I can't stop grinnin

Its gotta be 75 degrees today .. Not a cloud in the sky. And I flicked the rear shock all the way to full boinger.

I apparently obsess about Yankee Springs. I’m pretty sure that I think about Yankee Springs alot. I mean, ALOT. I knew every inch of that trail today. I always knew exactly where I was in the trail and knew exactly what trail I had left still to ride, and I don’t even have a computer on this bike yet. This trail, Yankee Springs, is my nemesis.

(note to self: research fightmanaquism.org))

In the 5 times I’ve met my nemesis, the nemesis has beaten me. For this reason, I was so nervous on the trip out there that I couldn’t eat any food. I managed to swallow a string cheese, but I probably blew through those calories in the hour and a half we waited for the ride to start 😉 Yeah … we were there to meet the Team Sandbag Guys, and the key dude was having trouble finding the place… I think the waiting and chit chatting helped calm me down and might have had a part in my oh-so-awesome-ride.

I had a goal. I wanted to do the entire trail without stopping. I didn’t make my goal. But, I made other goals I didn’t even realize I had. Today I felt strong. I only walked 4 hills. I know, most people don’t walk any, but for me, this is HUGE. I’ve probably walked ~75% of the hills each time I rode it before. Also huge, HUGER even is that this was the first time I’ve ever ridden this trail where I didn’t stop and sit on a log for a bit. I kid you not, every time I’ve ridden this trail, before today, I’ve felt the need to stop and sit down to catch my breath.

Oh Oh! And the bike. The Titus. Oh my god, I love that bike. Baby blue and strong as an ox. She pulls me through corners like I’ve never gone through corners before. I can ride over just about anything the trail wants to offer up and she just generally makes me smile.

Oh, and kudos to my new Limar helmet – thanks to our sponsors for that little gem. Comfortable, sits well on my noggin, stays where its supposed to, and GOOD vents. w00t!

Speaking of the noggin….Today I was a different person. I saw mountain biking a little differently today. I pushed myself harder and rode stronger than I have in a long time. Sure, I stopped. Its a hard trail, and I’m still new at this disposition. But when I stopped, it was at the bottoms of the hills. I stopped for a few seconds to catch my breath and regain my senses. And then I’d think “get on your bike”, and I would. I’d get on my bike, ride up the hill and keep on going. I did stop for longer rests a couple of times in the name of plesant socialization and lost hiker guidance.

So, we’re on the way home. I was so giddy that I and probably driving Nick nuts with my ramblings. OH! I forgot to write about air! I was actually calm and present enough to think about lifting up my front wheel and get some little bits of air on some little bitty drops. It was ‘whoo hoo’ worthy and got exactly that!

Yeah, so I feel fantastic. I feel tired and spent and I’m damn happy about it. Next weekend, I’m going back to Yankee Springs. I’m going to ride the course on Saturday. And I’m not going to race on Sunday. And I’m damn happy about that too 🙂

So yeah, Yankee Springs – 5 … Marty – 1 😀

Demons were smashed today. Seriously.