Tag: mountain biking

ANNIE’S END OF SUMMER GEAR REVIEW.

High Praise For Higher Waistbands

You know when you finally find the perfect fitting bike shorts and want to shout from the rooftops? Well, hear me roar for the simply styled Breakaway Hi-Rise. Being on the tall side, the regular Breakaway Bike Short felt uncomfortably low on my waist, yet I fell in love with the Bike Bermuda which shares a lot of the same features as the Breakaway with a key difference: a higher rise waistband. As a perfect complement, the Breakaway Hi-Rise Short, with slightly more compressive fabric and a higher, wider waistband that extends torso coverage a much-needed 2 inches, hits the sweet spot for me. The waistband stays put and pulls-on easily; the leg bands are soft; and it’s offered in my preferred 8.5 inch inseam. The Breakaway Hi-Rise is my new favorite short!

Butterfly Century Saddle Goes Offroad & Feels GREAT.

As I age, ergonomic handlebars and a perfect saddle are key to comfort—not an easy task when you own multiple bikes! I’ve been a longtime fan of using the Butterfly Ti Gel + Saddle on my mountain bike but recently swapped it out to try the Butterfly Century.

Saddle nuances make all the difference and I understand why Terry offers numerous options within the Butterfly Saddle Family. Saddles with generous cut-outs and titanium rails tend to fit me the best because they are the most adjustable. The adjustability allows me to achieve correct positioning for all-day riding comfort and power output. While the Ti Gel model worked on this particular bicycle, the opening on the Century feels wider to me because the relief channel’s silhouette is more round and thus fits my unique contours best. Long live the Butterfly Century!

Hasta La Vista — A Favorite Top On Wardrobe Repeat.

NEW FALL ARRIVAL: Vista Top in Blue Topo Leaf

With its midweight fabric and tummy-concealing style, I find the Vista MTB Top to be a pleasing, all-around outdoor top. It’s my go-to shirt on either side of sticky summer weather. The Vista Top is perfect for bike rides or paired with a skort or shorts for roaming around town. The elbow-length sleeves, curved hemline, flattering fit, and fun prints keep me coming back!

September 5, 2023
REDISCOVERING MOUNTAIN BIKING.

How I Got into Mountain Biking – Twice.

I always imagined mountain biking as an extreme sport: flying off jumps, rock hopping or balancing on a narrow log bridge – the threat of injury always a misstep away.

I first tried mountain biking 25 years ago in Moab, Utah, the original mountain bikers’ mecca. I did my best to follow gung-ho friends on sandstone routes, and ended up walking a lot, but that was fine. Besides, it was a great way to enjoy the rust-colored, rocky beauty. It all ended with a brief visit to the ER – not me, thankfully – but one of those crazy friends had to get stitches. Soaking in a hot tub at the end of the day never felt so good!

Now, as an older cyclist, I am more cautious, but that doesn’t mean I don’t try new adventures.

After an amazing afternoon at Kingdom Trails in 2019, I realized how much fun it was rolling on single-track, weaving around trees, negotiating small hills and wider bridges – nothing too technical – it suited my two-wheeled wanderlust just fine! This was not dangerous, but gentle exploration on a comfortable bicycle. What a revelation!

After that, getting a mountain bike was on my radar for a while. It took the pandemic, relocating to a home near a town forest with trails, plus an extremely crowded multi-use path, to have me heading to Vermont’s hills for solitude.

In the fall of 2020, our youngest son helped me choose a bike. With limited local supply, I was lucky to get a bicycle at all! I spent the autumn exploring trails as the leaves changed color and puddled beneath my knobby tires. I rode two to three times a week, alone or with our son and his friend, once venturing to leaf-covered Cochran’s Trails in Richmond, Vermont. It gave us a real challenge in navigation – we got lost – but eventually found our way back on track to descend at sunset.

I went by myself to ride Waterbury, Vermont’s Little River State Park’s easier trails, and discovered how much I like curvy single-track.

Every new adventure teaches me something – sometimes it’s just to bring adequate water and a snack! I have a lot to learn, but there’s no hurry. The trails are out there, waiting for me to slowly pedal through Vermont’s lovely landscape.

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Soleil Flow Top

Breakaway Bike Short

I’m looking forward to trying the Breakaway Bike Short and Soleil Flow Top or Tech Tee, for more breathable comfort on my rides during Vermont’s humid summers.

March 18, 2021
GRITTY GIRLS TOUGH IT OUT ON MOUNTAIN BIKES.

Introducing The Gritty Girls Mountain Bike Club!

This all-girls program aims to get girls on mountain bikes with basic skills and promote confidence through games, group rides, and fun challenges.

Gritty Girls was pioneered by Shelley Lutz, coordinator of our Wellness Revolution program in Rutland, Vermont. The series of rides and workshops was a Rutland Parks & Rec program, supported by an enthusiastic team of volunteers, and the girls had a blast. We were happy to support the effort with bike clothing for the participants.

As Shelley told us:

Gritty Girls started with 26 girls. The women volunteers had as much fun as the girls did. Learning new skills, how to use both brakes (a novel idea!) and shifting gears. The kids had a ball, volunteers and parents had fun watching the kids improve. We held a raffle at the end with the Terry clothing. Each kid got something, the girls loved the jerseys, shorts and knickers. Some of them put the clothing right on, and said “This pad feels funny,” walking out of the bathroom – a new experience!

Gritty Girls wearing their new Terry cycling gear.

July 13, 2019
WOMEN SWEEP MOUNTAIN BIKE RELAY FOR A GREAT CAUSE.

Bonus points for spotting the Terry products in this pic!

Women set the stage at the 6 Hours of Gibraltar Mountain Bike Relay.

Pedalpushers Cycling is a company dedicated to promoting women on bikes. They run all women road and mountain bike clinics and have been in the business of educating and supporting women’s cycling since 2009. Based in Collingwood, Ontario, this area is a mecca for the outdoor enthusiast.

One Pedalpushers event has become quite popular for mountain bikers and those wanting to give back to their community. It is called the 6 Hours of Gibraltar.

Organized by a 13 person volunteer board, this successful mountain bike relay event has raised over $400,000 for My Friend’s House in Collingwood. $100,000 was raised in 2016 alone. 100% of the profit goes directly to support women and children who are fleeing violence.

Professionally built, this exclusive course is unique. Located on a private wooded property in Gibraltar, it has varying terrain and difficulty levels that allow for a challenging, yet fun and family friendly atmosphere. It is professionally timed, has Medical Staff on site and ends with a medal presentation for top teams and top fundraisers. Festival-like with music, an emcee, race swag and prizes, 6 Hours of Gibraltar has created a mountain bike relay for all ages that truly gives back to the community.

Two years ago, Pedalpushers owner and Canadian Rep for Terry Bicycles, Noelle Wansbrough decided it was time to step up the female presence at this event.

Given that it is a fundraiser for women facing domestic violence, it seemed appropriate to send the message to all women that they can be just as strong as men… if not stronger. The first few years of the event showed a strong male presence. There were some women participating and some co-ed teams but the men seemed to take centre stage. This all changed two years ago.

Pedalpushers fielded three all female teams. They called their teams “Pinkstrong” and within a few hours of the event starting spectators and participants started to realize these women meant business.

Kitted out in all pink the females started dominating the event. Males were being passed by females on the course on a regular basis. The solo rider Steph Martinek was leading the entire solo field including men. The senior women’s team was dominating the female category with a strong lead, but also leading in the male category as well. The junior riders were leading the junior female category and holding 2nd place overall with all the boys. The result was infectious – to the point that some of the males started showing their support by throwing on Pedalpushers jerseys for their laps.

At the end of the day all the females were on top of the podium, not only in the female category but the entire field!

First place solo (men & women), first place 4 person female team (men & women), 2nd place junior females (men & women). This was a very special day for women racing at an event supporting women, children and domestic violence.

One of the women at the event who had been abused and lived for a time at My Friends House approached us with tears in her eyes. “Seeing all these strong girls is so inspiring – I never thought this would be possible!”

Last year Pinkstrong was back, stronger than ever, with three all female teams and was again on the podium for the overall categories. Solo female first place, 4 person team (3rd overall men & women), the 2nd place overall for the junior team and third place for overall fundraiser.

Pinkstrong proved that women can not only ride with the males but sometimes they can even beat them! What a great message to send to all the women out their suffering from domestic violence!

For more info about the 6 Hours of Gibraltar go to www.6hrsofgibraltar.com. For more info about Pedalpushers Cycling go to www.pedal-pushers.ca.

Contributed by Noelle Wansbrough, Owner, Pedalpushers, and Canadian Rep for Terry Bicycles

Sharp-eyed readers may have spotted some of the Pedalpushers sporting our bike skorts – see more Terry cycling skorts here.

April 20, 2018
NEW ZEALAND ADVENTURE.

Bike (and other) Adventures on New Zealand’s South Island

Make no mistake, there are very few cycle friendly paved roads on the West Coast of South Island. State highways are mountainous as glaciers dip to 300 feet above sea level. They are all single lane and narrow with no shoulders. Tourists unaccustomed to driving on the left side of the road add to the challenge.

But there are a few spectacular quiet road rides:

Hokitika to Hokitika Gorge: @ 90 km round trip. This is flat, even as the road nears the base of the Southern Alps. You earn new visions for what is green and blue as the sheep pasture gives way to rainforest and water upstream becomes thick with glacial milk.
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Haast to Jacksons Bay: (@ 100 km round trip). Park at the Haast Visitor Center. The sealed road meanders along the coast with transitions between sand and rock. Seals and dolphins are abundant on Neal’s Beach. The Cray Pot in Jacksons Bay serves lunch of fresh caught seafood salad and local ginger beer.

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I ended up renting mountain bikes and spent more time on the trail.

Nelson Bradley owns Hokitika Cycle and Sports in downtown Hokitika. An Avanti and Scott dealer, he is the go to shop on the West Coast.
Western Wilderness Trail (Greymouth to Ross): the best sections are Karamura to Hokitika. The trail is rated Grade 1 (easiest), but the climb is serious and includes tight, gravelly hairpin turns. Cowboys Paradise, near the top features great sandwiches and a new dormitory for bike campers. The ride down from Kokatahi to Kaniere is single track through pristine rainforest and along the edge of the cleanest stream you’ll ever know.

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Wanaka seems to be a South Island hub for mountain biking with lake and riverside and cross country trails, along with challenging ridgelines and technical parks. Racer’s Edge rents decent Giant bikes. The terrain is endlessly variable as are the spectacular lake and mountain views. I took the track leaving the village along Lake Wanaka and followed the Clutha River. Spiny Forest is technical single track for only the most capable riders. Another more forgiving trail follows the lakefront to Glendu Bay.

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In rain, Franz Josef offers alternative activities including kayaking and quad biking.
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Waitoto River Safari; Wayne and Ruth take you to places inland with few traces of human imprint.
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February 6, 2018