Switzerland Trail- Beginner Ride! July 2

**************NEW UPDATE************
Ride is CANCELED! Radar shows some nastiness coming our way. Sorry all! Have a good weekend.



**************UPDATE************
In all likelihood, the ride will be canceled tonight due to severe thunderstorm warnings. If the weather is nasty around 5:15 p.m. assume that it is canceled, if it looks okay (some clouds, no lightening or hail) to the west than we will likely ride. I will be at the Justice Center at 5:05 unless it is evident that the ride is off. Sorry to be on the fence, but the last time I canceled a ride, the sun came out!
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Join us for the first beginner's ride of the summer! Even if you are an advanced rider, you will love the Switzerland trail's scenic aspen glades and mountain views. Not to mention, it will be a whole lot cooler up on the trail then down in town!

The Switzerland Trail off of Sugarloaf Road, winds it's way through the forest along an abandoned narrow-gauge railroad bed. The trail is fairly smooth with some rocks to keep you paying attention, but is a gradual non-technical ascent. We will ride out as far as we want and then return via the same route- downhill to the cars.

Last week we saw lots of new faces and people that were new to mountain biking! We hope to see many of you again and to meet lots of new people! If you are just starting to mountain bike this is the ride for you!!

To carpool, meet at the Justice Center in Boulder, 1777 6th St, Boulder, just off of Canyon. From there we will head up Canyon to Sugarloaf Rd. Be at the carpool spot around 5:05, we'll be leaving at 5:15.

To get to the trail head, turn right on Sugarloaf and climb approx 5 miles to Sugarloaf Mountain Road. Turn right and climb about 1 mile to a parking area at the junction of the Switzerland trail, at the base of Sugarloaf Mountain. Please try to carpool, because the parking area will fill quickly.
It takes 25-30 minutes to get to the trailhead.

Dinner and drinks will follow at the Happy Noodle House on Walnut.

Important Info about the Rides:

1. All riders MUST wear a helmet, bring water, and have a trail-ready bike. Riders should also carry the usual basics: spare tube(s), a pump, tire levers, a chain tool, and basic allen wrenches.

2. All riders ride at their own risk, group leaders take no responsibility for rider safety/injury.

3. Riders must sign a liability waiver once during the season. If this is your first ride of the season, please bring a signed waiver with you or be prepared to complete one at the meeting spot.

4. Rides launch at 6:00 p.m. so be at the trail head by 5:45 p.m., dressed and ready to roll by 6 p.m.

5. If the weather is iffy (as it has been lately) make sure to check the blog after 3:00 p.m. on Thursdays for updated info.

6. Please don't be shy about coming out - all of us love biking and would like to hang out with girls that are interested in biking.

7. For permitting and planning purposes, please post your name in the comment field if you plan to join us. The comment field is also great for planning carpools, etc. If you can not access the blog post, let us know you'll be there by emailing us at bmagrils.rideleader@gmail.com.

Hope to see you on Thursday!

Email me if you have any questions – bmagirls.rideleader @ gmail.com

-Megan

Hall Skills Clinic Recap - Holy Estrogen Batman!

Thanks to all the ladies who came out to last night's Boulder BMA Gulrz Ride Hall Ranch Skills Clinic! We had 27 (yes 27!!!) women of all skill levels, exceeding our wildest expectations. Apparently, there is a large contingency of female mountain bikers wanting to take their riding to a higher level!

A long string of female mountain bikers heading up to the upper parking lot for the skills session - what an impressive sight!

Another big thank you goes out to Kristin Butcher, who stepped to the plate to serve as the lead instructor. Kristin brought her years of coaching experience and instructed both Tracy and me on basic but important coaching tips. She set up a program for the evening that was fun for everyone and provided vital tips for improved riding. The huge success of the night is in large part due to Kristin's efforts and I personally feel my instruction of the intermediate ladies when we broke into groups would not have been nearly as effective without her guidance!

Kristin Instructor Extraordinaire (standing in the tan and black pants) watching everyone's technique

We began the night with a combined basic skills course for all level riders: track stands, manualling the front wheel and popping wheelies. We were lucky the evening was cloudy with a threat of rain (never materialized!) because the upper parking lot was empty and provided the perfect place for our large group to practice these skills. Everyone, even the advanced riders, gained a lot from going over these basic skills. After about an hour, almost everyone, even the very beginner beginners, were popping wheelies all over the parking lot! We also learned the benefit of Boobs to the Bar for keeping the front wheel on the ground when climbing.

Gurlz practicing poppping wheelies - almost everyone GOT it!

Andria showing a perfect Manual of the front wheel, which is in the air and ready to sail over the obstacle in front of her (photo cred Megan)

We then broke up into three groups. Kristin took charge of the beginner group; I took the intermediate gurlz, and Tracy - who was gunning to tackle her personal nemesis of a rock feature - took the advanced riders. The ladies did a fantastic job of self-selecting their appropriate skill level. I'm sure we were quite the sight, all those women on the trail. We totally outnumbered the men at Hall that day. One guy rode through our group as we were off to the side of the trail, and proclaimed that we had fulfilled his fantasy!

The beginner group stayed in the parking area for a bit longer, adding other basic skills like body position and weight shifting. Then they too headed up the trail to apply their newly honed skills on the real rocks. When I encountered some of them on the way back down to the trail head, they were all smiles, some of them hammering the downhill with confidence!

I headed up the trail with my eight intermediate ladies to apply some of the basic techniques from the first part of the clinic on real rocks! Most helpful were the manual, to get over the ledgy rocks that Hall is famous for, and Boobs to the Bar, to keep the front wheel glued to the rocks on some of the steep sections. Big smiles and a few F-ing A-s were proclaimed as previously tricky sections were conquered!

Nancy got back on her bike after a nice endo to nail this techy section!

We also tackled a funky rooty uphill section that had vexed most of the gurlz in my group. Almost everyone was able to clean it after a couple tries and everyone improved on her effort!

Jenny riding up and over the tricky roots that previously had eluded everyone in my group

The skills and confidence of all the riders in my group skyrocketed as the sessioning progressed and everyone left the clinic with a few basic things to continue to work on. I must say, even though I didn't get much of a 'ride' on, the evening was very rewarding, just seeing the satisfaction on the faces of my group!

Tracy and her advanced group raced up ahead on the trail to find a few of their "nemesis" techy sections, and along the way worked on the timing of the front wheel pop, as well as getting the rear wheel up smoothly onto some of the ledgy terrain. Once they mastered one route, they tried a harder line, with a lot of brainstorming and encouragement from everyone in the group.

Not all attempts were successful - there were some wipe outs but no major injuries (photo cred Megan)

Everyone in the group rode a section that they hadn't conquered in the past, or rode sections more smoothly and with more confidence than they had in the past. In particular, Tracy was able to make it up her personal nemesis, now named Nemesis Rock, along with Amanda. Just as important, everyone tried it.

JP cranking up Nemesis Rock (photo cred Megan)

Amanda cleaning Nemesis Rock, showing excellent Boobs to the Bar form! (photo cred Megan)

For the advanced riders, the sessioning definitely isn't over... everyone has a goal for next time around!

As the sun began to set, all three groups made their way back down to the trail head. An amazing number of ladies (something like 15-17) met up at Oskar Blues for dinner and a beer or two. The outdoor patio was abuzz with excited recaps of the night's events! It was a great social end to a great night.

Let's all get out and practice those skills!

Click here for more of Megan's Pics.

Click here for my Pics.

June 25 - Hall Ranch - Skills Session!

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Update:

Even though the weather looks iffy, I think we should still plan on meeting up to session... I think it will turn out to be a marvelous evening (if not, we'll just enjoy an earlier dinner/drinks at Oskar Blues)... see you at the trailhead! :)

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Whether you're new to mountain biking and wondering whether that seat will ever stop hurting or have been riding long enough that you no longer own non-cycling socks, you're guaranteed to learn something new and have a great time at this clinic. We'll be breaking up into groups based on skill levels, so everyone will have an opportunity to practice with and learn from their peers. What's in store? Lots of sessioning. Each group will hit up a section of trail appropriate for their skill level and practice various skills - from basic braking and weight shifting techniques for the beginners to front wheel lifts and technical rock riding for more advanced riders. We'll have a few extra sets of knee/shin/elbow pads, but if you have some at home bring 'em! We’ll be riding from the Bitterbrush side of Hall Ranch in Lyons.

To carpool, meet at 28^th and Iris – SE corner next to Sol Azteca at 5:15PM or meet at the Hall Ranch – Bitterbrush trail head by 5:45PM, and ready to ride at 6PM.

To get to the trail head, take 36 north from Boulder to Lyons, go through Lyons, take a left on U.S. 7, trailhead is about 1.5 miles on your right. Lets meet at the first parking lot (there is a second parking area up a little ways next to the bathrooms). Please try to carpool, because the parking area will fill quickly.

Dinner and drinks will follow at Oskar Blues in Lyons.

Important Info about the Rides:

1. All riders MUST wear a helmet, bring water, and have a trail-ready bike. Riders should also carry the usual basics: spare tube(s), a pump, tire levers, a chain tool, and basic allen wrenches.

2. All riders ride at their own risk, group leaders take no responsibility for rider safety/injury.

3. Riders must sign a liability waiver once during the season. If this is your first ride of the season, please bring a signed waiver with you or be prepared to complete one at the meeting spot.

4. Rides launch at 6:00 p.m. so be at the trail head by 5:45 p.m., dressed and ready to roll by 6 p.m.

5. If the weather is iffy (as it has been lately) make sure to check the blog after 3:00 p.m. on Thursdays for updated info.

6. Please don't be shy about coming out - all of us love biking and would like to hang out with girls that are interested in biking.

7. For permitting and planning purposes, please post your name in the comment field if you plan to join us. The comment field is also great for planning carpools, etc.

Hope to see you on Thursday!

Email me if you have any questions – bmagirls.rideleader @ gmail.com

-Tracy

White Ranch Recap

Fourteen gurlz came out to tackle the gnarly trails of White Ranch last Tuesday, June 18th for our June Advanced Ride.

Pre-Ride - everyone minus Jolie and Stacy, who were running late but caught up (photo cred Tracy)

It was an impressive group and if you were one of the guys out there riding that night, only be passed by a veritable flock of gurlz, you experienced a rare treat. It's not often one sees so many talented female mountain bikers all in one place! I for one was inspired!!!

We rode up the Belcher Trail.

Lush greenness (photo cred Tracy)

And kept going up Belcher.

Kristin cranking up the never-ending Belcher (photo cred Lani)

We regrouped on the climb up Belcher.

We weren't even CLOSE to the top! (photo cred Lani)

Then we climbed some more up, ... to what looks like the top.

Stacy smiling because she THINKS we are at the top! (photo cred Megan with my camera)

Kristin and Allison hanging out at the false summit (photo cred Megan with my camera)

But we were only halfway up to our destination - the top of Mustang Trail; to get to it we had to climb quite a bit more up Belcher.

Still more Belcher to get to the top of Mustang (photo cred Lani)

The trail soon turned to single track, presenting us with tall water bar ledges and steep sections. We continued up.

Taryn looking dreamy - she must be enjoying the climb!

We regrouped again and STILL weren't up to the top!

Finally - the top!

Jolie looking SUPER happy to finally be at the top!

Then the really fun part began (OK - climbing can be fun to, but downhill is where it's at). The Mustang Trail is steep and loaded with rocky drops and water bars that constantly test your focus and skill. Thanks to Tracy for actually taking pictures on the Mustang downhill - I was having too much fun to stop!

Meredith rockin' her new Safire on the Mustang downhill (photo cred Tracy)

The downhill took us back to the intersection of Belcher and Mustang, where we had been earlier. Clouds had been building up and we decided it would be prudent to head back down Belcher and not dally on some of the other fine trails up top.

Kelly wrapping up the Mustang descent with some ominous clouds behind her

The descent down Belcher is super fun, especially after the pain of climbing UP it! We hustled down and would have made it before the storm hit but for a mechanical on the descent. Despite the crazy end to the ride of wind, hail and lightening, it was a fantastic ride with a bunch of fantastic female mountain bikers!

Thanks to all who came out. Hope to see you next week at Hall! Here are links to more pictures:

Tracy's

Jen's

June 18th Ride - White Ranch, Golden, CO

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UPDATE:

Looks like the weather just might cooperate with us tonight. The ride is ON! See you at Savers parking lot at 5:15 to carpool, or at the East WR parking lot at 5:45 to ride!

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Ladies, we plan on heading down to Golden for some techy riding at White Ranch (WR). This will be an ADVANCED ride, due to the steep, loose climbing and steep, technical descending. If you have not ridden WR and are unsure whether you are ready for this ride, my rule of thumb would be, if you feel comfortable descending most of Hall Ranch – Bitterbrush side (even with some sections walked), you should be fine riding at WR, just be aware there is a loose, steep climb at the beginning of the ride to get up to the fun stuff.

[If you feel like you are not quite ready for the WR ride, not to worry! The ride planned for the following week, June 25^th will be a technical skills session at Hall Ranch for ALL levels! And we’ll work on climbing and descending technical terrain based on individual skill levels. There will be something for everyone, so mark your calendars! And, feel free to comment on this post if you want to try to get an informal group together to head to a more mellow trail for this week’s ride! Also, starting in July, we will be offering beginner rides on the first and third Thursdays of every month!]

Lets meet at 5:15pm at Savers parking lot (off of Broadway, just south of the intersection of Broadway and Table Mesa), to carpool to the trailhead. If you plan to meet us at the trailhead, be there by 5:45, ready to ride at 6pm on the dot!

(To get to the trailhead from Boulder, head south on Highway 93 to West 56th Avenue, turn left (west) on Pine Ridge Road and go about 1 mile to the EAST parking lot)

Dinner will follow at Ali Baba, just down Hwy 93 towards Golden.

Important Info about the Rides:

1. The rides are free and open to everyone - you do not have to be a BMA member to participate in our rides.
2. The ride is a "girls only - no drop" ride.
3. All riders MUST wear a helmet, bring water, and have a trail-ready bike. Riders should also carry the usual basics: spare tube(s), a pump, tire levers, a chain tool, and basic allen wrenches.
4. All riders ride at their own risk, group leaders take no responsibility for rider safety/injury.
5. Riders must sign a liability waiver once during the season. If this is your first ride of the season, please bring a signed waiver with you or be prepared to complete one at the meeting spot.
6. Rides launch at 6:00 p.m. so be at the trail head by 5:45 p.m., dressed and ready to roll by 6 p.m.
7. If the weather is iffy (as it has been lately) make sure to check the blog after 3:00 p.m. on Thursdays for updated info.
8. Please don't be shy about coming out - all of us love biking and would like to hang out with girls that are interested in biking.
9. For permitting and planning purposes, please post your name in the comment field if you plan to join us. The comment field is also great for planning carpools, etc.

Hope to see you on Thursday!

Email me with any questions: bmagirls.rideleader @ gmail.com

-Tracy

June 11 Ride- Dot Trails in Nederland

UPDATE! Ride Canceled, but Dinner's On!
Ladies- I am so bummed, but it just doesn't look good. The Eldora cam shows some pools of water on the ground and hail so I am certain we'd be damaging the trails even if the sky stays blue (60% chance it won't though). So, I am sad to say this week's ride is canceled.

But, the Gurlz still like being social...so join us for dinner instead! Meet at the Walnut Brewery (1123 Walnut St.) at 6 p.m. Comment here if you plan to join so we have enough seats for everyone. The Walnut is very particular about not seating the party until everyone is there, so be prompt!




Gurlz-This week we'll make the worthwhile trek up to Nederland and ride the Dot trails from the Magnolia Trail parking lot. The Dot trails are intermediate, flowy, fun single track, with some rocky and loose sections. The views are incredible and if you love aspen trees, you'll love this trail! Because of drive time, we won't ride super long, so that we have time to eat, be social and still get home before it's too late.

To carpool, meet at the Justice Center parking lot and be ready to go by 5:10 p.m. (at the latest) or meet at the trail head by 5:45 p.m.

To get to the trail head, take 119 south from Nederland for approx 3/4 miles to the trail head on the west side of the road. You can also follow Magnolia Rd, cross 119 and you are at the parking lot.

Dinner will follow at the Wild Mtn BBQ in Nederland. Delicious bbq (even for vegetarians) and beer.

Important Info about the Rides:

1. The rides are free and open to everyone - you do not have to be a BMA member to participate in our rides.
   
2. Our rides are "girls only - no drop" rides. All levels are welcome. There is no pressure to ride above your ability.
3. All riders MUST wear a helmet, bring water, and have a trail-ready bike. Riders should also carry the usual basics: spare tube(s), a pump, tire levers, a chain tool, and basic allen wrenches.
4. All riders ride at their own risk, group leaders take no responsibility for rider safety/injury.
5. Riders must sign a liability waiver once during the season. If this is your first ride of the season, please bring a signed waiver with you or be prepared to complete one at the meeting spot.
6. Rides launch at 6:00 p.m. so be at the trail head, dressed and ready to roll by 5:45 p.m.
7. If the weather is iffy (as it has been lately) make sure to check the blog after 3:00 p.m. on Thursdays for updated info.
8. Please don't be shy about coming out - all of us love biking and would like to hang out with girls that are interested in biking.
9. For permitting and planning purposes, please post your name in the comment field if you plan to join us. The comment field is also great for planning carpools, etc.

Hope to see you Thursday!

Megan

Mark your Calendar's: June Ride Schedule

4-June Walker/Meyers Homestead

11-June Dot Trails- Nederland

18-June White Ranch- Near Golden

25-June Hall Ranch - Bitterbrush technical skills session- Lyons

*all rides launch at 6 p.m. from the trail head.

Gurlz Rockin' Walker Ranch June 4, 2009

Once again, the rains disappeared just in time for the Boulder gurlz to have a fantastic ride! Ten gurlz showed up.

The entire group before the ride

Everyone rode Walker. It was a talented group and we had no problems finishing well before dark, even with multiple stops to play on some of the techy sections. I took a gazillion pictures, as did other riders, so I am only posting a subset here. Others have posted on Facebook and I am posting a bunch of mine and a select few I stole from Facebook here on my Picasa Website and here on Tracy's Picasa site.

We rode the loop counter-clockwise, which started with a downhill.

Liz ripping the first downhill (I finally got some good pics of Liz!!!!)

Elizabeth on the DH

Then there comes a climb.

Susan and Liz cranking up the first climb (I tried to get more pics of Susan but she was a fast rider and was right behind me at every turn!)

More climbing follows, including some challenging technical sections to play on.

Nancy on a big climb (photo cred Tracy Phelps Emmanuel)

Darcy rocking the climb

Tracy and I tried this section a couple times - I KNOW we can do it! (photo cred Elizabeth Pike)

Tracy doing the rock-o-rama! We will be back sucker! (photo cred Elizabeth Pike)

Finally the climbing ended and we had some sweet downhill!

Liz on the fun descent

Tracy showing FOCUS!

Gurlz regrouping after a techy section

After all that downhill, we still had the Bike Portage to descend. This section down to the Creek is not ridable, although there are portions that you sometimes think could be ridden....

Michelle coming down the stairs before the Bike Portage, wearing an Oh $hit face!

OK - this is NOT one of the places that I contemplate riding! Dang it's steep!

I thought about riding this part...

But not this part.

After the creek, we went back up, up, up! First on a rocky jeep road and then up through the forest with tight twisty switchbacks. Not many pictures here, as it was two miles of BRUTAL climbing! The final part of the loop provides a nice up and down finish to the trail head.

Tracy finishing up the ride

Darcy -super stoked she RODE that line! Way to go gurl!

Lori riding to the finish on what turned out to be a beautiful night!