I was a little skeptical at first. Me? Alone in the woods for hours on end? Is that really safe? What if something breaks? do I know how to fix it? What if a bear attacks me? The worries ranged from logical to completely irrational. But damned if I was going to let that stop me from riding my bike. So, I packed up my camelbak with extra food and water, my pump, multitool, patch kit, spare tube and the ol' IPod and hit the trail.
The result, as it turns out, was excellent. I might even keep doing this after Russell gets his bike back. Some things I like:
1. I can go my own pace. I thought this would be slower than usual, but it wasn't really, it was the same, and without the stress of feeling like I had to kill myself to keep up to others or slow myself down to let others keep up.
2. More confidence instilling goodness for the independant woman in me. It was empowering to know I would be just fine riding through the wilderness on my own. I don't need no stinkin' man!
3. All alone in the forest is awesome. 100% in the moment of twisting singletrack in the trees.
4. I can go for hours baby! Not having to work with anyone else's schedule or endurance level means I can just go until I can't go anymore. Add another piece of singletrack or one last brutal climb? Sure!!
I do miss sharing the awesomeness with others, and will be happy to have my riding buddy back ( I love my stinkin' man!!), but I think the long solo missions might stick somewhere in my riding schedule.
As a final note, I've also decided I LOVE the look on guys faces when I blow by them on the trail. Up or down, if I'm going faster, they look impressed. This doesn't so much have to do with riding on my own I guess, but usually when I'm riding in a group it's with guys that are way faster than me, so I don't get that feeling as often. Hearing "That girl was hauling ass" as I cruise by on my will NEVER GET OLD.
No comments:
Post a Comment