Fun With the Ladies in Slatyfork, W.V.

June 23-25 I headed to Slatyfork, W.V., to lead a Women's Weekend tour at the Elk River Touring Center.

Co-tour guide Kristy Mantz and I had the pleasure of riding with eight women who kept their composure and good attitudes even during one of the worst thunderstorms I have ever ridden through. The raindrops were big, cold and didn't let up. And they started falling when we were only about a third of the way down Props Run, an infamous eight-mile downhill in the Monongahela National Forest. In 1994 I went home from Props with a cut in my knee that required stitches. In 2004 I descended the trail to a victorious first-place finish with my husband in the Wild 100 race. This year I left Props with a broken finger. That's just a sampling of the crazy things that have happened to me on that trail -- it always packs a punch.

While we weren't riding we were enjoying food, beer and wine in ERTC's gourmet restaurant. Mary makes the best food. Yum!

Here are a few pics from the weekend, featuring Cindy, Shawna, Mary Kay, Jane, Marci, Lora, Kathleen and Jen. Good job, ladies! You all were a pleasure to meet and I hope you continue to enjoy mountain biking, rain or shine. (Click on the thumbnails for larger images and to view as a slide show.)

I'll be back at Elk River Sept. 15-17 to help host another Women's Weekend, featuring Sue Haywood!

Getting ready for skills drills in the yard.	Riding around in the yard.	Jen leads the circle.

Lora rolls by.	Climbing practice ...	... and descending practice.

Jane rolls on by.	Mary Kay and Cindy.	Jane!

Shawna!	Cindy!	Marci rocks it!

Photo op at the Tea Creek Parking Lot.	And another at Sharp's Knob.	Props Run, before the rain.

The Elk River, Sunday morning.	Nick shows us some tricks in the bike barn.	Kristy has some tricks of her own. The end!

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