Trail riding…it’s the little things.

[OldFartRides]

A tight turn say, around a tree with a root across the path. Body leaning and already turning left, wheel goes right around the root or rock, snap turns back under the body, aligned again.

Downhill switchback to the left. Lift right knee unweighting that side, wheel leans hard on left knee also coming up, body crouching, all at the ungodly speed of three miles per hour.

Trying a line through a rock feature for the third time today. No dice. Walk it. Live to fight another day.

Wiggle turning through a group of pointy rocks.

Little tumblers hiding in plain sight, ready to roll under your wheel, sending you to the left or right in a heartbeat.

Unplanned pedal clip pirouette to the ground

Edited August 3, 2021 by OldFartRides
Adding to it.

[WIZARD]

Oh yes. How to describe the little things...

The down one side up the other. With a looping Rollercoaster turn back down yet again.

The swooshing between two trees on the trail at a too fast speed. Death if ya don't make the squeeze. You did it. You're alive. God that was close.

The devil tree roots that just Glare at you. Dare you to "Try It". 

The gentle swaying back and forth and back and forth on the soft dirt.

God dam... I'm good at this........

The woods, the deer, the squirrels, the hawks. And that beautiful little creek with the clear babbling water.

 

[Singasong]

Walt Whitman would be turning on his uni, had he read these fine soliloquies.

[Foo Barstein]

Two trails diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And being on one wheel, long I stood
And rocked to-and-fro as long as I could
Until when sweat dripped from my clothes

Then took the uphill, just to feel air,
And having apparently recently been rain,
Because it was muddy and that was unfair
Though as for that the downhill passing there
May I have fated about the same,

And so that morning, or so I say
On a hill a mud and slippery track.
Oh, I flew up the rocky way!
Yet you know games a wheel will sometimes play,
And I quickly landed on my back.

I should be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere sedentary as I wince:
My back crashed onto the pedal, and I—
I think I broke a rib at the behind,
But that has made no difference.

Edited August 10, 2021 by Foo Barstein

[OldFartRides]

I laugh lest I cry….I too am broken this day.

Night, short of sleep. An injured wing, badly bruised hip.

Had I been one wit quicker, I could have just stepped off lightly to the ground.

Instead, like a sack of potatoes, thud.

[Singasong]

Best. Topic. Ever.