This week was my biggest challenge, I was going to try to make it all the way to the top of the trail. The only problem was that by the time I was half way there, I was exhausted. The terrain was harder than I expected, very steep and rocky. I ended up taking a 5 minute break just to catch my breath and hoped that I was going to have the energy to make it to the top. Unfortunately, that did not happen the further I got the harder the trail was. I would have to say that I was very close but my legs just gave up on me. Once again I experience some mechanical failures, the front brakes were not working and this was a big problem when I was going downhill. Maybe I did not do a good job when I was putting the tire on my bike. All I know is that some tools would have come in handy, something that is advised I should always carry when riding. Because of this failure I had to rely on my childhood instincts, I used my feet as a way to slow down when it was possible. There were times when my bike was just sliding because the back brakes were not enough. Although I did not make it to the top of the trail, making my way down to my car in one piece felt amazing.
I finally feel comfortable riding my bike, it was the first time while I have been doing this project that everything was going well. The bike did not give me any trouble and I was able to explore another side of the trail. I was able to use the right gears and has able to change gears without a problem whenever I had to. I would be lying if I did say I did not fall off my bike a couple times. I did get some scratches and bruises but I was having fun. I would have to say that my biggest challenge this week was when I would encountered hikers, sometimes I did not know what to do and it freak me out not knowing what direction to take in order to avoid hitting anybody. The trail had more people than usual. which is a problem when the trail is not wide enough for a bike and another person, but safety in my number one priority and I do not want to hit anybody or injure myself. My goal for the following week is to be able to ride the whole length of the trail and make it all the way to the top. I guess I am going to have to wait one more week to find out.
After performing some maintenance on my bike and working on the brakes I felt like I could explore the trail and go to places that I had not had the chance to see. For the last couple of weeks I have been playing it safe but this week I decided that I was going to try to go faster and further than before. I am starting to get more comfortable with my bike. Unfortunately, I still ran into some problems with my bike, I do not know if this had anything to do with the maintenance I performed or if it was something else. I kept hearing a really loud sound and the bikes chain kept skipping. I was also having trouble going uphill and I was afraid to change gears because the chain could break. For next week I will research the gears that I should use when going uphill and explore a new trail on the other side of the mountain. I will also inspect my bike before riding it on the trail.
My goals for this week were to continue to explore the trail and ride a little faster. It was harder than I expected, especially when I was going downhill I had to use both brakes on the bike. The terrain was also difficult due to the rain. I thought that I was going to make it further down the trail but I was only able to go a little more than last week. I was not able to go any faster but I can blame the rain for that. I still need to do more research on safety and bike maintenance. I am also trying to get more comfortable with the bike and see what I am capable of doing and what things to avoid.
Here is my first post and here is the link to the video. For this week I had two simple goals, which were explore the terrain and not fall. The terrain was difficult to navigate because this was my first time mountain biking and I had not been on a bike for a very long time. I did not get to explore much as I found the terrain harder than I had anticipated. I decided to be extra careful and go slow for my first ride. I knew that both going uphill and downhill was going to be difficult. I have to admit that I had to get of my bike a couple of times because I could no longer continue uphill. I also had no intention of falling and did not removed my hands from the breaks the entire time I was ridding. The good think about being scared is that I was aware of my surroundings and decided to play it safe by following the tire marks of other bikes. I am glad I made it back without falling and I have to say that it was quite an adventure.
After thinking about my two topics, I have decided to ride in a slightly
different way. The topic for my 20% project will be mountain biking. The first thing I thought about when I heard about the 20% PROJECT was to spend my time learning how to swim. It’s a shame that I live in San Diego and I do not get to enjoy the beach because I am afraid of the ocean. I have thought about asking my friend to provide free swimming lessons. I can also use the pool at my apartment complex.
The second idea I have for the 20% PROJECT is mountain biking. Since I moved here couple of years ago I realized how big mountain biking is, besides it was also recommended by my friends. My biggest challenge with this project is that I have not ridden a bike on a regular bases for the past 10 years. However, I do know that riding a bicycle is one of those things that you never forget how to do. Swimming 1) Is it better to learn how to swim with my head above the water or submerge? 2) How do I stop and stand up when swimming? 3) How can I conquer my fear of water? 4) What are some of the health benefits of swimming? 5) Do I breathe out my nose and my mouth? Or just one or the other? 6) Is it beneficial for adults to use floaties? 7) Should I wear goggles when swimming? 8) Approximately how many training sessions do I need in order to learn how to swim? 9) How long should a swimming lesson be? 10)What are some swimming exercises that I can do by myself. Mountain Biking 1) What gear should I use for my first ride? 2) Should I ride my mountain bike differently than a cycling bike? 3) What is the best way to ride downhill? 4) What gears should I use when going uphill? 5) What is the purpose of mountain biking? 6) How often should I perform maintenance on my bike? 7) What are the risks of mountain biking? 8) Should I be scared? 9) What is the most difficult part of mountain biking? 10) What will I learn from this experience? |
Participating in a 20% project to learn something new and exciting. Archives
April 2016
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