Monday, April 26, 2010

This sums it up right now


Beside the Point Stephen Cushman, from The Virginia Quarterly Review

The sky has never won a prize.
The clouds have no careers.
The rainbow doesn't say my work,
thank goodness.

The rock in the creek's not so productive.
The mud on the bank's not too pragmatic.
There's nothing useful in the noise
the wind makes in the leaves.

Buck up now, my fellow superfluity,
and let's both be of that worthless ilk,
self-indulgent as shooting stars,
self-absorbed as sunsets.

Who cares if we're inconsequential?
At least we can revel, two good-for-nothings,
in our irrelevance; at least come and make
no difference with me.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Come ride with me in Slatyfork,WV








The Staff at Elk River has been offering women’s specific clinics and tours for over fifteen years. We have been fortunate to work with several of the top women racers and instructors in the sport. In a classroom of lush eastern singletrack, we’ll build on basic techniques, confidence and having fun!!

Dates: May 21-23, 2010 and September 24-26, 2010
Sue Haywood and Meredith Erlewine will lead these fun, challenging and pampering weekends!

Day One - Arrival Arrive in time to ride by 3pm
Arrive at Elk River in Slatyfork, shake the highway out of your system, and settle into one of our charming B&B rooms. If renting a bike, you will be fitted at this time. At 3 pm, we’ll get together to meet the rest of the group, swap a few stories about how, why and where each of us got into the sport, and try to learn each other’s name. We will check bike and helmet fit, and then try some instructional exercises: fun, informative techniques practiced to make the more complicated skills simpler. Then we’ll head out for a short ride nearby (6 miles) to put our newly learned skills into practice, and then back to the inn to clean up and socialize before dinner.

Day Two
Coffee and breakfast at 8am, and then we’ll load the van and shuttle to a local trailhead. We’ll ride a total of about 15-20 miles today, taking several breaks for rest and instructional tips. Lunch will be packed and carried so that you may snack all day at your leisure. We’ll finish out the trail and come back to the center by 4-5 pm, leaving you free to hot tub, nap, chat and clean up for dinner on the deck. Either before or after dinner we’ll discuss some of the basics of bike mechanics.

Day Three
Another tasty breakfast starts our day out right, and we’ll load the van to shuttle part of the way up the mountain. Climb up, drop in, and we’ll hit the singletrack. A fun downhill and ride back to the center will put us at about 10 miles today. Clean and pack up before getting together for a sumptuous lunch buffet, exchanging addresses and snapshots. We are usually finished and saying our goodbyes between 1-2 pm.

$359-$409/person double occupancy
15% discount when you sign up with a friend!
Call 866-572-3771 to register

Note: Due to the technical level of some of the trails, this tour is not suitable for complete beginners. If you have some biking experience and are game for challenge, it is for you. Please have your bike in tip-top shape when you arrive for the weekend. We have a mechanic on staff for any problems which may arise during the tour. You should have a tire of at least 2" to even consider giving it your best.

*Ride routes may vary due to weather, group ability, and trail conditions, etc.

To register, or for questions, please call 1-866-572-3771

Wednesday, April 14, 2010