Beggars Would Ride
Self(ie) Aware
The smell of tobacco pulled me to a fast stop. One minute, I had been hauling ass at the edge of my comfort zone, senses full of cool October morning air, the shuffle and clink of my tires on shaley singletrack, sunlight shafting through the canopy, nothing else on my mind but staying in step with the dance of traction and balance on the trail I was poaching. This was a long time ago and I have been informed that the piece of the Pacific Crest Trail that I was riding that day has since been rerouted, and is now legal for mountain biking. But on this day, 20-ish years ago, it was absolutely not legal to be there. But then, some people call the PCT the Perfect Cycling Trail for a reason.
I’m not gonna try and justify what I was doing. We’re all grownups here. I was riding a highly illegal and somewhat controversial trail, and there was no way I would ever plead ignorance. Nowadays I tend to color mostly inside the lines and keep it legal. Back then, though, I used to poach trails habitually. I could pretend it was some justifiable sense of civil disobedience, but that would be a stretch. It was all about the forbidden fruit. Aside from the allure of riding some very, very good trail, there was a contingent rush that went along with the act.
When it came to breaking the law on a bike, I tried to keep my wits about me, all senses on heightened alert, eyes and ears and even nose attuned to any possibility that might be a harbinger of tickets or fines. Being stealthy and at the same time trying to rail at speed only added to the allure. So the very unexpected whiff of hand-rolled cigarette smoke stopped me dead in my tracks; silently, no skids, eyes scanning the trail, the trees, the ridgeline.
One has to try very, very hard to feign ignorance when poaching the PCT.
He was standing no more than four feet from where I stopped. Almost within arm’s reach. Mid-70’s, if I had to guess. Standing in the shadow cast by the trunk of a massive sugar pine, right at the edge of the trail, olive green hunting jacket, black beanie, bolt action rifle slung over his shoulder, cigarette hanging casually from his lips, completely still, watching me with the hint of a wry smile in his eyes.
“Jesus, man,” I blurted with quiet surprise. “I didn’t even see you. Sorry about that.”
“That’s kind of the point,” he chuckled. “But I saw you. From a ways off. No need to apologize…”
I mumbled something about naturally being apologetic when caught breaking the law, and how usually people aren’t so calm when a mountain bike rolls up on them fast. He took a contemplative pull on his cigarette and nodded. “Yeah, I can see how that might go.”
Realizing that I hadn’t startled him one bit, and that he wasn’t about to shoot me, I asked him what he was doing standing there in the lee of that big old sugar pine. He told me he liked to get up to that spot soon after sunrise, so he’d left town at five in the morning, and started hiking from his truck at the trailhead at around seven. He’d reached this spot an hour later, and had been standing still, under this tree, for an hour and a half when I rolled up.
He gestured to a ridge half a mile to the north, where there was a treeline meadow dotted with dying mule ears laying fallow above a line of red fir. A good sized buck was standing like a giant antlered stone in the meadow. “I’m hunting that guy.”
“You’re gonna try to take him from here?” I asked, trying not to sound incredulous.
“Oh hell no, he laughed. “This ain’t the movies. I need to get a lot closer. But he’s spooky. Probably already smelled my smoke from all the way over there. He knows I’m here. I’m just watching him today, been getting to know him for a couple years now.”
I mentioned that the young hunters I knew weren’t so patient. He nodded thoughtfully, then after a long moment said; “People move too fast these days. More than anything, I like coming up here so I can just take this place in, stand still, and marvel at all of God’s creation…”
Feeling a little chastised for my hasty arrival, I thanked him for the talk, wished him well and continued quietly on my way.
Some things just stick. Life lessons served up by complete strangers at seemingly random moments. That October morning stuck with me.
A few days ago I was rolling back into town on one of the local trails here. By late spring, the trails close to town are getting pretty crowded. Lots of families out for walks, plenty of dogs, as well as runners and a seasonal influx of mountain bikers from surrounding areas whose local alpine trails are still melting out (sometimes referred to as “Breckfugees”). It was cold and wet, and I had just got my blood circulating again after getting caught underdressed in a quick but mean hailstorm. Much as I wanted to pin it home and get some warm clothes on, I opted to take it mellow down to the bridge. As I came around a bend, there was a woman walking ahead of me at a healthy clip. Rain jacket on, hood up, striding with purpose, possibly also a recent beneficiary of a sudden hailstorm.
From about 50 feet behind, I loudly but cheerily said “Hey there!” No response. A few feet closer, I increased volume but tried not to yell. “Howdy!” No response.
Moving at close to her pace, but being careful to stay respectfully distant, from about 15 feet I finally bellowed “HI THERE!” She whipped around in alarm, pulled one of her earbuds out from under her jacket’s hood and spat out “You scared the shit out of me! How about a little warning?!” Her eyes were on fire.
A brief surge of self-righteous anger flared up in me, just a flicker. I choked it down and took a breath. Stopped as I drew alongside, giving her as much room as the trail allowed. “Hey, sorry about that” I said. “I called out a couple times earlier, but maybe not loud enough for you to hear. I didn’t mean to startle you.”
Her entire demeanor relaxed. She looked at her ear bud, then back along the trail. Gestured at her hood, and said “It’s not too easy to hear with all this. And I’m still rattled from the last bike that came past. He didn’t say a word.”
“How about that hail, eh?” I said, as I pushed off from the rock I had used as a footrest. “Hope it doesn’t catch us. I’ll try to make more noise next time.”
I’ve been thinking a lot over the years about how we – mountain bikers – are perceived, and how we see ourselves. I’ve churned thousands of words about our interactions, and have lost count of the times I have implored us to take the high road and be the friendly trail users regardless of situation. Our Strava times don’t matter, it is our duty to share the trail, the sun does not shine out our collective asshole - that sort of stuff. I think maybe I have been preaching the wrong message.
Asking others to be friendly, or more social, or more gracious in the use of a shared resource is all fine and dandy, but there is a crucial dump truck full of cement missing from that foundation. First we have to be aware.
I’m not advocating that we all start prying open our third eyes, cosmically speaking. But, I am beginning to realize that imploring others to be better ambassadors of a sport, or more gracious stewards of our public lands, is a big ask in this here and now. We are living in what appears to be a gigantic social media fueled narcissism incubator, where an increasingly and alarmingly large number of us are bending our necks into our phones and begging them for validation.
I'm not saying this is any of us. Because we're more tuned in than that, right? Right?
We are, in a broadly societal sense, narrowing our focus inward. We, societally speaking again, are doing this, even as more and more of the world pours out of our phones in front of the two eyes that most of us manage to periodically keep open. We absorb the stream of selfies, stunts gone wrong, cats being surprised by cucumbers, red-blue political theater, deepfakes of world leaders breakdancing, and whatever else the algorithm has chosen to feed us, feed you, and it begins to dominate our ability to see things outside of the framework of those little glowing rectangles.
Generally speaking, of course. I mean, we’re all more evolved than that here, right? Right. Good. Phew.
But those others, with the earbuds and the hoodies and their phones in front of their noses, or their phones held aloft trying to record the same concerts they are attending, or their phones pointed at the sunsets that they are already watching, eyes fixed on the screen instead of taking in the scene, yeah, them. We can’t expect meaningful social evolution in some inclusive, considerate sense if we don’t first pull our heads out and look around.
So, from here on out, I’m not going to ask mountain bikers to wave at each other, or to be less judgy about each other, or push some advocacy agenda. I am going to simply ask this: Pull focus.
Draw back from the ribbon of trail right in front of your wheel and look around. Every once in a while, stop and breathe, spot that buck standing alone in his meadow, and in the sweet tobacco scented words of a wise old soul, “take this place in, stand still and marvel at all of God’s creation.”
Comments
Scott Jamieson
1 month ago
Just started a month-long pilgrimage across the Slovenian-Austrian-Italian-Swiss Alps.
"What? You're NOT taking your GoPro?", asked a friend.
Focused on how trails make me feel content, not on feeling I need to create "content".
P.S. As always, love ya work Mike!
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BarryW
1 month ago
On that topic I've always appreciated the amazing footage coming off GoPros that I see, but I never wanted to own one as it pulls you out of the moment and into the role of 'video producer', 'videographer' and 'director'.
And although I was very vocal about NOT wanting one my now ex-wife decided she didn't believe me and years back bought me one for a birthday.
And to be a good husband I did use it, but more out of obligation than desire. And every time it pulls MY focus away from the moment and into the little box. And I'm here to experience the world around me, not to record it digitally.
Good stuff Mike.
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mikesee
1 month ago
https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org
Download it. Open it next time you're drinking the morning Joe with your pup. Or stopped in a meadow at a high point. Or a (metaphorical) low point. Press record. Sit back and pay attention.
Eventually you won't need the app. For now think of it as a bridge.
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Mike Ferrentino
1 month ago
Hell. To. The. Yes. I spend a lot of time listening to birds and being completely clueless about who is singing what, aside from about four of the usual suspect species. Thanks for that!
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toodles
1 month ago
I love the Merlin app - really want them to expand their Aussie database. It worked awesome in the UK and Canada, but only about 9% coverage in Australia.
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Jotegir
1 month ago
You can improve it by making eBird submissions!
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Velocipedestrian
1 month ago
This is excellent! Though to be fair (to be fair) inside the bubble of our native species I tend to be the one in the group who can identify a bird by sight or sound.
During summer's OGR trip I was both laughed at and thanked for the sudden stops to point out birds. Particularly my skid-to-"that's a parrot!" exclamation.
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Fat_Tony_NJ
1 month ago
I'm a born and bred NYCer. I live on the border of the woods & burbs now. Whenever my kids ask me what bird we're hearing, I listen carefully, and then tell them it's a pigeon, because that's the only kind of bird I know.
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Pete Roggeman
1 month ago
Amazing. I wake up to birds and often wonder which ones are which. They're with me on rides and on the golf course, especially late in the evening when it's empty and there are no maintenance vehicles running. Going to give this a go - thanks for the recommendation!
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KavuRider
1 month ago
With how busy all the trails are now getting, with trail runners, hikers, bird watchers, riders, families, etc I don't see how you CAN'T be present while riding. I never ride with music or anything for that reason, I need to be able to hear and be aware of my surroundings. Whether that is avoiding a rattlesnake or pulling aside early to allow a hiking group by (they are always surprised to see that I have already stopped and pulled over, I could hear them talking or playing their Bluetooth speaker).
Winning hearts and minds, maybe they will think positively of the interaction and hopefully I can undo some of the damage caused by the rider in front of me who didn't even slow down around blind corners.
I will admit, it does get frustrating coming up behind someone, calling out AND ringing a bell, only to have them get startled and upset when you finally slowly overtake them because they had those massive noise canceling headphones on. But they have as much right to be there as I do!
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Bikes
1 month ago
They have a right to be there, but not sure one has a right to be there in any manner they wish.
The article states it better than me but we seem to be going toward distraction/constant feed to our detriment. It’s not healthy
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BarryW
1 month ago
I'll admit to riding with ONE earbud in at very low volume. Helps me find the flow a little easier and I love a life set to good tunes. And I do walk around in my town often fully noise cancelled but I'm super visually aware and if I don't notice something it's MY fault not anyone else for that.
Noise cancelation is an amazing piece of technology but it needs to be used with caution in the real world.
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Jotegir
1 month ago
That's it, you're going on the list!
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Bikes
1 month ago
Yeah I’m not a “have to have music” person by chance of age (just didn’t have that tech growing up and a Walkman was just to bulky for me to get into that) or by chance of personality. In fact I generally would prefer to not have background music except for certain situations and exercise, especially outside, isn’t one of them. Every brain is different though
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Perry Schebel
1 month ago
i really like podcasts for the climbs (bud in only 1 ear); keeps the mind off the hurting & feels doubly productive (exercising body AND brain). everything unplugged for the downs, of course.
also - social anxiety can generate hyper spatial awareness, so i find the in ears (blasting death metal) can offer a nice bit of psychological padding in public spaces. in my happy little bubble.
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Pete Roggeman
1 month ago
I'm the same and, like you, I ride alone a lot. I'll get into it in a few upcoming reviews, but there are lots of options for using headphones that still allow you to stay aware (using only 1 is certainly one of those options).
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fartymarty
1 month ago
Damn headphone wearers grind my gears as well!!!
Thanks for another great piece Mike and thanks for the Tool palate cleanser.
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Mike Ferrentino
1 month ago
I realized I was achieving Full Curmudgeon status when headphone wearers began to bother me as much as people with those shitty little speakers attached to their packs or bikes. My list of "Things That Are Wrong" was growing too long to manage, so I decided instead to modify my levels of tolerance and try to de-curmudgeon in some regards. Results so far have been mixed, success has been elusive.
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fartymarty
1 month ago
Headphone wearers are far worse IMO as they are basically giving a middle finger to the rest of the trail users around them by not engaging and being in their own world. The double whammy is the dog walking headphone wearer with the out of control off lead dog!!!
This all ties in nicely with John "Car Brain" piece on Radavist - https://theradavist.com/riding-bikes-can-make-us-less-divided
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ReformedRoadie
1 month ago
I respectfully disagree. Headphone wearers are retreating to their own world...
Those with BlueTooth speakers are forcing their world on the rest of us, denying the option to take a place in, undisturbed.
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Bikes
1 month ago
But the issue is kinda safety related. I may get annoyed at someone’s music but I’m generally not sticking around that person and I can at least warn them of my presence.
The headphone wearer tends to be oblivious which is a big safety concern.
But it needed be an either or. One doesn’t need music to enjoy nature. In fact, I’d argue one is removing themselves from nature.
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ReformedRoadie
1 month ago
they both suck...I just think one sucks a bit more than the other.
And I had the unfortunate situation of being a rider or two behind a BT user in the queue for an enduro stage...so not having the option to completely bug out.
It was at the intersection of Curb' and mountain biking.
Distrakted
1 month ago
Or you can embrace your curmudgeony self because you are right and they are clueless robots. I feel like the majority of the people I run across out in nature are not even enjoying it other than to have something to post on their social media profiles as evidenced by all of the trappings of modern life that they seem to have to have with them at all times. In my mind, they are missing the point of getting out and it pisses me off when they diminishing my experience by being in large groups, blaring music and dropping snack wrappers everywhere.
I guess I am a fifty something year old curmudgeon and I am very grateful to have grown up in the BE (before electronics) era. I work with middle and high school aged students and this whole social experiment just makes me sad because they have been screen exposed since the day they were born and they don't know any better.
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Jotegir
1 month ago
I don't think I take enough time to reflect on how fortunate I am to live somewhere with enough space and trails to generally keep cyclists, hikers, horseback riders, and moto/ORV riders entirely separate. Thanks for reminding me to stay thankful, Mike.
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DanL
1 month ago
Bikes are great and all, but sitting in the outside and letting nature do it's thing around me have never been beaten
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Allen Lloyd
1 month ago
I ride with a bell, about half of my riding buddies hate the noise. I like knowing that people can hear me coming and if they are not moving I know it is headphones. My escalation is a loud cough then a whistle then just a scream. I go into the woods for quiet and nature, it kills me to have to do these things.
On the flip side, I love love love taking breaks while riding. If there is a great view I am stopping and taking it in. When I moved west 8 years ago I asked the lady I was replacing if the views ever got old or if over time you just didn't notice them anymore. She said no and I doubted her. She was 100% correct I have trails that I ride weekly and I still stop to look around because it is just beautiful.
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Bikes
1 month ago
I try to take the high road but I’m amazed at how unaware the general population is of their surroundings in all situations…trails, the grocery store, lines, the sidewalk, etc.
And I don’t think people that get startled realize their headphones are complicit. Like they are unaware of being unaware. I don’t know if you meant to highlight the irony of what that lady said in respect to the previous biker, or if she realized the irony of it.
It’s all kind of amazing given we are an animal and animals generally want to pay attention to their surroundings for safety.
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KavuRider
4 weeks, 1 day ago
Completely agree, it blows my mind how oblivious people are in general. I don't consider myself some hyper-attentive ultra aware person - but my goodness.
I am sure we all have examples. My most recent - I am approaching a girl hiking, she has those huge noise cancelling headphones on. I have my bell going. I call out. Nothing, she literally cannot hear me, so I'm just hanging back and waiting for an opportunity to squeeze by (slowly). She goes around a corner and nearly runs into two oncoming hikers! The two hikers then point behind her and say "hey, there is a biker behind you" and she turns around and is completely surprised to see me.
This is a popular trail and I don't mind hiker encounters, but this was something else. She was completely shut off from anything around her. I can't understand how someone would feel safe doing that in the desert, alone.
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Andy Eunson
1 month ago
My first thought was, a deer? Smoking a cigarette? Nope, Chuck Testa.
Around here I want the bears, which are plentiful and habituated to people to hear me coming. I shout out periodically and ring my bell. It seems to happen about once a week or so where I Have to yell at someone engrossed in whatever their earbuds are singing at them before they realize I’m coming up.
I find that listening to music has an adverse affect on my riding. I need that aural data to help. I love the sound that knobby tires make on hard pack on a corner. I like to hear the varied thrush and raven. And riding partners too. I chat with fellow trail users too. If they want to.
I like to think I’m pretty observant I think from the years I spent as a geologist prospecting in the woods. I see the things that don’t belong, the red rebound knob, the XTR pedal body, the single brake pad. The mouse, the marten and yes the bears and the occasional moose in Fernie when I’m there. And grouse and ptarmigan of course who fly off just before I step on them. I ride alone a fair bit which I think heightens my awareness. Or at least a nervous undercurrent of apprehension.
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Jotegir
1 month ago
The bears are funny in Whistler - in a bad way, I guess. They're so used to people. You'll be riding down some double track, see a bear, and be like "hey bear please move" and it'll be like "UGH FINE" and do the slowest, poutiest amble off the track. If you get up and wander around the main village before 6:30 AM, it'll be you, the trash collectors, and the bears. That's it.
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Andy Eunson
1 month ago
And now we have grizzlies in the valley. I’ve been bluff charged a few times by a female with cubs. Never more than a bluff though. I’ve heard the claws on bark when I’ve inadvertently treed a bear. I carry bear spray now as do many other riders now. Can’t hurt. But scanning ahead as far as one can and listening to sounds and being aware. Good things to do.
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SixZeroSixOne
1 month ago
> Slovenian-Austrian-Italian-Swiss Alps.
It's a small world as I, too, am presently in the corner of the world where Slovenia, Italy and Austria butt up against one another!
Ironically, I'm here because someone DID GoPro their experience and put the results on YouTube. Which inspired me to take my vacation here...
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ZigaK
1 month ago
I'm from Kranjska Gora originally :)
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Vincent Edwards
1 month ago
So, I feel you on the ‘not wanting to be the a** hole’ bit…
Yet at the same time, I’ve considered something like this.
I can’t help but wonder if the guy who ‘just went around without warning’ actually did provide warning, several times… just not loud enough to get through.
In other ‘technically allowed but questionable’ news, I’ve encountered folks walking their cat on a leash on the MTB trail. More surprising, I’ve encountered a woman walking her raccoon on a leash. Luckily in both cases we were all paying attention.
Cyclist coming from the other direction around a blind corner fast with earbuds is still my number one concern though.
Great article - I loved the setup. So glad to have you here writing for NSMB :)
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Jotegir
1 month ago
I strapped one of those onto my fast friend's handlebars at a local enduro a couple years ago. He ended up pulling it off and not using it because we concluded it would be bad manners to pass someone with that as the warning instead of the classic "RIDER" or similar.
PS - my cat can shred a (mixed use) trail. She's all about the single track.
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Dave Smith
1 month ago
This comment has been removed.
JT
1 month ago
Being here, now requires attention to the here and now, which requires understanding you are never really alone anywhere.
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GB
1 month ago
Last ride , most rides . Phone stays in pack for emergency calls.
Tested out some new code brakes . Rode fast . Maybe faster than usual.
Yet the moment that resonates with me was the sweet smell of fir trees when I stopped to enjoy the view. The moss covered granite emulating a carefuly manicured Japanese garden,before manually lowering my seat post .
10 minutes of serenity and sublime contemplation . A California condor flew over my head. We both took a look at each other . Condors in North Vancouver. Yep.
I don't remember much about the increadidibly fast dh run. I still resonate with the feeling of a connection to nature . That was the strong emotional joy I took home with me .
We have 750 watt E bikes now lol. That talks to your smart phone to tell you how your doing.
Tool. Oh yes . Thank you .
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Curveball
1 month ago
I came up to a trail runner with headphones on. I yelled. I yelled louder. I rang my bell. I screamed. No response. I then put my front tire into his calf and startled the beejeebuz out of him. What else could I do with someone so detached from their surroundings?
Also, I saw a bear on this trail the week before.
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Mark
1 month ago
It's a tough thing, distinguishing the personal from the collective, the what works for me vs what works for all. I don't ride with music all that often, but if I do I'll consider the when/where of the riding and hazard a guess as if it should be okay. Riding up the road on Fromme is a go ahead and give'r type of thing but heading up a tight climbing trail on a nice weekend morning may not be such a great idea.
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Dude@
1 month ago
I paddle out most mornings and have the place to myself, and when it gets crowded, I leave, pick up my four-legged friends, and pedal to a different place that I have to myself - doesn't get any better than this!
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XXX_er
1 month ago
I seen a small black dog on the trail, then I seen another small black dog , one dog ok but 2 dogs noway and so they are cubs, they immediatly climb trees, mom is chuffing I turn around and go out the other way
I never ride with music I don't see why people would ride with speakers but on an Eeb i am past these people pretty quick
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Cougar797
1 month ago
Hunting is one of the best life skills / life lesson teachers a person can have. Its my other favorite pastime for sure. The quiet, time for inner dialogue, and reflection while out in the woods is unmatched.
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Kerry Williams
1 month ago
Your message reminds me of a phrase that i didn't understand in my youth, but now makes complete sense to me,"No man is an island."
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StuartG
4 weeks, 1 day ago
What a great read. This article is my reading highlight most weeks.
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Raymond Epstein
1 month ago
I have ridden (first skateboards; now bikes) with music since I could. Walkmans begat early (skipped Discmans) MP3 players, then iPods and now streaming from my phone. I've done all the bs and been "that guy". I'd say I regret some of my past behavior, but it allowed for me to end up where I am. I now employ bone conduction headphones so the music is truly in my head for no one else to hear, but not in my ears so I can still hear everything. I highly recommend them for anyone who wants a soundtrack, but still wants to be present/safe in their surroundings.
As for making myself known to other trail users, first I run loud (Factor now Novatec) hubs. I know most of the cycling cognoscenti frowns upon these tiny chainsaws, but happen to like the sound and it is hard to miss. Second and exponentially more pleasant is a bell. A few rings is usually enough to get someone's attention in a non-threatening way. Nothing beats the Spurcyle bell. Its resonance and timber are far superior to anything else and other trail users seem to like its pleasant sound.
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Vincent Edwards
1 month ago
Good tip on those bone conduction headphones. I wish everyone was so considerate with their tunes / podcasts.
Timber MTB bells 🔔 look interesting too - for truly busy areas where having to ring the bell repeatedly might be a bit much for everyone.
I used to run Crane Bells on all my MTBs, but years of riding (and sometimes crashing) left them worse for wear. Maybe this is a good reminder to refresh my bells.
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Pete Roggeman
1 month ago
Timber bells are terrific for alerting both people and wildlife to your presence, and the fact you can silence them when you want is a huge bonus.
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XXX_er
1 month ago
Back in the day I biked the Camino de santiago which is 3 months of hell on foot but a really nice 67 km a day 3 week bike tour all set up with cheap accomadations & cheap food
I passed > 100 hikers a day who could be walking 6 across when you ride by it freaks them out, ring the bell once twice 3 times which doesnt work cuz they are plugged in or meditating or SFT
The only safe way to pass was found to be hit the back brakes to lock to up the rear wheel and skid on gravel from about 30 ft away , might have been asshole-ish it but which worked every time
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Adrian White
4 weeks, 1 day ago
I really enjoyed this piece, Mike! Thank you!
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kamperinbv
1 month ago
As always - great storytelling and perspective.
As you've witnessed I ride w music via iPhone on speakerphone in pocket. Never really too loud, but listen to recent live jams/recordings mostly. I figure if it can be heard a bit by others within a short distance and time while passing no harm or foul... I just like music, but not closed off listening as I like to hear my surroundings, tires on trail, bike, creaky bones - you name it :). Tell me if I am the party foul tho!
My first broken clavicle was years back late iPod/early iPhone days I believe - came around a bend on a front range trail - loose, rocky dh section to the lot - trail runner in front who could not hear me no matter how loud I yelled even as I got closer - realized she wasn't going to hear me or simply not acknowledge me and hit brakes to keep from hitting her - front wheel gone and I was a bloodied mess... still bugs me to this day when clearly buds in, too loud.... happened to me on same trails in BV as you just the other day... person jumped as I startled her... at which point I always apologize for the startle "but wanted to make sure we are both safe" is part of my statement now - that addition tends to change whatever look or next words about to come.... in my mind im really thinking "aww come on idiot - you'll never hear the bear or mt lion" or someone who doesn't care and keeps on trucking on their bike.. but its just a part of what we encounter. Circling back to that runner on that front range day? She turned to look as the cloud of dust must have caught her peripheral... yet not a word and kept on going w nary a look. Became the very reason I DONT ride with something in my ears and while I may feel infavorable to those who do... i guess im just not willing to make it an actual issue that could ruin the good place a ride tends to put my mind.
On to the real important aspect - and I'll call it wisdom - typically gained via many an experience - I will say no matter how much we hear your wise words here to stop and smell the roses, or "take it in"... I find myself stuck in the headspace of not enuf time always something tugging at my time - that and strava comp headspace many times. Yet age and that barely what I'd call"wise" inner voice that tell me its time to start slowing down to a degree, trying to be more in the moments - its certainly been more enjoyable when I am. But it's a deliberate state of mindset from the onset. I lose my perspective to easy sometimes. thanks for the reminder here and keep writing these kinds of articles!
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Bikes
1 month ago
The young will see it as slowing down, giving up speed. A loss.
The wiser knows speed doesn’t hold the priority and allure it once had. One has the ability to appreciate much more. A gain.
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BarryW
1 month ago
Any music out loud in the woods is a party foul.
You've been notified. 😉
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Andy Eunson
4 weeks, 1 day ago
I worked for this guy in the 70s that said that the secret to being a good roommate was to leave as little evidence of your passing as possible. That same advice applies to riding, hiking or trail running. But we fast movers do need to make enough noise so as not to startle the miserable old hikers.
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KavuRider
4 weeks, 1 day ago
I like what you wrote!
I try to follow what you are saying, not make it an issue, just say smile and move on.
As to stopping to smell the roses - I make myself stop and look around and I am so glad I do, otherwise I would miss so much. Spotting a lake in the distance. Seeing cool animals. Just enjoying the smells and sounds of nature.
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XXX_er
1 month ago
I was following some guys today on my Vala with the Bosch motor its WAY quieter than the Shimano
there is no way I would have been that stealth with a Shimano product
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