Valentine’s Day is all about wearing your heart on your sleeve. What better time then to celebrate our love of that special feeling we get when out on our beloved bikes?
A great, and fitting for today, write-up by Shawn McAfee
You come flying down a steep hillside, dodging rocks and trees. Your chain looks like it’s suspended in a state of anti-gravity as it bounces back and forth, all while careening into a sharp hairpin turn at full speed. You’re caught in a moment where you and your bike become one as the back tire skids sideways through the corner of the turn sending a shower of dirt, mud, and rocks that spray across the side of the trail.
There are hundreds of reasons that I love mountain biking, but on that stands out is the rush of adrenaline you get in a moment like that.
You feel invincible, super-human and unstoppable. You feel like you can conquer not only the trail, but also the world.
I also love being rewarded at the top of a punishing climb with a breathtaking view of a lake or the surrounding land. Just being able to escape the concrete jungle we all live in and returning to nature is incredible.
And then there is the community that surrounds the sport. This is a community of laid-back people just out there looking to enjoy the ride. Sure there are plenty of racers training for events, but even they are pretty low key. A lot of these racers will even pull up a hammock or grill you a burger during their 12 and 24 hour races. No way you can get more laid back than someone taking time out of their race to grill you some grubb.
These reasons I am drawn to mountain biking create a passion inside of me, and not just a little passion, but an incredibly-massive passion that keeps me awake at night.
I spend nearly my whole day talking about mountain biking, writing about mountain biking, and sharing my love of MTB with anyone that will listen. Co-workers at my day job are sick of hearing about it. But they are starting to break down and they all want to join me.
That is the epic thing about passion. Passion is contagious.
And I know that I’m not alone. Just check out a few of the stories about how mountain biking has changed lives and you will see a community of passionate riders just waiting to share their love of the bike.
Whether you get out on a road bike, a mountain bike or on a unicycle, you should always be sure to love what you are doing and to keep a smile on your face… unless you’re fighting up a hill. Then a grimace or scowl is more than acceptable.
The Muddbunnies encourage and welcome female riders of all experience and skill levels to join them in getting down and dirty. Come on, ride like a girl!
