Little reasons that riding makes me happy

**The Reverend Floater** · 07-28-2009, 07:55 PM

Originally Posted by carbs

realizing that breaking the frame on my old bike was the best thing thats happened to my riding: new SS= way more aggressive riding.

Heh. Funny how that happens. It's what put me on a full suspension years ago--breaking my Dekerf XC bike.

**YoEddy** · 07-28-2009, 07:56 PM

This will no doubt sound silly, but sometimes I'm just amazed at the fact that I'm actually pedaling a machine across the landscape. Not just watching it go by, but actually in it, a part of it, and pedaling a fricking machine through it.

Sometimes during easy solo rides my mind will wander to the point where I forgot riding entire sections ... did I ride that? I don't even remember the hill ... it didn't hurt ...

Being fit enough to hammer at threshold while focusing on some bit of minutia, a word, a sentence, a sound ... over and over inside your little cave of pain, and feeling like you could go on forever at that output, which of course you can't, but feeling like you could at that moment is just awesome.

**The Reverend Floater** · 07-28-2009, 07:57 PM

Trailing a super smoove rider (Conundrum) on a long ass DH, watching him air the little rollers and hit the corners, desperately trying to maintain your own concentration while laughing at how rad it is to watch someone else nuke it.

**mtnjam** · 07-28-2009, 08:11 PM

Yeah Conundrum is a sooper smoove rider....what didja guys drop?

The little thing that made me happy this morning was riding to work, passing a 1/4 mile line of cars and hitting the green light just as I got to it.
The pisser about it was a lady in a crappy old model ford convertible honking at me for no apparent reason.

**squirrelmurphy** · 07-28-2009, 10:51 PM

**butterscotch** · 07-28-2009, 11:02 PM

^^^ that is is awesome.

So I just finished a 30 page proposal for work and all I can think about is riding. I got hooked on mountain biking last summer and am even more hooked now that I have a new bike. I keep having those moments where I do something on my bike that I've never done before and it feels awesome. It's carrying me through the summer. I worked all weekend and until 3 am last night and I might get up early and go for a ride tomorrow.

**Particle** · 07-28-2009, 11:46 PM

Seeing new lines b/c your bro just shralped it on an old favorite trail you have so ingrained that you ride the same way every time, and vice versa.

**concretejungle** · 08-07-2009, 07:41 PM

Well behaved and friendly horses and owners outnumbered bikers at Hall Ranch today. I watched a storm roll in and railed empty singletrack. Riding bikes kicks ass.

**mtnjam** · 03-20-2010, 08:22 PM

Thought I'd bump this thread to the beginning again.

Fun single speed riding for the last two days after putting the right arm out of commission last fall due to a fractured scapula.

God I love riding my single speed

**joetron** · 03-20-2010, 09:30 PM

Originally Posted by YoEddy

This will no doubt sound silly, but sometimes I'm just amazed at the fact that I'm actually pedaling a machine across the landscape. Not just watching it go by, but actually in it, a part of it, and pedaling a fricking machine through it.

Sometimes during easy solo rides my mind will wander to the point where I forgot riding entire sections ... did I ride that? I don't even remember the hill ... it didn't hurt ...

Being fit enough to hammer at threshold while focusing on some bit of minutia, a word, a sentence, a sound ... over and over inside your little cave of pain, and feeling like you could go on forever at that output, which of course you can't, but feeling like you could at that moment is just awesome.

Quality bump. I just read a few pages and somehow got even more fired up to ride bikes. Hopefully a rally at Pueblo on monday.

**Dhelihiker** · 03-20-2010, 09:43 PM

first rides of the year!!!

today was fun

**adam** · 03-21-2010, 11:45 AM

Airing over a couple rocks or a log and nailing the tranny perfectly

**pogs4ever** · 03-21-2010, 12:02 PM

i'm sure this has been said before but just happened to me: looking at nws and seeing a clear radar and actually being happy about it.

**VTskibum** · 03-21-2010, 12:40 PM

72*, dry trails in PA/DE today, and 25miles/3hrs of hauling ass makes for good times with good riding friends.

**junto** · 03-21-2010, 03:17 PM

The parking lot beer while the blood dries where you ate shit, but all you remember is where you slayed it. I like that part.

**Conundrum** · 04-05-2010, 04:34 PM

Idaho springtimes. Tacky corners a week ago and powdah now.

**monkeywrenchMoose** · 04-05-2010, 07:03 PM

First off, I love this thread. It has so many little things that I read and go "hey, I love that too! Remember that one time...."

I have a couple:

- First time doing lift served biking and realizing that it is like a fun pow day, but entirely different.

- Riding lift served while wearing head phones and feeling like Steve Peat when Bulls on Parade by Rage Against The Machine comes on.

- Making your own jumps on the trail just by popping off a rock or root or something.

- Racing with friends to make it back to the car before a massive thunderstorm rolls in. And hooting and hollering the whole way when thunder claps or you nail a corner.

- Seeing a hottie on a nice bike and thinking how nice it would be to ride with her, knowing that she might be able to kick your ass.

Thats all for now.

**Particle** · 04-05-2010, 08:15 PM

The wave of relief during rehab from a knee injury when you can just barely push a pedal over the top of the stroke. Hellsyeah.

Then just a few days later, pushing the big ring on the trainer and cranking it up to full speed. Love.

**The Reverend Floater** · 04-05-2010, 11:01 PM

Originally Posted by Particle

The wave of relief during rehab from a knee injury when you can just barely push a pedal over the top of the stroke. Hellsyeah.

Then just a few days later, pushing the big ring on the trainer and cranking it up to full speed. Love.

Get it, buddy!

**tonghands** · 04-06-2010, 10:50 AM

That moment after a sweet ass crash when you realize that all your limbs are still attached and more or less in working order.

**concretejungle** · 04-09-2010, 04:51 PM

Being stronger than you were when you stopped mtn. biking last fall. Man was this winter a bitch for mtn. biking on the Front Range. Oh, and using Shimano pedals instead of Candy's for the first time. Consistent release? OMFG.

**ruhiks** · 04-10-2010, 08:57 AM

Buying my lady her first real mtn bike and seeing her get stoked to ride any chance she gets.

**hitek79** · 04-10-2010, 05:43 PM

^^^^

It's the start of my wife's 3rd season. First season was pretty rough, last season was much better, and on the first few rides of this season, I can tell it's all coming together for her. We went out today and she cleaned everything that she would have possibly walked last season. Good times!

**EDGECRUSHER** · 04-10-2010, 08:50 PM

When you come ripping around a familiar corner, to find a 16" tree across the trail that wasn't there last time. But before your brain freezes, the rest of you simply bunny hops it while maintaining "too much speed".......

**VTskibum** · 04-11-2010, 06:40 PM

XC Racing today, 2nd lap after a big steep ramped log-over accidently nose wheelied coming off and made a near 90* turn at 10+mph. Definitely a nice scary/fun experience with trees all over if I didn't make it.