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Thoughout My Life One Thing Has Stayed Constant – Mountain Biking
When you average everything out, most of us have had the same experiences. People come in and out of our lives, events take place that are both good and bad, tastes and trends change over time (I hope you still aren’t rocking the Members Only jacket)…but there are some things that always seem to stick around. As time goes on, these certain things in our lives are always there in some shape or form. We might be obsessed with them at one point in time just to find that later they are a side thought. That side thought grows new life later as it jumps back into your life with a fury, and – so much so – that you wonder why you stopped paying attention.
For me, that is mountain biking. For as far as I can remember, there has always been a mountain bike in my stable. As time went on, the sport of mountain biking has meant different things, but one thing is for certain…through all of the changes in my surroundings and tastes…it was always there.
I was finally riding dirt over the weekend (rain stopped for just long enough to get in a great ride), and as I was spinning my way up a long climb up the hill taking in the first cold air ride of the season…I really got to thinking about it. I have used mountain biking any many forms and fashions over the course of my cycling career.
I used my mountain biking as a form of celebration. Have a birthday to celebrate? Let’s ride. Something great happen in my life? Raise? New wife? Let’s get out and ride. Get a new part or bike in? Ride! Whatever it was in my personal or professional life, it was normally celebrated with a great ride out in the woods.
Expected negative life happenings? Ride… Some of my best riding has come in times of turmoil. While some might go to a bar or to the gym to work out…I hit my bike. Right now – more than ever – riding allows me to keep my head on straight. Getting out and enjoying fresh air while challenging myself to get better and faster keeps my head clean throughout the day as my wife and I handle a situation that is out of our control. Will we get through it? Absolutely, but by getting in my spin time, I am able to stay sane and push through. Mountain biking has been my best form of mental therepy over the years when times get really tough. The mental stress relief of hammering out that singletrack or airing out that drop organizes my thoughts and allows me to stay level.
Ever ride just to ride? Mountain biking is always there when you don’t need anything at all. Sometimes it is great to just grab the bike and go without a worry in the world.
There has always been something about the sound of rubber tread ripping into rocks and dirt with my breath in the background sucking in every bit of oxygen that my legs can pull in to push faster and harder than the last ride. There has always been something about the peacefulness of bringing chaos into a quite forest. There has always been something more to mountain biking than riding a bike for this rider.
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8:49 am
Mountain biking is a positive way to deal with stress for me. The past few years have been turbulent and being unemployed the past six months puts a significant strain on a person, their family and marriage. One reason I started biking a again was to relieve stress and get some “me” time. My wife and I aren't at each others throats anymore and when I don't ride for a few days she knows it's time for me to get back out there. Mountain biking is like riding a motorcycle to me. I had to sell my Harley to pay the bills so my mountain bike is the savior now. You have to be focused and clear your head to concentrate on the trail and surroundings, just like a motorcycle on the road. There are no cell phones, no computers, no bitching and certainly no negative thoughts, unless you endo or something. I told someone recently, riding a motorcycle or mountain bike is like SCUBA diving, it's loner's bliss if you want it to be.
6:17 pm
It is about the only thing these days that can truly clear my head. Good luck with the job search.
10:35 am
I have been reading your blog for a long time and I always knew you felt like this towards mountain biking. Just by reading between the lines the passion that drives your posts, you can tell you love this sport as many of us do. That is why you have quotes like “I'm on my quest for that perfect stretch of singletrack that throws my riding into a whole new level”. After I read this phrase in your blog, it became very clear why we do this, why the search, why is not like anything else.
Keep strong my friend, life is like that singletrack; with turns, ups, downs, and it also throws us to a whole new level once we ride it.
10:12 pm
Thanks Lemuel…for the comment and hanging out on the site for so long. Sometimes it is more than just spinning pedals on a bike. After awhile…it transforms how you live your life.
2:52 pm
I'd go insane if I did not have that MTB outlet. I need the fix, and after I get it, I usually find ways to fix everything else. And like you said, that bike int eh garage is often times the only constant in my life.
7:59 am
A lot of weeks…my sanity is measured by the amount of riding I have gotten in.
12:45 pm
I've “only” been riding for some 9 years now. It amazes me how quickly it became such an important part of my life. For some time i was following everything MTB, fora, magazines, parts, worldcups etc. The last couple of years i don't anymore. I try to keep up to date a bit, but the pleasure comes from the riding itself. Just my, rather simple, bike and the one interesting singletrack loop in my area.
When riding i don't need much, i mostly ride alone, i'm still not bored with this one 26km loop (i done thousands of km's on it), i don't even mind living in the flattest country in the world (although i'd like some elevation). I just like to ride, whenever it doesn't rain i want to ride. And i know that everything bothering me at the time, i will forget about it for a couple of hours. It's great, it's simple.
I totally agree with you.
5:45 pm
I've “only” been riding for some 9 years now. It amazes me how quickly it became such an important part of my life. For some time i was following everything MTB, fora, magazines, parts, worldcups etc. The last couple of years i don't anymore. I try to keep up to date a bit, but the pleasure comes from the riding itself. Just my, rather simple, bike and the one interesting singletrack loop in my area.
When riding i don't need much, i mostly ride alone, i'm still not bored with this one 26km loop (i done thousands of km's on it), i don't even mind living in the flattest country in the world (although i'd like some elevation). I just like to ride, whenever it doesn't rain i want to ride. And i know that everything bothering me at the time, i will forget about it for a couple of hours. It's great, it's simple.
I totally agree with you.