Goodbye Alice, Hello Fall!

My road bike Alice has found herself a new home, and I am getting really excited about this cyclocross business. I've narrowed it down to a few models, and now I just have to make a decision. I wish I could build one up exactly how I want, but I can't really afford that right now. Instead, the choice lies between the new Specialized Crux Comp (in bee-tastic yellow and black!) and the 2010 Redline Conquest Pro. I like the wheels, gearing, and internal cable routing on the Specialized. But the Redline's drivetrain is a little nicer and it's likely to be a little cheaper. I really, really, really like both bikes. How am I supposed to make a decision?!

While I've been dwelling on what bike to get, it's been turning into fall. Today's air is chilly and crisp, and for the first time this year, it started to feel like fall. Now, it was plenty cold for the Logsplitter race last weekend, but that was more of a "disgusting February freezing rain with a side of hurricane-force wind" kind of cold, not a fall kind of cold. It's finally time to don a sweater and layer up the leggings under my skirt.

Fall is also my favorite time to ride once the ragweed pollen dies down. It's exciting to ride over a carpet of colorful leaves, not being sure if they're hiding roots, rocks, or a slick of mud. The folliage can change the perception of your favorite trail, and sometimes makes you fall in love with it all over again for different reasons (as was my experience with Burchfield last year). Fall's cool temperatures mean longer road rides too, with destinations like cider mills instead of ice cream shops.

Typing this out makes me kind of sad, because I'm single again and no longer have someone to go with me on those kinds of rides. It's not easy when you lose not just the person you love, but also your best friend and favorite riding partner. I try to keep personal stuff out of my blog though, so I'll stop myself before I go into much more detail.

I'm looking forward to a busy season. It will be full with cyclocross races, group rides (now that I know of local rides; thanks Jeff!), Iceman, and maybe even Massive Fallout. And that's just the bike stuff—there's plenty of camping, concert-going, and festivals in the works, too.

Riding alone...

Recently a topic was started on the MMBA forum about riding alone. I wasn't surprised to read that others, like myself, ride alone a good portion of the time. I was, however, surprised to see one member comment that women should "beware" of riding alone and should take with them a male partner just in case. No, not surprised. More like "shocked and offended."

Now, I tend to think that when I ride alone on a mountain bike trail, my biggest risk is severely injuring myself and having to hike/stumble/crawl/lurch my way back to the trailhead, not that there's some molester there lying in wait to get me. And why should I?

Honestly, what kind of rapist sits around mountain bike trailheads waiting for women alone on bikes to show up? Not a very good one, that's what. And that's because the vast majority of the people mountain biking are dudes. It's just not an efficient place to scope out victims! Not like, say, a college campus.

Which brings me to my next point: if I was worried about being accosted by a rapist around every dark corner, well, I never would have managed to get home from my 6-9pm drawing classes at MSU. Now, I don't have a complete disregard for safety. On my bike I stick to daylight hours (though honestly, that's more due to the fact that I haven't yet invested in a nice set of lights) and keep my wits about me. I carry tools in case of a mechanical, and I know how to use them. I wasn't raised to be scared of what's in the dark*, and I'll be damned if I need a man to protect me from what lurks in it (and a scrawny man at that, since all of my male riding friends are anorexic roadies).

Of course, I'm also the kind of girl who goes on solo hikes, and solo camping trips, and solo adventures in general. Wow, that kind of makes me sound like a hermit. I'm not, I swear! But really, riding alone is great. There's nothing like spinning your legs, zoning out, and taking in a bit of nature with nobody there to interrupt. It's my zen.

*Save for that one time the power went out, and I freaked out and called two of my best guy friends at 1 in the morning shaking in a ball. That doesn't count though, not in this situation.

Her name is Sybil.

Christened the Paragon today with mud and a new name: Sybil.

And it was amazing. I was nervous about riding clipless offroad, but my worries were completely unfounded. I think I'm going to love this mountain biking stuff. Unfortunately I came back sans photos—sorry, but I was too busy actually riding to bust out the camera. Maybe next time.

Then again, maybe if I rode with other people more I wouldn't have to take my own pictures. Unfortunately I tend to go on rides as early as possible, which apparently isn't all too popular. I missed out on one potential riding partner this morning due to my morning habits, and got declined twice (in advance!) for a ride tomorrow for the same reasons. Is 9:00 AM really that early? Be thankful it's not the summer anymore, for my morning rides in June and July tend to depart at 6:00 AM or earlier when the sun is up. All I can say is, AYHSMB. Morning rides rock.