Springtime in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, a weekend battle between backcountry skiing and mountain biking.
The spring snowpack in Colorado has solidified, minimizing the risk of a deep persistent slab avalanche. Moab, Utah is a three-hour drive from the Hub and a perfect 70 degrees in spring. After six months of wearing yoga pants this winter, my legs seriously need sun but my love for skiing is telling me to get out there and ski in shorts.
This past month Adam and I have been alternating between skiing our backyard and biking the desert on the weekends. Apart from some fresh snow, nothing gets me more excited than some new gear. After purchasing my first pair of mountain biking shoes last weekend, am I seriously considering packing away the ski boots for the season? It’s currently raining outside and I know it’s snowing at higher elevation, but could the itch to go biking actually be getting me through the week?
What is it about mountain biking that makes us crave going back for more?
Living in LA I took my dog on ‘hikes’ to the Hollywood sign, I thought I was active. While hiking one of my first trails in Colorado I remember stopping to catch my breath and getting passed by someone on a mountain bike. The trail was littered with sharp rocks and tree trunks, it was a strenuous uphill climb and this asshole passed me smiling on a bike. This was my first encounter with the sport and I remember being wide eyed and instantly vocalized,
“hell no, that will never be me.”
Here I am, seven years later dreaming of getting back on my mountain bike. I will be honest; It’s been one hell of a ride. Last summer my legs were cut up from the spikes on the pedals which keep your feet in place. I’ve flung over the handlebars swelling my knee into a cantaloupe, landed on a cactus, rolled bike over body downhill between multiple switchbacks and I’ve bonked so hard I had to have a moment alone where I actually missed life in LA!
Although sometimes it may feel like you’re dying a slow death, the positives of mountain biking actually outweigh the negatives. Yes, my desire to get out there this weekend could simply be driven from the recent purchase of my new shoes, but what rationalizes that huge smile on my face as and I pass hikers while I’m biking uphill?
- The Adventure:
- Biking takes you places not easily traveled by foot, deep into the mountains or exploring a city from a new perspective.
- Trails frequently have various routes or bypasses around difficult problems. Biking down a mountain is fast, you need to make split second decisions and sometimes that decision was a rock jump and you landed it.
- The Childhood Memories:
- Splashing through puddles, riding through the mud and getting air over a jump.
- Although post rides are now shared over an IPA, it takes you back to your childhood and a break from the real world.
- The Workout:
- Biking over steep and rough terrain is an intense cardio workout. The long uphill grind with the required bout of endurance to push over a rock, lung performance has been proven to improve by 25% due to the endurance of mountain biking.
- The average calories burned while mountain biking are over 1000 per hour.
- The Mood Booster:
- The intense workout gets your heart pumping and fills you with feel good chemicals. Plus, your ‘bod’ looks great, there are muscles growing on top of muscles with zero body fat.
- Although your neighborhood trail might be tough, finding the strength to bike over that uphill rock problem you’ve been working on is an incredible accomplishment.
- The Quality Time:
- My favorite part about mountain biking is spending time with Adam. He is an incredible athlete, trailing behind him as he rips the downhill, launching in the air and seeing him so happy when I finally catch up, it makes me happy.
- Riding the trail together, problem solving and encouraging each other through difficult obstacles simplifies the real world challenges.
I recommend everyone get out there and try mountain biking twice. The initial leap into the sport can be intimidating. Plus, the price tag on a full suspension mountain bike is shocking. Check your local bike shop for some good deals and rentals. My first few rides were with a group of girls sponsored by Juliana Bicycles. Everyone was supportive and encouraging, plus I met some cool friends along the way. Please reach out with any questions.
Happy Trails!
