Ok, so it was fire-road-riding, not mountain biking, but it's a step. Took the Fargo out to my own personal Disneyland (happiest place on earth!) - Buffalo Creek/Pike National Forest. Beautiful rolling hills at 8,000 feet. Did a 3.5 hour spin around some dirt roads, learned a few things in the process:

- I love my bike. On-road, off-road, it's awesome.

- My back can handle 3.5 hours on the bike...though it was irritated that the first 2 were entirely uphill. Seriously. I didn't realize until I finally hit a downhill that I hadn't touched the brakes in 2 hours.

- I like having the drops even when I'm offroad. Enough that I'd consider putting them on my next real mountain bike. They help me stretch my back without getting off the bike.

- A combination of my cheapest shorts and the stock saddle still did not bother me in the slightest after 3.5 hours. Guess I'll stick with 'em!

- It's ok to walk the descent when its a 12% grade through a sandbox on the side of a cliff. No one is watching anyway.

- I am not very good at identifying false flats. I had no idea I was going uphill for the stick of the lollipop until I returned to it and it was all downhill!!

I took some pretty cool pictures of the ride that I need to upload...I'll link you guys to them in a little bit!