Another GGR annual event in da books held at Malibu Creek State Park for the 3^rd time. Dubbed the GGR Rocktober 20^th XC Gala. This year’s event was especially difficult and emotional for me personally for several reasons. I was on crutches (still am), so I couldn’t help out with any of the rides or even much of anything else but announce. And of course this year’s event was dedicated to Danusia Taber, who lost her battle to cancer this past May.

The morning opened up as usual with the girlz signing in and picking up their goodie bags and bike plates. Then many of them headed over to the Hammer and CORBA fuel station for some java and morning goodies.

The morning address was focused on how far we have come in the last 3 years. The enormous amount of women mountain bikers in Los Angeles and sticking with it speaks for itself!  GGR has grown to almost 450 members, most of these ladies in the LA, OC, Ventura and San Diego area. Many of them made the drive to attend this event. Between GGR, Trail Angels and SOCAL Endurance ladies, we have over 1000 women riders! SOCAL is beaming with women who love their dirt!

Women now have a voice in our local cycling community. Women are supporting each other more than ever to continue to ride , socialize, network and most of all have fun!

We talked about how important it is to get to know your local bike shop and be a good consumer. This doesn’t mean you have to spend a lot of money, this means to get to know the staff, make sure everyone in the bike shop not only knows your name, but knows what trails you ride, the bike you ride and the group you typically ride with. This is the start of building a great relationship with your bike shop which hopefully starts a chain reaction down the road. We want the shop staff to address all their women clients by their 1^st name and be able to exceed their expectations as a consumer. We have a voice and we are growing….so please pay attention to us. We spend money in the shops too. We want bike clothes too. We don’t want to purchase components we don’t need.

After I wrapped up the morning address, we brought up some speakers and presented awards.

1^st off was Mark Langton, President of CORBA: http://corbamtb.com/. CORBA is on the back and sleeves of our GGR jersey’s and is a year round supporter to us. Mark talked about the different programs CORBA has to offer, CORBA’S involvement in the cycling community, trail etiquette and slowing down out there, being aware of all the other users on the trails.

Next was Tessa Treadway. Team captain of SOCAL LADIES ENDURANCE TEAM.  This is the largest women’s race team in the country! All levels and genres of mountain biking are welcome!  Amy Rambacher also came forward from the team and explained about a new genre of racing called ENDURO racing which she competes in.  For more information about racing and joining the team, please check out the site here: http://www.socalendurance.net/

Now it was time to bring Lance up. We had an award for Danusia, but we were never able to present it to her since she passed on this past May. So Lance, one of her best MBU buddies, accepted the award on her behalf. Lance talked about the memorial bench going up for Danusia in Sycamore, her favorite place to ride and just chatted about the incredible person she was. Danusia was instrumental in getting GGR off the ground, getting CORBA involved with us, and of course she was my close friend and mentor. I miss her dearly and she is truly missed in our women’s community.

We sold the Danusia Bells at the event all day. The bells can go on your packs or handle bars to ride with her in spirit. All profits from the bells go to the Sarcoma alliance which was hand picked by Danusia for the funds to go to prior to her passing. You can purchase a Danusia bell from GGR or CORBA here: http://www.girlzgoneriding.com/ggr_products/ or here: http://corbamtb.com/store/store.shtml.

At this point, we just had one more speaker to lead us off into our morning rides. GGR’s own skills coach Christine Hirst. Christine didn’t know it, but we had an award to present to her as well!

Christine has been the GGR skills coach for the last 2 events. She has volunteered her time for the day and has made such an impact with the girlz it has been amazing. We thank her so very much for her time, positive energy and great motivational speech to get our day going. The girlz were soooo excited to learn new skills they have never been taught. And to see them use them the same day was so very rewarding. This is what it is about. Improving, helping each other and sticking with it!

We then all got together for a couple of group shots and then the rides were on their merry way!

The beginner’s started off with their skills clinic with GGR coach Christine Hirst while the advanced beginner’s, intermediate and advanced rides headed out. This year’s beginners and advanced beginners got one big huge treat! Little did they know…..the one and only, Leigh Donovan was one of their volunteer FLOATERS this year! YES! The most decorated woman rider in da world! Leigh was just her usual patient, generous and amazing self with our girlz especially through the long, dry creek bed. What a difference when another woman can show you exactly how it’s done and that..hey, it’s not that hard! YOU CAN DO IT!

We had 5 levels of guided rides for the day. Each with their own route and speed. This year we had a lot of new GGR ride leaders, floaters and sweepers who all did an amazing job! Thank you!

Once everyone got back to the park after their rides, we started the afternoon activities. Lunch, more mingling, the ever popular swap meet, silent auction and the PLUG segment. The plug segment gives the girlz 30 seconds to come up in front of everyone and plug whatever they want.

We then went to present another award from a friend of mine who has been a GGR supporter since day one. Mike Lord, manager of Cycle World. He has helped with every GGR event, volunteered his and his staff’s time and resources. Mike is really a great guy and we were honored to have Sage from Cycle World accept the award for him. Please support Cycle World here: http://cycleworldbikes.com/

Our last inspirational speaker of the day was of course Leigh Donovan. http://www.leighdonovan.com/.

Leigh was just recently inducted in the BMX hall of fame. It was amazing to listen to her story about how little women there were when she was racing BMX and all the changes she has seen in today’s world of women’s cycling. This is Leigh’s 2^nd time volunteering for CORBA and GGR and it really made our day that she was able to not only join us, speak, but really set a great example for our girlz. I thank you so very much Leigh for getting involved in our incredible community of women riders!

We closed out the day with the raffles. Each GGR event is a CORBA membership drive. This year’s grand prize for the CORBA membership raffle drive was a NINER frame! Our own GGR Ride leader Joanne (J) Richards took home the grand prize!

Liv/Giant: http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/livgiant/ was there with the entire new line of 27.5 demo bikes for the girlz to try! This is the 2^nd year Liv/Giant has supported the GGR event with a truck full of demo bikes! 

 

A couple of the girlz, GGR girl Carly and GGR girl Letty, gave us their thoughts after demoing these new bikes:

“I tried the Giant 27.5″ in XS frame.  Boy, was that girly thing full of fun. I only have experience riding 26-inch tires.  I really felt the difference in the traction of the Giant and overall, the rocks and pavement almost disappeared! Or more like, I felt probably 50% less of its rockiness and bumpiness.  I got used to it really, really (surprisingly) fast.  The shifters were nice. The angle was more of a “lean forward” sorta angle, which was a slight adjustment (maybe this is an individual adjustment/modification).

The neat thing is, after demo-ing this bike, I would really consider my next bike to be a 27.5″ inch.  I felt a LOT more stable.  I consider myself an advanced beginner and this bike was just, great.  It made me feel less nervous compared to riding my own bike.  I often still get very nervous riding up and down rocky and technical trails.  I have not tried 29-ers, but I imagine after a longer-term the added weight would bother me.   I read that 27.5″ wheels add 5% weight and 29-ers are an extra 12%  weight (this is a BIG difference!) compared to 26″ wheels.   I am 5′ 4″ and about 112 lbs.   Compared to my 26″ XS Titus frame, the Titus is much more ‘nimble’ versus the 27.5″ felt a lot more safe and stable.  I’d keep the 27.5″!!!” GGR girl Carly

“I rode the Lust Advanced and I am in love.  The bike did all the work for me.  The Lust was made for climbing and speed.  The new tire size is perfect for my riding needs.   I usually ride a Pivot 5.75 and as much as I love it, it gets a little heavy on the long rides.  I’ve always been a little worried about not having enough gears if I rode a 1 x anything but I didn’t feel like I was missing anything on this bike. I am hoping Santa is going to be very good to me this Christmas.” GGR girl Letty

We are so very grateful to all of our volunteers and supporters! This is a team effort. There are many people behind the scenes that make the GGR events possible and we couldn’t do it without you! Please support the companies who support GGR!

CORBA

HAMMER Nutrition

Luna

Shredly

Cycle World

Kali Protectives

Newbury Park Bike Shop

JRA Bike & Brew

SOCAL Endurance

Shwings

Turner Bikes

Knolly Bikes

Mountain Bike Action

Liv Giant

Giant Bicyles

BH Skin

Loeka

Dirty Jane

DZ Nuts

Road ID

Red Bull

Dirty Girl Designs

Harlot

Cotz

Hero Kit

Cinema Secrets

The Perfect Peel

Polar

Scar Heal

Tifosi

Go Girl

The Unlikely Cyclist

Muscle Milk

Kramp Krushers

Matrix Concepts

Atlas Brace

Niner

Osmo Nutrition

Mountain Bike Skills.com

Sport Legs

Al Unger photography! To purchase pictures from this event, please go here: http://auphotographysales.net/#/gallery/girls-gone-riding-2013/au-ggr-2013-9/

Extra special thanks to all our ride leaders, sweepers and floaters. We had a few honorary GGR members this event (men), who did an outstanding job in volunteering their time to us out on the trails as well.

Extra Extra thanks and kudo’s to Christine Hirst and Leigh Donovan. And finally, my biggest shout outs, thank you’s and kudo’s to GGR Co Director Kimberly Cofield whom I couldn’t have survived without her this year, Miyuki Tanaka our amazing IT person who juggles everything while being a new mom, and Laura Watts who got our act together administratively this year.

I thank you all from the bottom of my heart. I’m so very proud to call you all GGR girlz. I hope to see many of you at the Holiday Ride and lunch at Cheeseboro December 8^th. Please sign up here: https://www.facebook.com/events/676862972338954/.

We are also raising funds for our own custom tent and tables for all future events. To contribute to the fund raising, please go here: https://fundanything.com/en/campaigns/ggr-easy-up-tent-and-tables?col=-28582

On a personal note, I thank each and every one of you for your compassion and support. My ACL surgery is November 15^th. I have a long road ahead and I can’t wait to get back on the trails with all of you!

GGR Girl Wendy E!

http://www.venturacountytrails.org/Movies/MalibuCreekStatePark/2013-10GGRTeaserPop.html

http://www.bicycleretailer.com/north-america/2013/10/18/third-annual-socal-ladies%E2%80%99-mountain-bike-festival-planned?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=facebook#.UmyI2fnBOSr

 

 

 

The new GGR DH jerseys have arrived and O are they sharp and comfy! These jerseys are custom made to order. You can place your orders online here: http://www.girlzgoneriding.com/ggr_products/

Cinema Secrets will be sponsoring the GGR Rocktober Women’s XC Gala

I started wearing makeup in September of 2013 at the age of 38.  Yes, the age of 38.  When I was 14 I begged and begged my mother to let me wear makeup.  The house rules were the strict “no makeup until you are 16″ standard.  By the time I could wear makeup, I had no idea how to put it on and my peers had teased me enough that I no longer cared.  I’d buy mascara, lipstick or a compact every now and then just so that I owned something. 

I was a bridesmaid in a wedding a few years ago and had my makeup done by the Origins counter at the local Gottschalks.

Last month I was invited by Cinema Secrets to come down and see their product line and receive a mini makeover.  I was apprehensive.  I always have trouble finding foundation for my skin tone.  There is usually a vast array of colors of foundation, but rarely anything that fits the skin tone for women of color.  But, I decided to go.  And I am glad I did.

Danny and his makeup artists showed me around the Burbank Store which was decorated for Halloween.  If you are looking for halloween costumes, accessories, masks, etc, they have it all there. 

Danny asked me what makeup I currently used.  So I showed him my ziplock bag of assorted, mix matched stuff.  I don’t think they were impressed with my drugstore and department store selections.  So they went to work selecting items for  me.

They applied a thin layer of their silicon Foundation Sealer.   The purpose is to create a smooth finish prior to applying the foundation.

Then, came the foundation (one color for the dark eye circles, one color for the rest of my face).  Cinema Secrets utilizes a Moisture Spray to help apply the foundation smoothly. 

After the silicon sealer, application of the foundations came the powder.   I learned that application of the powder is more deliberate than I have seen in the movies.  I highly suggest taking a class at Cinema Secrets to learn the proper application techniques.  Applying makeup takes skill and finesse. 

Once the powder was applied, the makeup artist was able to give me beautiful eyebrows.  My eyebrows are very thin as they reach towards my temples.  The artist was able to work magic on them with just a brush, water and eyeshadow.

The finishing touch was a few spritzes of Super Sealer.  This is a sweat inhibitor.

For those allergic to latex.  They used  non-latex foam pads for applying my makeup.

Cinema Secrets is one of the GGR sponsors for the Rocktober Event.  Look for discounts in your Goodie Bags and also, they will have items in the Raffle and Silent Auctions.

I made Danny a commitment to try his products.  Cinema Secrets is a family owned company.  His father Maurice is well regarded.  The steps to apply the makeup are quite simple.  The only thing I struggle with is application of the powder.  I don’t bother with shaping my brows.  I am more considered with applying the foundations to even out my skin tone.  So far I really like the products.  They don’t feel heavy or oily.  And I was taught how to apply the makeup so that it looks very natural.

www.cinemasecrets.com

Facebook:  Cinema Secrets
Twitter:  @cinemasecrets

GGR Kimberly Cofield

 

 

I have been personally using SportLegs now for over 7 years. This product is a MUST! It slows the lactic acid process down so your quads don’t burn! We are thrilled to have them provide SportLeg packs in every single goodie bag this year! Ladies………try this product! It works! I don’t ride with out them! http://www.sportlegs.com/about/welcome.asp

CORBA’S own President, Mark Langton, has graciously donated a 1 hour private clinic and a copy of his book for one of our raffles! Thank you Mark!

The GGR Rocktober 20th event is also a CORBA Membership drive and fund raiser! Renew your CORBA membership or purchase a new membership by Oct 19th and get entered to bring home a NINER Frame being raffled off at the GGR Rocktober 20th event! http://corbamtb.com/join/index.shtml

To register for the Rocktober 20th XC Gala, go here: https://sites.google.com/site/girlzgoneriding/ggr-presents-the-rocktober-xc-gala-2

 

 

Women are not small men. During our menstrual cycle our internal temperature varies by 0.5°C, while our sodium losses increase and plasma volume drops. Dr. Stacy Sims developed Active Hydration for Women to address these physiological realities to help female athletes:

• Increase Power Output
• Improve Endurance
• Avoid Premenstrual-Related Performance Decline

Get the nutrition that matches your physiology and see how much better you feel and perform.

http://osmonutrition.com/store/products.html?product=active_hydration

Hammer Nutrition is supplying GGR with goodie bags and drinks for our fuel station for the 2nd year! Hammer will be generously providing GGR with:
150 single serving samples of a Hammer Nutrition Gel – to be included in the goody bags, 1 per bag.
150 single serving samples of a Hammer Nutrition Bars – to be included in the goody bags, 1 per bag.
150 Hammer Nutrition & Compex logo goody bags pre-stuffed
5 containers of HEED – to be used at the aid stations to cover your sports drink needs
200 HEED cups – to be used at the aid stations for serving HEED only, not water.
5 Recoverite – for the end of your event

Thank you so very much Hammer! We are thrilled to have you supporting our event again!

I am sooooooooooooooo excited to have this women’s exclusive riding boutique a part of the GGR Rocktober 20th XC Gala! I have personally ridden with this shop and had a great experience getting help with product recommendations. Fast, very knowledge staff and woman owned! Their shop rides are all NO DROP rides just like GGR.

Lisa Kano runs this wonderful, all women’s boutique in beautiful Costa Mesa. There are shop rides, training rides and more. Please support this women’s boutique! http://theunlikelycyclist.com/

 

Welcome Tifosi Optics as a GGR Roctober 20th XC Gala supporter! Tifosi will be donating some of their 2014 line of glasses for the raffles and silent auctions.

Please visit Tifosi Optics at: http://www.tifosioptics.com/