Yeah, mountain biking! In March, wow....finally reaping the benefits of the Colorado Springs weather. I was going stir crazy without trails or daily access to skiing.
I was about ready to get on my road bike and go look at the pretty scenery when Jane informed me that one of the trails not far from our place was supposed to be pretty clear of snow. Goodbye road bike, hello race bike. I would have chosen my other bike, Hamish, but it's sitting in the machine shop at work right now so I can ride the dirt jumps during lunch. Yes, I name my bikes, you got a problem with that?
Hamish and I bonding at a Mountain Cross
Anyways, the front brake seemed a little soft in the apartment, but no biggie. But as soon as we started heading towards the trail, the front brakes entirely disappeared. But hey, I’ve dealt with it before. I just took a moment for some mental rearrangement (OK, Lianna, no ripping down the hills. This ride is gonna be about realizing when to brake).Anyways, the trail was still a little snowy, oh man were the corners great. No front brake, trying not to skid the rear…trying to haul the mail and not lose control. To quote the man himself, “BRAAAP!”
Later that night I went to the Banff Mountain Film Festival. Thank goodness I was tired from already riding that day, or I most likely would have seriously injured myself trying something outrageous after watching the films. My God were they inspiring. Eight short films (5 to 45 minutes) composed our screening. Of course my favorite film was the excerpt from Roam, by the Collective (awesome mountain biking film). This was closely followed by the video that Steve House and climbing partner Marko Prezelj had put together of their ballsy alpine ascent of Cayesh in Peru. I haven’t seen other people climbing mixed ice routes before. It was like a little of myself had been opened up on the screen—for me ice climbing is an intensely personal experience, the world focused down to you, your partner, and the ice.
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