Spring training

The time has come for me to start my spring training. With my work schedule and vehicle availability, I don't always make it out to the trails during the work week. And sometimes (like today) it's just a bit too rainy for good trail conditions. At the end of last year I made a resolution to do some urban skills practice once a week to stay sharp on the bike.

I will use Brian Lopes' and Lee McCormack's book Mastering Mountain Bike Skills as my guide. The first thing on my plate is to work on my timing for going over logs and other obstacles. Right now I seem to rely more on a suspension fork and luck, which is not a good long term solution!

Previously I used this book's breakdown of techniques to work on pulling more energy out of a turn. This week I will start with the chapter on wheelies and hopping. I'll be the person on the east side hopping over parking blocks and practicing wheelies in the schoolyard!

Spring . . . or summer is here

Yesterday I was super excited to think that the trails at Cam-Rock had opened for the season which has to be some sort of record. It is March, right?!?! Then in the middle of the night I woke up to hear rain and I was sad to think that their would be no mountain biking this weekend. However being a cross country skier I have become quite accustomed to the weather disappointing me. Still it is March and the transition from winter skiing to summer riding temps took about one day.  It's been hard to get my mind around biking and in shorts and short sleeves no less.

Anyway, given the overnight rain I decided to get out on the road bike instead. Being ever sensible I reflected on the riding I have done so far this season. A 28 mile ride to Paoli and at least two bike path rides of 15 miles or so. Clearly it was time to step it up so I decided a ride to Belleville was in order. Never mind that the route has hills, it would be windy and it was hot which is basically all the things I don't like. Oh yeah and the ride would be 50 miles.

 So how did it go? Surprisingly well actually . . . by which I mean I didn't cry, lie down in the road and refuse to continue on or call a cab. Confession time though - Dave went with me and I drafted a lot. As in I took like 3 pulls into the wind. I figured he was in better shape since he has ridden to Paoli twice already this year.

I realized on the way home that this crazy warm spring will either make it possible to get into semi-good riding shape before November or I will become totally burned out on riding by Memorial Day.

Relieved to have made it to Belleville and that we brought Clif Shots!

Stump Farm Race Report

The FORCS had a great showing at the first WEMS race of the year! We had a 3 person 100 mile team (Berlie, Sabrina, and Sue) and two solo 100 mile riders (Carol and Deb). We also had a wonderful pit crew with Kathy and an intrepid bike riding turtle to cheer us forward. FORCS purple dominated the woods!

The weather was not friendly, with intermittent rain and mist and quite chilly temps. As it had been raining all week, they had to reroute a lot of the course to avoid the worst of the swamps. This left some sticky single track at times, and two massive "lakes" for us to ride through in a lower part of the course.

Despite the tough weather, this venue was terrific as usual. The race organizers did a great job, there was a warm building for needed breaks from the cold, and they offered great door prizes (including a Niner frame. One of these years I'm going to win that bad boy).

Carol and Deb both did wonderfully cranking out those solo miles, despite mechanical issues for both. Carol had some uncooperative Stans in a tire and had to backtrack some miles for a fix. When I encountered her returning to the pits for a fix she was smiling and cheerful as usual. Deb's single speed decided to drag its brakes so hard that she could barely get the bike to move in her first lap. Way to add some resistance training Deb!

The team managed to avoid any mechanicals or serious mishaps. Berlie managed to pull a beautiful track stand after getting bogged down in the middle of one of the lakes, thereby avoiding a wet slog through the muck. Wish I could have seen that. Sabrina got tough and pulled an extra last lap for the team late in the day. Thanks Sabrina - I was cheering you on while sitting in front of the warm fireplace!

The next WEMS race is in 1 1/2 weeks at Greenbush. That's another great venue. Hope we can have another big turnout. Those of you who haven't ridden much WEMS races are welcome to come too. They will have a shorter 30 mile solo option, or we can get together a second team for the day if we have enough riders.

-- Sue

Spring Winds

I feel like I've had a slow start to the riding season this year. However, the unusually warm weather makes me forget that most years I don't ride that much before April. After racing cyclocross until Nov or Dec and then ski racing until March I usually find the spring to be a good time to get caught up on the rest of life.

However, what is a person to do when we have 80 degree temps in March? The only answer is to get out on the bike. Next thing you know you are trying to get back to a regular schedule of riding as you can't help but remember that the first WEMS race is just around the corner and maybe you would want to do the Cable Area Off Road Classic again this year. And even though you skied the Birkie you can't believe how slow you feel on a bike so better get riding!

That's all well and good but spring in Wisconsin means WIND. This Sunday I decided I needed to do a longer ride and headed off to Belleville. The winds were fierce - either in your face or trying to blow you over with a nasty cross wind. I don't like winds . . . they are even worse than hills by my estimation. In all of my many, many times riding to Belleville it has never taken so long and felt so painful. Getting there is supposed to be the fun part as it is super flat and usually fast. At least the wind was at my back for the hills on Fritz and Riverside or I may have never made it home. I persevered though so hopefully what didn't kill me will actually make me stronger (faster would sure be nice too!).

Unfortunately I imagine there will be many more windy rides this Spring. Hopefully we luck out for our Mad FORCs Tuesday night road rides and avoid the worst of the windy nights. Tuesday rides start this Tuesday, April 6 at 5:30pm at the east end of the Arboretum. First week is to Paoli. Tues, April 13 I'm leading the ride to Goodland Park.

Renee

2010

With 70 degree days I guess the riding season is here!

The Mad FORCs Kick Off Meeting will be held this coming Monday, April 5 at the Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center's Youth Room at 7pm. Returning, new and prospective members are encouraged to attend.

Road and mountain bike rides are starting now. We'll go over the schedule at the meeting and I hope to get the website updated soon.

Renee

Mad FORCs host the Dirt Retreat with Alison Dunlap

An excellent weekend of mountain biking was had by all who

attended the Mad FORCs Dirt Retreat June 27th & 28th in Madison. The weather cooperated beautifully for Alison Dunlap who was one of the many talented instructors teaching mountain biking skills and techniques benefiting every level of rider from beginner to elite racer. Of course this awesome event wouldn't have been possible without the help from our many sponsors, listed to the right, Alison, Instructors and Dirt Retreat attendees. THANK YOU Sponsors for keeping all of us (students, moms, professionals, teachers, doctors, musicians, scientists, engineers) riding !

CAMBA Festival of the Trails

Renee C, Renee V, Pam and Carolyn all made their way "up north" to enjoy the first Festival of the Trails on the CAMBA trails. Good times were had by all . . . with food, schwag, and excellent singletrack!


Renee C. after getting drenched at the end of her ride on the Rock Lake trail. And yes it rained really hard!


Pam rocking the Hatchery Creek trails.


Carolyn enjoying some tasty food during the "Taste of the Trails" part of the weekend.