rookie errors

I remember the first time I changed out my own mountain bike tires. It was springtime and I'd taken off my studs and installed some semi-slick tires (it was the mid-90s and semi-slicks were all the rage). Then I showed up for a ride w/some people I worked with and learned I'd put the back tire on the front wheel and the front tire on the back. What an embarrassing move for a gal who worked in a bike shop!

I'd like to share with you a few rookie errors to avoid this biking season. If you have more you'd like to share, please post them in "comments." We can all learn from other people's mistakes!

1) About those tires. Many mountain bike tires have specific rolling directions. They perform best when installed in the direction recommended by the manufacturer. Check the sidewall of each tire for an arrow showing which way the tire should roll. Note that some tires suggest a different direction for wet vs. dry conditions or if the tire is installed on the front or rear wheel. Always check before installing or prepare for the do-over!

2) Your seat bag. Quick! What inner tube is in your seat bag? Did you remember that you had a flat last fall and put the punctured tube back into your seat bag? This is just one tube mistake you can make. Another? Do you switch the seat bag back and forth between your road bike and mountain bike? Be sure you have a mountain tube in there! Did you get a new bike that has presta valve stems instead of the schraeder stem of your old bike? If you do, that tube will not fit your new rim. Better change it out, pronto!

3) Linked up. Peak into your seat bag again. Do you still have your Missing Link for repairing your bike's chain or did you loan it out to somebody who didn't have one? Time to replace it. Maybe you are the lucky girl with a new bike. If you went from an 8-speed cassette (the rear gears) to a 9-speed, you now have a narrower chain and will need a different link. Be sure to label the old one and keep it with the old bike or offer it to a friend who's on an 8-speed (aka 24 gears).

4) A little air! Do you use C02 cartridges (mostly for racing)? Make sure that the ones in your bag are still new. If they've been used, you'll see the puncture. Pick up some new cartridges and take the old ones to the metals recycler. Better yet, if you're not racing, get yourself a good portable pump and keep that on the bike or in your pack. Mother Earth thanks you.

5) Oh, was that a tailwind? This is for you early-season road riders who may be heading to Turnagain Arm to build your miles. If you think you're feeling really strong and you're amazed that you're already at Bird Point and thinking: why not just go all the way to Girdwood, think again. Fuel up with that energy bar or gel from your pack, turn around and prepare to downshift as you ride back home into the headwind.

That's it for now. Any you'd like to share? I'm going to go inspect my seat bag for the Wednesday clinic!

posted by rose

Planning the Annual Meeting

The Triumvarate is taking the job of planning the Annual Meeting* very seriously. We met this evening to review the 2011 schedule and to develop an agenda. But to prepare for this difficult task, we decided we should ride a little first to be in the right frame of mind.

Jo-Ann is back in the saddle and promises "No surgeries" in 2011.

Rose showing us the way around the Moose Ridge Trail.

Rose working on her assets


We even tried to recruit a future Diva to help with making the Annual Meeting more fun but she wanted to keep riding with dad


* The Annual Meeting is on April 6th at 7:00 at Paramount Cycles. All current, former, and future Divas are encouraged to attend to find out more about the 2011 season.

we're planning a fun 2011 season

A bevy of Divas met this afternoon to talk about the 2011 season. Thanks to Karen for hosting! We talked about who's going to publicize rides, count the money, apply for trail permits, track membership and riders, and handle the various internet connections. We tossed around some ideas of skills clinics and backcountry rides on weekends. Stay tuned for details about the 2011 calendar, which hopefully we'll post in the next few weeks. We'll also be announcing the Annual Meeting to officially kick off the season - most likely April 6th. And thanks to Lori and Katherine for working on a Divas logo!


After the meeting, most of us headed to the trails for a ride in the warm sun.

Lori, the ever-stylish Diva, has crafted some fantastic pogies* for winter riding.
The Triumvirate** - Jo-Ann, Corinne, and Rose

* These were the only monkeys that we saw on the trails.

** Wikipedia has an interesting definition of triumvirate: "a political regime dominated by three powerful individuals, each a triumvir. The arrangement can be formal or informal, and though the three are usually equal on paper, in reality this is rarely the case." This was originally a Roman structure, and the Chinese used it. They called the three Excellencies. I think Excellent Diva might work for us; maybe Most Excellent Diva for Rose.

White Rim Photopalooza!

So many photos, so little time! The Divas who went on the White Rim adventure in late October are home and still sorting through our photos, finding grains (or clumps) of red sand on our gear and wondering what the next trip will be. Because, I think everyone agrees, it was awesome.

Yes, even when the wind blew and clouds rolled by, even when the temperatures dropped or we were pushing our bikes up an impossibly steep climb. I would do it again in a second.

We plan to offer a slide show sometime this winter so we can share our stories and talk about where to go next. Meanwhile, Corinne put together a Picasa site and so far three people have loaded their best photos. Be sure to visit it a few times because I'm sure more pics will be loaded soon. Enjoy!

posted by Rose

5 days, 4 nights: a white rim teaser

How to pack for the White Rim: expect Alaska weather. A little rain, some wind & hail (yes, hail). Sunny days and cold nights that dip below freezing. Like I said, pack like you're here in Anchorage in September. But without the bears. And mostly without the mud. Mostly. And without the clear-running streams or the pushki overgrowing the trail.

The White Rim was all about layers. Layers of clothes added and removed at different times of the day. Layers of rock of red or white forming canyon walls that rose above us; dropped off below us. Layers of stars that emerged at sunset only to be washed from view by the moonlight. In the campsite circle on the final evening, we all took turns donning Maggi's magical flashing glasses to see what wisdom would be revealed. Two words came to me: challenging & joyous. That about sums it up.

We'll have a bunch of photos posted as soon as everyone has time to sort through the hundreds of pictures they took, but here are a few (I'd like to take credit for them; instead I'll take credit for bringing Jon who took all but the campsite pic):

home, sweet dome.

sunrise on day three.

Divas conquer the White Rim

Divas Gloria, Bonnie, Maggi, Anne, Karen, Diane, Bev, Rose, Corinne, and Lori; Dean (auxiliary, left), and fabulous guides Brin and Ben (right)

at the end of the White Rim trail

eklutna in september

September weekend
Serenity Cabin
A dozen mile bike ride
A dozen women
at any given time

Coffee
Wine, food
hike, stretch
sunshine
breathing
tai chi
lunges


Wood stove
campfire
full moon
clear nights

Dusted mountains
River
Rocks
earthquake
snow falling
bikers riding

Until next time...