Saw the crew in the lot getting ready to head in as I was coming out. I was the sweaty, winded guy. Looked like a good sized group. Heres where I get on my soapbox:
My life has been the busiest it has ever been recently with little to no time left for recreation of any kind, forget about riding. I finally got out the other day, and again today for just a few miles when I could. I know I dont need to post this on here cuz everybody knows it, but as soon as I got in there, I felt all the stress and everything else totally wash away. As I focused on the trail, it took only a few turns to tune out everything else other than my intended (I stress intended) line, and the quiet and beauty around me in all directions. For me at least, riding is the perfect mix of exercise, aggression, challenge, and simultaneous serenity. As I rode these past days I first blasted along to get rid of some frustration and anger, then slowed down and focused on technical stuff, challenging myself, then found a steady pace and looked out into the woods off the trail, checking out the crazy green against the trees and the water, and relaxing.....then repeat.
The other day I crashed once when my front wheel washed out on me, and I lay there on the ground laughing at myself. Today, I crashed on the same root that I have crashed on at least 25 times. I knew it was coming, where it was, was thinking about it, hit it and crashed anyway. My helmet hit a tree and then my shoulder hit the tree. I left a mark on the tree, and have a mark on my shoulder, so it was a draw. I told the tree we were even. I laughed at myself again. I chased a bunch of squirrels down the trail, ate some bugs, saw two deer today, and then rode into the lot to see a huge group getting ready to head out. It felt good...DAMN GOOD. I hope the group ride today was a fulfilling for everybody as my recent short rides have been for me. Kudos to Jason for posting the ride and making it happen, we should all follow his example and post if we know when we are gonna ride. Thanks also to EVERYBODY who has put so much into 6MR recently and for years before. To those other folks like me, whos lives have been interfering with riding.....Just get out there....
