Yesterday afternoon, during a sweat filled, humid, hammer in the north Georgia mountains, a group of us that have been riding together for some time stumbled upon some conversation that got me thinking.
The subject on tap were the stories we had come across during our riding careers that actually had less to do with riding and more to do with people and how we had met them over time. Looking back, there were some pretty amazing stories that had come out of our group over the years. As people came and went, they brought with them something with every visit that is remembered for years down the road.
One of the best things about mountain biking (and cycling in general) are the connections we make with people from different backgrounds, life experiences and personalities. Somehow, we all seem to get along due to a common interest obsession that drives every weekend to dirt or pavement with the same group of crazy individuals.
For instance…
We have a friend of our in our core cycling group that has lost over 130 pounds riding. I actually remember his first night on the bike at a local night ride during the winter and him stating that he was going to use mountain biking to get into shape. Now…he is a hammer doing road centuries and climbing elevation on dirt with a fury.
and another…
A more recent addition to our cycling family picked up mountain biking last year during his battle with Hodgkins Disease. With rounds of chemotherapy to endure and a hard fight with cancer, he turned his drive towards pedal induced forward motion to keep the fight alive. Big surprise…he is hammering away from the pack these days too…
Success stories like these (and many others you have heard or experienced in your area) are what make the sport of cycling different than other forms of recreation. Cycling goes beyond the ride and into our daily lives in the pursuit of something better. No matter what your issue, a bad day at work, personal issues, health issues or just even a bad day…cycling is that outlet for all things good as we use the sport we love to make things better. It also brings together different groups of people that form strong friendships over the years with something that breaks the ice instantly…talking about bikes. There is nothing else in my life that has provided that same positive outlet and outlook.
Life on a bike is not just a sport. It is a way of life, a culture and embedded into who we are as people. It transcends generations, backgrounds and beliefs. As we hit every ride during the year, we never know if that will be the memorable one for years to come, but we do now will have a blast finding out…
The shot up top was taken by Keith Pytlinski (recently featured on the cover of Dirt Rag). You can check out his shots on M5Photography.com and his series on how to take great mountain biking pictures here. Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3