Ride on May 11

We've had a slight change. The ride listed for this coming Wednesday, May 11 won't be a pre-ride of the Gold Nugget Triathlon course. The race is being held on the military base and we do not have access this year. So...

The ride will be on the Glenn Highway trail with two options: (1) ride out and back along the trail and onto Arctic Valley Road or (2) ride out and back on the trail to the Hiland Road exit in Eagle River. The ride starts at Bartlett HS at 6:30 p.m.

We recommend a road bike or a mountain bike with slick tires. If you don't have slicks, just ride with your knobby tires. Dress for wind and visibility. Our apologies to those who were hoping to ride the race course. See you Wednesday!

Spring Formal - the evidence

Eighteen Divas and princesses packed their rain jackets and ignored the day's weather to ride the Coastal Trail in our annual rite of spring. We were rewarded with sun and the usual appreciative smiles along the trail.

We elected a Diva of the Day and Princess in Training for the first time.

Lori came dressed to win, and she did with those "boots with the fur"

(everyone was looking at her)

Rose was quite stylish and matched her bike ...

which won the "Sweetest Ride" award

We only lost one Diva at Point Woronzof.

First Spring Ride

Wendy and Lori co-led the first ride on April 20th - an interesting tour of Lakes Hood and Spenard, the Spenard and Turnagain neighborhoods, and the Coastal Trail

Lori was enthusiastic in the pre-ride briefing!

The lineup at Earthquake Park

Spring Formal, 2011

My goodness it's a busy time of year! And hard to believe it's time for the annual Spring Formal. I spent part of today cleaning my commuter bike of the spring break-up crud, lubing the chain and making sure I still have a little floral decoration for the handlebars. Isn't that the best way to celebrate spring, by sprucing up the bike?

Besides preparing the bike, I gathered my faux pearls and made a few repairs so they won't break off during the ride tomorrow (Wednesday, the 4th). It's possible this is our tenth year for the Formal. Our group was originally founding in 2000 and we began the Formal the next spring (I think) as a way to kick off May in festive style, making use of some frilly, shiny or otherwise dressy outfits that had lingered in the backs of our closets or been found at Value Village.

I've seen satin and lace, baubles and boas, shiny tights and tiaras - all parading along the Coastal Trail on the first Wednesday in May. Of course, everyone is being safe by wearing a helmet and making sure nothing catches in the chain (wedding trains not recommended).

The ride starts at 6pm, then we head to Snow Goose for refreshments. Rumor has it there will be prizes. I'll keep my fingers crossed for no rain. Meanwhile, I wonder what I could wear over my rain jacket?

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.