No better time to tell a story than now, after not being on the bike for several weeks.
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December 2015 Riding the Magic Carpet
Guy behind desk: What class do you want to ride?
Me: Do you have a clueless class? That's really my class.
Guy: Well, we have a novice class. There's also one where you don't get scored.
Me: I would kinda like to compete, but I don't want to sandbag anybody. *smiles*
Guy: *smiles sympathetically* I'll put you in the novice class and you can decide from there. How's that?
I had just done the main trail at Emma Long park the day before...and while it was quite technical, I didn't feel like I had faced anything above my riding ability. Sure I did have to stop and think about some of the stuff in front of me before I went for it, but none of it overwhelmed me. Plus, I had the good fortune of running into a couple of KTM Freeriders, one who offered some advice to help me balance the bike better. In addition, I got to meet the trials master who set up the sections that evening and he kindly walked me through a section to help me decide what would be best for my first lesson on trials riding. I couldn't have asked for better preparation as far as I was concerned.
I still got my butt kicked down to the ground so many times I lost count during the event. Worse was throughout the morning, I felt pressure to keep moving and not slow the riding groups down, and I got hot and stayed hot with the gear I was wearing to keep me from getting hurt and casting a shadow on the fun I and everyone else was having. I decided quickly to abandon any interest in getting scored to save time and keep the action going.
But I had a blast! I really just wanted to get inspired and exposed to new riding skills, and I got what I wanted in spades. For me it's great to have things like Youtube to available, but it's just not the same for me as being there to see it happen. The internet, while fantastic, just isn't reality for me. I was born too early, I suppose.
To top it all off, I had Steve Hatch's class scheduled on the same weekend. He starts it off by talking about treating racing like a job that you want to prove matters on a daily basis (e.g., getting plenty of rest, eating right, avoiding choices that damage your body and mind, embracing a solid work ethic, etc.) And I'm late to start, exhausted, sleep-deprived, and confused. In other words, perfect condition for molding lol
It was hands-down the BEST 4 hours of education I've had in a long time. There was a lot to take in, so much for me that I couldn't put it all together and get ahead. But my exhaustion kept me relaxed enough to take it all in stride and accept what was happening as it happened. I had a great time.
The more I learn, the more fun all this riding gets. And I got a poster signed by Steve Hatch now!