So, why do you ride?(merged)

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by KJ7862, Mar 6, 2009.

  1. KJ7862

    KJ7862 New Member

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    Why do we as mountain bikers, love this sport so much? Some of us feel that we are kind of like the black sheep of this biking world, so do we love that small sport, outcastish feel of being the few? Or is it we need an escape from our high velocity lives, of constant going, jobs, school, and sports (for some).

    The answer for me at least is it is my time alone, my meditation time so to speak. I'll have a terrible day at school, maybe football, family problems whatever, and I can hop on my bike and just forget all of my problems. Now i have never been drunk or high in my life, (im totally against it). But being on a massive downhill, or just riding XC is the most amazing high I can get in my high velocity life. It has now become an obssesion of mine, where I have thought of stopping football to train for races and just ride. We all have something we love this is mine. The best way to describe it is like in the movie Forest Gump, when he just gets up and runs and all of his problems don't seem as big anymore, this is my run.

    What the question is, is do I have absoulutly no idea what I'm talking about or do you all feel how I do. Is this your escape, if not what is.

    Have a great weekend, and be safe on the trails, I'll see you out there.
     
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  2. Kish Me

    Kish Me DH'r in a rigid 9'rs body

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    I ride because I am afraid to get OLD! When I ride with the "older" riders on the mountain or the road, they remind me that I can stay young and healthy forever. :wave:

    I love to see the younger riders use biking or other sports for their "high." :bang: Too many of us did not take that path and are now trying to play "catch-up."
     
  3. soul rider

    soul rider EMPTY V

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    It's my therapy. My soul needs to depart from cars, concrete, people, noise, just the general horse sh!t we all deal with.
    we, us, myself are blessed with miles and miles of trails locally to shed all the nonsense.
    after you climb so many miles and all you see is nature, all you hear is the wind blowing and ruslting the leaves in the trees, its beautiful.
    in addition mountain biking has taken me to so many exotic locations for riding and have met so many cool people, pros and bros.
    in the end it is a life style that has so many positives it can not be denied
     
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  4. DirtymikeTDB

    DirtymikeTDB Guest

    I ride because I love the dirt.

    I dont really think of Mtn biking as the outcast of bike riding, I think of it as the premier bike riding.
     
  5. Familyman

    Familyman Original Kaosss

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    Its the sound of my tires hitting the trail that takes me away!! It's definitly my escape from the everyday nonsence I deal with at work. I have been riding now since 2003 and I can't get enough of it. My kids are currently 7&4 and I look forward to taking epic rides with them someday. They both ride schwinns right now and its great to see the joy in there faces when their riding. My four year old has this thing about jumping his bike already and it freaks my wife out. Anyway, you have to be a mountain biker to understand the feeling!! I have alot of friends who don't understand my passion, but maybe, just maybe they will experience the "BITE" someday and be as fortunate!!! Keep riding!!!!
     
  6. bluefirepictures

    bluefirepictures Almost Local Rider/Photog

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    I like to go fast... I started biking because I couldnt drive. but now its my main if not only form of exercise. But exercise is only the excuse I use to ride. People ask why I ride so much, its easy to just say exercise.

    I ride because I like to get out of my house. It gives me something to do. I have always liked the outdoors. I would be camping everyday of my life if I could. I cant get out to camp as much as I want, but biking gets me out into nature at least once I week.
     
  7. strobelite

    strobelite Banned

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    i outgrew bmx and i discovered suspension. growing up, i was never far from my bike. so much, im suprised girls liked me. for me, bikes were never really a sport or a hobby, they just go hand in hand with my life. but i still hate climbing.
     
  8. onegymrat

    onegymrat New Member

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    Hey KJ7682, nice Lance quote. It helps me get through the long, steep climbs.
     
  9. KonaDawgDeluxe

    KonaDawgDeluxe REKE/DMC

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    I mostly ride to stay fit. I enjoy climbing steep hills. Some hills are tough but I never give up. I'll ride down the hill and try again until I make it up. Its a sense of accomplishment when I get to the top. Being outdoors on a bike eases my mind. It relaxes you mentally. :wave:
     
  10. paulbschmidt

    paulbschmidt KNEEL BEFORE ZOD

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    I ride because the sport changed my life. Two years ago I was drinking too much, smoking too much and slowly but surely, destroying myself, my marriage and my family.

    Then one day I suddenly decided to quit.....everything. I went cold turkey on drinking and smoking. Hired a trainer, lost 45 pounds, got my wife and I into counseling, repaired my marriage and got back into my life.

    And the catalyst? That very same morning I picked up my first copy of BIKE magazine and found something that became my new support.

    Now my days are spent showing my daughter how to handle berms, and climbs...I appreciate things I never did...morning dew on the trail...the sunrise at the top of the canyon...and also realizing all that I have been missing.

    I ride because sometimes the path this great sport shows us....isn't always printed on a map. Sometimes it shows the the trails we should be on.

    Ride safe and ride hard gang.

    PS
     
  11. chevrolegs

    chevrolegs Active Member

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    I'm addicted to mountain biking just like people are addicted to drugs and alcohol. For me, I think it's a combination of knowing that I'll be healthier in the long run and the scenery/outdoors aspect of it.
     
  12. Homer

    Homer EMD9er

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    Somehow, the crazy magic of gyroscopic stabilization that keeps us all upright while moving gives me a sense of freedom that I don't get from anything else. Then I supercharge that feeling by seeing how fast, steep, or high I can go without killing myself. :lol:

    This is probably the same reason why I love watching Travis Pastrana go for broke on Nitro Circus. He's truly the Evil Knievel of our time. :bang:
     
  13. kloepo9

    kloepo9 New Member

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    Some of my reasons include..
    -Camaraderie
    -It’s important to have a sacred place – being out in nature on my mountain bike plays that role
    -Sense of identity
    -Play (Mountain biking gives me a chance to be 12 years old again. In never thought I would be going off of sweet bike jumps at 30)
    -Adventure (I always want to know what’s over that next hill, I love to explore new trails)
    -Culturally accepted aggressiveness
    -Intellectually intriguing, e.g., Balance between chaos (nature) and civilization (organized trails)
    -I was bored with watching TV, drinking, smoking, and having the same conversations
    Great topic thanks
     
  14. ODB

    ODB Team Sting-Ray

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    I just need something to do for when i'm not drinking or getting high.
     
  15. Punk Sanders

    Punk Sanders Member

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    I ride because Soul Rider's avatar creeps me out and I need to shake it off.8-[
     
  16. boludo

    boludo Member

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    I'd pass up sex with a female "10" to ride whistler, goose, mammoth, etc...

    Also, sweaty crotches make me randy!

    So I guess I'm even more jacked up about this than you.
     
  17. Bryguy17

    Bryguy17 A little Shaggy

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    sometimes I wonder the same thing, as I'm slogging my way up something like holy jim and somehow still enjoying it :-k

    but really, it comes down to a few things:

    first, it's obviously fun as hell

    2nd, I've met some of the coolest people I know from biking. not to say everyone's great, but it's a fun outdoor sport that doesn't has a disproportionate amount of a-holes (I used to paintball, and it's about the opposite in that repsect)

    3. it does offer a great getaway. I can have tons of problems elsewhere, but if I can take off an hour to go knock out a lap on the loop, I can forget it all. it's just me on a bike
     
  18. soul rider

    soul rider EMPTY V

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    changed the avatar, but keep riding.
    the artwork is by CHET ZAR...
     
  19. Punk Sanders

    Punk Sanders Member

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    I think this one is pretty cool.

    [​IMG]
     
  20. dirtvert

    dirtvert Whine on!

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    1. Mtb riding is an escape to reality.

    2. It makes me thirsty.

    3. It gives me an excuse to be dirty.
     

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