Doing The Don

So far I have kept to my plan of mountain biking more this year. Last Saturday, my buddy Tony and I hit the Don Valley for an early morning ride.Its a pretty technical course and the goal is to make it through the entire 1okm loop without unclipping our pedals or stopping or falling, or crashing.As you can see, its a pretty ambitious goal. But we're still early in the season, so anything is possible.

Doing The Don, Take 2

So yesterday seemed like the perfect day to hit the Don Valley for an afternoon ride. I was on days off and my buddy Tony had a free afternoon. So we met up for a ride. And as we started off I noticed that I still had not loosened my clipless pedals. Last time I went out, I couldn't get my shoe unclipped fast enough and crashed. I had meant to loosen it but forgot.

As we started off Tony asked me if I had done it and I said no. He then asked if I wanted to stop and adjust them as he had the tools with him.

"No, I should be OK", I said ... famous last words ...

So I crash again, because I couldn't unclip fast enough.

This is the branch that I landed on...... and this was my back the next day.

Maybe I should stick to my road bike.

Thanks to Tony for getting my camera out of my pocket and taking pictures while I tried to figure out if I was going to die or not. Good work buddy, good work.
For those of you keeping count, that's Don Valley 2, Mad Mal 0.

Doing The Don

Yesterday I dusted off the mountain bike and headed to the Don Valley for the first mountain bike ride of the season, which turned out to be a group ride to boot! (Thanks to Barry, Jim, Benjamin, Aaron and David for showing up!)
The first thing I noticed is just how different mountain biking is from road biking. I almost want to say it is more intense, but its not, its just a different kind of intensity. Does that make sense? I don't feel like throwing up or passing out road biking, but I do mountain biking.
I'm going to try and get out on the mountain bike a little more this year and see if it improves my road biking and vice versa. If you're looking for a ride that will kick your ass, let me know...