CAUTION: Donuts and cycling don't mix....well kinda

The alarm went off at 545am this morning...a Sunday, the first day of Spring. So how appropriate that today was going to be a day of first. Today I did my first gravel ride, Pastry-Brest-Pastry.  Pedal and Spoke a bike shop in North Aurora hosted this event. The draw was a 60 mile unsupported gravel ride with checkpoints fully stocked with fresh donuts. Hmmm, sounded perfect when my friend Alex sent me the Facebook link a month ago...biking and donuts.

Even though it was the first day of Spring it was 36 degrees and a cold north wind blowing at the start. There were no route markings, only a GPS file I prayed worked on my Garmin, a cue sheet with directions only for the first 37 miles (out/back course with a loop at the top) and a map printed on a bandanna. Yes, a map bandanna. Another first. I had never seen or heard of one of these. I was thinking I could pin it on my back and the guys could tell me where to go. Literally and figuratively.

My group was ready to go at 8am. We decided to head out early and not wait for the mass start of over 200 riders at 9am. The first part of the route was challenging to navigate. It was across a street, through a parking lot, hop the curb, over the grass bridge onto a single track trail which led to a grass trail which got us to a road. Okay, a few miles in and we aren't lost yet.

Soon the nice pavement ran out and we were on gravel roads.We were out in farm country so there was nothing to block the strong north winds. Did I mention it was windy?

Never thought I'd long for a paved road

We were too early for checkpoint #1, #2 and #3. Glad I always have a protein bar with me. Checkpoint #3 was at a church and we thought about praying for some tail winds, but we knew those would be few and far between. We decided to head down the road a bit and then come back to the church in hopes someone would show up. And as luck would have it, they did and with fresh bakery donuts. I consumed one chocolate glazed donut like I hadn't eaten in days. It went down easy but ohhh, did it sit in my stomach like a rock.

Checkpoint #3 - DONUTS!

For years I've wanted to try the Tour de Donuts ride but now I think it's not wise. The ride is a race and you are able to get time deducted by the number of donuts you eat along the way. Officials mark your bib with hatch marks denoting the number of donuts consumed. You are disqualified if you throw up at any time...including when you have to ride uphill past the pig farms.

Anyway, I digress. After the donut consumption was completed we headed back. I was thankful the course function on my Garmin worked like a charm. No way could I reverse the cue sheet directions while pedaling and a rock in my stomach. That requires too many brain cells for me.

The winds had picked up even more and we had a tail wind only for a short time. Lots of cross and head winds. We made it back safe and sound, finishing as we started but in reverse. Onto the grass path, then onto single track, over the grass bridge, hop the curb, through the parking lot, cross the street, and home.

In summary, my list of firsts today:
- First gravel ride
- First time seeing a map bandanna
- First time eating a donut and then biking 25 miles (Note to self. Eat after done biking)
- First time using my Garmin course map and it worked flawlessly
- First unsupported invitational ride (makes you appreciate the SAG wagons, rest stops and Port-a-potties)

It was fun to experience all these firsts and spend the day with Mitch, Kevin and Dan. As for Alex, he chose to drive south to Florida and missed out on all the fun and donuts. I think his penalty should be he having to wear the powder blue and pink event tshirt on our next ride. Insert evil laugh here.

Life is more interesting when you experience new things. So far this year I've been doing just that.

Enjoy the ride,
Sheri

You're not out of your comfort zone unless a waiver is required

Back in January I blogged about putting on my big girl shorts, getting out of my comfort zone, and signing up for a Women's MTB clinic at Ray's MTB Park. Well, this past Friday I attended the clinic. It was amazing to see over 100 women and one very young girl show up for the event.

Upon walking in the front door there definitely was a vibe, one of encouragement, respect and let's have fun. I got into the line to sign in and immediately several women turned around, one handed me her pen and said to grab the waivers to sign. Yes, multiple waivers. The first one was the standard "you wont sue them if you get injured or die, blah blah blah." The second made me chuckle. It was a combination of "you can use images of me" plus "permission to provide medical treatment." Wasn't sure if this meant I gave them permission to take pictures of me with my head split open bleeding and then call 911 or what. But I signed it, checked in and got my bike plate with my name printed on it and a set of elbow and knee pads.

Just one of the many rooms at Ray's MTB Park

From there I headed to the main meeting area where everyone was enjoying breakfast, checking out the vendor tables and getting situated. It was weird to watch people zip by on their bikes indoors. Just not used to riding my bike inside except on a trainer. But that soon would change. I also felt a little out of place being one of the older women there, plus I lacked tats. But everyone was welcoming.

The first order of business was to all meet in this large room that had crazy ramps throughout. Reminded me of a skate park on steroids. The ramps were 2 stories high and all I planned to do in that room was stay on level ground. Leigh Donovan was the head coach and she took us through what the day would be like, introduced herself, and provided a very impressive bio. All ten coaches introduced themselves and talked about the individual clinic they'd be leading. It was set up as a rotation so you went from one section of the park to the other depending on what skill you wanted to develop. There was a consistent theme from all the coaches; they grew up learning to MTB from the boys and didn't have this type of environment to learn. They are all strong athletes, business women and advocates for getting more women cycling. They were truly giving back to the sport.

I decided that Leigh's clinic would be a good place to start. Separation of body and bike. Her session was being held in that ramp room and I truly was hoping we literally weren't going to separate my body from my bike using these ramps. Luckily it was all on the flat ground and she taught us proper position standing over the saddle, and shifting our weight forward and back. All the sessions stressed not sitting on the saddle and keeping peddles in the 3/9 o'clock position. Very different from road biking.

Once I mastered Leigh's session I moved on to Karen's clinic. She was teaching cornering and "pumping". At the start of the session she had us go around the group to introduce ourselves and how long we'd been MTB. When I said I was a roadie new to MTB, you'd think I said I drown kittens for fun. I was definitely a minority, but was still the cool kid being on one of two women there on a fat tire bike. Chris made everyone smile.

Cornering and pump clinic

The section of the park we were in was set up with four "moguls" and a steep berm for practicing cornering (see image above). You'd go down this steep ramp, over two moguls and then negotiate the berm without slamming into the wall and back over two more hills. All this without pedaling, just using body position to pump up and down the hills. I struggled on the cornering because in road riding you put your outside foot down so you can corner sharper and faster. But in MTB you keep your feet parallel to the ground. Too many objects on a trail to catch your pedal. Makes total sense but try to get your brain to change what you've been doing for 30 years. On my 3rd attempt I made it and all the group applauded, encouraging me to try it again.

It was time for lunch and swapping stories with some of the other women. I wasn't sure which clinics to try after lunch so I found Leigh. I told her I was a beginner and which sessions I had taken. She said try the Sports Center next. I questioned her if I should do the foam pit room as I thought there was a beginner session there too. She laughed and said it was a vertical wall and you fly into a foam pit. Yeah, not a beginner room.

I had befriended a woman Liz during the morning sessions and we decided to ride the "yellow brick road" around the park and check out the other areas. A little recon. There's this yellow road that winds through the park and allows you to get from one place to the next easily. We followed the signs up to the second floor and located the Sports Center. At the top of the ramp all I saw were 8 jumps. Crap, Okay, I said "Shit. I'm going to die and they are going to take pictures of me before calling 911."

I looked around to see if I could ride the yellow trail safely back to the first floor. Nope. It was these 8 jumps in front of me or some even more terrifying options. I thought about walking my bike, but the ramps were so steep I wouldn't make it lugging a 30 pound bike. So I pulled up my big girl pants, secured my knee and elbow pads, and went for it. I think I was screaming in my head, but I made it down alive.

All in all, the clinic was a great experience. I picked up some valuable bike handling skills, met some awesome women, and I didn't die. I can't say enough about how great the coaches were, as well as the staff at Ray's. It's definitely a different vibe when you have all women and it provides a "safe", nurturing, and empowering atmosphere to learn.

I'm glad I did it. I really was pushed outside my comfort zone (okay way outside my comfort zone) and that's okay. If you don't have to sign a waiver, it's probably not worth doing. Right?

Enjoy the ride,
Sheri