I find peace in mountain biking
Thoughts | 198 | April 16, 2009 at 7:36 amEvery now and then…I like to give you guys an idea of what is going through the mind of 198 while I am on the bike…so here it is…
Yesterday afternoon, traffic was light so I got the chance to get to the trail and session before my friends were able to show up. The weather had been terrible the days preceding, so there was no one back in the downhill/freeride area of my local trail…even though the conditions were about perfect. All I could hear was the wind blowing, my heart pounding, my breath hitting the full face helmet and my tires gripping that tacky soil that is only found after a great thunderstorm. As I looked down the trail before my next attempt, I felt an overwhelming calmness that I only get through riding.
Let’s face it…things are pretty messed up right now. The job market is terrible and even if you haven’t been downsized, laid off, pay cut or anything else related to things we would wish didn’t happen at our 9-5’s…working right now is difficult given the mood and manner of most customers and vendors as we push through this rough time. To make matters worse, our politicians (on both sides of the fence) would rather argue and not pay their taxes instead of coming together and attempting to solve this mess we are in.
I am able to find peace in the woods as I rip up that next section of singletrack. In the woods…the trail doesn’t care how bad my day was. It doesn’t care what is going on in the world around it. All it cares about is providing the rider with an outlet to vent frustrations and bring about something positive and fulfilling in his day. As I looked down the trail listening to the wind blowing through the trees, I planned out my next section of my ride and truly enjoyed being out on the trail. I was looking forward to my friends coming for some great sessioning out in the woods. Most importantly…I forgot about the crap that is going on around me to realize how great I really have it in this world. I started recollecting my beautiful wife, my crazy dogs, my family, my bikes and everything else that brings me happiness. I was forgetting about the stresses and people that would rather bring you down to their level instead of bringing everyone up.
There are very few things in my life that I can turn to that competely rid my thoughts of negativity. Luckily, I have a great family, a fantastic set of friends and a sport that is there for me time and time again when I need it. It doesn’t matter what bike you ride, what the latest and greatest part is or what kind of riding you choose to participate in…it only matters that you are riding…
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Tags: mounain biking, mountain biking blog, mountain biking by 198
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dude, this is so very true. i have not had a chance to ride since i have moved from one side of the us to the other and now more then ever i am ready for a long ride. a very very long ride
198-
SO true. The serenity of this sport is one of those things that rarely gets discussed but one that I always notice, and love. Tearing up singletrack requires such a high level of mental focus and physical exertion that you can’t help but block all the other crap out of your mind. This is one of the greatest relaxation activities I have ever expereienced.
Love this blog and thanks for this early in the morning…I needed it!
You said it all my friend. Once I sit on my bike another whole reality takes over and I become aware of so many things I had forgotten about…good things. Great article.
Amen! You are so right. For me, the outlet’s been running and lately snowboarding, but I’m getting that bike soon! Probably next month for my birthday and I can’t wait!
It is very nice to hear that other people share your views for the outdoors / trails and the ride itself. Especially when these people are so far away, having different cultures, nationalities, financial statuses, political opinions and in general all this shit that we have put into our lives – called progress – that only makes us miserable, distant, alone. (i am a Greek recently moved in Switzerland – piece of useless info)
I can recall very few things that have made me to scream from joy (without caring or paying attention to others surrounding me – if any) and the most vivid recollection that i have is after a fast decent on my bike, on a trail or a scenic fire road carefully hidden into the mountains.
And it is the place you forget and recall, as Rob puts it very nicely. Is the place when you meet yourself again, the boy in you, the one that does not cares about credit cards, matter and bullshit. It is the person that smiles on the sight of a turtle, and the voices of birds hit its ears like a symphony. It is the time that you sit on a rock besides your bike, feeling the breeze, eyes overlooking the distant city…..and then the thought that spontaneously comes….Why on earth we are doing THAT to ourselves.
I feel like I am meditating when I ride – cleaning my soul, being at the environment that I like.
And I feel good to know that other people feel like this.
Feels good to now that we remain human deep inside.
Feels good to share
Thanks Rob
@ Harry
I really have nothing else to add other than…….. +1
Thanks for taking the time to put in that response.