Those were some unusual rocks, weren't they? Interesting rocks for us married people to discuss, ha ha. Actually there are plenty of cases of geological formations reminding us of our anatomy, for example the Teton Mountains in Wyoming. Doesn't 'teton' sound like it might refer to forbidden fruit? Ha ha. So what about you? I get the impression your comeback has been put off a bit. Well, sometimes it makes sense to come back slowly, meanwhile I think you said you're riding on asphalt and on an exercise bike, so that's a good start. Actually I rode on an exercise bike just today, didn't have time for the real thing.
Today (yesterday actually) went out on road bikes with Inter, FVELAS, and someone new, Nicon. Apparently he's really good, but since his front derrailleur was broken he couldn't really prove it. He had to either be on the big or small chainring, if he wanted to change he had to stop and manually move the chain. If he's as good as he says he is, that sounds like a good handicap for him, sort of leveled the playing field. In any case, for various reasons everyone else turned around at the Javi Tondo peak, and I carried on alone, so actually I stopped and took more photos than usual, like this one with the Sierras in the background. You can see they look misty, very pretty. Anyway, I headed on home, and then it started raining! I wasn't expecting that, but luckily didn't get caught in it. In any case, a good ride!
So you had a treacherous day, hadn't you? At least the rookie had it. It's a real mess to be fighting with the derailleur for the whole route but, to be a good one, not only you need to be a good cyclist but a good mechanic... Or at least a loving owner who always takes care of his bike About the fog in the photo... I know that pretty well from my former years living in the Sierra, and that's a very good indication of "un frío de pelotas"! From Cantabria I can tell you we're having incredibly sunny days, except for yesterday, that we "enjoyed" a typical Cantabrian rainy day, and the temperatures, according to being by the shore, are quite warm. But here I have no bike, so I'm looking forward to going back to Complutum and starting pedalling!
Yeah, on some mornings it's been fucking cold around here. There other day the bus stop thermometer by my home said -3º, "un frío de *******", ha ha. In any case, according to the forecast it's going to be sunny and less cold tomorrow, so we'll be heading to your former home, actually probably Cercedilla. I'm sure Cantabria is very beautiful, and it sounds like you're having good biking weather, a real shame you don't have your bike there. Maybe someone can lend you one or something. If not, you could at least go hiking and enjoy the great outdoors.
Hi guys! I´m a big fan of MTB and the same time a english student. I think that is a great idea, biking and english, perfect!! I would like to go on in this chat. I´m from Lleida but I live in Terrassa. Are here somebody from catalonia?? I hope keep in touch yours. Sorrry about my english, I´m still learning. thanks!
Hi karsen! Good to hear from you, it's always nice to get new blood around here, along as that blood isn't out on a bike trail somewhere, ha ha. As far as I know no one around here is Catalan, so you can give us your perspective on things. Are you into cross country, or the dark side? Feel free to share any pics of your bike adventures. As for me, went to Cercedilla today and discovered that this cold weather means there are still ice patches out there, so some areas are frighteningly slippery: ice, roots, and rocks. Actually at one point my bike actually slipped on some rocks and I twisted my ankle, but it doesn't seem too bad, for example I'm not limping at all. But still, a drag. So here's a pic! It was a beautiful sunny day, tho cold in the morning. When we started out there was frost everywhere, but then it warmed up and melted (but not the the patches of ice).
So here's another pic on a snowy road. Actually it's the Carretera de la República, just past the Poets Lookout Point. And then we went down the Veredas. Here's a little jump on the Vereda Alta, at least I think it's the Alta and not the Enmedio. Really fun!
Chain, what do you mean with no one here is catalan?!! Actually my hometown is Terrassa. Not a very nice city though, except for the citycenter and an amazing Jazz Festival. I really started with MTB here in Madrid, but I think there are some good spots near the city, I went once to "Els Obacs" in Matadepera and was very nice!
Doohan, good to hear from you! And long time no see. We'll have to go for a ride sometime, maybe something like around Soto de Viñuelas. As I was saying earlier, you have to be careful in the Sierras these days because of the slippery ice and stuff. I remember you once said that you went back home to somewhere in Cataluña - sorry, don't remember where - and you rented a bike and went for a ride. I have no doubt that there are some great places to ride there, as in most of Spain. Hey, in many ways Spain is a great place to live!
thank you everyone, Nice to meet you. Doohan, are you living in Terrassaa? me too. Great!! I´m from Lleida but I´m linving in Terrassa. I like cross county but here there are good spots for practice "dark side". Doohan if you want we could meet and show you the best places from "Obac". I ´m agree with yoy, Terrassa is not a nice city but have "parque nacional de sant llorenç i l´obac" and this place i awesome for MTB. We have a bikers group and enjoy a lot of every week and weeken riding. coming up, I´ll post some pics.
Hey, things are pretty slow around here. I've been busy at work, but holidays are just around the corner! Have been off my bike giving my sprained ankle a chance to heal. I suppose that for many cyclists, injuries are par for the course, depends on what kind of cycling you do of course. Some of us are more daredevils than others, reaching for the limit and all that, like Danny MacAskill.
Cedric Gracia has just released footage of his frightening bike accident at the Megavalanch on La Reunion Island. Like they say at the beginning, it's not for the faint-hearted, he lost a lot of blood so there's a lot of red. Two guys were pressing down on the injury to reduce the bleeding. At one point they ask Cedric what he's thinking about and he says not dying. Really frightening, and I'm so glad he pulled through. One of the messages Cedric wants to give is that we should all learn first aid. I'd like to. http://dirt.mpora.com/news/cedric-gracias-mega-crash.html
Pardo Day You can see we had a good group, eight of us. The recent rain meant good traction, and we went on a good variety of trails: fast tracks, uphills, downhills, berms, jumps. An all round good day.
Wow Chain! That video of Cedric Gracia's crash is really tremendous. He really walked on the edge between life and death. My wife who, is a nurse, assured me that his injure was really severe. I knew about the seriousness of breaking your femoral artery, but one always believes that is never going to happen... Switching topic... Looking at the later pictures I understand your ankle is really improving but, taking into account that you haven't uploaded any jump picture, that matter is going step by step, isn't it? I continue on hamster mode...
Yeah, things like Cedric's crash really make an impression on me. But on the other hand, I heard on the news today that eight people died in traffic accidents in Spain last weekend, yet people tend to be blasé about that, nobody changes their driving habits, so I'm going to keep on pedaling (and going on rough terrain and doing a few jumps and all that). I'm just grateful I can. An acquaintance recently told us that he has back problems, artrosis I think, and probably won't be cycling much more. Really a drag! Actually my ankle's still bothering me, in fact it's worse today after my ride yesterday. Some people, when they're injured, stop riding. Not me. Some people are sensible. Not me. I've worked long and hard to get in shape and get my skills up (well, more or less), and I don't want to throw it away by staying off my bike too long. In any case, like you, I'll be spending some days in hamster mode.
Yeah, and happy Winter Solstice too. The shortest day of the year was about a week ago, so now the days will be getting longer! and that's something to look forward to. Happy New Year, and maybe we can go for a ride one of these days.
I love your first wish, as you said, Winter Solstice's passed so this means that more sunlight hours are to come ....SWEET!!
Well, looks like my last ride of the year was right here in my back yard, in El Pardo. Actually we seem to be going there quite a bit these days - we were just there last Sunday - but hey, it's a good place to go after rain, tho there is some mud, but the Sierras look cold, icy, and wet. In any case, good ride, and as I said last week. a good variety of trails there, so fun ride. And there were ten of us, the biggest group I've been in for a while. No one was injured, though there was a close call, but in the end everyone's OK. This is me going down the Berms (peraltes).
I love that kind of trails..... easy, smooth.... instead I did a tough ride at Colmenar, Marmota, two in a row: Sat and Sun and I'm pretty worn out. There was also a pedestrian race right in between both biking days, a league, 5572m . Time to relax, greet the new year and make the best wishes, also for you boys, see you!! PS: Trails at Marmota are an absolute must for every rider
