Sunday was what I'll call my first "real" mountain bike ride of the season.
I had one ride a while ago - I think I mentioned it here - that didn't feel "real" because I was approaching it with a "let's test out my knee and my head" mindset. Also my drivetrain was ghost shifting like crazy. When I got to where the trail starts getting more technical, I turned around.
A week after that, I cleaned the drivetrain and rode on a simple dirt road. My drivetrain was still jumping all over the place, shifting with almost no load. I took it to my LBS. I am honestly not sure when it last had any maintenance, but it had been sitting idle for 1.5 years (shoulder bursitis in the fall of 2015, then ACL in the spring of 2016 - I *may* have ridden it once or twice in between injuries - not sure). Sure enough, the middle rings of the cassette had worn down and needed to be replaced, which was what caused the jumping. I sprang for a pretty major work-over - all the usual stuff, plus fork and rear shock rebuild, bearing maintenance, new bottom bracket, brake bleed ...
Anyway, I rode Springbrook on Sunday. Springbrook is a relatively new trail, just a few years old, and is a lovely addition to the Doughty Draw trail network. It's just over 2 miles for the loop, mellow climb, mellow descent, and you can ride it in either direction. It has just enough rocks to feel like you're riding a trail, while still being extremely approachable. I like to ride it clockwise, so that I'm climbing the somewhat rocky, shaded section of the trail, then descending on buff, swoopy singletrack. Granted, you have to be vigilant coming down because of some blind turns. The ride back down Doughty Draw to the trailhead is also fun and swoopy, with less chance of being blindsided.
My knee-in-recovery (right) was a little cranky to start, but after some pedaling, it chilled out. My "reference knee" (left) was actually more troublesome. I went for a second loop, and that's when my left knee really started yowling. I *think* I recognize this sensation, and if it's what I think it is, a chiro can pop my lower leg bones back to where they belong.
So, pedaling was just fine on my right knee. When I started, it seemed like my left leg was doing all of the work (at least, it's the one that felt sore), but that seemed to balance out over time. The trouble was with anything technical. My right knee wasn't interested in me standing up, let alone pedaling standing up, but this trail doesn't require any of that, anyway. But generally I love descending, and while I'm not the most disciplined about hovering with my pedals at 3 and 9, I am pretty good about adjusting my body off the saddle for rocks and such. Unfortunately, my right knee made the 3/9 position untenable, and it seemed like it took extra time and will power to switch body positions. So I found myself going "up" instead of "back" for the small drops, which of course made me feel like I was going to fly off the bike. Definitely not doing any fast descents until I clear that up.
Good news, I had a couple of "moments" where I had to stop abruptly. My right knee never complained, and my brain isn't blocking anything there. I am experiencing no hesitation, subconscious or otherwise, about putting my foot down when it needs to happen. I had expected more resistance.
Today, my left knee is still doing that thing - I plan to see a chiro after work - and my right knee has gotten cranky, particularly around the lower attachment point. That's pretty common after a new, or intensified, activity.
I am hesitant to share this picture, because ugh, but I'm among friends, right? Gotta start somewhere. Maybe it's a "before"?
The girl who took the picture for me just started mountain biking last season, so I told her about the
Trek Dirt Series. I've already signed up for the one in Park City this season.
if, for some reason, you are interested in the gory details:
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1681719624
Oh, regarding converting to 1x - I verified that I never got to granny - never past third-from-granny. The bike just feels too wobbly without the torque. That's how I've felt on every mountain bike I've ever ridden. Granted, this was not a steep trail, but I don't think that would change my aversion to being in the granny gear and feeling wobbly. Is this a technique issue, or maybe simply a side effect of a slower cadence?