Look…I have some friends that can light the trail on fire. I swear there are fire tracks like the ones in Back To The Future sometimes when they drop the hammer and put power to the trail. It is insanity that I can only try to keep up with until my legs load up and explode. Not only is it fun to watch…but it makes you want to become faster and better with the ease these guys pull off trail riding. But…unless you are caught out in the woods cramping trying to keep up, you would never know it talking to them. They are just out doing what they love…riding their bikes.
Local Superheros
Last weekend, we had a local race that brought out everyone on the clock. As I was walking through the parking lot, I was amazed at all of these un-sponsored local pros we had! If you listened to the conversations, you would have sworn we had Steve Pete, Sam Hill or Christopher Sauser attending our event! It was crazy!
One day…hopefully…if I train hard enough…I too will be as fast as these guys in the parking lot who didn’t even place at the event. My friends did…but then again…you wouldn’t have known it because they don’t feel the need to tell you how utterly fantastic they are all the time.
Every trail has them…the guys that sit next to their bikes, time their loops at the local trail and can’t wait to tell you how fast they are or how light their bike is. What they don’t realize is that the rest of us are on to their game. We know the routine. If you were 1/2 as fast as you were telling everyone you are, you would be out riding instead of telling everyone about your magnificence.
Mountain biking is not about being faster or slower, more technical or just starting out…it is about getting out on the trail and riding at whatever pace you feel comfortable with. Some guys (or girls) will be faster and others will be slower…that is just how it rolls. So to all of you trailhead heros that would go pro but you don’t have the time, save your hot air for much needed oxygen during pedal strokes. No one really cares how great you think you are…
Image by sunflowerdave