Another Successful Skills Clinic! Sept. 7th

Thank goodness we started early as the day got hotter each hour. 8 of us, mostly beginners, and all ages, played on our bikes for another SLaB skills clinic. We limbo'd, teeter-tottered, made switch-backs and ascended and descended in great simulations for future trail rides! THANKS LADIES, GREAT DAY! 

More pictures from our day are on the

www.iamSLaB.com photos page. Enjoy!

Joann, Laurel, Bev, Mandy, Lois, Rhonda, Kathy, Allison

Joann's competitive side shows up, with perfect form to clear the Limbo. Of course... we don't have a picture, once again, of Coach Bevco and her bar ends smacking into the pole and tearing down the whole structure and tossing her to the ground as she demonstrated the leaning the bike over to get even more clearance on the lowest setting. Geesh, great way to encourage the ladies Bev!

NEWS: SLaB Skills Clinic Sept. 6 (or 7th), Jill coming!

CLINIC

We are close to having a group for a beginner skills clinic this weekend - if you know anybody or would like to join in, or repeat the clinic for more practice - please let us know! 

Sept 6th, 8:30 a.m. at Freemont Older 

(could easily move to Sunday if it is easier for the group)

RIDE WITH OLYMPIC MEDALIST JILL!

Rumors have it that Jill will be in the area next week. We are hoping to have her join us for a Wednesday night ride! Details to come soon, but it is looking good! 

Don't make plans for:

September 10th - after work - 5:30/45pm in Cupertino/Los Gatos/Santa Cruz mtn. area.

Fact is... get out of work early - so we can not run out of daylight!

Maiden Voyage! Freemont Ride Fun

SLaB ladies all dressed up and a mountain to go ride! 

It was Joann's first trail ride ever, 

and first ride on her BRAND NEW BIKE! 

Single track and everything! 

Photo taken while riding again, Rhonda & Joann climb Warm Springs.

Check out the map - we were all over the mountain. Bev rode up from Cupertino side. Joann's maiden voyage went beautifully! Rhonda and Bev added on Toyon Trail sections at the end. Man I love mountain biking! The air was finally clearer than most the summer, we could see across the Bay finally. 

Wednesday Freemont Older Ride

Freemont Older has nicely cleared trails like this picture shows - Come join us for an after-work ride. We'll do do-overs and practice switchbacks or other challenges. Great "Beginner" ride - keeping the pace to the groups ability - Medium or Slow depending.

See you at 6 at the top of Prospect Road, Saratoga/Cupertino!

Wed. Freemont Older Ride - Prospect Entrance

July 16 SLaB Wednesday night ride. 

Bev and Robin pose by Toyon trail sign.

John & Robin ascend Seven Springs Trail (when photographer is taking iPhone pics while riding, and asks you to turn around to smile while riding... don't! Look where you WANT to GO! Robin recovers here - and stays on the trail!)

Route from the Saratoga side is much more manageable. The 3 extra miles from Steven's Creek Park side, with a 1 mile steep fire road ascent and extra trail on the ridge line - take a lot of stamina and strength. This alternate route makes it easier to concentrate on skills, and enjoy all the woopdie whoops. It starts more than halfway up the mountain. 

Another great beginner/intermediate trail. Less technical as far as obstacles in the trail than Saratoga Gap - nice cleared trails - a little dusty with loose dirt. Main challenge is occasional short steep ups & downs. Has fun S-turns and switchbacks, this 6.5 ish mile ride is all smiles! Still has climbing - but they aren't long grinds - a medium workout with high amount of fun trail!

Look for more images from this and other rides - on the PHOTOS page of www.iamSLaB.com

Don't beat yourself up club

I'm officially trying to take my own medicine now. Yes I haven't had stamina for any nice sized bike rides. But sometimes just getting on your bike and riding down a flat'ish road, to a coffee shop & back, are the first steps to getting off your duff!

So Friday I did that, then Saturday I attempted the standard Freemont Older mountain bike loop w/ my husband. Unfortunately the gigonormous-steep-long fireroad to the top to start the ride was a reminder I'm not in my form. For the first time since I moved here... I had to stop and catch my heart rate up to my ambitious legs and mind. In the shade of a huge powerline tower - I found it hard to start up again. Wanting to feel STRONG LIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL... and forcing myself to say I am SLAB... with the aid of looking at the stickers I've strategically placed on my GT Zaskar kick butt mtb... I got on again. I did make it to almost the top, where I convinced Terry to take a different route to Toyon Trail. After a nice single track section which ended with a steep up... I rested again... content to wait for him to go off on another section and return to my spot... then both go home. 

It takes some mental power to be proud of yourself when you have done more trail before. But the way we have to look at these things is that you have to start somewhere. Take the first step of getting your gear on... bike ready... and off the driveway. Be proud and have maybe a small goal of 15-20 minutes out then the same back. This mountain bike ride was hard, but it was nice to see the trails again, and get the views. I'm glad I put my stickers on my bike. It helped to remember what I would say to encourage a beginner rider.

I'm starting a club... it is the "Don't Beat Yourself UP" club... otherwise known as Strong, Light and Beautiful! You can join us anytime!