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Holy Crap, Mountain Biking is FUN
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This website is both a burden and a blessing. It's a burden because I occasionally feel obligated to keep it updated even though I generally don't. I'm not an especially social person, I enjoy life with a certain amount of privacy and anonymity, which is countered by this public expression that thankfully few read. It's a blessing in that, when I'm inspired to create or share something special, I have a ready forum to spread the word. Well today I got truly inspired.
I had an epiphany of sorts while riding down a mountain trail on an amazing piece of engineering called a Santa Cruz Bullit. I went up to Baldface with Heather to hang out with Paul Neuman, recently returned from Mexico (where he presently lives). As I am supposed to be shooting the Cherry Tops Challenge at the Lodge this coming weekend, I figured it would be best if I went up and scoped out the course ahead of time.
Jeff has kindly lent me this sweet machine which I have been riding on and off all summer. Mostly riding home from work up past Red Mtn at Creekside with a couple of other minor variations. Nothing fancy mind you but a good 1 1/2 hours in the saddle after work to get the heart pumping. Over this time, I've had a crack at a couple of steeper pitches here and there but, up until today, hadn't done a true downhill run with a car drop or pick up. I just couldn't get it together.
Cut to today. Up at the Lodge, decked out & geared up to ride. Truck staged at Shannon Pass junction for the ride back. Neuman and I, pushing up the trail to Cherrytops with packs and cameras to catch the action. 40 minutes later we're on top and the reality of my situation hit me. Now I have to ride. It's been a long time...
It was an ideal opportunity to work out a routine for shooting MTB, while riding for a change. We started out setting up a couple of shots along the trail and things started feeling familiar, the winter routine of 'guerilla photography' easily translating to summer. As the terrain steepened and the riding became more commiting, I found myself a bit distracted thinking about photography. I caught myself before I ate it, survival mode kicking in. "Give your head a shake & start thinking about the riding, dumbass..."
Shooting in snow is a lot more forgiving on the old bod if you bite it. Eating shit on dirt is a whole different animal, one that has significantly bigger teeth. I let the bike roll and started to feel the flow of the trail, letting the suspension absorb the hits. I found myself giggling away with a shit eating grin plastered across my face. Damn, that's Fun! It was at this point I decided that this is going to be my next career change. An epiphany as I said. It became crystal clear that THIS is what I want to do for a living. The potential is there and the opportunity awaits, it's just a matter of making it happen.
Anyway, it was awesome riding with Paul today. It was eye opening experience in a number of respects and definitely helped me formulate a plan of attack for next weekend. Mainly I think I'm going to shoot the downhill section on foot rather than on wheels as It is pretty full on dealing with a camera on a bike in that situation, even without throwing 60 or 70 compeditors into the mix. As I move down the trail it'll be much easier to hear riders approaching without my own bike rattling away, not to mention while wearing a full face helmet.
I'll be back up at Baldface on Friday to walk one of Alpines excavators up the mountain to start work on the new Cat Shop(!) and I'm looking forward to getting in a couple more rides, while I'm up there in the coming days.
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Posted by:
UnRed Dave
on
Sunday 20 July 06:20:53PM
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 comments: 1
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Comments ...
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Comments: 4
Registered: Sat Mar 13 2010, 02:06PM
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Новость интересная добавил в избранное
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