Quantcast

PNWF seeking PNWM/F for riding pleasure...

mtnluvn

Monkey
May 14, 2005
100
0
Squamish/Whistler
So, I'm new to the PNW but not really new to the Monkey. I've kinda spat out random posts over the last year or so, so I haven't really been much of a fixture, especially since I was pretty much a fraud not actually LIVING here;). But now I AM living here (read as: F*n YAY!!), and going through the whole new place, few friends or riding buddies phase and thought I would actually introduce myself...

So yeah, right now I'm pretty much just working on some skill development, riding a XC bike (DH planned for the nearish future once I actually learn how to ride the bike I already have he he), planning on doing the Spokeswomen Camp at Whistler next month and basically just hoping to meet some new people to ride with. I totally suck, but I'm learning and the best way is riding with other people. Besides that, it's more fun. Um... I like long walks on the beach, sunsets, scars and tattoos.... HA! I'm really just making a joke with the personal ad type stuff, but would I get more responses if I told you all I was cute? Again, only joking;).
-Kate
 

Secret Squirrel

There is no Justice!
Dec 21, 2004
8,150
1
Up sh*t creek, without a paddle
Yo. Welcome to the wild, wild wetness that is the PNW....yee ha...cough sneeze wheeze...

Anywayz, when are you going to be at Whistler-proper (I figure you'll be around since your location says "Squamish/Whistler")??? I'm up there from June 30 through July 4...I'd be happy to ride some trails and give ya some pointers if you're there at that time...

I have plenty of scars...apparently I do a lot of stuff wrong the first time...and the second...and sometimes, even the fifth....sigh...
Beaches are good for buggy-ing.... ;)

Anyway, welcome.
 

mtnluvn

Monkey
May 14, 2005
100
0
Squamish/Whistler
Snacks said:
(SPAM)

There is a great skill building clinic on June 29th with Fluid Ride. The details are on www.bbtc.org. :)

Where are you living in the PNW?
Thanks, I'll check that one out! I'm living in Squamish... err... Paradise. I don't know how I'm going to deal with all the rain though, I hail from a pretty sunny place. But so far I'm LOVING it here.
 

mtnluvn

Monkey
May 14, 2005
100
0
Squamish/Whistler
Secret Squirrel said:
Yo. Welcome to the wild, wild wetness that is the PNW....yee ha...cough sneeze wheeze...

Anywayz, when are you going to be at Whistler-proper (I figure you'll be around since your location says "Squamish/Whistler")??? I'm up there from June 30 through July 4...I'd be happy to ride some trails and give ya some pointers if you're there at that time...

I have plenty of scars...apparently I do a lot of stuff wrong the first time...and the second...and sometimes, even the fifth....sigh...
Beaches are good for buggy-ing.... ;)

Anyway, welcome.
Thanks for the welcome! I can pretty much be in Whistler whenever my soul desires (yeah, my life sucks), but I was up there last week for work and kinda scoped things out a bit. It looks like there might be some easy-ish lift accessed trails, but I figure I might be better off to do a camp or something before I throw myself too far into the deep water;) Mind you, I learn best in a 'sink or swim' situation so maybe I should just do it! Pointers would be FANTASTIC:D. I'm more worried that I don't have the gear yet for that kind of riding, but I might take you up on that offer though closer to the 30th if I feel ready and it still stands:)
 

mtnluvn

Monkey
May 14, 2005
100
0
Squamish/Whistler
Snacks said:
(SPAM)

There is a great skill building clinic on June 29th with Fluid Ride. The details are on www.bbtc.org. :)
Just checked it out. It looks perfect but I think it's a bit far for me. Do you know of anything like that north of the border? Everything I've found so far in my area are multiday camps, which are great but a single day to get me started would fit better with my budget - especially with all the new toys I'm going to have to buy:weee:
 

Secret Squirrel

There is no Justice!
Dec 21, 2004
8,150
1
Up sh*t creek, without a paddle
mtnluvn said:
Thanks for the welcome! I can pretty much be in Whistler whenever my soul desires (yeah, my life sucks), but I was up there last week for work and kinda scoped things out a bit. It looks like there might be some easy-ish lift accessed trails, but I figure I might be better off to do a camp or something before I throw myself too far into the deep water;) Mind you, I learn best in a 'sink or swim' situation so maybe I should just do it! Pointers would be FANTASTIC:D. I'm more worried that I don't have the gear yet for that kind of riding, but I might take you up on that offer though closer to the 30th if I feel ready and it still stands:)
I just took my wife up at the end of May and she had never ridden a squishy bike.....There are trails for all abilities up there along with skill centers (read: small teeters, incremental drops, etc. all setup in a user friendly environment...)

I took her on some of the green trails to start her out and she did really well...got the brake pads and rotors nice and burned in...:rofl: but that's o.k. I luved it. Then we went down a blue trail for the final run for her (4th run) and she was pretty tired already, so it was pretty difficult for her....no drops or anything...just rocky. But she loved it. I rented her the bike and all the pads...from the place we rented from, I got her: Full face helmet, gloves, forearm protectors, and knee/shin guards for like 40 bucks CAN for the day (at least I think that's what it was)....

If you have any biking experience you'll be fine up there, you just might want a bigger bike than an XC rig...but you can figure that out on your own.

Good idea on the camp though. Having an actual instructor is a good way to learn......

My countdown thread will remind you..... heh....:rofl: :cool:
 

redFoxx

Monkey
Apr 15, 2005
319
0
Seattle
mtnluvn said:
Just checked it out. It looks perfect but I think it's a bit far for me. Do you know of anything like that north of the border? Everything I've found so far in my area are multiday camps, which are great but a single day to get me started would fit better with my budget - especially with all the new toys I'm going to have to buy:weee:
Hey mtnluvn,
Glad you made it to Paradise! :) Last year when we went to Whistler we took the West Coast School of Mountain Biking Skills Clinic for the day with Daamiann Skelton. In the morning we had basic moves and in the afternoon we rented big bikes and went on the lifts. It was pretty reasonable cost divided among 4 people. Here's their link: http://www.wcsmb.com/2002/skills/index.html However, they don't offer these clinics anymore but said you should contact Joan Jones or Daamiann directly for skills classes. I'm sure there's others around that give skills classes. Here in Seattle we have Simon of Fluidride, a DH shop. My bf and I are going to take a private class at the local jump park. Then he also offers group classes. You just have to poke around and ask the locals.

Private instruction is really helpful and I'm certainly a proponent of it, but just riding where you are is going to help you progress immensely. Plus there's the wealth of info on this forum. Maybe you could introduce yourself at the local bike shop and eventually you'll meet people who are riding - then you just start riding regularly and with a group of buddies who are doing the harder stuff, you'll learn in no time! Just ride your butt off, that's my advice, and oh yeah, get protection...

And enjoy the nice weather while we have it, but remember the rain just makes you a better rider.

~Linda
 

mtnluvn

Monkey
May 14, 2005
100
0
Squamish/Whistler
Secret Squirrel said:
I just took my wife up at the end of May and she had never ridden a squishy bike.....There are trails for all abilities up there along with skill centers (read: small teeters, incremental drops, etc. all setup in a user friendly environment...)

If you have any biking experience you'll be fine up there, you just might want a bigger bike than an XC rig...but you can figure that out on your own.

My countdown thread will remind you..... heh....:rofl: :cool:
Good to know all of the above - it's the 'fear of the unknown' that's the worst. You hear so much about how crazy some the trails are out here, so I'm purposefully erring on the side of caution rather than overconfidence. But I think that's why I just gotta get out and do it, I might find I'mnot giving myself enough cred. That's where having peeps to ride with comes in handy - then you can't make excuses! Plus, with other people around ego steps in a little bit because you don't want to look like a puzzy... within reason, of course... funny how along with getting older comes that sane sense of mortality;)

So how many more sleeps again?? ;) That's what I was like when I was counting down my days 'til I moved out here. Like a kid waiting for her trip to Disneyland!

Hey Bibs, do you really look like your avatar? ha ha
As for the photos and measurements, um... not quite sure what to say to that one... (I know you were joking).
Ya Girls! I'd love to meet some ladies to ride with too, but Bibs I'm guessing that because of the thread title there's probably more guys reading this one (just a guess:rolleyes: ).
 

mtnluvn

Monkey
May 14, 2005
100
0
Squamish/Whistler
Hey Linda, thanks for the welcome! And you are so right about this forum. I kinda lurked around on a few different communities first and this one seemed to have the best "vibe", as well as a really good variety of information. I've learned so much just reading through a lot of the threads. I live right across the street from one of the shops in town, so definitely going in there and poking around (without becoming a nuisance;) is on the agenda. I'm so lucky to live in a place that is so full of riders of all different abilities and styles from XC to full on DH. I can't wait to learn!
 

redFoxx

Monkey
Apr 15, 2005
319
0
Seattle
Don't let Whistler scare you. It's just like being at a ski resort which it is, ha ha, with the same blue and black trail markers. Follow the markers and you will do fine. Yeah it is more fun with peeps! Last year we went for the first time and had our wimpy FS XC bikes and found that they got beat up and we did, the next day we rented the big Kona Stabs and discovered that they were like riding cadillacs downhill. Pretty fun.

At Whistler you have your fast downhill stuff with everyone barreling past, but you've also got super tech trails that you can go on as a relative beginner and walk stuff as you learn to do them. Also, there's always go-arounds.

Not to mention you should find out all about the trails in your area which are supposed to be great. Once you know them, let me know - I'll come up from Seattle for that! I've been wanting to ride Squamish.
 

redFoxx

Monkey
Apr 15, 2005
319
0
Seattle
mtnluvn said:
Hey Linda, thanks for the welcome! And you are so right about this forum. I kinda lurked around on a few different communities first and this one seemed to have the best "vibe", as well as a really good variety of information. I've learned so much just reading through a lot of the threads. I live right across the street from one of the shops in town, so definitely going in there and poking around (without becoming a nuisance;) is on the agenda. I'm so lucky to live in a place that is so full of riders of all different abilities and styles from XC to full on DH. I can't wait to learn!
It works the best for me because there's alot of freeride and DH folks here, including the women which is great. I've learned alot and went from lurker to poster as well. Now when I'm at the local jump park I try to match up the folks jumping with who they are on RM! :cool:
 

GmotoT

Chimp
Mar 22, 2006
74
0
Portland
redFoxx said:
Now when I'm at the local jump park I try to match up the folks jumping with who they are on RM! :cool:
Hows that working out for you? Not so well for me. Its really hard trying to induce conversation when I'm usually picking myself up off the ground... Or skidding across it... Or flailing through the air... :rofl:
 

redFoxx

Monkey
Apr 15, 2005
319
0
Seattle
GmotoT said:
Hows that working out for you? Not so well for me. Its really hard trying to induce conversation when I'm usually picking myself up off the ground... Or skidding across it... Or flailing through the air... :rofl:
Hummm, I'll be sure to look for you - that's for sure a conversation starter! Nothing like a crash to get people talking....
 

mtnluvn

Monkey
May 14, 2005
100
0
Squamish/Whistler
redFoxx said:
Don't let Whistler scare you. It's just like being at a ski resort which it is, ha ha, with the same blue and black trail markers. Follow the markers and you will do fine... At Whistler you have your fast downhill stuff with everyone barreling past, but you've also got super tech trails that you can go on as a relative beginner and walk stuff as you learn to do them. Also, there's always go-arounds.

Not to mention you should find out all about the trails in your area which are supposed to be great. Once you know them, let me know - I'll come up from Seattle for that! I've been wanting to ride Squamish.
Thanks for the pep talk! I'm fine on the hill on my board, so that analogy works really well for me. And I'm trying to keep that in mind too. I remember when I first learned how to snowboard even the pitches on the greens intimidated me, but now I can go anywhere. I'm sure it will become the same way on my bike if I invest the time:) You don't get better if you don't get out and try, but you're right about it being easier and more fun WITH peoples;) I'll for sure be trashing the hardtail for a while until the budget can allow a dually, but then when I do get on the full sus it'll be a piece of cake:D.
I've only been here a week, so I've explored a few of the XC trails in the area but not much yet. I'll be sure to keep you posted, and you are always welcome anytime! One can never have enough wonderful women/girlfriends/riding buddies in their lives!

HA! Yeah, I can't wait to put some faces to the online RM personas :rofl: ! Having been a bit of a lurker, I've had some good chuckes over some of the threads that go through here;).
 

riverside73

Monkey
Nov 29, 2004
362
0
mtnluvn said:
I've had some good chuckes over some of the threads that go through here;).
Yeah me too. Like the title of your thread really got my attention: "PNWF seeking PNWM/F for riding pleasure..." This title on other forums would have.....oh nevermind. :oink:
 

mtnluvn

Monkey
May 14, 2005
100
0
Squamish/Whistler
LOL, yeah... subtlety is often wasted, and nothing beats a little 'riding' innuendo as an attention grabber, even though it is getting a little overdone... ha! Actually, I don't think that's possible. I'll always find it funny:rofl:
Oh yeah, that should have read "chuckles" not "chuckes", whatever chuckes is, it isn't what I meant...
 

allsk8sno

Turbo Monkey
Jun 6, 2002
1,153
33
Bellingham, WA
my wife wants to ride more, but having an almost 4mo exclusivly breastfed, won't take a bottle baby makes for either really short rides, or me hiking along with our son.
 

mtnluvn

Monkey
May 14, 2005
100
0
Squamish/Whistler
Yeah, I've heard really good feedback about Spokeswomen Camps - you're the 3rd or 4th person on here that has done it and said really good things. Thanks for the tip about Joyride, though. I'll be sure to take it easy:D
And ABSOLUTELY keep me posted on when you and your hubby are in the 'hood, I'd love to catch up for a few runs! And by then I should be ready (hopefully!) for some more challenging stuff :weee:
 

Fast&Smooth

Monkey
Jun 24, 2002
446
0
Bothell, WA
mtnluvn, if you live in squamish you're on the wrong boards. Nothing here really deals with much north of the boarder.

I encourage you to check out bb.nsmb.com

it should be right up your allie
 

erikkellison

Monkey
Jan 28, 2004
918
0
Denver, CO
I dreamed for a second that you were my girlfriend, actually staying in Whistler while pretending to be back with family in Saskatchewan so I won't know that she's making a secret effort to learn to bike so she and I can do it together. Oh well, I can dream at least.
I think I know where you live. I was in Pemberton earlier this summer, and saw a bike shop there. It's a small place, so I'm guessing there's only one shop there. I ate at a Chinese/Canadian restaurant that had the best Chinese ever. If you haven't yet, do check it out.

My bit of advice is this. Get pads BEFORE you crash. You will also do much better with the "sink or swim" method of learning if sinking doesn't result in death or dismemberment (see preceeding advice).