Thread: Little reasons that riding makes me happy

Getting the final pieces on my new bike, and heading out the door to take it for it's first ride.



Hell.

Yes.

^hot

how awesome your home town looks from 1500 feet above.

back door singletrack, makes me happy. from yesterday in Walpole.

Not necessarily little but:

Taking my kids to Moab for their first time (and getting back there myself)

Crushing a long climb. Then absolutely smoking the downhill that I've never ridden to beat a thunderstorm to my car.

Two hours of solitude and tackiness. Haven't gotten much of either lately.

Next up...Tito's Vodka with a lime.

Riding the same trail once a week all season, and noticing something new every time.

Midnight rides in the dark.

Taking a 20-minute nap somewhere peaceful and beautiful in the middle of a longer ride.

Feeling like Sam Fucking Hill or Julian Fucking Absalom when strangers cheer you on at a local race even though you're just a sport-class hack.

Actually fixing something on my bike on my own without making it worse and having to go to the bike shop with my tail between my legs.

Originally Posted by AKbruin

Taking a 20-minute nap somewhere peaceful and beautiful in the middle of a longer ride.

Haha I did this onetime at the top of bobsled in the new, green, spring grass. Just looked nice so I laid my bike down next to me and took a quick nap. About 15 minutes in, some guy stops and wakes me up. He though I had crashed. Haha I guess I was glad someone had noticed.




Oh and I love riding the Wasatch Crest at night. I thought I knew that trail front to back, but it is a new beast at night.

A light rain the night before.

working your ass off to knock out a ride that took you 7 hours the first time, 6 hours the second time, and an average of 4:45 all the other times...in 3:25

working 200 hours in three weeks to close a deal only to get to ride on a Tuesday afternoon in the mountains and not see a single soul for 20 miles

on a flatter section of an old favorite, i decided to see how fast i could go without pedaling. so much fun.

Originally Posted by zartagen

Crushing a long climb. Then absolutely smoking the downhill that I've never ridden to beat a thunderstorm to my car.

Just beating thunderstorms on your bike is indeed pretty mega. Especially if you have cold beer waiting for you.

Timely bump! Finding out tonight that your bud finally qualified for a bone marrow transplant and celebrating with a quick summer eve loop!

^^^Very cool for your buddy. Birdman34's need a few years ago got me to sign up for the registry.

Is the transplant scheduled yet?

Best of luck to him

Now, why riding makes me happy? Because I sometimes come across interesting species of fauna when I'm out

I saw a bear for my first time ever in the wild, on the trails at my local spot. A big ass black bear.

Actually I saw him twice. The first time I startled him, he bolted away and was gone within 3 seconds. That split second encounter made me pretty happy.

The second time, he startled me, and I was definitely not happy to see him again. This time, he seemed ok with my presence, unaffected, and he just chilled. I started wondering if he was stalking me, since I rode in the opposite direction from where I saw him the first time. I'm pretty sure I didn't smell like beef jerky but I was still spooked. I made sure to make lots of noise (thank you loud hub), and rode slowly out of there so it didn't seem like I was his prey. This encounter made me extra-happy when I finally reached the parking lot.

Originally Posted by donkeykong

I saw a bear for my first time ever in the wild, on the trails at my local spot. A big ass black bear.

Actually I saw him twice. The first time I startled him, he bolted away and was gone within 3 seconds. That split second encounter made me pretty happy.

The second time, he startled me, and I was definitely not happy to see him again. This time, he seemed ok with my presence, unaffected, and he just chilled. I started wondering if he was stalking me, since I rode in the opposite direction from where I saw him the first time. I'm pretty sure I didn't smell like beef jerky but I was still spooked. I made sure to make lots of noise (thank you loud hub), and rode slowly out of there so it didn't seem like I was his prey. This encounter made me extra-happy when I finally reached the parking lot.

I'm always stoked when I go for a ride, usually at night, and don't get mauled. Solitude is sweet, not being dinner is sweeter.

^^^My only 'oh shit!" event with wildlife was a near head-on collision with a bull elk that the dog spooked

As far as bears, I've only ridden twice in Grizz/Brownie country and never saw a bear. I lived for a while in SE AK so can understand where Jed is coming from though.

Around the PNW I see black bears all the time - generally their butt though, 'cause they are running away. Anybody here had a black bear get truly aggressive with them while riding?

Today I rode up and there was a group shuttling, they went down ahead of me on my 29r then I passed them, that made me quite happy. They did look a little confused.

Riding my bike instead of working on stranger's bikes.
Making a friends bike ride/work better.
Making my own bike ride/work better.
Riding my bike instead of watching TDF.

Friends don't let friends ride junk.

Taking a quick dawn patrol lap hoping to beat the week long rain storm that is predicted. Started raining as I was hanging my bike post ride. Logged in for the first time this year to the local ski hill's website.

the endorphins