Last Womens' Ride of the Season

Not to say I will not be riding with women this Fall, but this was the evening of the last official ride. It was excellent to ride with women every week this Summer. Fit women who love to push hard. It is a great way to spend an evening.

Had to laugh when this grumpy colleague of mine tried to tell me she did not get a workout when biking, and that maybe mountain biking was different. HA! If you don't do it yourself, you may not know just how cardiovascular mountain biking is. I know when I am in mountain biking shape, I am in everything shape. I can run. I can hike. I can do it all with ease, when I am riding my bike regularly.

My bike time has paid off -- I have lost about 10 pounds and dropped 3.4 percent of body fat. My goal was to drop 2 percent. I am going to continue working on it. I had hoped to get in the "Athlete" category (on the BMI chart) over this school year, but I am already there. The extra .4 percent got me there. I was in the "Fit" category and now, I am in with the athletes. Awwww yeah. Gonna keep it rocking for sure. Loving how I am feeling. The regular time with the stud women of my area is what helped get me there. I love hanging with people who push me : )

Here is to an active Fall. The Hurricane has not helped the trails. I squeezed in a ride in Mt. Blue SP between the first day of school and Open House and they have gated the road where they typically gate it for the Winter - I am sure the road is very eroded. I threw my bike over the cable and hit the ATV trails that double as the mountain bike trails and had a good good ride. Love the aggression factor.

But for now, some images from the group ride -- as per usual, Carrabasset Valley did not disappoint (that freaking hurricane sure did though -- completely destroyed the bridge that gets riders to a ton of single track -- on the other side of the Carrabasset River -- we could see the bridge all on its side, down river as we looked at the massive erosion and surging, churning river).

Crocker Cirque from the Outdoor Center

A small group for the last ride, but a new rider joined who is very fit. She and her husband own a timber framing business in Strong. One of our most regular riders, Sarah, was kayaking the Carrabasset -- don't blame her a bit. Not at all interested myself, but totally get that when the river rises, boaters boat.

Dig it.