

waypoint 1 - I was feeling pretty good going down Hill of Life. I didn't dab once until....
waypoint 2 - Until I my front tire planted firmly behind a rock with hands. I went over the handle bars so high that I had time to have the following converstion w/ myself:

Self: "This is going to hurt".
Self: "Oh yeah, it's going to hurt".
Self: "What did we read last night about going over the handlebars without hurting oneself"?
Self: "You mean the part that reads: 'practice Judo falls for years until you can take a fall without landing on anything that can break?' That part?"
Self: "Right, it also said 'stay close to your bike and don't let go of the handlebars'
Self: Too late for that, the bike is way down there and we are way up here
Self: "Didn't they also say to relax and try to roll out of it?"
Self: "Your Right, they did say to try to ... OUCH"
Self: Ouch

Actually, it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. I'd like to think that the Aidido I had for 3 years (I only learned how to roll, not to defend myself) paid off. I relaxed and formed an edge down my right flank and rolled. I was back on the bike before anyone could see me and laugh at my newbieness.

waypoint 3 - Now that my fall was out of the way, I had license to have fun. I found small rocky trails on my way south-west and was feeling confident.

waypoint 4 - I crossed the creek farther south then normal. On the west side I ended up behind an apartment complex (APT 700). I put on my best "I've been lost for 3 days and couldn't find my way out" face and cut across the parking lot onto...Mopac. I hate riding on the highway.

waypoint 5 - I found the trail that goes behind 360 and southwest parkway that ends up in my neighborhood. I was soon home feeling confident about my ride.