Mountain Biking - Today, it was me versus trail. Trail may have won! :)

After work I stopped at the park for my usual easy trail ride. When I got there I saw a guy who was getting ready for his ride, so I introduced myself. We got to talking bikes and he eventually asked if I wanted to ride together. Since I prefer riding with someone I said sure!

This guy took me out on some of the craziest singletrack I have ever heard of. Rock and log infested climbs, twisting and craggy descents, sand traps, you name it! It was nuts!

Me not being in the best shape, he was nice enough to slow down periodically and wait for me to catch up on the tough climbs.

I never went over, but I got close to losing it a couple of times. Once I felt my rear wheel slip out from underneath me and I manged to straighten it out and keep the bike vertical. I impressed myself a little there.

I basically scared the crap out of myself on oue particular descent that featured a nice sharp, blind turn into a giant log in the road that I had to jump. I power-stroked a wheelie and actually made the jump!

But in the end, the trail beat me. As I approached a nasty, steep climb I decided I didn't have the energy and turned around. My escort tried to make it up, but he decided to walk it himself. Knowing that I probably should have gone with him. But I was whipped.

Anyway - Good ride. A little above my ability level, but it was nice to push it for once.

Now I know the meaning of adrenaline rush.

Hills are meant for going down on them, not up! MBuk magazine has a nice set of bike stickers this month. one of them says " Call the police if seen ridden uphill"....:D

Good ride man. The trail didnt beat you, you beat it, you choose to ride rather than sit inside. (i lost though...2months away from trails.)

SWEET:thumbup: just reading that got me wanting to go ride. so you never knew those trails were there? now you can keep practicing on it until it doesnt kill you:D

i love that feeling when a ride is so intense that you can hardly think you just do it. gotta love the rush.

Another attaboy, Mightypudge! That sounded like a really nice ride you had. You learned from it and darn it, if you don't get a forum standing ovation for popping a wheelie whilst casually vaulting a log! Riding with someone is often fun, but if I'm on technical ride/stint/mission then I prefer my own company as I pace myself to what feels right for me and when confronted with a technical decision, I can dismount, get out my magnifying glass and explore the obstacle and smoke a pipe or two whilst contemplating the ride line before getting back on and doing it!:)

Glad to hear you enjoyed it. Perservere with the climbs, they do in fact get easier but no less painful!

I got that MBUK mag..... i paid 10p for the mag and my bro paid 3.40 for the sticker :D rip off! :D nice ride man.... sounds good

Originally posted by Bokkie
Another attaboy, Mightypudge! That sounded like a really nice ride you had. You learned from it and darn it, if you don't get a forum standing ovation for popping a wheelie whilst casually vaulting a log!

Yes, and I had a witness! :)



Originally posted by Bokkie
Riding with someone is often fun, but if I'm on technical ride/stint/mission then I prefer my own company as I pace myself to what feels right for me and when confronted with a technical decision, I can dismount, get out my magnifying glass and explore the obstacle and smoke a pipe or two whilst contemplating the ride line before getting back on and doing it!:)

I agree, I think from now on I'm going to ride those technical trails alone. Or at least, with someone of an equal skill level.



Originally posted by Bokkie
Glad to hear you enjoyed it. Perservere with the climbs, they do in fact get easier but no less painful!

This is what I was afraid of. :D

what is mbuk

Cool, sounds like a lot of fun. Riding with those faster and better than you will make you better in a shorter period of time. Something about the adrenaline of trying to keep up and hitting sections you wouldn't do on your own. That or just NOT knowing what's next and whoosh you're through it or over it.

Keep it up.

What no pics yet? I know I know!
L8R

MBuk Mountain biking UK magazine. www.mbuk.com

Originally posted by Bokkie
Another attaboy, Mightypudge! That sounded like a really nice ride you had. You learned from it and darn it, if you don't get a forum standing ovation for popping a wheelie whilst casually vaulting a log! Riding with someone is often fun, but if I'm on technical ride/stint/mission then I prefer my own company as I pace myself to what feels right for me and when confronted with a technical decision, I can dismount, get out my magnifying glass and explore the obstacle and smoke a pipe or two whilst contemplating the ride line before getting back on and doing it!:)

Glad to hear you enjoyed it. Perservere with the climbs, they do in fact get easier but no less painful!

Now that sounds like a fun ride. Thats the exact way I like to be. Ride with the equals so your flow doesn't just leave. Smoke a pipe or two...haha ;)

And I feel the opposite to though. I like riding with people better than me but always feel guilty. haha

Originally posted by a2psyklnut
Cool, sounds like a lot of fun. Riding with those faster and better than you will make you better in a shorter period of time. Something about the adrenaline of trying to keep up and hitting sections you wouldn't do on your own. That or just NOT knowing what's next and whoosh you're through it or over it.

Keep it up.

What no pics yet? I know I know!
L8R

Thats a wicked feeling. Flying down a trail at mach1 I hit this section on a new trail where it was a straight dhill into a big uphill. The uphill hid everything on top so I come flying over the top only to find a rock garden and some deadwood ended by a tech dh part. Going so fast all I could do was point, find a clean line and hope I didn't die...the bonus is now that I know it is there I always try to nail it at mach 1 now.

I like going fast enough where I don't think about what is up ahead. The more I think the less I do.