My daughter came down last Saturday with her mountain bike. She just learned that she's pregnant and wanted to trade for my hybrid. I figured why not. This was pretty exciting for me. Now I had to find a mountain biking trail. Hmmm... Never done that before and never ever thought I would. After all, I'm too old for that stuff.

Well, I found a beginner/intermediate trail and went out. If you're from the midwest, you know that it rarely gets over 85, let alone into the 90's. It did last Sunday. I went on about a five mile trail that was kinda scary for me since I've never done it before. I talked with a guy when I got there and he advised me to watch it when I get speed because then there'll be a sharp turn. To put this in context, he hadn't ridden this trail in 15 years and said it was completely different now.

So I took my ignorant self on the trail along with my backpack full of water. Yep, I have to have the water or I can't ride and there's no place on the bike for a bottle. So I took a pack I use for hiking and fill the bladder up with water.

I was petrified at first. Mostly of going down. So many rocks, lots of hills. Several times I could see the newspaper headlines with my name on the cover. But I didn't fall off. And I think I rode up as many hills as I walked so I feel good about that!

About 2/3 of the way through I was ready to go home. But I kept going. Wow! I learned so much. What surprised me most was how much upper body strength you use. Sure, you need the leg power going up the hills, but I think I mostly need the lungs and oxygen to get to my muscles.

I have yet to decide whether this is something I'll keep doing, but I do know I'll have to go a few more times to know. I like the challenge and how much you have to focus. I like that a lot of it is about technique and control. I have not got very much of either so I can pretty much only go up from where I'm at.

I think I want to take the bike out on a a regular more flat trail next and then maybe circle back around to this trail in a week or two. My finger joints and wrists are the most surprising thing that hurt. I think because I had my hands on the brakes all time that I wasn't going up. I'm sure that will get better as I get more accustomed to it.