Weekend MTB Rides

[indysteel]

I'm somewhat embarrassed to say that DH and I went on our first MTB ride of the season yesterday. Between a wet spring and summer, some schedule conflicts, and some anticipatory anxiety on my part, we hadn't found a chance to hit the trails since last fall. Shameful, although we have been road riding. The ride went about as well as could be expected given that the trails have taken a beating this year from all the rain and humidity, after a brutally hot and dry summer last year. And by well, I mean I didn't fall or crash. We'd gotten a fair amount of rain on Saturday, so we headed out mid-afternoon. I don't know when I'm going to learn that that's not a great idea. It was hot, and I don't do well in the heat.

The good news is that I still love to MTB. The intense focus and hard effort it takes is always a pleasant experience for me. Road biking is fun and easy, but there's plenty of room for thinking. MTBing, in contrast, takes total focus. I like that. It gives me a break from my otherwise cluttered head. It's the same reason I like hot, vinyasa yoga. I rarely have time to think about anything but the current pose and wiping my sweaty face.

So, we'll hit the trails again soon I hope!

[Becky]

The intense focus and hard effort it takes is always a pleasant experience for me. Road biking is fun and easy, but there's plenty of room for thinking. MTBing, in contrast, takes total focus. I like that. It gives me a break from my otherwise cluttered head. It's the same reason I like hot, vinyasa yoga. I rarely have time to think about anything but the current pose and wiping my sweaty face.

I like this sentiment. I've often thought that mountain biking is like playing video games: I have to fully concentrate on the task at hand and react to a myriad of situations in order to stay upright. No room for dwelling... (Even moreso in night MTBing!)