A Journal of My First Trail Ride:
My original goal was to head to the field near where I'm staying so I could try to do a wheelie. I spent an hour trying but had had NO luck. I could get the bike off the ground, but just barely and just for a moment. I forgot to lower the seat...and I think my speed was too fast. So I'll attempt it again next weekend. After feeling totally frustrated I aimed my sites for the trails. I was a little nervous being by myself and having never been to this park before. There were several different paths and one ran along an electrical line. There were branches and rocks of every size all over. Several steep hills and dips filled with mud. It was the best time I ever had. I didn't want to leave as the sun started setting. It was exhilarating and nerve wracking. I skidded out a couple of times and there were a few unexpected drops that I thought I was gonna smash into a tree. A couple of times I had to jump off the bike to maintain my safety. It was great. I took a bunch of pictures of the woods and then headed back home. As I rode down the neighborhood streets, mud started flinging everywhere, several times catching me in the mouth. All in all I was riding for a few hours and it was the best time I had all weekend. I cant wait to hit it again. Im hoping I can get home before it gets too dark to ride.
Here are some pics:
I hate taking self portraits...but here:
And finally my first bike bruise:
My original goal was to head to the field near where I'm staying so I could try to do a wheelie. I spent an hour trying but had had NO luck. I could get the bike off the ground, but just barely and just for a moment. I forgot to lower the seat...and I think my speed was too fast. So I'll attempt it again next weekend. After feeling totally frustrated I aimed my sites for the trails. I was a little nervous being by myself and having never been to this park before. There were several different paths and one ran along an electrical line. There were branches and rocks of every size all over. Several steep hills and dips filled with mud. It was the best time I ever had. I didn't want to leave as the sun started setting. It was exhilarating and nerve wracking. I skidded out a couple of times and there were a few unexpected drops that I thought I was gonna smash into a tree. A couple of times I had to jump off the bike to maintain my safety. It was great. I took a bunch of pictures of the woods and then headed back home. As I rode down the neighborhood streets, mud started flinging everywhere, several times catching me in the mouth. All in all I was riding for a few hours and it was the best time I had all weekend. I cant wait to hit it again. Im hoping I can get home before it gets too dark to ride.
Here are some pics:
I hate taking self portraits...but here:
And finally my first bike bruise:
I tried for an hour. My arms are sore on the inside of my elbows from trying. I could only get the bike up off the ground just a little and just for a couple of seconds. But I forgot to lower the seat like those instructions you sent me. And after talking with a couple of monkeys...I think I was also riding too fast. So I'm gonna try again. 
and 
irate2: 
