Hawkinsdad's comments

Thanks Mike, for yet another memorable read. With that kind of riding, there is no pressure of time constraints or expectations, other than gently suffering. There is peace in suffering. Not sure why, but your words evoked a flashback of one of the first and last times I participated in drunk mountain biking polo. I felt invincible, possibly invisible, and oh-so-skilled until I ended up lying on the soccer pitch and tangled up with my bike, repeatedly, and laughing hysterically with my buddies.

Mike, thanks for another thoughtful piece imparted with appreciation for your father and the sardonic wisdom which exhibits your understanding of his contradictions. My only tools salvaged from my Dad's rather pathetic collection destroyed by me and my ADHD-gifted brothers are a shitty Crescent wrench and a plumb bob. While I, too, tend to appreciate better quality tools, I deeply cherish these mementos of my long-lost father. I hope my daughter will similarly cherish my collection one day, even of the shitty tools.

Dang, that unpainted frame and simplistic design make this steed appealing. It reminds me of my Rocky Stratos, one of my favourite bikes out of many. I'd love to swing my old legs over that thing. Thanks for the timely review Mike. I hope your state gets a reprieve from the biblical atmospheric rivers soon.

I used it every trail day this year so it's been a good investment. And certainly cheaper than divorce.

I got me a Rogue 70HR after waiting for many months. $189 CAD with duty and taxes. It works great but dang that was pricey. Guess my tool addiction is evident, despite the consequences.

Thanks Mike, for your hard-earned and humble words of wisdom. December is a tough month for me, remembering my younger brother and mother who both died in the same month, eleven months of each other. What a gift your words are to NSMB.com and to the mountain biking community. As an old, arthritic codger with ADHD who did two degrees in my late forties and mid-fifties, I don't doubt at all that you will continue to learn new tricks. Keep your chin up.

Mike, I agree about adventure helmets. My Shoei is damned frightening at anything over 110 kph. Regarding whatever the hell is on my Bell mtb helmet, it sort of looks okay. However, it has gotten caught up on branches several times, nearly pulling me backwards and off my Yeti. Regarding riding with a kilt, I highly encourage it as it would promote good ventilation and it would certainly catch the attention of the ladies. Or lonely sheep herders.

Hi Mike. Thanks. As usual, I thoroughly enjoyed your compelling musings. I learned to suffer as a young guy riding road bike with a motley group of Cat 4 to Cat 1 riders and a former member of the Czech national team. The lessons imparted from them have buoyed me through many obstacles in life, whether personally, riding mountain bikes, or in the work I do as a therapist. Suffering provides valuable perspective; at nearly 62, I am grateful, and sometimes surprised, to still be able to suffer on my bike. I know people whose knees are shot who ride e-bikes. If e-bikes allow people to continue to enjoy riding and maintaining trails, I'm all for it. However, as you alluded, I am not ready yet. I, too, am a hypocrite considering my love of dirt bikes. A Husky is on my wish list. I also love my Tacoma. An e-lawnmower and an e-chainsaw are also on my list. Just not an e-bike. Maybe I will reconsider when I'm 70 or 80.

Thanks Mr. Ferrentino. I've appreciated your insightful musings for many years and I'm very grateful your writing is more readily available on nsmb. Some of the most difficult experiences on this bumpy life journey contain many hidden blessings, if only we're open to discovering them. Loss and suffering, as inevitable as they are and as much as we try to avoid their inevitability, provide hard-earned perspective about the importance of relationships, shared experiences, and, damn it, our love of bikes and the places they take us to.