Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Post Script
It's snowing.
Right now. Do I dare defy my winter-loving personality and ask, "When is it going to stop?"
Right now. Do I dare defy my winter-loving personality and ask, "When is it going to stop?"
Cholla Challenge - Mtn Bike Race #1
I've held off writing this post about my first mountain bike race because I was hoping that Lindsey would send me the pictures she took on her camera! So maybe I'll have to add those later, if she sends them to me.
So the Cholla Challenge was Lindsey's and my first mountain bike race. It was down Hurricane, Utah. We drove down there in a driving snow storm, caking our bikes with ice, arriving mid-afternoon. We went straight to the hotel, got in our biking gear and headed out the course to pre-ride it. The clouds were pretty ominous, but we went ahead and did the pre-ride. And guess what I went ahead and did? Had Jen put my new clipless pedals, Eggbeaters, on my bike. I was sick of my feet flying off my pedals just when I needed them to stay on and work for me! I knew I was going to need to pay my dues so I thought that I might as well do it then. Well, I fell over .... a lot! And the rain started coming down. The temperature dropped... and we were out there doing a 7-mile course so we hauled when we got to the flat part at the end of the course. We were soaking wet and cold; I was bruised and bleeding from all my falls.... just so you know - it is very difficult to learn to unclip fast enough when red rock/slick rock decides to stop you in the middle of your up-hill climb. But we made it back to the hotel in one piece, although we had our next disappointment when we discovered the hot tub was closed for the season still - which was the whole reason why we chose that hotel over another cheaper one. Bummer.
The next day was the race.... this was actually Saturday of General Conference weekend - so yes, we missed the Saturday morning session, but thank goodness for DVR! I've since watched it and caught up on what I missed. The weather was at least nice for the race. It was suppose to snow clear up until our race started at 11:00 am, but we were lucky and blessed because Heavenly Father heard our prayers for good weather. The race started and I was able to keep up with Lindsey until we hit the first climb up the red rock - and then that is when I fell over the first time during the race - the rock just stopped me dead in my tracks! But I'm happy to say that I did not fall over nearly as much as I did the night before. But that was only the beginning of my misfortunes - I got 2 (TWO!) flat tires in the course of the race.... and I lost my free bike computer that I won in a raffle - it was cheap and lame anyway. Can you believe that? 2 flat tires. I know! I had one spare tube on me so that worked for the first flat and then when I got the second flat tire I had to patch it. I am sooooo lucky I found the hole easily enough and was able to get it patched.
Despite all the misfortunes, I did, in fact, finish the race on my bike and I didn't finish last! Amazing, I know. I didn't get my 3rd flat tire until Lindsey and I were just toodling around the area. Good grief! Lindsey did really well at the race and finished in 7th place (therefore getting a point for our team) with a time of 56ish minutes. I think, even with my handicap of being new to my eggbeaters but without my 2 flat tires, I could have finished within a few minutes of her. Oh well. Winning was not my goal of joining the team. My goal was to really dive into mountain biking and log some time so I'll be decent and be able to go and not kill myself.
The war wounds...?? Well, let's just say my legs and backside were peppered with bruises - literally. And I've just now gotten rid of the scabs on my two good scrapes.
All just in time for our next race which is out at 5-Mile Pass out beyond Lehi. We just pre-rode the course yesterday - in the rain. I'm starting to see a pattern. :( It's a hard, hard course... and with a hike-a-bike hill that not even the professionals can ride their bikes up. Jen said that there were only 2 beginner women that did the race last year.... so that means an automatic placement for me in the top 7 and points for the team, if I'll just suck it up and do it... even if it takes me 2 hours to complete like it took yesterday (this is a longer race - 11 miles). Should I do it?
So the Cholla Challenge was Lindsey's and my first mountain bike race. It was down Hurricane, Utah. We drove down there in a driving snow storm, caking our bikes with ice, arriving mid-afternoon. We went straight to the hotel, got in our biking gear and headed out the course to pre-ride it. The clouds were pretty ominous, but we went ahead and did the pre-ride. And guess what I went ahead and did? Had Jen put my new clipless pedals, Eggbeaters, on my bike. I was sick of my feet flying off my pedals just when I needed them to stay on and work for me! I knew I was going to need to pay my dues so I thought that I might as well do it then. Well, I fell over .... a lot! And the rain started coming down. The temperature dropped... and we were out there doing a 7-mile course so we hauled when we got to the flat part at the end of the course. We were soaking wet and cold; I was bruised and bleeding from all my falls.... just so you know - it is very difficult to learn to unclip fast enough when red rock/slick rock decides to stop you in the middle of your up-hill climb. But we made it back to the hotel in one piece, although we had our next disappointment when we discovered the hot tub was closed for the season still - which was the whole reason why we chose that hotel over another cheaper one. Bummer.
The next day was the race.... this was actually Saturday of General Conference weekend - so yes, we missed the Saturday morning session, but thank goodness for DVR! I've since watched it and caught up on what I missed. The weather was at least nice for the race. It was suppose to snow clear up until our race started at 11:00 am, but we were lucky and blessed because Heavenly Father heard our prayers for good weather. The race started and I was able to keep up with Lindsey until we hit the first climb up the red rock - and then that is when I fell over the first time during the race - the rock just stopped me dead in my tracks! But I'm happy to say that I did not fall over nearly as much as I did the night before. But that was only the beginning of my misfortunes - I got 2 (TWO!) flat tires in the course of the race.... and I lost my free bike computer that I won in a raffle - it was cheap and lame anyway. Can you believe that? 2 flat tires. I know! I had one spare tube on me so that worked for the first flat and then when I got the second flat tire I had to patch it. I am sooooo lucky I found the hole easily enough and was able to get it patched.
Despite all the misfortunes, I did, in fact, finish the race on my bike and I didn't finish last! Amazing, I know. I didn't get my 3rd flat tire until Lindsey and I were just toodling around the area. Good grief! Lindsey did really well at the race and finished in 7th place (therefore getting a point for our team) with a time of 56ish minutes. I think, even with my handicap of being new to my eggbeaters but without my 2 flat tires, I could have finished within a few minutes of her. Oh well. Winning was not my goal of joining the team. My goal was to really dive into mountain biking and log some time so I'll be decent and be able to go and not kill myself.
The war wounds...?? Well, let's just say my legs and backside were peppered with bruises - literally. And I've just now gotten rid of the scabs on my two good scrapes.
All just in time for our next race which is out at 5-Mile Pass out beyond Lehi. We just pre-rode the course yesterday - in the rain. I'm starting to see a pattern. :( It's a hard, hard course... and with a hike-a-bike hill that not even the professionals can ride their bikes up. Jen said that there were only 2 beginner women that did the race last year.... so that means an automatic placement for me in the top 7 and points for the team, if I'll just suck it up and do it... even if it takes me 2 hours to complete like it took yesterday (this is a longer race - 11 miles). Should I do it?
Enough is Enough
I came home yesterday after running a few errands and took one look at our garage and got a good laugh! It is just comical that we have 9 (NINE!) bikes in our garage. 2 of them are Lindsey's which she's left in our garage hoping Dave will come take a look at, 4 are Jen's, I have 2 and Jana has one. Whoa nelly!
Friday, April 17, 2009
Meet My New Sleigh Bed!
I've been looking and looking and looking for a bed ... for a while. And I found it and fell in love instantly. Meet my new sleigh bed. I have always dreamed of having a sleigh bed - since I was a little girl!! And now I've got one. I found her at World Market... for just the right price!! Isn't she beautiful? And the best part? No bed skirt. Yes!
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Thursday, April 02, 2009
Another New Blog Design!
Yay! So my cute friend, Ashlee, that designed my previous blog mast - the awesome one with the ski lift, snow, trees, and hot chocolate - taught me how to create my own blog mast!! Don't you love it? Mmmm... old trucks, bikes, the forest, lanterns and cabins... just some of my favorite summer things! 
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