Originally Posted by ro-monster

, and it was like being a kid, playing with the bike for the pure joy of it, being free to explore places a road bike couldn't go. Riding in the dirt was exhilarating too -- suddenly sliding around didn't signal impending disaster, and the feel of it under my wheels was so different from pavement, so much more varied and nuanced. I love the sensory richness of riding, the sense of being immersed in the elements, and the mountain bike intensified that.