Tales of a Mountain Bike Virgin

As of last friday, i became a real mountain biker.
I also got the shock that everything isn't all downhill or easy.
lets start at the beginning.

Friday.
i set out for laguna beach at 7:30 and got in the saddle at 8:15. it seemed pretty easy. i bombed down bommer ridge and had no trouble with the hills. then i made my first mistake, having absolutely NO clue where i was going, and i ended up going down a fire road that had a 20% average grade. when i got to a point where i could only travel with something more than a 2 inch travel hardtail, i decided to turn back, and had to climb it all. so that was that. an hour and a half and very little was accomplished.

So i Returned today, tuesday (much to the pain of my wallet)
This time i had a game plan. Park at the visitors center, head up No Name Ridge, up to Bommer, down through some single track, and down Moro back to my car.
it sounded a lot easier than it was. much easier.

when i headed up No Name, i realized that this was at least a 25% average slope as well, and despite my best attempts, i had to hike up the hill. all 2 miles and 1500 feet of it.i was tired and just wanted to go back home. But when i got to the top an hour later, things where looking up, the sun was out and i headed back on to familiar territory. But i knew what i was going to do. and i did just that.


and let me tell you.
it was just amazing.

i took the Fence line trail and had the best time of my summer. then onto the Missing Link trail and had just as much fun, until i hit a rock garden. but that still didn't hinder my ways. after the awesome single track adventure, i returned to Moro Ridge trail and it was just incredible. Riding through the hills and through the clouds, being in touch with nature and the outdoors, and seeing a part of orange county few ever see (or try to see) and i had time to think. it was then that i realized what i loved the most about mountain biking. not the downhill runs, the sweet singletrack for the masochism that i do seem to enjoy. Its the only thing that i can use to truly escape. Sure i can listen to my music, or make my won, but nothing beats being 30 miles from your family, and 2 miles from absolutely any civilization in all directions. its this time that i can spend time with my one true friend. Solitude. This is the time when i can unwind and get away from everything, and everyone.

It is just pure bliss.


now i wonder if i can find a bus route that will take me there from UCI......