Backcountry Bliss

When the CCC was building trail during the Great Depression, they weren't considering bicycles being in the user equation. The advent of modern "mountain biking" may be considered as the first forays onto these trails, however it was most assuredly not the first time many of these trails were attempted to be bicycled upon. The famous bicycle journey undertaken by the Buffalo Soldiers through The Heart of America lends heavily to that fact, as it was decades before the CCC even existed. Imagination, Determination, Woodcraft Skills, Mechanical Skills and Desire to explore the backcountry are most assuredly high ranking factors that have sent individuals on two wheels into the backcountry since the bicycle came to be. Historical footpaths, wagon roads, cattle trails, game trails and even large swaths of bare rock are also integral in the backcountry experience on bicycles, all of which can be ridden to certain extents framed by legality, Rider motivation and skills.

While backcountry mountain biking is understandably not for everyone, those seeking it out are becoming more infrequent, with the exception of the current bikepacker trend. The bikepackers either venture forth with preparedness, or tempt fate well beyond what casual enthusiasts face on crowded trails adjacent to metro areas experience. Yes, mountain biking is still an inherently dangerous undertaking anywhere it's performed, however the backcountry adds to this truth. Those who are intelligent enough to admit their limitations and adjust their aspirations accordingly can make day tripping into the backcountry a reality that doesn't have to be life threatening. Those who can't seem to believe anything beyond their own bullshit are seemingly tempting fate in the backcountry, especially when dependent upon electronic assistance to get there. This possibly explains the USFS exclusion of ecycles on non-motorized routes. They get enough SAR calls for service already and adding to that would be a burden they don't wish to be shouldered with. I don't blame them one little bit.

The Bliss of Backcountry riding is real for me, beginning with why I took mountain biking up to begin with. Enjoying the backcountry and the peace it provides me with is something I've always enjoyed from my first moments out there on foot as a kid. Being places and seeing things that only you and maybe a few close friends are privy to at any certain moment in time is priceless and IMO the height of truly living life. The learning experiences provided by the unpredictability of the backcountry are endless, as evidenced even yesterday when railing around a blind turn to see a loose rock as big as a medicine ball in the middle of the tread and relying on both my experienced speed (or lack thereof in this case) and bike's flickability to avoid spearing it with my front wheel. Then again, Riding In Control is essential in the backcountry and those who don't adhere to that increase their chances of becoming a SAR call for service, that is if their electronic deevice has both signal and a charge. Funny and also telling how much more important proper trail etiquette is in a backcountry setting as opposed to where Kooks Accumulate. Riders who get this often enjoy the Bliss of Backcountry for the same reasons mentioned above and also know that just about anyone encountered on a bicycle "out there" is most likely a Kindred Spirit.

Believing Your Own BS

 In a World that's filled with bovine fecal matter, why add to the stench? It's easy to see how the feeble may follow the crooked paths set by the various social engineers who have baffled them with their bombardment of thinly veiled hypnotism, but what about those who have an Intelligence Quotient that hovers around or is above room temperature? While some of the latter group may have also been told throughout their lives that they can "do whatever they want or set themselves to do" by parents, teachers, clergy, gurus, etc., they may be at more of a disadvantage because that is inherently untrue for anyone of any caliber. I witnessed many individuals who were quite intelligent come and go quickly from my profession of twenty years and the ones that clung onto it as long as possible for the sake of their fragile ego were merely believing their own stinky-assed bullshit. They were only fooling themselves.

 Those who believe their own bullshit from a bicycle saddle are a varied lot. My favorite ones to observe are amateur racers. While many amateurs are most assuredly just simple folk testing their limits or merely having fun with friends, the bullshit believers are a mix of madness who bring bad tidings that can be hilarious and sad all at once to witness. Getting all chippy about booby-prize level winnings, amateur rankings, or egotistical aspiration is total bullshit to anyone paying attention. This notion is furthered by amateur sandbaggers, who are a whole other level of bullshit. The list goes on, if you get my drift. The impacts of those who are unrealistic about their abilities on a bicycle in the dirt are many, and from environmental to social, their path of buttfunk permeates the trails they pollute.

The subset of those who ride mountain bikes and volunteer for trail work, are often just shown minimal skills in this vein and suddenly believe they know it all, sometimes negatively impacting whole trail systems. While some of their work under the umbrella of legitimate trail advocacy (legitimate being key here) can be proper, their "off the books" misdeeds are often fine examples of poor execution and sanitization. Sadly, poor execution may also emit from less than competent crews set forth by groups claiming to be advocates who believe thier own bullshit. Happening upon a trail that has had brush work where the crew left the trimmings in the trail bed is a prime example of poor execution. This is especially true when an antisocial media post from the group about their seemingly Herculean "good deed" includes a photo of their trail tools for the task with a rake in it. WTF? The next thing to be expected from a bullshit group like that would be laying claim to work they did not do. It's how the deluded roll.

How does one avoid the pitfalls of believing their own bullshit? Since we're all wired at least a little differently, there is no "one size fits all" solution that the mass media sells incessantly in regards to *anything*. I've been fortunate in my life to gain professions that are considered by some as "quiet professional", a prime key in the cog the mainstream populace seems to either not know of, or often forgets. Many times over the years, the only moments I have thought something I had done in my professions was exemplary, was when an esteemed peer made mention of such. To me, it was just doing what I was being paid to do at the level I could accomplish. The same is true when throwing my leg over a top tube, though not as a profession (except for when guiding). When an esteemed peer, or those who may even be many levels beyond me makes mention of something they see as exemplary in my riding, it's not bullshit, but a confirmation that I had a proverbial "moment in the sun". They are thanked and things are left at that, with maybe an explanation as to what the fuck I just did to appease their curiousity when asked that. Face it, we're all just some dude/dudette on a bike and trying to hard to be something else is just plainly and simply Bullshit. Believe That

Riders Come and Go, Kooks Accumulate

Blockheads

C.R.S. § 18-9-107 (Obstructing a Highway or Other Passageway): Makes it an offense to intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly block a place used for the passage of persons, vehicles, or conveyances, rendering passage unreasonably inconvenient or hazardous.

 Yesterday I encountered an elderly male hiker on the trail while ascending. He was surprised that I had yielded the trail to him and stated that it was the first time this Summer that anyone astride a cycle had yielded the trail to him, including the one person on a bicycle and another riding illegally upon the trail today with their ecycle (Poachers, a subject for another day) who I saw toodling down the trail before stopping for the hiker. While chatting with the hiker, I noticed a fresh scrape on his noggin and asked if he was alright or needed any assistance. He said he was okay and would be good in getting back to the trailhead. Then I asked how that had happened.

 Apparently the person on the bicycle was experiencing a  mechanical issue, effectively blocking the trail while attending to it. They had noticed the hiker approaching, yet failed to render the trail to the hiker. As the hiker left the trail bed to go around, he stumbled on the terrain and fell, injuring himself. He picked himself and his hiking staff back up and continued on, without any words or actions from the errant bicyclist. I'm not sure what kind of home training the bicyclist had as a child, but it was either severely lacking or they are a perennial dim-bulb. In the civilized world, one offers and/or renders assistance to injured parties. The lack of social ethics displayed by that cretinous individual should be astounding to me, but it's not.

 Before parting ways, I asked the hiker once again if they would like any help. They politely declined and added, "Well it was my fault that I stumbled and fell." to which I replied that it was not their fault and in fact the person blocking the trail was doing so contrary to state law. This incident is *why* there is a law against blocking a public passageway. To think that common sense and courtesy in an instance such as this must be made law makes the whole occurrence unsurprising.

Riders Come and Go, Kooks Accumulate

Fifteen Minutes

 In the modern quest for "fame", those seeking their Warholian fifteen minutes astride a mountain bike are a strange lot to me. The air of desperation emanates from many who seem to be seeking this kind of attention, whether they are wedging their way into obtaining status as the big fish in a little pond, or simply sandbagging amateur races. The reek is real and painfully obvious to anyone even remotely paying attention. Yeah, that shit stinks, even if it is sadly amusing. 

 To me, fifteen minutes is how long a normally twenty minute descent went this morning, as indicated by my analog timepiece. Warhol may have gotten it right for those who earn their way or stumble into fame, however Bowie got it right for the desperate with, "Fame (fame) puts you there where things are hollow." Hollow is no way to go through life, kiddies.

Riders Come and Go, Kooks Accumulate

PS I rode the aforementioned trail section in ten minutes flat yesterday evening. No hikers to yield to and perfect conditions. Could I ride it faster? Most likely yes, but not being able to stop in time for a hiker around a blind turn is not cool, or even fast for that matter.

Where My Bike Takes Me

Above 12,000 feet Mean Sea Level in the majestic Colorado San Juan Mountains

 

Riders Come and Go, Kooks Accumulate

Appholes

"When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete, everybody will respect you." - Lao Tzu

 Lao Tzu, with confirmation that even ancient dick-measurers were scorned. I'm not sure that modern day scorn is as prevalent though because of the narcissistic hordes who are attempting to normalize this type of behavior. The abusers of digital applications who are concerned merely with measuring and have little to no regard for the trails and other trail users where they perpetrate their foul misdeeds are a problem and have been since the birth of those platforms.

 When the first app arrived and I was made aware of it, red flags immediately entered my thoughts. I had hoped that most would use it to track *their own* progress, but knew the measurers would emerge and do their worst to destroy trail surfaces and the public image of cyclists on singletrack trails. It wasn't too difficult to be prophetic and the predicted results mushroomed rapidly. I swore to never participate and denigrated both it and the trail abusing measurers whenever provided with the opportunity to do so.

 I kept doing my thing and was mindful of avoiding both the trails that the measurers frequented and/or times of day they were committing their selfish crimes against public lands. This worked most of the time, but at one particular trail system I frequented to shake down new builds, dust off Winter cobwebs, or show friends a thing or two about handling a bicycle in the dirt, the Philistines seemed to be omnipresent. These cretins began acting curiously with various transgressions, such as cutting in front of me at trail intersections, *trying* to ride my wheel and throwing shade in all kinds of kooky manners. It was as if I were an invading force to them and they brought it to the point where I felt that if that's what they wanted, well then I'll give it to them.

 After one day on the aforementioned trail system that had a most egregious transgression occur, I went home and signed up for the app I knew these fuckers were jerking off to. The basic ins and outs of it were studied briefly and like a coiled rattler, I waited. Not too long afterwards, the time had arrived when there was nobody else there and the conditions were just about perfect. My deevice got turned on, the app started and I just did my regular thing. The end result was not very surprising, though I knew I had a few sessions in this place where my speeds went well beyond what was recorded that day. The Mic Drop was in order and Fuck You, Appholes completed. That was about six or seven years ago now and I may have peeped those results four or five times out of curiousity.

 It's become quite easy to tell when a new trail system becomes under attack by a legion of appholes. The amount of abuse can almost be shocking, as trails that have not had time to get compacted from responsible use are much more sensitive. The skid ruts, off-trail tracks, widening, corner-cutting, braiding, and lines of inexperience being set that would be inherently slow on mature trails that appholes create in their quest for the egotistic rewards of being marked by the app as some Homeric deed is inherently ridiculous to anyone with an IQ above room temperature. Give those narcissistic types a heavy motorized vehicle that the "industry" is now selling with which to feed their fragile egos and this is compounding the threat to our public lands. Yes, *our* public lands and when the selfish feel that because they are part of *our*, they can do whatever they wish, even outside of laws and etiquette, they are commiting crimes against everyone in the communities they thrash upon.

 I did peep the app once in the past year to confirm apphole complicity in a wave of abuse on a few newer trail systems I'm familiar with. The abusers seem to be using pseudonyms or incomlete profile information, as if they are in fact knowingly fucking shit up and do not wish to be held responsible for illegal activities such as damaging public property or poaching yet to be opened trails under construction. This is how chickenshits roll, unless the definition of chickenshit has changed to suit fragile egotists. The notion of getting back on the app to tell these inhumans that they truly suck crossed my mind, but only for about a second. This may bring about something else they probably desire, such as recognition or validity, but they deserve neither and that took a whole second, followed by a hearty laugh. They already know they suck, but just don't have the mental capacity, integrity, or honesty to admit it, which is the root of apphole Modus Operandi.

Riders Come and Go, Kooks Accumulate

From Tumbleweeds to MTB Destination

Westwater, UT 1999

 In March 1995, I emigrated from North Carolina to Western Colorado in search of dry air and new places to ride bicycles. I rented an apartment in the sleepy boom-bust town of Fruita and on my first trip down Aspen Avenue, saw an almost empty downtown and tumbleweeds blowing down the street. Truthfully, the town seemed to be forlorn at best. The surrounding landscape however, appeared limitless to the imagination.

 Within a couple of months of residing in Fruita, a former honey factory on the SE corner of Mulberry and Aspen opened as a bike shop. I made it a point to pedal over on a day off to see what was happening there and was pleased to see it had the makings of a solid LBS. This fact was confirmed after I tore up the rear wheel of my primary MTB and brought it in for repair. Friendly, Fast, Proper and Great Pricing were all present. It was nice to have Over The Edge Sports as my LBS, even having no idea of what was to come.

 The first Fruita Fat Tire Festival came and went without my participation due to my work schedule. In the interim between the first two FFTFs, I met a couple of characters who were running multiday supported Kokopelli Trail trips and they hired me as a guide. When the second FFTF approached, it was determined that volunteering to guide rides under the banner of their tour company would be a good idea and we hosted rides daily during the festival. The vibes and multitude of volunteer perks confirmed that we had made the correct choice in participating. This set the foundation for what was to follow in my progression on two wheels in the dirt.

 Shortly after that second festival, my friends and I were riding trails in the "open travel" designated Bookcliffs one day and saw a few people on a faint cattle path just off of a main route. We stopped and called out to them and they motioned us over. We recognized them as core members of what was happening out there and were invited to join in, putting tracks down to help compact the faint path. This is when acquaintances became friends and from then on I was fully involved.

 The ringleader of the movement that was happening in Fruita had decided to go forth with it in early 1995, opening Over The Edge Sports with a few business partners who also saw the potential. What attracted me to it most was the enthusiasm to create something for everyone to enjoy and have fun while doing so. It was already evident before really knowing any of the OGs and after joining in to ride with them, the level of energy, skills, and comeraderie were the perfect formula to compliment morphing from being a casual enthusiast to living a lifestyle. This was facilitated by everyone who came and went while I was present for the next eight years. Everyone brought something to the table and we all realized it began with the the ringleader's notion that Fruita, CO had the potential to be a World Class MTB Destination, even being as close as it is to Moab, UT. One of the primary differences between the two locales was the emphasis of mountain biking responsibly, which was led from the top in Fruita. This is still evident today in many ways, including the inception of The Fruita Lean, which is the proper method of yielding on any singletrack trail, but especially in desert environs. We strived to keep Singletrack *single* and single it remained due to both education and diligence. Again, it all began at the top.

  The cat was let out of the bag very rapidly, assisted by the burgeoning internet, but primarily through word of mouth. The FFTF grew every year, as did the amount of visitors during the shoulder seasons in Colorado. During the Summer and Winter, the core group road tripped around the West to ride bikes and have fun. The carefree style accompanied by the relentless pursuit of smooth that in turn begat skill and speed,  garnered the attention of those who recognized and appreciated what we were doing. They in turn realized that this was attenable to anyone who applied these basic tenets in lieu of attempting to force themselves into the lifestyle by careless aggression that the trails still suffer to this day. It wasn't merely about mountain biking, it was also about being stewards of the lifestyle and yet again, this all began at the top.

 I departed the Grand Valley, yet never lost touch with many of those who were there from the beginning to the end of my tenure in Western Colorado. Over the years many more flowed in, some stayed and others moved on. Many made fantastic contributions and some are still doing so. Few however, have made claims of having been there from the start, or fed notions that Fruita blossomed largely or even solely by their doing. While contributions to the area have been made by many, every little piece of the puzzle was crucial, especially in the late 1990s. The ringleader did an interview in the past few years, which is posted up on yewtewb. In the comments section, most responses were positive and deservedly so. One commenter decided to lambaste the ringleader, accusing them of being egotistical and not giving credit to anyone else. Had this comnenter actually listened, credit was given without having to name names. Names are for tombstones and besides that, those I knew and befriended from that bunch still let their actions do the talking for them.

 After 20 years of not hanging out in Fruita or with the esteemed ringleader, we recently had the opportunity to catch-up and ride a bit there. Being thick as thieves for about eight years, we picked right up as if we had hung out just a few weeks prior. Life for both of us had gotten in the way of communicating much, or meeting up and we had always remained friends contrary to that. On both rides we took on the West side of the Grand Valley, we encountered another OG Fruitian (native, actually). Again, old friends picking right up where we left off. Fruita has changed a bit more, but mostly in population and an improved service industry. Yes, many are responsible for this transformation from Tumbleweeds to MTB Destination, but it all began somewhere and ignoring those origins is too Orwellian for me to not have a say about it. No shit, I was there.

Riders Come and Go, Kooks Accumulate

Flo and Mountain Biking

 The advent and continuing creation of machine built mountain bike trails brought a "new" buzzword into the mainstream vernacular, flow. The concept of flow is not a new notion, however building it into the trails is rather new in a historical perspective. In the days of yore, if one wanted to flow down a trail they had to create it themselves with learned skillsets. Nowadays, those skillsets are not necessary if one seeks out machine built flow trails and that seems be causing a myriad of issues that feed my notion of degradation beyond the general lack of skills these trails require.

 The most glaring issue with those firmly attached to modern flow trails is the apparent inability to turn without being aided by a berm. I was fortunate to be patiently shown how to look for hooks and use them, which is highly applicable in both technical trail riding and on machine built flow, especially at speed. The most common miscue witnessed in this light would be flow disciples attempting to bomb the lines that are optimal for slower speeds. On wide machine built trails, this causes cut corners, skidding and blown-out turns when the turns are not on a bench cut. If one is looking for and using the hooks at higher speeds, they are not cutting corners but instead hitting the hook, which could be as simple as the cup in the middle of the tread, or as unapparent as a notch in a boulder.

  The ability to keep oneself in the trailbed on a singletrack is touted by advocacy groups with the common tenet of "Control Your Bicycle". With most flow trails, this should be an easy task as they tend to be well over a foot wide, however the aforementioned inability of some to adhere to staying in the trailbed (especially on trails that are not a bench cut), those cut corners and blown-out flat turns tell a story of ignorance and/or entitlement. There are countless trails where the inability to stay in the trailbed have dire consequences to those not adhering to one of the most basic rules of the trail. Riding out of the trail bed on The Portal in Moab can lead to a 600' cliff dive, which has occured before and will do so again. Riding within ones limits and respecting the trails creates a true advocate, whereas those of a hypocritical nature who may claim that title are only fooling themselves and their sycophantic virtual and personal acquaintances. When a Rider is controlling their bike, their tracks stay in the tread.

 The last item of observation is the Vanillafication that these trails appear to be creating. The designs of machine built flow trails are very similar across the board and this is especially true where soil conditions are the same. The berms, bumps, jumps, etc. tend to be carbon copies that create what flowficionados crave, the safety of Vanilla. Putting Rocky Road in front of those used to Vanilla can cause a variety of issues, though self-preservation is most likely high on their list and they will not want a taste. Another factor that keeps flowficionados away from different flavors is ego, but that's a topic for another day. Of course when some with the afflictions in question do attempt a different flavor, it can be disastrous to the environment and/or themselves. While Rocky Road isn't for everyone, there are still many who crave variety, as it's proverbially The Spice of Life.

 The burning question remains, is this curmudgeon against machine built flow trails? The answer is no, in fact I feel it's a great way to get people turned onto the lifestyle and get some exercise. The side effects (both beneficial and destructive) are part of the human condition, though with the narcissistic tendencies created by various antisocial media platforms, the destructive aspect is worsening. Destructive is unfortunately what we get from the few who don't wish to adhere to the most basic tenets of the trail. If there's a cure for selfishness beyond those of that ilk on the trails deleting themselves by their own misdeeds, I'd really like to know. There is a certain comfort in all of this to Riders though, the truth is out there on trails where one must bring their own flow.

Riders Come and Go, Kooks Accumulate 

Mister Miyagi and Mountain Biking

 Mister Miyagi got things right in so many of his principles in reference to the MTB realm. His eternal cinematic wisdom may be applied in sports realms well beyond Martial Arts if one was to ponder this in their chosen sports pursuits. I've only chosen two of these to ponder in recent months, however I'm certain most of his wisdom is also applicable.

Must Have Balance

 Balancing one's life is wise throughout, being something that will always be necessary in order to live life to the fullest. In the MTB realm, it has many forms. My lifelong desire to explore new places has fueled my life balance on two wheels since childhood. Having a myriad of skillsets on two wheels is essential for this, with abilities allowing me to go places and see things that have a lifelong imprint on my mind. The pigeon-holing of oneself into a media-created realm of a lifestyle such as MTB prevents this, however if this is what one seeks, then one is simply doing what suits their idea and that's fine. Though this may lack balance, some may have other pursuits that balance their lives in lieu of solely identifying as "mountain biker". In my experience, many who hang their hat solely on one aspect of any recreational pursuit while using that as their identity are largely fraudulent and when they do decide to venture beyond the "safety" of their chosen realm, they can be a danger to themselves, others, and the integrity of the environment.

No Such Thing as Bad Student, Only Bad Teacher

 The term "teacher" in this instance is being utilized to represent those who actually teach, those who have either a community or self-imposed leadership role, or are the "old guard" and should be setting good examples irregardless of whom they are with or where they are riding. Monkey See, Monkey Do can be a benefit, or a hindrance in the teacher/student relationship. If the student observes the teacher performing proper etiquette on the trail, they usually respond in kind, especially if discussed previously. An example of hindrance would be the teacher stopping in the middle of the trail with their student and effectively blocking the trail to other users, should another trail user happen along. The student may now be under the belief that stopping and blocking a public right of way is acceptable, when it's not and is actually contrary to the vehicle code in some states. This instance is the tip of the proverbial iceberg, practiced by the Indignantly Ignorant, who are largely responsible for the degradation of trail systems around the globe. Bad Teachers creating Bad Students tends to lead to ignorant and destructive behavior such as this ridiculously long skid:

 While I'm alright with those who lack balance and don't destroy public resources, my disdain for bad teachers remains because their students literally destroy public trail systems. Even so, bad students from bad teachers will most likely remain unbalanced and tether themselves to three or four trails, keeping their destructive ways away from the remote places that don't find their way onto bucket lists or the like. If the unbalanced from bad teachers do venture out of the safety of their chosen realm, it's usually to an a-technical marquee trail that media-fed zombies tend to flock to.

Riders come and go, Kooks accumulate.

Essential Gear For The Budget-Minded Mountain Biker

 Does it have to cost a small fortune to live the Mountain Bike Lifestyle?  With the advent of the information age's assault on privacy, I find "articles" popping up on sidebars that are seemingly tuned to my interests through what is being viewed on my connected devices.  With the old adage of keeping one's friends close and enemies closer, a little time has been taken as of late to view what the enemies have to say.  Wading through the seemingly countless "articles" that are really just thinly veiled advertisements, the amount of shills claiming to have the answer for the best gear to ride in and on is staggering.  Not only do I find it staggering, but it's also amusing in a sad kind of way.  With all of the current discussion on "inclusiveness", one might think that there must be a better way for the socioeconomically disadvantaged to access the Mountain Bike Lifestyle.  There is, but the shills and their financiers don't seem to want a largely ignored portion of the population to know this.

This 1988 Marin Palisades Trail was a $40 CL purchase, restored with slight mods.

Your Bike

Mountain bikes can cost a small fortune nowadays, but they don't have to.  The availability of used bicycles through local online marketplaces or local bicycle cooperatives can be a gold mine for the budget-minded, if one knows what to look for.  What do you want to look for?  Basically the only things you need to look for are the integrity of the frame/fork (frameset) and serviceability of all components.  Frame design is not crucial, but a compact design hardtail is preferred as the sloping top tube provides much better stand over and handling than traditional road bike geometry where the top tube is parallel to the ground.

Shock, or no shock?  Most vintage suspension forks only add weight instead of performance, especially with the proliferation of "flow trails" in this day and age.  A well made rigid fork can provide the precise handling that even modern suspension forks will never match, especially at speed on the aforementioned flow type trails.  If you find that hard to believe, take a close look at forks in the BMX world where pump tracks and BMX race tracks (a big part of what flow trails were derived from) are prevalent.  Last but certainly not least, a rigid fork will teach you how to ride a mountain bike in lieu of "riding on" a mountain bike.  If you out grow your budget bike and have a fatter wallet to advance your skills beyond the limitations of your bike, the basic skills gained should be amplified nicely in the transition.

Protective Gear and Clothes

I find the term "kit" being used to describe what one wears to mountain bike in as just another marketing ploy.  I've been riding in regular clothes and shoes for around 20 years now and it's never hindered me.  Sure, some of the clothes can be of technical nature and they are, however they don't have to be bicycle specific or even a brand name to work well.  The two exceptions I use are a bicycle specific helmet and cycling socks.

Helmets?  First and foremost, find one that fits your noggin properly.  A poorly fitting helmet will not be comfortable right off the shelf.  The best way to buy a helmet (or any bicycle safety gear) is to try it on in a local bike shop, which is where one should purchase any of their bicycle specific gear.  The primary reason some helmets cost so much more than the less expensive is the number of vents they have to keep your head cool.

Gloves?  Go to your local auto parts store and pick up a pair of mechanic gloves.  You can try them on right in the store, so you know they fit properly before buying.  All of those expensive and over-engineered bike specific gloves are not much better, especially for entry level riders on a budget.

Shirt?  In dry climates with warm weather, Cotton is King and you can wear any old (or new) t-shirt.  For warm and humid climates, a tech t-shirt will work fine.  For cooler or cold climates, layering properly with a wicking tech base next to the skin works well.  Truly for the layering, one really only needs the tech layer next to the skin and a shell to slow down or stop the wind.  Everything in-between the base and shell layers can be almost whatever.  Yes, even cotton can work in-between the base and shell.  The tech base layer and shell can be found new and on the cheap just about anywhere online, or even in a local thrift shop or sporting goods secondhand store.

Undergarments/Shorts/Pants/Knickers?  After quite a few years of riding in bicycle specific shorts, I grew weary of the pad/chamois in them.  I don't remember being in diapers, but imagine that's what they felt like.  The wicking properties of a good pad/chamois are too crucial to ignore, so I found an alternative in wearing wicking technical underwear as a base for shorts, knickers or pants.  That was about 20 years ago as well.  Shorts, look for something somewhat light and durable that will be comfortable to you when in a bicycle saddle.  That may take some hit or miss work, but it's worth it in the long run.  Knickers/Pants, Good 'ol Government Issue camos/cargo are what I ride.  Again, available just about anywhere on the planet and too durable to ignore.  Extra added bonus points for double-knees, which have prevented multiple strawberry scrapes for me.  If you know someone handy with a sewing machine, just about any pants can be turned into knickers.  I had Specialty Outdoors modify a couple of sets of GI pants into knickers and they are better (IMO) than anything being made for mountain biking as far as knickers go.

Shoes?  With the re-advent of flat pedals in mountain biking, just about any sneaker will do.  Comfort and pedal grip are primary concerns, followed by design.  Most light hiking shoes will also work well, though for those inclined to ride longer rides or weigh over 200lbs should use a light hiker with a 3/4 internal shank in the sole for foot support.  I've ridden everything from slip-on sneakers, to steel-toed boots.

Is that all?  Yes, really that is all one needs to ride a mountain bike.  This is especially true at the entry level when one does not plan on venturing very far out into the backcountry.  The availability of municipal parks with practice tracks and trails is increasing constantly and any emergency trail gear that may be needed could be close by, especially since so many of these parks have maintenance stations right at the trailhead.  I'll follow up later with bare minimum trail essentials (including food and water) for those who wish to venture out further and have the piece of mind that they can self-sustain safely enough within reason.  Of course, Mountain Biking is an inherently dangerous undertaking and like The Spanish Inquisition, nobody expects some of the things that can and will happen out there.

Fall

The high country is still open here in Colorado and is as resplendent as ever.

Spring Day

A perfect Spring day up in the borderlands yesterday. It doesn't get much better than this. 

Buffaloed

Others may be buffaloed and headed towards the jump on the path that is being created, but I am not.

Back From Antisocial Media

 

 The tech world has changed things around a bit and as such I am unable to sign into my previous blog, apparently due to a simple non-google email address.  Meh.

 Not a lot has changed since my last blog, other than more bicycles and unfortunately, not as much riding.  Even so, I have not thrown a leg over a bicycle only twice this year.  Mileage is down, but ridership is up.  More on that later.

 As for the antisocial media angle, I don't have time for it.  I'll probably post a bit here to keep family/friends up on things, but am not looking for interaction.  I prefer in-person two-way communication anymore.

 For now, just ride...