Newbie blog: Stick with it, and you’ll be fine

I think I’m going to die.

I literally think my lungs are going to explode.

These people are not human, they are machines.

Does anyone ever stop to take a break?

•••

These were some of the many, many thoughts running through my head last July as I rode up Cady Hill Climb on a mountain bike for the first time. The rest of my thoughts were not quite so ... printable. I was certain that the only thing that saved me from passing out right there on that climb was that someone in our group got a flat and we stopped for a bit to help change his tire.

Quite frankly, I think those were the best 15 minutes of my life. Ever.

•••

When I moved up here a few years ago, I thought I was in reasonably decent shape. I was quickly proven wrong on so many different levels, it’s beyond embarrassing. I was probably the equivalent of one sweat drop off the average resident’s forehead when they went out for their weekly “easy” 55-mile bike/hike/run.

Nonetheless, I forged ahead. I had a “moving bucket list” of sorts, and mountain biking was way up at the top of that list.

I joined the Stowe Mountain Bike Club shortly after I got here. Though I did not own a mountain bike yet, I went to a few of its repair and flat tire clinics. I met some people, learned some stuff and got excited for what lay ahead. That fall, I bought a used bike for a few hundred dollars, and waited for spring to come so I could test it out.

I’ll never forget my first ride. Cathy Hirce met me at Trapps and we did a quick lunchtime ride on the beginner trails. I had fun. The next day, I met her and a few of her friends for another ride after work. I learned a few things that day:

1. Buy bike shorts.

2. Do not attempt to ride two days in a row without bike shorts.

3. As a beginner, riding two days in a row, with or without bike shorts, is probably not the best idea.

I recovered from that experience and soon after I joined the weekly rides that Stowe Mountain Bike Club hosted. We started at Trapps and I learned a lot during each ride. Ride leaders gave us great tips, such as how to manage switchbacks, the best way to climb hills, and what not to do when going downhill.

I met some great people who didn’t complain once about how slowly I was going up the hills and encouraged me to keep trying, no matter how frustrated I got at each switchback and had to walk. Soon after, I was convinced to move on to Cady Hill — “It’s not much harder than what you’re doing here.”

Ha. Funny little trick they played on me.

While I definitely did not agree with that statement, I had to admit that the farther you climb up, the more fun you have on the way down. The pain of the climb was replaced by an ear-to-ear grin the whole way down, and even included a few whoops and loud laughs.

I’ll never forget the feeling I had on the way home from that first ride at Cady Hill — my quads turned into bricks while pulsating in pain and my stomach was growling with hunger, but I had a huge smile on my face. It was just so much fun.

I had that same feeling after almost every ride last year. Every week, I complained about the uphills but I laughed all the way down. And believe it or not, toward the end of the season, I made it up Cady Hill Climb with only one stop to catch my breath. Just one! It still sucked the life out of me, but it did get easier.

Since last summer, I have thrown myself head-first into the mountain bike community. I have met some incredible people, made some great friends, and have gotten a bit more in shape (just a bit). I even continued biking through the winter by doing some fatbiking (supposedly this was going to help keep me in shape; that remains to be seen). I am still a beginner but every time I head out I learn something new and, more importantly, I have fun.

I also have to admit that my hatred for Cady Hill Climb has diminished. It’s not that bad. Especially compared to Snake. I mean, come on! What is it with these hills?

I am so unbelievably lucky to have been able to learn to mountain bike here, and am glad I waited till I moved here to do so. As a community, we are so very lucky that we have the trails, the resources, the volunteers and support that we do. This is an awesome place to live and play.

For anyone out there who has wanted to try mountain biking, or is too nervous to go out on a group ride, I urge you to join one of the weekly rides that Stowe Mountain Bike Club will host this summer. Don’t have a bike? Rent one for the day.

We do not pass judgment on anyone — and even though I continue to pass judgment on myself, I promise I am nothing but encouraging to newcomers. I mean, as it is, everyone out there is in better shape than I am, so you’re already ahead of the game!