Not Your Grandmother’s Wool—Smart Wool Socks Perfect for Cooler Riding Conditions

I promised myself this fall and winter would be different; I’d stop thinking of excuses to not ride and just start riding. So I piled up on winterwear: under-helmet beanie, tights, long-fingered gloves, and of course, warm socks.

As a winter sports enthusiast, I own plenty of wool socks of differing thicknesses. The problem is, when I slip my wool-covered feet into my Sidi Dominators, my feet feel restricted and confined by the lack of flexibility of most wool socks. This, coupled with the cold weather, numbs rather than warms my little piggies.

Enter Smart Wool Womens PhD Cycling Light Mini socks. These socks breathe, flex, and feel like cotton. They lack the mild abrasiveness of most wool socks. They kept my feet warm through biting forty-degree weather and twenty-mile-an-hour winds. I wore them biking on my home turf, Denver’s Front Range, and even took them on vacation to two of mountain biking Meccas, Moab and nearby Fruita, where they performed beautifully.

One caveat: I wore these socks trail running and because trail runners are bigger than regular sneakers, the socks had room to bunch up. Wear them for cycling or everyday use, but break out thicker socks for hiking or trail running.

Smart Wool: one less excuse to not ride.

Communing with the Animal Kingdom: Disney Moments on the Mountain Bike

Think back for a moment to the early Disney movies: the pre-Pixar, pre-Toy Story era. Before Monsters, Inc., Shrek, and Finding Nemo.

Disney used to remake stories the Brothers Grimm penned 200 years ago: Snow White, Cinderella, and Little Red Riding Hood, to name a few. Remember Cinderella being dressed for the ball by mice and Snow White cavorting with butterflies? Remember Little Red Riding Hood speaking to the wolf, who was dressed as her gobbled-up grandmother?

In each of these (and countless others) Disney movies, the line between the human kingdom and the animal kingdom is blurred. Friendships are formed. Mice sew. Wolves wear pajamas. Butterflies land on fingers and stay there. Animals become personified, acting out the role of friend, support staff, or murderer. These moments of human-animal (or insect) bonding I have coined Disney Moments.

These moments are not, however, confined to the big and small screens; they can and have happened to countless nature lovers, including mountain bikers. Disney Moments are perhaps one of the coolest by-products of mountain biking. More John Muir than Cinderella, Disney Moments require frequent riding, keen observing, and an open mind.

My first Disney Moment occurred five autumns ago at the Apex Trail in Golden, Colorado. My friend Todd and I were testing out our new Yetis—our first foray into the full-suspension world. We had some trouble getting used to our back shocks bouncing on the tricky-rocky terrain that Apex is notorious for. The local flora was withering, turning into the grey-brown that blankets Colorado’s Front Range during the fall and winter. My attention was focused on my chain, which was clickety-clacking as I grew accustomed to a new gearing system. I entered into a grove of waist-high dying Colorado grasses when a covey of birds, who had been lazily lounging in the meadow, were suddenly brought out their slumber by the mechanical noises of an approaching stranger. In a move of solidarity, the birds rose vertically and hovered helicopter-style at the top of the withering grass. I stopped riding and marveled at the flap-flap-flap-flap-flap that cut through the still fall air. I watched my breath form puffy clouds as I laughed wondrously, surrounded by the birds of Snow White’s forest. In an instant, they were gone.

The following summer my friend Courtney and I were riding the sometimes-grueling, always fun Waterton Canyon-Roxborough State Park loop, which begins the 500-mile long Colorado Trail. On the tail end of the ride, the terrain goes from a pine-shaded canopy to a small meadow back to another canopy. It had rained the day before, so standing water dotted the meadow portion of the trail. As I approached the first puddle and steered myself to ride through it, I spied a few butterflies sipping cool Colorado water. As soon as my front tire hit the first puddle, the butterflies, much like the birds of the prior fall, fluttered skyward and hovered at my handlebars, jumping around my gloved fingers. They flashed their yellow, blue, and brown brilliance in front of my eyes, and we played in the same space as I rode through them, giggling like a twelve-year old.  Read more

Girls – Seven Reasons You Should Start Mountain Biking

Ladies. Recently I’ve been writing about how men can get their women into mountain biking, but ultimately the decision on whether or not to ride is up to you. Thirteen years ago I had a disastrous start into the sport of mountain biking, but I kept at it because I knew it was fun and would keep me in shape. Below are the top seven reasons you should at least consider getting into the saddle. Trust me, the benefits extend beyond mountain biking.

Reason 1 You’ll get fit.
Mountain biking is sustained aerobic exercise, akin to cross-country skiing. You’ll slim down, harden up, and glow. I never look better than in summer, when I tend to ride a few times a week. Friends usually remark, “You look great.” Wouldn’t it be nice to hear that? A lot?

Reason 2 You’ll build confidence.
The learning curve can be steep, but once you start clearing obstacles that used to scare you, you’ll have a renewed sense of accomplishment. These obstacles can include clearing a section of trail, conquering a long climb, or mastering a series of switchbacks. The first time you conquer a climb that used to take two or three rest stops, you’ll start to see tangible results of your hard work. This sense of accomplishment will easily translate into other areas of your life. Obstacles become something to overcome, not shy away from.

Reason 3 It’s a social thing.
After years of riding with males and a short stint as a racer, I have come to love and appreciate my female riding partners. Book groups, happy hours, and girls’ nights out fulfill our need to interact with our own kind, but there’s no reason you can’t catch up on the gossip or share feelings on a ride. Girl rides are social outings—lots of picture-taking, chatting, and munching on goodies, and recovering. There’s no pressure. Having fun takes precedence over performing.

Reason 4 Mountain biking vacations are awesome.
Mountain biking naturally lends itself to beautiful scenery. Mountain panoramas, ancient trees, and striking rock formations are the daily norm. You’ll see more animals in a day than Disney can cram into its summer blockbuster. Work in a hot tub or soak in a hot spring for post-ride recovery and you’ll feel rejuvenated, refreshed, and ready for the next day’s ride. Upon your return to life, others will remark, “You must have had a great vacation. You look great. And relaxed.” (See Reason 1.)

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How to Keep Your Girl Riding (and Retain Domestic Bliss)

Congratulations. You’ve cleared the first hurdle and taken your girl on her first mountain bike ride, and she’s still speaking to you. Nice job.

Maybe you made an agreement: she tries mountain biking, and you’ll try scrapbooking. Maybe she’s wanted to get into riding all along but was too scared. Maybe you followed my advice. Maybe, just maybe, she really likes it. The question is: How do you keep her riding?

Below are five more tips on how to keep her on the trail and your relationship solid.

Tip #1 Repetition removes resistance.
Resist the urge to move your girl to an intermediate ride. It’ll bore you to tears, but you need to keep the technical and aerobic challenge levels the same so she can progress at her own pace. This pace will seem glacial to you. Be patient. She’ll let you know when she’s ready to move up.

Tip #2 You’re her mechanic.
Don’t burden her, in the early stages of the learning curve, with knowing how to adjust her cables or even put her front wheel on properly. Check her bike before every ride. Yes, eventually she will have to learn how to fix a flat and lube her chain, but remember she probably didn’t grow up tinkering with her dad in the garage like you did. Cut her some slack.

Tip #3 Continue to watch your language.
As your lady becomes more comfortable on her bike, encourage her to push her limits. Do it carefully, though. If you notice she’s walking her bike over the same rocky patch, encourage her this way, “Great job looking twelve feet in front of you while riding. Keep doing that when you come up on rocks, and you’ll glide over them.” Compliment, then encourage. Sorry, but we’re delicate creatures.

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How to Get Your Girl to Ride (Without Her Dumping You)

Lucky you. After years of agonizing bachelordom you finally found a great girl. She understands your need to control the universe of the remote. She doesn’t nag you about the toilet seat. She’s a gourmet cook. Maybe she even enjoys Sportscenter. She’s athletic and beautiful and sexy and she loves you.

But she doesn’t ride. Why not?

Maybe she’s not comfortable on a bike. Or maybe she’s comfortable on a bike but has visited you in the emergency room too many times. Could be some past boyfriend ruined any chance of her ever riding again. Probably she thinks mountain biking is too hard core.

But wouldn’t it be great if the two of you could ride together? Wouldn’t it be cool if once a week the two of you could go for a jaunt or if (someday) she could come along on a group ride?

Well, she can, but she’s going to need your help. Below are Tracey’s Top Ten Rules for getting your girl to ride. The rules don’t guarantee success but might increase your chances.

Rule 1 Start the discussion.
Begin talking about how great it would be if the two of you rode together. Promise it’ll be just the two of you until she’s ready to ride with others. If she has girlfriends who ride, encourage her to ride with them a few times before she ventures out with you. If she doesn’t have any female friends of the dirt variety, find a local group of strictly female mountain bikers and drive her to her first ride. She’s intimidated by your riding ability, the sport, and her own insecurities. Tread carefully.

Rule 2 Do not overinvest.
If she doesn’t have a bike, borrow one or get a used one cheaply. Buy only the essentials: bike shorts, glove, and a helmet. A thousand dollars is a lot of money to spend on what could turn out to be only a one-day outing. You don’t want her to feel guilty about the $600 Trek spending the rest of its years in the garage.

Rule 3 Tell her the basics.
Knowing how to corner is important, but not necessary for the first ride. The most intimidating, confusing, and important things about mountain biking are shifting and braking. Give her a lesson on shifting gears and using the back brake. Tell her about cross-chaining so she doesn’t work against herself. Do this in the parking lot right before the ride so she remembers. Teach her trail etiquette and explain why uphill riders have the right-of-way. Stop there. Answer her questions, of course, but resist the urge to tell her about torque and ratios. Her eyes will glaze over under the haze of too much information.

Rule 4 Start slow.
Maybe your girl is a yoga instructor or world-class skier. Doesn’t matter. Take her on a beginner ride. Remember mountain biking is an inherently dangerous sport. Just because she’s in shape doesn’t mean she’s ready for an intermediate trail. She needs to focus on braking, gearing, and trail etiquette. Throw a rock garden or steep uphill into the mix and the chances for failure increase exponentially.

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The Presidential Five

Bring your mountain bike if you’re heading out to Denver for the Democratic National Convention, August 25-28. The five singletrack rides spotlighted below are part of Jefferson County’s Open Space Parks, less than an hour from Denver. They’re guaranteed to make you feel like the leader of the free world, if only for a day.

Dakota Ridge, the Teddy Roosevelt Ride
Locally known as Dinosaur Ridge, this short, technically punishing ride is so named because of its proximity to dinosaur tracks. You’ll need the speed of the Rough Riders to glide over the many rocky sections and nerves of steel to navigate the triceratops-shaped ridge. Clear the waterbar steps on one of the ride’s few ascents, and you’ve conquered San Juan Hill all over again. Expect to shed blood. Don’t even think about doing this as an out-and-back. Take CO Hwy 26 back to your car.

Mt. Falcon, the Harry S Truman Ride
The buck stops at Mt. Falcon—you’re either in shape or you’re not. If you are, access Mt. Falcon from the east lot for maximum executiveness: ascending 1800 feet in just under four miles. Nothing in the climb is too steep or too technical, so clearing the Castle Trail from the parking lot to the stone shelter on top is possible but difficult. Head out in early morning because either the sun will bake you or the lightning will hit you, depending on Mother Nature’s mood. Regardless of when you go, bring as much water as you can carry. When you’re done, light up a cigar. You’ve earned it.

Three Sisters, the JFK Ride
You don’t have to be a philanderer to enjoy the Three Sisters. Shade, shade, shade is the name of the game here. Situated in woodsy Evergreen, this is the perfect intermediate ride if you start from the east (first) lot along Buffalo Park Road. Ascend the Evergreen Mountain East Trail’s 600 feet of elevation in just under two miles, and ponder your own Profiles in Courage (or have lunch) on the big boulder along the Summit Trail loop at the top. Carefully navigate your way down the Summit Trail’s loose gravel and zoom through the off-cambered stretches of trail between the tight switchbacks of Evergreen Mountain West. Take a left onto the aptly named Wild Iris trail, cross Buffalo Park Road, and take Silver Fox to Ponderosa to the Three Sisters trail, a technical maze of switchbacks and boulders that will test your mettle and lead you back to your car. If you clear all the sandy, rocky, boulder-lined switchbacks, you’ve earned the presidential physical fitness award.

Apex, the Abe Lincoln Ride
Honestly one of the most demanding rides along Denver’s Front Range. Park at Heritage Square and enjoy a short warm-up before the Apex Trail becomes steep, rocky, twisty, and exposed. For much of its 2.8 miles, the Apex Trail hugs its way around an oversized hill. The reward for your hard work is the Enchanted Forest, a 1.3-mile connector whose loamy dirt and high pines make you think you’re in Lincoln’s birthplace, minus the log cabin. Connect back to the Apex Trail and keep up your speed for the deserved downhill back to the car.

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