August 20, 2012

While there are so many things in life that cut into the time needed for website editing, blog and newsletter writing, little can stand in the way of Betty biking time. It is such a pleasure to ride and spend time with this truly amazing group of women, all with different careers and commitments who come together in the name of a hobby about which they are passionate, or curious, in the case of the  beginners. We have just had a very busy weekend at the Ontario Trailblazing festival, held this year at Hardwood Hills Ski and Bike. The group who came out on Saturday was truly fantastic and integral to the running of the event. A huge thank-you to all who came out.

Here's a few in the Creemore Beer Garden

Some of us tented at the camp-soon to be cow pasture-site, set up on a neighboring farm. Turkeys and Pigs, (who knew they could be so noisy in the night!) crickets (zillions of them) and yellow jackets, just 5 pesky ones who simultaneously stung our Pat :(  all presented their own objection to our mini invasion of their corner of the world. It's amazing how a little patch of grass under the shade of a tree can develop that homey feeling, especially the morning after the night before. There on Sunday morning, in our jammies, we were cooking eggs over Cathy's Coleman stove. We all had enjoyed the first class riding, the beer garden, the band, the Redbull Strength in Numbers movie under the stars and the huge bonfire complete with s'mores, the day before, but now we needed our protein to get ready for the upcoming epic ride; a 50k tour of the Hardwood Property and some of the surrounding Simcoe Forest. Another fantastic day on the bike! The registration desk was handily managed by our Heather with some IMBA volunteers and employees while the rest of us went riding. Sacred Rides was there on Sunday providing festival participants with skills clinics which, after everyone had arrived and checked in, Heather was able to partake in.

That's one of the neat things about a festival, everybody's experience is different, they choose different events on the schedule to attend, and all get a different twist on the same great event. I have to say I have needed this day after to rest.

As a club we have been very busy all season and, as mid-August comes and nights get a little cooler and Labour Day approaches, we automatically get a kind of sad sense that summer is over...but IT'S NOT!!...we've still got our free race clinic for members this coming weekend, weeks and weeks left of weekly rides, a few choice events on the horizon, including Provincial Championships at Nordic Highlands in Duntroon, Pulseracing's Epic 8 MTB Relay, Chico's Crank the Shield and Tour de King, the Pusleracing Singletrack Challenge, the whole of the cyclocross season and of course our Betty September and October destination rides all before we need to get out our booties.

We have been doing lots of riding, and had lots of success with races for the Bettys race team this season; the Summer Solstice 24 hour race was a huge success, Canal Days, always a good time, saw just Bettys and SHCC women out in their women's race, and the Ontario Cup series continues with a good Betty turnout and some podium representation, Go Sarah Go!! Only the Championships are left for 2012.

Speaking of our upcoming Championships it is also the last chance for 2012 to TRY AN OCUP. This a opportunity to come out and see what we've been talking about all season. We even have our free learn to race clinic set this coming, Sunday August 26th, on the course at Duntroon to get you ready. We will be holding our clinic for any Bettys who want to come out and ride the course with our fantastic coach from Steve Neal Performance, who will provide 2 hours of riding on the course with pointers and tips, he will then provide a preride/clinic for our race team with a couple of laps of the course including some race pace riding.

This season I've been turning my mind to competition; its definition, how I feel about it, how it affects so many, if not all, aspects of my life, how to make the most of it by embracing its positive aspects and rejecting its negatives. As puzzled as I am about 'it', there is one thing that I am sure of with respect to the Wild Bettys Women's Only Mountain Bike Club, we strive to be non-competitive, welcoming, and fun for all. For our race team members, competition is a key element, of course, its a race team, but  in the spirit of the club, as team members often compete against one another, I can confidently tell you that what makes the Wild Bettys team so rewarding is that the individual's success is the group's success, we strive to be the best we can be individually and collectively.

Thank you Bettys!

Ride On!

Melinda