::insert clever title here::

I decided to join because I suspect I've seen some of y'all around and I figured it would be cool to connect. Anyway...

My name is Alison (but most everyone calls me either Nerd Girl or just Ali) and I have been mountain biking a grand total of 5 months. I hadn't been on a bike in 20 years, and my boyfriend mountain bikes, and despite the fact that I'm a 40 year old asthmatic with rheumatoid arthritis, he somehow convinced me to try it (against my body's objections).

I am really glad he did, because it has become an amazing obsession for me (and has done wonders for my health). In 5 months I've managed to make a habit of hitting the trail at least 3 times a week, and last month I started pushing into intermediate level riding. I think the proudest moment for me was early last month when I went all the way to the top of Mammoth and road down "Off the Top" (In 60 mph wind gusts, no less!) to "Beachcruiser" and finished with "Mountain View". (To be honest, I think the gondola ride was scarier for me than the trail! lolz). Incidentally, I think 8 hours riding at the Mammoth Bike Park is waaaaaay better than Disneyland. I can't think of anything more fun than *not* having to ride uphill and then just plowing down a trail, then being taken back up again. Now how cool is that? (Okay, well, some of you do like riding uphill, and that's cool and all, but my lungs tell me otherwise! )

I ride mostly at Sycamore Canyon in Riverside. Kind of spoiled because it's only a 20 min drive for me (in no traffic). However, I've been trying other trails in Riverside, SB, & OC. Last week we did El Moro in Crystal Cove. (Gah, that was more uphill than downhill!) I am hoping that at some point I will be able to do all the same trails my boyfriend does. I'm getting there; he's been an outstanding mountain biking teacher. But I'm perfectly happy to shuttle him if he needs it. Did that for him for Lower Rock Creek and just chilled out waiting at the bottom. My goal is to be able to ride it with him next year. (He seems to think I'll be at that level by then).

So that's me. There's a lot more to me than just being mountain bike obsessed, but people can get to know the rest of that on their own if they want. I'm here to siphon as much knowledge off of y'all as I can.

Oh, do I need to mention I love singletrack?

 

welcome fellow nerd.

 

Welcome

 

Awesome! Don't forget to try trails that are even closer(I live close to Ontario). Marshall cyn, Claremont Wilderness park, Southridge, and Chino Hills state park. :wave:

 

:welcome:

 

very cool :welcome:
from Temecula

 

:welcome:

 

Yes, my man rides Marshall Canyon (he lives in Upland so it's fairly close), and since I slogged through El Moro last weekend, he thinks I should be able to do the climb there.

Claremont Wilderness Park? Details!

Was just talking about Southridge last night. I think we're going to ride there next weekend.

Chino Hills is one of those places that is so close to me, so obvious, yet I haven't ridden it yet. Not sure why. I keep talking about it, but my car keeps heading towards Sycamore.... lol

Thanks for the reminders!

 

one of the places that my wife is still learning stuff is San Juan Trail. climb up, ride down. great trail!

 

Because of that, it just made you 10x cooler! 8)

Oh, and your bf seems like an awesome guy taking you out and teaching you...! Sounds like a keeper!

 

Claremont Wilderness Park is a 5-mile fireroad loop at the north end of Mills Ave. that connects to Marshall Canyon at the top. I'm sure your boyfriend knows about it. There is also a fireroad to Potato Mountain and Evey Canyon off of the Claremont loop with some great views of the IE. Lots of good climbing workouts, not much singletrack though.

:beer:

 

Honestly who isnt a nerd in some way, shape, or form. There has to be something wrong with you if you arent nerdy about something in life. Welcome to the site!

 

:welcome:

 

Yeah welcome, we love NERDS here in Upland!

 

:welcome:
I have RA as well. Embrel and biking keep me going.

 

great story!

welcome aboard.

:cheers:

 

ahahahah - it is, so far no one believes me either! :lol::lol:

:welcome::welcome: from the 'south OC' !!

 

Welcome aboard Ali....:beer:
PBS

 

LOLZ! It did! Even the downhill had uphill!

 

Oh, I am definitely a nerd in the traditional sense of the word. You know-- Star Trek, Star Wars, Monty Python, The Simpsons, Harry Potter-- Gamer-- Mac User-- book hoarder-- cyber goth-- I have a degree in history (and think writing research papers is fun).

If you've heard Weird Al's song "White & Nerdy"-- yeah, that's me. :lol: (I suppose evening mentioning Weird Al proves my point!)

Eh, growing up I was bullied for being a nerd (people suck that way), but now I own it. If you own a word, then it loses it's power over you. You know?