OMG! I am sorry I laughed at your post but I had almost the same experience this weekend. I had only been on a mountain bike one other time and it was all flat. This past weekend was a race in Gainesville at the gorgeous Haile's Trails. It is not open to the public unless there is a race so everyone wants to go when there is an event. Well, I wanted to see what all the fuss was about! I had ridden 48 miles that morning but I did not have a problem with stamina. Staying upright on the bike was much bigger! I fell twice and walked about as much as I rode. I found out I am a big yellow chicken! LOL Back to the yellow trails for me for a while. I do, however, now have an appreciation for my many friends that mountain bike race. Some of the climbs and descents were outrageous!!