Lydia's TREK FUEL EX-8 Demo Ride

I must say, I was amazed at what the girlie-girl managed to pull off yesterday. Borrowing a Trek Fuel EX 8 from the Trek Store in New Albany, we rolled out to Alum yesterday. Lyd is a closet mountain biker, and has only done one run at Alum....at night...alone. All she has done in the daylight is the practice-lap across the street.





We rolled out, and the shifting had to be re-learned. After that, it was all business. Riding things I never thought she would try, she rode literally every bridge and obstacle except four. Two bridges and two log obstacles will have to wait until next time. The bridges were scary to watch, but she never panicked and nailed all the ones she tried. While certainly NOT a Tomac Snyper, the bike performed well enough to give Lyd a huge confidence boost.






She rode all the obstacles pictured here, and a lot more.....without a single wreck. My buddy Brian Davis was not so lucky. He came raging through a corner behind us and cased it bad enough to make him lay there for a few minutes. In his defense, he was riding way too fast on a very greasy turn...with tiny slick xc race tires at about 50 psi. Not good.






We had to stop periodically, due mostly to her not used to having to do so much upper body work while riding..and riding a 28 lb trail bike. She was having so much fun by the time we got back to the car, we actually rode across the street to the skills park where she rode all sorts of skinnys, drops, log piles, and rooty bridges. She will tell you that getting off the seat, looking through the corners, and staying loose in the rough and scary stuff will save your life.







After we returned the bike and got home, it was all about left-overs and football. She is now a football fan, and was yelling out loud during the Cardinals game....and the Philly game. Riding, beer, and football...not a bad way to go on a Sunday.





She got all domestic later and did laundry, made cookies, and then came back to watch the rest of the game with me. The whole time she was talking about the ride, and wanting to go back soon to ride he parts he punked out on. The bike worked great for her, and I will certainly keep up the coaching as long as she is enjoying the rides...






*****She rode that log pile!*****







****She did NOT ride that one at the practice park********







****Wet man-berries are nice when you still have five miles to go, and it's 40 degrees utside..***************************************************************






********She rode this too***************************************






*******This was the only bridge she didn't ride...****************************