Saturday, October 22, 2011

A Woman's Place

No, the title isn't what you think. This entry doesn't completely reflect the title. Don't worry... we won't be going into a feminist post today.

The past couple of weeks have been tough. I knew it would happen. Classes are getting to that point, midterms just passed, life brings unwelcome stressors, and so on. Yeah, I'm usually a happy-go-lucky person, but lately I've been on some sort of emotional/mood roller coaster. A couple of my friends know what's been going on and have helped me a bunch, because this psychology student would have probably been an awesome case study for our department after a complete mental breakdown. Ironic, isn't it? Hey, psych students... you know how we are.

I wasn't looking forward to today, either. Little sleep, stressed over some lab reports and a couple of papers/exams. I fed, filled all the water troughs, did stalls, and then I went on a trail ride for the first time since July 2nd (the day The Spanky went lame).

I didn't know what to expect. I've never ridden Vinnie, the horse (you dirty-minded people), outside of the arena. I turned my Garmin on (I'm addicted) and off we went. I decided we would go from the barn to the Granite Bay staging area, about 5 miles one way. We trotted, walked, trotted some more. The trails were beautiful... maybe too many bugs but whatever. It was wonderful out there.

I was in my element. Everything that had been stressing me out,
be it school or whatever has
been going on outside of it, left my mind. It was gone for the 10 miles I rode out on the trails. I was happy, I was laughing at Vinnie's little quirks, I was saying hello to people I ran into on the trail. I had the biggest, most genuine smile on my face I've had in a long, long time. It was a release from everything. All I had to think about was my destination and which trail I was going to take.

We got back to the barn and I put Vinnie away. I was happy, I was content, I was back to the mood I love to be in. I then went to the Jack's (the vet) to visit him. His wife passed away so I went to chat with him. Before I left, he said, "You're contagious. You're always laughing and smiling. It's a good thing to be." And that's when I realized that I need to have horses around me. I need the trails, their escape, and their fun to be the contagiously happy person people know me as. I could never quit trail riding. It's my passion and it's my life.

Once again to the barn, and my horse was at the gate to greet me. As soon as I said, "Hey boo-butt!" his little face lit up as if his world was made. I went to him and the first thing he did was nuzzle my hair. Someone had told me that since I can't ride him for a while, I should get rid of him and get another horse. I can't throw him away, and I said so to this person. After almost 11 years, this horse has taught me what real love and friendship is. When I need a shoulder to cry on, he's there, and he stands patiently until I feel like it's going to be okay... it's as if he can make all heart ache, all stress, and all sadness go away. And he did just that. He let me hug him and he stood there and made me feel as if nothing was a big deal. He'd nuzzle my shoulder or hair and made me smile. I felt safe.

Our horses become our best friends. They're the ones who will never hurt us on purpose, who will let us cry on their shoulders, who won't judge us in our worst of moments, who will patiently help us with our mistakes, who will help us become better riders, who will never criticize us for the mistakes we make and help us become better people, who will never abandon us, and who will never break our hearts. I don't care how "useless" my horse is; he's made me the contagiously happy person I am now.

That saying is right... a woman's place is on a horse.



Saturday, October 15, 2011

She's a Diva!

When I first got the Grammo, I thought it totally looked like a Stanley. I mean, c'mon, let's face it; it was the PERFECT name. You don't think so? Whatever. It looked like a Stanley (and how hilarious is it to say to people, "yup, I'm gonna ride Stanley!")

After doing a couple of good rides on Stanley (admit it, you laughed), I noticed that the name didn't suit it. The bike is light, sensitive, gorgeous to look at, and it has attitude. Everyone notices it, has to make a comment about how pretty it is, go ga-ga over it, and pretty much want a piece of it... and the vibe it gives when it's in action is plain awesome.

Holy shit! She's a diva.

That's right. The Grammo has been called The Diva, and not just by me, but by many people who have seen it. The feel and the attitude is perfect.

Everyone, meet The Diva!

Monday, October 10, 2011

The New Guy: Love at First... Ride?

Whoever said that love at first sight doesn’t exist is probably right. Love at first ride, however, is a different story. Now, now! Don’t be dirty; I’m talking about a bicycle.

I first laid eyes on the pink C3 when I saw Asa’s and Avery’s bikes at a local criterium. Was I jealous? Yes. Did I want one? Uh, yeah! Pink and black are my favorite colors, but I wasn’t on the market for a bike just yet. Later on, I decided that I needed an upgrade and after several different rides on many different bikes and plenty of heartbreak, Avery’s mom, Kris, offered to let me ride and race Avery’s bike.



Since I obviously didn’t decline the offer, I rode it a few times and then took it to the Winters Road Race in, you guessed it, Winters, CA. Avery’s a bit taller (okay, okay… so I’m short!) so the bike was a bit too big for me, but it had a great feel to it and it was light. The uphill was fine (though she has a standard crank on it and I usually ride a compact. Found that out on the up – whoops!), the handling was amazing, and the descent was even easier.







I was sold.

A couple of weeks later, Kris gave me the okay to ride the bike at the Folsom Cyclebration Criterium. Once again, the bike was too big and I definitely felt it after being on the drops for 40 minutes, but the handling, cornering, and speed surges were no problem on it. Actually, the cornering was amazing.

(I know, the stem is too high. The whole bike was too high!)


I also took the bike to Sac State to attract more people to join our cycling club. It worked. People loved it, others couldn’t stop from touching it, some drooled over it, and many asked questions. Very importantly, as a 24-year old college student, I have to say, awesome dude magnet.

Did I mention I was sold?

So, I did the natural thing and called Peter and ordered a bike. As far as components I got full Sram Force and a compact crank. Pink brakes, pink skewers. Pink, pink, pink! I just need to get a pink/black saddle and I’ll be golden! I didn’t get the awesome wheels that Avery’s bike has because I want those to be my carrot for when I get enough points for a category upgrade. Hey, gotta have something, right?


After [im]patiently waiting for my bike to arrive, taking it out of the box, and jumping like a little school girl, I took it to Asa’s and she built it for me because, as we all know, she’s awesome. Once I got the message that it was done, I once again jumped like a school girl while smiling like a fool and went to pick it up. Got a quick fit and off I was. I got a new toy!

































I even got a Garmin. First time ever to get a Garmin! Yes, you can say it, it looks pretty sexy.

I was wrong. Love at first sight does exist.

I’m looking forward to the race season. I’ll be racing collegiate again, and, as far as I know, I’ll be the only one on a Grammo out there. Not only on a Grammo, but on an awesome pink and black Grammo! On a frame that’s just my size, too. This is my very first nice race bike. I predict that there will be some hurt being thrown out there.

How sexy is this? I know... This dude magnet will be getting even more work as soon as the weather is nice again. As horse people say, "Let him work for his oats" when talking about our horses, well, this baby is going to "work for his tune ups." ;-)