Well I guess this would have been helpful to put in my own $.02 first to kick it off, but just the same, here it is.
Why I ride?
I used to live out west and started riding in what I called the off season as my true love was Snowboarding. Having grown up in Montana for the most part riding is plural to me for snowboarding and biking, but I'll just keep to the report I'm doing which is based off of cycling. Summer was the down season for me, as snowboarding was my #1 passion, and I was in a sense training to go pro with my bro's.(Some of whom made it) Anyhow, I used to ride to train, to stay in shape for snowboarding. I used to be able to make epic 30 mile treks into the pristine virgin mountains of the Gallatin national forest in Montana. It was a time to just get in the saddle and crank it out, get back in far enough to feel at peace with nature, and myself, to see the wild animals, herds of elk by mystic lake on an early morning in the fog. As time went on I got better at riding, so I began to aggressively attack the downhill portion of the ride. I tried to teach myself technique, balance, efficiency, and eventually began to take the sketchier, steeper lines with more speed. It became a challenge with myself and the trail, and that's what I loved about it. Of course getting away from it all is more so needed now in my late twenties with dealing with life's stress that is brought on by work, schooling, relationships, and challenges such as illness, injuries, family issues, and so forth. I still use riding for some of these extents but I'm now in a part of the country to where there's really no "escaping" , or at least what I was used to. After all, when you head out of town in the saddle in Montana, you really take on the sense that at any moment something could go wrong to where you'd be faced with a challenge to make it back. Getting lost on a late ride in the middle of the mountains can bring upon fear of being stuck out there overnight with the idea in your head that grizzly bears are around, freak snow storms could arrive(Seen snow in every month living there) wolf packs have been re-introduced, etc. It becomes a now-a-day survival mentality that you adapt, and makes you feel ALIVE! Having run into a few bears, rattle snakes, and a cougar, it's a pretty humbling experience. However, being that I live in Ohio now... there's really not too much to fret over, as most of the trail systems are just giant loops, and the only real predator in the woods you have to worry about is Uncle jimmy with his missing tooth smile looking to take your bike to sell for next weeks booze & food supply. So I've turned to the other part that I loved about riding, and that is challenging the skill, and breaking past mental barriers of fear. I enjoy this type of riding almost equally to epic escapades, but my heart lays in the wilderness of Montana, where I hope to once again, somewhere down the road return to.
As for now, I enjoy shreddin' the trail on my big bike. We build trails that challenge our skill, and it's a great feeling to commit to something mentally and successfully follow through. I like to get out there and hang with the fella's, cheer each other on, and frankly just tear it up. XC I think will come into play again here shortly but simply for the fact of cranking out the miles for the ole' health reasons. I have to say that in a sense riding a big bike goes against my true love for nature, but it’s a blast, and has become the main portion of my riding these days.
One day, I'll be out west again, and rest assure I'll be boasting about it amongst my fellow e-brothers, but until then, ride on! :thumbsup:
