newest rides

Last monday Darin and I rode 6 miles around the town and I made it up 3/4th of the way up our huge hill.  getting better!..

yesterday though was picture perfect and we went up to newport to ride the trails there and up onto the rail trail to beebe plain.  Starts off by the state office building all paved and wonderful path- up by prouty beach and campground and by the hospital before turning onto crushed gravel on the rail trail.  We went by some GORGEOUS million dollar homes and all along the lake it was jsut stunning.  Got to chase several butterflies that seemed to race me on the bike too:) lol

We went all the way to the STOP sign saying we were about to enter canada and turned around.  On the way back we encountered a trail on the left and rode down into it to explore many mtn bike trails that wound its way through the woods.  we did not want to get too lost so we just went 1.5 miles in and around in there.  It was a nice break, from paved roads, crushed gravel to mtn biking:)  yee haw!

On the way back we took pics in newport of the little lighthouse there and views from the foot bridge as it was SO beautiful out and the water was so clear!

we went a total of 14 miles- our longest ride yet!  feeling a bit sore today but not bad.  we will be doing more riding this week to get ourselves in better shape quicker instead of a ride a week it will be a ride every 2-3 days.

pics from today:)

sat july 30th adventures in stowe

Darin and I headed out for Stowe again today.  Had an appt at 11:00 at Trapp Family Lodge mtn biking on their trails.  Met up with Rick from stowe mtn bikie club and he was to take us on some trails and teach us things. 

WELL- before I knew it as I was listening to him talking, we were taken on a single track trail.  He said over and over its the easiest here at trapp.  Oh o.k. then why amd I all over the place and feeling scared 90% of the time?!  He would yell at us pedal hard and fast - fast fast fast doing a basically a u turn up on banks and around the corners etc.. eeeks.. scary times.. 

We biked back up to the lodge and met the current von trapps running the place- wonderful people so generous and kind hearted.  Then we went out on another easier green trail for a 4 mile trek.  I think in all it was like 7-8 miles but mtn biking all the way so really tough!  when we got up to the lodge darin told me that the single track we did was a blue NOT green- no wonder it was so hard.  Rick told people we did great- hhahaha yeah i had to walk places as I lost footing and stopped etc..

darin had some fun in the skills area with the bike before we left.  Then we went to the brewery to have lunch.  Darin got a nice beer and sandwich and I had a unsweetened ice tea- zero cals and a ceasar salad with cooked chicken.  very little dressing.  yummo.  beautiful views of the mountains around us too!

Then we left and went exploring to find some waterfalls, one was very easy to find and we got pics and videos of it coming to share with you.  then we got lost trying to find the gorge further down the road.  just as I was about to give up we saw the signs.  It was another hike into this place but beautiful in every way!  lots of pics and videos and then hike back out, by this time my knees are shot hahaa we were both pooped. 

Darins bike needs to be adjusted as it did not like a specific gear, being new they need frequent adjustments at the beginning. 

So another day is done- left home at 9 got home at 5 tired, exhausted and spent! Tomorrow another waterfall for photos and then off to shadow lake for some sun and swimming and relaxation.  I love being more active out and about with my loving n wonderful hubby:) Its a new world for us!

weds night ride

Last night I joined a weds night womens mtn biking group as a newbie to the whole mtn biking thing.  Darin and I have done over 40 miles but 99% on roads or paved rec paths etc..  I ended up being one on one with a trainer that had been mtn biking for 8 yrs.. She was great about teaching me how to shift properly and what gear to be in and when to shift.  Controlling breathing, how to climb hills correctly, always looking ahead to keep the steering more straight etc..  It was like I had my own trainer for free!

 

We rode 90 minutes of intensive ups and downs, like she said it was a hard work out for the body- interval training where heart rate is way high then comes down and then back and forth over the course of the 90 mins.  She said she was impressed at my tenacity to keep trying to keep going.  Flew thru and over tons of ruts, stones, large rocks, wooden bridges with no sides over marshes and swampy area etc..( thats more scary than it sounds). 

 

Here is a pic I just had to take to show you what I accomplished!! 

 

ok this is the huge gulley= came at it from the top down hill thru it- viv was amazing - told me at the top - calm your fears- always sit back not forward on this and look forward and visualize yourself on the other side and you will be- sur eenough I DID IT- and then she stopped by the rock/boulder closest to me so I did too she was mad as I could have made it all the way up this side closest to the bottom of the pic but man i was sure pumped!!!!!!!! you cant tell how much of a drop it is from this pic but in person wowsers! I am proud of myself for sure!!

 

Cant wait for next weds group:)  BRING IT:) lol

 

july 24th- happy bday to my hubby:) our trip for today

We went back to stowe to redo the 11 mile track there and cut our time in half- would have been better but my bike gears were messing up badly.  every time I put weight to go up a hill it would skip gears.  So off to village sport shop after work to get it fixed.  hope its nothing much to fix it!!!

here are some pics- was a gorgeous day!!

trying to load a video on here from today 7/23

more pics from today 7/23/11

gorgeous view from on darling hill rd.. 

showing the mud and blood hahaa everything stuck on my hose :)  makes me look so tough hahaa