Hey all, Danielle here. It’s starting to feel weird only knowing most of y’all as a number and an email address—I want to know you! So… I dare you to introduce yourself and tell us (and each other) what you’re riding this weekend! Not riding? What else are you up to?
I started riding Mountain Bikes in 2017 when a coworker came to me looking for people to ride with. Other than the occasional beach cruiser ride through the neighborhood, I hadn't ridden in over 20 yrs., but at the time, our business was failing and tensions were high at home, so riding seemed like a good way to get away.
I was almost instantly addicted (in a good way) to riding, but found I lacked fitness, and very I very quickly outgrew the 2007 Specialized XC Comp bike I purchased from the local classifieds. When I got into trying to find a better bike, I became fascinated by the various bike specs and enjoyed learning about the different types of bikes. Previous to that, I thought "a mountain bike is a mountain bike....".
I was perusing Cycling West magazine and came across an advertisement for an event called "Sweaty Yeti". It was a fat bike race near me, and the very cheap entry fee included bike rental for the race, so I thought I had nothing to lose by giving it a try. I didn't even know what a fat bike was until I showed up to the race! It was soooo difficult, but I had a great time, and everyone was so friendly. These are my people... But, if I'm going to race, I need to train. That led to hiring a coach who helped me find the joy in training, which made my casual rides and races so much more fun. I have competed in MTB races ever since, and have amassed a sizable collection of bikes (gotta have the right bike for every occasion, right?).
More recently, I have been focused on practicing "skills", which has unlocked another level of joy while riding. I just LOVE this stuff!
What an awesome journey with the bike! I’ve never been on a fat bike, myself, but it seems like I’ll need to join in on that so I can stop calling winter “pouting season.”
Curious if you’re also learning any lessons on the bike that are translating off the bike?
Thanks for popping up and introducing yourself! We’re happy to have you.
Life lessons happen quite often while I'm riding. They range from "little reminders", all the way up to spiritual epiphanies (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10223939362017512&set=a.1129341799335). I'm 52 years old, and with those years has come the wisdom to "reflect in motion" (recognize and enjoy experiences as they happen), which amplifies the feeling of release as well as my appreciation for my surroundings while riding. Of course, not every ride is like that... sometimes you just need to "let 'er rip" and mindlessly huck yourself down a mountainside, LOL. It's all about perspective, and knowing what you need at that moment.
My fitness coach would ask me to write race recaps after each important race, but she stressed that she wanted to know how I felt, with little or no emphasis on results. Those recaps turned out to be very personal. You learn an awful lot about yourself through reflection. The things you learn apply to all aspects of life, if you simply allow yourself to see the connection. It sounds corny, but if you have experienced it, you know it's true. Doing hard (scary?) things is hard, whether on the bike or in life, but with practice, they get easier. Practicing hard things on the bike makes hard things in life easier. For me, it's just that simple.
I have been riding bikes in the mountains since before there were mountain bikes. I would ride my 10 speed road bike up dirt roads until I could go no farther then walk from there.
I lived in park city for many years. I could ride to the end of my street and access 300 miles of trail. Sixteen years ago I moved to Heber. When daughter decided she was going to be on the high school MTB team I went along to be a ride leader and realized I knew nothing about MTB skills. I spent 40 years teaching skiing so I knew that instruction could help the kids learn but it was difficult to find people who actually knew how to teach MTB.
My mission became learning how to teach MTB but I had to figure it out on my own because classes were really expensive and you had to travel a long way and there was some really strange stuff being taught. After 8 years of studying I have a pretty good idea of what MTB riders need to learn. The problem is I'm now 67 year old and I'm no longer a young fast guy who people want to listen too.
I still coach the junior high kids. I have an amazing group of 7 girls who call themselves the "Speed Seeking Missiles".
I am also a trail builder. I've added 24 miles of trail to the Jordanelle Ridge Trail System here in Heber over the last three summers.
Hi Ken! So good to hear from you… and those Speed Seeking Missiles sound pretty dang cool, but I’m sure I’m too old to join them. Love hearing about your background on the bike—we all ride on the shoulders of people like you. And thanks for the added trails!
Hi, I am a road biker turned want to be mountain biker roughly 5 years ago. At 52 I want to spend more time riding and not dying. I ride an Intrigue E+ Elite in Soap Sudds Blue(named her dawn). Currently not riding because of some sore ribs(3 Falls for the win). Hoping to get out on Brimm for fall colors.
I recently just got a polygon Sisku T7 (in the lime green, teal and black) as I'm slowly becoming more confident on rougher terrain to warrant the bike upgrade from a hardtail. I need to get out and ride again soon but I just bought a house and move in is this weekend!
Hi Charlotte! Brimm... is that in Eden, UT? And yes, this time of year is so amazing for the colors! We're all for not dying and falling less... have you checked out our Fall Better episode? We also have a guide for some things to think about there. This guy also had a really interesting take about how we should become a bit more acquainted/comfortable with the ground, if you're into it. A lot of it doesn't translate to a bike, per se, but it's an interesting mind shift. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZPvK1MWGdg
Hi Emily! That's awesome! Teal is my favorite color and also the color of my bike as well. Let us know if you have any questions about riding rougher terrain--we might be able to address it on air. And yay for a new house! I feel like new houses are on on par with a new bike when it comes to awesome purchases. ;)
Hi Albert! Good to hear from you. I still wanna check out this underground trail network of yours sometime. Hope you’re finding that ecstasy on the bike this season!
Hi there! Love to hear about your team! I looked up those trails, and that looks like a cool area. I’m unfamiliar with the riding in that part of the country—what’s the terrain like?
I started riding Mountain Bikes in 2017 when a coworker came to me looking for people to ride with. Other than the occasional beach cruiser ride through the neighborhood, I hadn't ridden in over 20 yrs., but at the time, our business was failing and tensions were high at home, so riding seemed like a good way to get away.
I was almost instantly addicted (in a good way) to riding, but found I lacked fitness, and very I very quickly outgrew the 2007 Specialized XC Comp bike I purchased from the local classifieds. When I got into trying to find a better bike, I became fascinated by the various bike specs and enjoyed learning about the different types of bikes. Previous to that, I thought "a mountain bike is a mountain bike....".
I was perusing Cycling West magazine and came across an advertisement for an event called "Sweaty Yeti". It was a fat bike race near me, and the very cheap entry fee included bike rental for the race, so I thought I had nothing to lose by giving it a try. I didn't even know what a fat bike was until I showed up to the race! It was soooo difficult, but I had a great time, and everyone was so friendly. These are my people... But, if I'm going to race, I need to train. That led to hiring a coach who helped me find the joy in training, which made my casual rides and races so much more fun. I have competed in MTB races ever since, and have amassed a sizable collection of bikes (gotta have the right bike for every occasion, right?).
More recently, I have been focused on practicing "skills", which has unlocked another level of joy while riding. I just LOVE this stuff!
What an awesome journey with the bike! I’ve never been on a fat bike, myself, but it seems like I’ll need to join in on that so I can stop calling winter “pouting season.”
Curious if you’re also learning any lessons on the bike that are translating off the bike?
Thanks for popping up and introducing yourself! We’re happy to have you.
Life lessons happen quite often while I'm riding. They range from "little reminders", all the way up to spiritual epiphanies (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10223939362017512&set=a.1129341799335). I'm 52 years old, and with those years has come the wisdom to "reflect in motion" (recognize and enjoy experiences as they happen), which amplifies the feeling of release as well as my appreciation for my surroundings while riding. Of course, not every ride is like that... sometimes you just need to "let 'er rip" and mindlessly huck yourself down a mountainside, LOL. It's all about perspective, and knowing what you need at that moment.
My fitness coach would ask me to write race recaps after each important race, but she stressed that she wanted to know how I felt, with little or no emphasis on results. Those recaps turned out to be very personal. You learn an awful lot about yourself through reflection. The things you learn apply to all aspects of life, if you simply allow yourself to see the connection. It sounds corny, but if you have experienced it, you know it's true. Doing hard (scary?) things is hard, whether on the bike or in life, but with practice, they get easier. Practicing hard things on the bike makes hard things in life easier. For me, it's just that simple.
AMAZING! This is so well said, Scott. Thanks for sharing, and I couldn't agree more with all of this.
I have been riding bikes in the mountains since before there were mountain bikes. I would ride my 10 speed road bike up dirt roads until I could go no farther then walk from there.
I lived in park city for many years. I could ride to the end of my street and access 300 miles of trail. Sixteen years ago I moved to Heber. When daughter decided she was going to be on the high school MTB team I went along to be a ride leader and realized I knew nothing about MTB skills. I spent 40 years teaching skiing so I knew that instruction could help the kids learn but it was difficult to find people who actually knew how to teach MTB.
My mission became learning how to teach MTB but I had to figure it out on my own because classes were really expensive and you had to travel a long way and there was some really strange stuff being taught. After 8 years of studying I have a pretty good idea of what MTB riders need to learn. The problem is I'm now 67 year old and I'm no longer a young fast guy who people want to listen too.
I still coach the junior high kids. I have an amazing group of 7 girls who call themselves the "Speed Seeking Missiles".
I am also a trail builder. I've added 24 miles of trail to the Jordanelle Ridge Trail System here in Heber over the last three summers.
I ride a Ibis Ripmo.
Hi Ken! So good to hear from you… and those Speed Seeking Missiles sound pretty dang cool, but I’m sure I’m too old to join them. Love hearing about your background on the bike—we all ride on the shoulders of people like you. And thanks for the added trails!
Hi, I am a road biker turned want to be mountain biker roughly 5 years ago. At 52 I want to spend more time riding and not dying. I ride an Intrigue E+ Elite in Soap Sudds Blue(named her dawn). Currently not riding because of some sore ribs(3 Falls for the win). Hoping to get out on Brimm for fall colors.
I recently just got a polygon Sisku T7 (in the lime green, teal and black) as I'm slowly becoming more confident on rougher terrain to warrant the bike upgrade from a hardtail. I need to get out and ride again soon but I just bought a house and move in is this weekend!
Hi Charlotte! Brimm... is that in Eden, UT? And yes, this time of year is so amazing for the colors! We're all for not dying and falling less... have you checked out our Fall Better episode? We also have a guide for some things to think about there. This guy also had a really interesting take about how we should become a bit more acquainted/comfortable with the ground, if you're into it. A lot of it doesn't translate to a bike, per se, but it's an interesting mind shift. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZPvK1MWGdg
Thanks for introducing yourself!
Hi Emily! That's awesome! Teal is my favorite color and also the color of my bike as well. Let us know if you have any questions about riding rougher terrain--we might be able to address it on air. And yay for a new house! I feel like new houses are on on par with a new bike when it comes to awesome purchases. ;)
Hi Albert! Good to hear from you. I still wanna check out this underground trail network of yours sometime. Hope you’re finding that ecstasy on the bike this season!
Hi there! Love to hear about your team! I looked up those trails, and that looks like a cool area. I’m unfamiliar with the riding in that part of the country—what’s the terrain like?
That’s awesome! Just followed you on insta. Have fun out there. 😊