Feats Of Daring Dooodz (and a few chix too)

So, you guys have heard me talk about the mountain bike course, and some of my adventures over there-- my noob attempts to ride it last summer, loosing my keys last fall... I spend quite a bit of time over there. Today I got to check out Pug Fest. As you can see the crazy/fearless mountain bikers don't let something as trivial as winter interfere with their fun. (That's cool trail boss Rich presiding over on the left.) (Click any of these for bigger better viewage)

I was pretty much a voyeur at this event. I don't really know any of these people (aside from Rich who seems to kind of run the place) although I pass some of them on my runs frequently enough to recognize them. They go by cool nick names like, Zilla, Flying squirrel, and Pirate.

I like seeing them doing their thing over there. It's cool, and no one's ever seemed annoyed when they run into me. Ususally they're pretty friendly actually.

So "Pug fest" doesn't involve cute bug-eyed dogs. Pugs are bikes with giganto fat tires for biking in snow (and probably sand). See the difference?

I love finding other people who are outsidey thrill seekers. Basically, if you live where I live, either find some fun stuff to do all winter, be ok with hibernating,-- or please just shut-up about it. Hello-- It's Minnesota people. These guys (and a few chix-- go chix!) Really take having fun seriously and GO for it.

I'm too chicken (so far) to participate in stuff like this. Actually, I'm even kind of a puss about just getting in someone else's way, but I'm flirting with the idea of getting a mountain bike this summer. I've been saving for drums, but my drums might wind up turning into a bike, unless I sell a bunch of art and can do both. ("A-hem--universe?")

Look at them all lined up ready to be all daring. One reason I like seeing them is it makes me feel all thrilly too-- like maybe I could screw-up the courage someday. Heck. Sure I could! (See? Being daring-adjacent has given me this little infusion of bravery. Woo-Hoo!)

Look at these badasses! So cool! Doesn't it make you want to go out and try something new and adventurous?

Last thing like this I was at (by accident-- I didn't know there was a race, was just out running and suddenly "yikes" the woods was full of bikes!) I asked someone how they race when the trail is so skinny and perilous. I guess they have etiquette that dictates you let a faster racer pass you.

I was told, "If someone's gaining on you, they're obviously going faster. The only polite thing to do is move out of the way."

Another rider piped up, "Yeah, and if it's someone new who doesn't get how it works, or hasn't heard you come up on them, you just ask nice, 'Hey, at the top of the next hill do you mind if I pass you?"

So not only are the riders daring and sort of swashbuckley with their cool names and stuff, but they're kind of gentlemanly daredevils too.

Is there anything you've been thinking about trying to get yourself "out of your box"? If you're not doing anything that occasionally scares the crap out of you, you're probably playing it a little safe. Hedge your bets against regret people. Don't be ninety wishing you would have tried more cool stuff out.