This weekend I expanded my trail horizons at my favorite park. I was, however, humbled to note that my fear of the edge returned because I was on a trail I hadn't ridden before. It is, however, understandable because it is a "different" edge with a different trail width/angle. That is one thing I like about mountain biking, it is quite the humbling experience as well as being loads of fun

It is also true that I tend to be less aggressive when I am riding solo, and that probably isn't a bad thing considering my experience level. Someone always knows where I am riding and when I start/finish, but that isn't quite the same as having someone actually there to watch me fall off the side of the hill or bounce off that rock in an unexpected direction. Not that my bike bounces of course. I HAVE gone off the edge a couple of times, but no damage to me or bike. We don't slide far when this happens

I had fun riding/walking the new trail on Friday. It is also considered a beginners trail, but it differs so much from the other trails I ride. There is a series of steep little uphill bits with big roots, and I am still working out the whole momentum/shifting combination to help me deal with that.

I also had no idea just how much blood tree bark can draw