Little reasons that riding makes me happy

**RedWolf** · 07-06-2011, 09:42 PM

Getting the final pieces on my new bike, and heading out the door to take it for it's first ride.

Hell.

Yes.

**pogs4ever** · 07-06-2011, 11:11 PM

^hot

how awesome your home town looks from 1500 feet above.

**buttahflake** · 07-20-2011, 10:59 AM

back door singletrack, makes me happy. from yesterday in Walpole.

**skajah** · 07-21-2011, 02:11 PM

Not necessarily little but:

Taking my kids to Moab for their first time (and getting back there myself)

**zartagen** · 08-21-2011, 03:09 PM

Crushing a long climb. Then absolutely smoking the downhill that I've never ridden to beat a thunderstorm to my car.

**concretejungle** · 08-21-2011, 06:45 PM

Two hours of solitude and tackiness. Haven't gotten much of either lately.

Next up...Tito's Vodka with a lime.

**Touring_Sedan** · 08-21-2011, 09:52 PM

Riding the same trail once a week all season, and noticing something new every time.

**Conundrum** · 09-07-2011, 10:23 AM

Midnight rides in the dark.

**AKbruin** · 09-14-2011, 12:52 PM

Taking a 20-minute nap somewhere peaceful and beautiful in the middle of a longer ride.

Feeling like Sam Fucking Hill or Julian Fucking Absalom when strangers cheer you on at a local race even though you're just a sport-class hack.

Actually fixing something on my bike on my own without making it worse and having to go to the bike shop with my tail between my legs.

**monkeywrenchMoose** · 09-14-2011, 08:47 PM

Originally Posted by AKbruin

Taking a 20-minute nap somewhere peaceful and beautiful in the middle of a longer ride.

Haha I did this onetime at the top of bobsled in the new, green, spring grass. Just looked nice so I laid my bike down next to me and took a quick nap. About 15 minutes in, some guy stops and wakes me up. He though I had crashed. Haha I guess I was glad someone had noticed.

Oh and I love riding the Wasatch Crest at night. I thought I knew that trail front to back, but it is a new beast at night.

**Conundrum** · 04-12-2012, 08:57 AM

A light rain the night before.

**Lone_Summit** · 06-21-2012, 03:25 PM

working your ass off to knock out a ride that took you 7 hours the first time, 6 hours the second time, and an average of 4:45 all the other times...in 3:25

**Rontele** · 06-21-2012, 03:37 PM

working 200 hours in three weeks to close a deal only to get to ride on a Tuesday afternoon in the mountains and not see a single soul for 20 miles

**butterscotch** · 06-21-2012, 03:56 PM

on a flatter section of an old favorite, i decided to see how fast i could go without pedaling. so much fun.

Finstah · 06-21-2012, 04:09 PM

Originally Posted by zartagen

Crushing a long climb. Then absolutely smoking the downhill that I've never ridden to beat a thunderstorm to my car.

Just beating thunderstorms on your bike is indeed pretty mega. Especially if you have cold beer waiting for you.

**Conundrum** · 06-21-2012, 09:03 PM

Timely bump! Finding out tonight that your bud finally qualified for a bone marrow transplant and celebrating with a quick summer eve loop!

**TBS** · 06-22-2012, 03:08 PM

^^^Very cool for your buddy. Birdman34's need a few years ago got me to sign up for the registry.

Is the transplant scheduled yet?

Best of luck to him

**TBS** · 06-22-2012, 03:19 PM

Now, why riding makes me happy? Because I sometimes come across interesting species of fauna when I'm out

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**donkeykong** · 06-23-2012, 12:42 AM

I saw a bear for my first time ever in the wild, on the trails at my local spot. A big ass black bear.

Actually I saw him twice. The first time I startled him, he bolted away and was gone within 3 seconds. That split second encounter made me pretty happy.

The second time, he startled me, and I was definitely not happy to see him again. This time, he seemed ok with my presence, unaffected, and he just chilled. I started wondering if he was stalking me, since I rode in the opposite direction from where I saw him the first time. I'm pretty sure I didn't smell like beef jerky but I was still spooked. I made sure to make lots of noise (thank you loud hub), and rode slowly out of there so it didn't seem like I was his prey. This encounter made me extra-happy when I finally reached the parking lot.

**Chugachjed** · 06-23-2012, 03:26 AM

Originally Posted by donkeykong

I saw a bear for my first time ever in the wild, on the trails at my local spot. A big ass black bear.

Actually I saw him twice. The first time I startled him, he bolted away and was gone within 3 seconds. That split second encounter made me pretty happy.

The second time, he startled me, and I was definitely not happy to see him again. This time, he seemed ok with my presence, unaffected, and he just chilled. I started wondering if he was stalking me, since I rode in the opposite direction from where I saw him the first time. I'm pretty sure I didn't smell like beef jerky but I was still spooked. I made sure to make lots of noise (thank you loud hub), and rode slowly out of there so it didn't seem like I was his prey. This encounter made me extra-happy when I finally reached the parking lot.

I'm always stoked when I go for a ride, usually at night, and don't get mauled. Solitude is sweet, not being dinner is sweeter.

**TBS** · 06-23-2012, 12:24 PM

^^^My only 'oh shit!" event with wildlife was a near head-on collision with a bull elk that the dog spooked

As far as bears, I've only ridden twice in Grizz/Brownie country and never saw a bear. I lived for a while in SE AK so can understand where Jed is coming from though.

Around the PNW I see black bears all the time - generally their butt though, 'cause they are running away. Anybody here had a black bear get truly aggressive with them while riding?

**Chugachjed** · 06-24-2012, 02:57 AM

Today I rode up and there was a group shuttling, they went down ahead of me on my 29r then I passed them, that made me quite happy. They did look a little confused.

**bendtheski** · 06-24-2012, 08:07 AM

Riding my bike instead of working on stranger's bikes.
Making a friends bike ride/work better.
Making my own bike ride/work better.
Riding my bike instead of watching TDF.

Friends don't let friends ride junk.

**Conundrum** · 10-22-2012, 12:41 PM

Taking a quick dawn patrol lap hoping to beat the week long rain storm that is predicted. Started raining as I was hanging my bike post ride. Logged in for the first time this year to the local ski hill's website.