Entries RSSI’m not a mountain bike person. Not from lack of desire, just from lack of opportunity. The area around Chicago lends itself to long road rides, fast and furious sprints, miles of meditation watching goldfinches flash in the brush along the asphalt.
I reach my job every day by bike, too. This whole relationship I have with my bike is complicated and wonderful. It’s transportation physically and spiritually. I thought it would be all I needed.
Karina and I split our WA bicycle testing chores — she tests mountain and I test road/urban. But I call myself a cycling gear editor as well as webmaster (they let me pick my own job title, you know) and there’s more in this two-wheeled world than 700c tires. So, I finally gathered my courage and sneaked off this weekend (while my riding partner was at the Tour of Missouri) with my son’s battered mountain bike to one of the few mountain bike trail systems in the area.
I chose a wide trail because I’m a novice. I had to be on the lookout for horseback riders around every curve, but for the most part I had the trail to myself. That was a blessing because I totally embarrassed myself! Only the horses were snickering as I got half way up a totally vertical wall of rocky dirt and started going “whoa, whoa, whoa” as my front wheel lifted off the ground and I began heading back where I came from head first. Luckily, I managed to stop the momentum and I walked my bike up a bit.
After a second hill-walk, I realized I just didn’t have any technique at all. I had all the leg power I needed to climb but I couldn’t make the bike behave. I need to go to a women’s mountain bike camp! And I say “women’s” because they might not laugh at me as much as guys would. Maybe.
Walking aside, I was having a blast. Going down the hills was like, well, like nothing I’ve ever done before. Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, with added rocks and washouts, comes to mind. Around the third downhill, I realized I was actually laughing out loud. Now, when have I ever done that on a road ride? The most I’ve achieved on my road bike is a benevolent smile, kind of like the Buddha. I even laughed when I bashed up one leg against the shark-toothed pedal. Wheeee!
So, I’m a convert. It’s totally recreational riding, with nary a thought about how much gas I’m saving or what effect I’m having on global warming. Pure fun for fun’s sake — so unlike practical me. I can’t wait to go out again! Don’t tell my road bike…..
