Blowing out the Cobwebs

We're finally starting to see some warms temps, and it is about time.

It's been a cold, frozen, wet winter in Omaha.  Occasional snowfall, and freezing rains, and freeze/thaw cycles have kept us all off dirt singletrack since about early December.  Sure, some folks have gotten out on the frozen snow on fatbikes, but even for those with the big squishy tires, the "good" snow conditions have been few & far between.  

We watch the forecasts in a few places south of us, always looking for winter getaways to warmer riding and dry dirt!  With temps in the 50's & 60's this last weekend, we headed to the Switchgrass Mountain Bike Trail.  For me, this was my first time riding a mountain bike since Thanksgiving!  

I wasn't gonna survive the trip without getting a little overzealous on a fast portion of trail littered with loose rock, and laid it down when the front wheel washed off camber.  Seems like I need to blow the cobwebs out of my mountain biking skills!  Even with multiple certifications and years of experience, I still crash sometimes-- and truth be told I do enjoy pushing my own limits on occasion. 

We all need to ease into our skills and abilities-- having the right information, then practicing riding under the helpful eyes of coaches and friends can help all of us dial in a better ride, and ride right!

Also, we're dusting the cobwebs off this blog-- we promise to bring you fun, educational mountain bike content, some facts, some informed opinions, and some sharing of fun & adventures.  We hope to inspire you to learn, improve yourself as a rider, and contribute your story to the good times ahead.

Join us for a 1-day beginner clinic this spring on April 21.  

A trip to The Great Wide Open

When Ryan and I met, it was on a group trip to Moab, Utah. That was 2002. We fell hard for the bleak and beautiful moonscape, returning every year with new friends, excited to share with them our new discovery of the mountain bike mecca.

The last time we were there was around 2014, about the time enduro racing started, taking us to new lands and new landscapes. Enduro found its way to Moab in the theme of The Whole Enchilada, a race down from the peaks of the Las Sals to the the end of the jeep track portion of the Porcupine Rim trail. We tried it three times in the last 7 years. The first time, Ryan was injured so I raced it with a friend of ours who took his race plate. The next year, it snowed like a banshee the day before the race and we had to literally slide on our asses down the steep switchbacks at the top. The next year it snowed again and the race was moved to the next day and we had to go home. It was some kind of curse. We hadn't been back since.

Jump ahead 3 years and The Whole Enchilada race was back on our calendar. It was earlier than it's ever been, mid September, so things were looking good until about Fruita, Colorado where we drove through a desert storm of epic proportions. Once in Moab, the rain was torrential, but we were still 3 days out from race day so we weren't too concerned. Stuff dries within hours in that part of the country. 

We made it to our campsite near the Slick Rock trail head. The skies were clearing but we could see another wave of rain coming on the western horizon. With not much daylight left, we decided to pass the time and scramble up the slickrock behind our campsite. What we saw dropped our jaws. SNOW in the mountains where were were to start the race!!! We could not believe it. The curse was back!

The next two days were spent riding the lower trails but then we heard the start of the race was dry so we self-shuttled up to it and sure enough, the dirt was bone dry. I wouldn't have believed it after seeing the dollup of new powder just two days prior. 

So race day was clear and crisp with just a hint of fall in the air. Pockets of aspens were turning and the rains had forced the fragrance of the junipers and sage into the air and the true, rich colors of the high desert were revealed.

Both of us managed to get on the podium of that race but that was just icing on the cake. Camping under a canopy of stars and gazing upon 360 degree horizon all day were really what we took back with us.

Moab is a special place for us and we'll never tire of returning to her. 

We are still here

RandR Outside are still around and riding dirt! As much as I'd like to be a consistent blogger, I'm just falling flat on my face! The season thus far has been a whirlwind with travel, clinics, racing, race promotion and now as we look at the upcoming fall season, more enduro racing and promoting the high school racing series. Whew!

But, we haven't forgotten about our beloved students of dirt who are asking for more learning opportunities.

We are happy to announce we will hold a single-day clinic this fall. The single-day format was carefully considered and though we truly believe we can teach a week's worth of content, trying to fit it all in in two-day clinics was tough and tough for folks to commit to a full weekend.

So, after some thought we're going to try the single-day format. We believe that riders at any level can benefit from the basics but those who are just starting out are the people that need and should get the most coaching. This way we can stop bad habits from forming and instill confidence before doubt and frustration take over. 

Single-day clinics for beginners will cover the basics of body position and bike handling. For more intermediate riders, or if you've taken our clinic in the past, the coaches will focus on adding more challenge to your drills. 

We are on a journey always and this is a test to see if the single day is better suited for this market than two-days. With all of our busy lives, this just might be the ticket for riders to sneak away for a day but still be home in time for dinner!

Ride Inspired!