Evolution of Mountain Biking

About four years ago Steve and I decided to buy some mountain bikes.  Holy crap, I didn’t realize I was going to love it as much as I do!  Mountain biking is seriously one of the greatest things ever.  Along with being such a great workout (that you don’t even realize how hard your body is working) it also has the best setting.  The mountains.  Can’t get much better than that!

This is my first mountain bike and my first ride up and down a legit trail.  You can tell I’m a beginner because I’m wearing freaking JEANS!  Ew.

Steve bought a bike off the internet, decided he was going to be hardcore, sold it three days later, and got this awesome Specialized.   We would go all the time.  Everywhere.  Sad short story: We rode them to an outdoor concert in downtown SLC.  It was opening night of the Twilight concert series (free concerts held every summer in Salt Lake) and there were probably a million people there and 800,000 bikes.  When Steve and I left the concert we went back to our bikes and someone and CUT through our locks and stole BOTH our bikes!!!  One of the saddest days ever.   We had to walk home and I cried the whole way.  There is a happy ending though (no, we didn’t ever find our bikes)…  Steve surprised me a couple weeks later with a brand new Specialized!!!  We couldn’t go on without bikes; we literally rode at least 3 times a week.

I believe biking has something for everyone.  A challenging and fun workout, adrenalin and speed on the way down, the most beautiful scenery, fresh air, accessories to the max, easy on the knees, stress burner, a sense of accomplishment, loads of fun, and you can ride with a couple people or a big group.

There are a ton of trails around where we live and some of our most favorite places are only a few hours away.  That’s one gigantic plus about living in Utah.

There is a trail about 15 minutes from our house that we love to ride up just after work.  There is a huge rock near the top that you can climb up on and see out forever.  This is the view from Elephant Rock…

Moab, UT is one of the best places in the world to bike.  It also has hiking, rock climbing, rivers, 4 X 4 trails, camp sites, hotels, and so many restaurants and shops in town.  Everything you need in just one place!  This is a view from the top of Slickrock trail… Steve’s all-time favorite trail.

There are so many different types and styles of bikes.  And it can get crazy expensive.  We started out with bikes we found off the internet.  Used bikes are definitely the way to start out.  My first two bikes were hard tails, so they have shocks on the front only.  This is great for climbing because the back shock can suck up a lot of energy.  Full suspension bikes, those with shocks on the front and back, make for a comfortable ride downhill or over bumps.  Then there is Steve.  After our bikes got stolen, he decided on a downhill bike.  50 pounds of danger.  Downhill bikes are a lot heavier so you can get maximum speed down the trail.  They are not, however, ideal for the trek up…

Ha!  This picture makes me laugh every time.   Steve insisted on having a downhill bike and he also insisted on not being beat by the guys with lighter, cross country bikes.  I have to hand it to him though, he never backed down, he just pedaled his little heart out and outrode everyone.

Downhill bikes are great for riding down the ski trails.  This is in Park City, we just ride the lift up with our bikes and ride all the way down!  I’m a weirdo though and I like the uphill ride the best.  Maybe because I’m always nervous going down (I’ve had many crashes) but I also love the workout.

Biking is OUR thing we do together.  It’s so nice having the same hobby as your significant other.  We’ve had crazy adventures that make for memories we will never forget.  And Steve has pushed me even when I didn’t think I could do it.  Talk about confidence builder.

You even get cell phone service!  Must have been an important call?

Top of Amasa Back in Moab.  An extremely challenging trail but this view is all the reward I need.

I finally graduated to a level of legit where I decided it was time to get a new full suspension.  We searched high and low for a size that would fit me and found this Rocky Mountain Element.  On a scale of 1-10 I love my bike a 100.

The summer before last we both entered our first race.  Can I just tell you besides being extremely nervous, it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life.  With a race you can’t just stop and take a break.  …well I guess you can but it’s a RACE so why would you??  I want to win.  And win I did.    I got first place in my beginner division and Steve got second in his!  Definitely one of the greatest accomplishments of my life that will never be repeated.  Racing is not for me.

Then last year, Steve finally sold his downhill bike (can I get a hallelujah?!) and got this awesome Jamis hard tail with 29-inch wheels.  It weighs a whopping 25 pounds less and can climb like you would not believe.

I’m also in a bike club with some of my friends…Climbing Coochies… can I say that on here?  Anyway, it’s also perfect for girls’ nights.

Everyone needs to try mountain biking.  At least once!  You won’t regret it.  If you’re looking for a new spring/summer/fall activity or a special outing, try it!  I would love to get together with anyone in the area and go out.  Please e-mail me if you want to go!  Also let me know if you’re a beginner and would be interested in starting out a little slow.  I’d love to show you all that I’ve learned.

Thanks for letting me spew about one of my loves!

Q: Do you mountain bike, road bike, or motorbike?  All of the above?

Q: What’s your favorite summer activity?

Q: Best place to mountain bike is….