In my mid 30's (mid 1990s) I started doing some trail hiking as a physical activity, but still something was missing. The gym rat routine just wasn't doing it for me. I needed a non contact activity that supplied all the physical and cardio challenges and most importantly........FUN! Group rides, solo rides, races, challenging trail features, party atmosphere, mountain bikes had it all, including some contact with dirt occasionally. By my mid 40's I was probably in the best physical condition I'd ever been in because of mountain biking.