That's the last thing I would have expected! But on the occasions that I opt for a trail -- non-technical, I'm not extreme in the least! -- or an isolated back/fire road that's reverted to two parallel single tracks, I find myself enjoying the experience so much more than gliding on asphalt. This is irrespective of pace, duration and intensity of the ride.
I've narrowed it down to this reason: no cars. The majority of my riding takes place in urban/suburban environments along four and six lane roadways where the frayed dispositions of countless impatient motorists contributes to a harried experience. And the landscape attendant to such an environment -- malls, big box stores, endless suburbs of cloned housing tracts, numbing in their uniformity -- further adds to the dreary effect.
In some directions a 100+ KM ride still does not transport one beyond the city's (Toronto) sprawling hinterland. Increasingly I have to pedal further and further afield, searching out remote backroads or trails, in order for the ride to distinguish itself as truly enjoyable.
Luke <[email hidden]> wrote in news:080720061733084932% [email hidden]:
Quoted message said:
That's the last thing I would have expected! But on the occasions that I opt for a trail -- non-technical, I'm not extreme in the least! -- or an isolated back/fire road that's reverted to two parallel single tracks, I find myself enjoying the experience so much more than gliding on asphalt. This is irrespective of pace, duration and intensity of the ride.
I've narrowed it down to this reason: no cars.
I like mountain biking without cars, too, but unfortunately the nearest interesting trail is a 2 hour (round trip) bike ride away, so I have to drive my car an hour to get there. Something about using my car to avoid cars doesn't sound right, so I don't do it much. I also don't like wasting all that driving time when I could be riding my road bike instead.
Luke <[email hidden]> wrote in news:080720061733084932% [email hidden]:
Quoted message said:
That's the last thing I would have expected! But on the occasions that I opt for a trail -- non-technical, I'm not extreme in the least! -- or an isolated back/fire road that's reverted to two parallel single tracks, I find myself enjoying the experience so much more than gliding on asphalt. This is irrespective of pace, duration and intensity of the ride.
I've narrowed it down to this reason: no cars.
I like mountain biking without cars, too, but unfortunately the nearest interesting trail is a 2 hour (round trip) bike ride away, so I have to drive my car an hour to get there. Something about using my car to avoid cars doesn't sound right, so I don't do it much. I also don't like wasting all that driving time when I could be riding my road bike instead.
Using a car to ride a bike does sound like an oxymoron, but you have to admit that once you are so far deep in the forest that you can't even hear any human made noises, you are as close to heaven as you can get and still be breathing. Ahhh, unless you have a gorgeous girl on each side, me being a typical male. Ignoring the last sentence, that is what I can ride to, and then dismount at the bottom of a little known waterfall, sit on a perfect seat sized rock, and bliss out. There are some places where I have to carry / drag the bike up a pile of rocks that actually is the trail, and those are the same where I make some insane descents. That gets the adrenaline going again after my waterfall stop, but a wipe out there really hurts, so now I walk the bike down the worst part. It's too far to ride in body armor just for that section and you can forget about using a cell phone to call 911 if you really wipe. Anyway, if you have been in the no cars, no people, just nature riding mode you know why I usually ride a mountain bike. That ride would absolutely kill a 700c x25 bike and you would spend the whole day fixing repeated pinch flats. Sorry roadies, it is the truth. Bill Baka
"Luke" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
That's the last thing I would have expected! But on the occasions that I opt for a trail -- non-technical, I'm not extreme in the least! -- or an isolated back/fire road that's reverted to two parallel single tracks, I find myself enjoying the experience so much more than gliding on asphalt. This is irrespective of pace, duration and intensity of the ride.
I've narrowed it down to this reason: no cars.
No cars is nice but I find the closeness of trails and the seeming greater speed because of that enjoyable. The natural windbreak of bush is also welcome. Another psychological bonus is the close horizon. Seeing to far ahead can be somewhat disheartening at times.
