I imagine that whether we're rolling down the driveway for the first time or rolling out of the start gate on a world cup downhill, we’re all experiencing the same exhilaration of being on a bike. The speed, fear, excitement…
Myself, sometimes I feel like I am a decent mountain bike rider. But in reality much closer to the beginner end of the spectrum than expert or pro. Striving for mediocrity. Like many, I’ll never roll down the start ramp of any major event. But at our own ability levels we all experience the same nerves, anticipation, and adrenaline.
In the spring I spotted this washout gap that looked like it was in the realm of possibility. Anything in the realm of possibility requires a good friend or two to make it reality. Mike investigates with some skepticism.
Some math on general trajectory gave reassurance that one could go the distance... set a ramp at 18.4 degrees, pedal hard enough to take off at 34km/hr, and the result should be just over 1 second of flight to safely land on the other side of the canyon 28ft away and 7ft lower. Rather than relying on math, a test run to see that the distance could be achieved.
Pedaling as hard as possible, only one of three test runs on safe ground had resulted in making the distance. Now piloting a slow motion 1 second flight over the washout gap... a huge moment of doubt... a bump ahead of the takeoff lost a pedal stroke and much needed speed. Much too slow, failure seemed certain.
Using will power to urge the bike a few more inches to make the distance despite the lack of speed.
Touch down from another angle.
Oddly, with safe terra firma below, I crumpled faster than a house of cards. So certain that I wasn't going to go the distance, my mind had given up on making the landing.
Maybe time to strive to have more fun instead of striving for mediocrity.
Thanks to Mike and Frank for helping make a small ambition a reality. Felt just like rolling down the driveway for the first time as a child... complete with someone there to pick me up after I fell.
Definitely time to heal the broken clavicle.
