Article

Girls Gone Wilder VII: DeLaveaga!

Tags: 

  • GGW newcomer Alyssa, riding like a natural. HT photo.
  • Nate Trumble spins the wheel of misfortune in the 'fix a flat' part of the pre-ride workshop at Bicycle Trip. HT photo.
  • SPELLBOUND! HT photo.
  • A bike clinic without refreshments is like a day without sunshine.
  • Joh Rathbun cranking up the fire road. HT photo.
  • Into each ride some uphill must come. HT photo.
  • Suzie Thomas blazes up the last stretch before the golf course. HT
  • Karen Kefauver enjoying her first ride in too long. Welcome back! HT photo.
  • To the Top of The World! HT photo.
  • Andrea Lee checks her bike while Karen Kefauver stretches the gams.
  • Looking respectable at the Top of The World.... photo by Karen Kefauver.
  • ... and then reverting to goofball type. Photo by Josh Kaneg.
  • Back row, L-R: Cindy, Andrea Lee, Becca Woodward, Kimi Owen and Becky; Front row: Suzie Thomas, Karen Kefavuer, Alyssa, Joh Rathbun (Joh, quit making fun of Traci!), Traci Hukill and Alyse Weyman. Photo by Josh Kaneg.
  • Becky thrills the spectators at the first technical section on La Corona. HT photo.
  • A teaching moment on La Corona. This is approximately the place where the skirt migrated from Alyse to Josh. HT photo.

Santa Cruz women's mountain biking group Girls Gone Wilder headed to Bicycle Trip for a bike maintenance clinic before pedaling up to De Laveaga on Feb. 16.

by Traci Hukill

Feb. 21, 2014—Last Sunday's Wrench 'n' Ride at De Laveaga was dreamy: perfect temperatures, nice trail conditions after a smattering of rain overnight and, as always with Girls Gone Wilder, a good group of women to pedal out with.

We met first at Bicycle Trip, where longtime mechanic Nate Trumble demonstrated for our little gang some of the tricks to changing a tire on the trail (like putting screws and gadgets in your upside-down helmet so as not to lose them in the dirt). We got the word on chain lube, washing a bike (and drying it off) and popping an innertube and tire back into a wheel. And all this entertainment along with a feast of gluten-free crackers and dip, trail mix, fruit and cookies courtesy Bicycle Trip and your friends at Hilltromper. About 15-20 GGW regulars, plus some new faces, gathered in the back of the shop for the lesson.

A few of the women at the workshop didn't ride, so our group of 11 girls, plus Tripster mechanic Josh Kaneg, headed to De La. (Eventually someone suggested that Josh put on Alyse Weyman's trademark polka-dot skirt over his shorts, which he did with good grace, and completed the ride lookin' mighty fine.) Led by Andrea Lee, Joh Rathbun and Alyse, we split into two groups, one on the fire road and one on the Redwood Lower Loop, and met at the golf course to finish the pedal up to the Top of the World. There Karen Kefauver orchestrated a photo sesh before we started back down the La Corona trail. We stopped at a few technical spots for mini-clinics and to watch the experienced riders blaze through challenging sections.

The next Girls Gone Wilder ride is at Nisene Marks on March 23. We'll hit Kauboi afterward for snacks. Put it on your calendar!

ALSO, Nate Trumble will be presenting a basic Get To Know Your Bike clinic at Bicycle Trip on Thursday, March 13 at 6:30pm. $20 gets you in the door and lands you with an innertube, tire lever and patch kit. RSVP to 831.427.2580.

Category: 

Parks

Community

Gear