Bikes are secretly time machines

So I did something pretty fun on Sat -- volunteered at a race at the mountain bike trail. My job was to basically sit there and key in registration forms and times etc, but it was fun just watching all the darey, half-crazy riders doing their thing. (Most elected to cross the finish line- my position- by flying through mid-air over a jump. Woot!)

Girls- were you ever a kid like this? A little tom-boy smarty-pants running around the neighborhood climbing trees and doing all kids of outsidey stuff? I was. Sheesh- I have one pal- and you'd never guess it if you just met her now- who lived way up north when she was little and her and her friend used to ride logs down the raging river up there! Like, sit on them like they were horses and ride them through rapids and stuff!

The biking lets me feel a little like that-- that little thrilly, maybe even slightly scary at times feeling of adventure. I never want to let that die out in me so have to pursue it. If I don't I know what will happen, that same thing that happens to most people. They lose that part of themselves and begin to rust.

The racers Sat were so amazing. I'm very friendly one on one, but in a crowd I prefer to hang back and observe. It seemed like a lot of people knew each other there, at least casually. A few familiar faces from running said hi which was nice.

I guess now that I've started riding I'm even more in awe of these folks because I get what it is they do, how accomplished some of them are- and brave, fearless, nuts, whatever.

There were three girls racing. One was one of those fabulous, tall, long-limbed women who had a great open smile and really cool glasses. I couldn't tell how old she was, but she wasn't a kid. She competed with the advanced men! I felt like asking for her autograph.

There were also a couple of those compact, plucky MN nordic blonds we all take for granted here, but who could go anywhere else in the country and steal the show. They were younger gals, and one is apparently a total mountain biking dominatrix, who has sponsors and holds clinics and everything. She won the women's class. Lamely I was too shy to say hi to any of these gals, but they seemed super cool.

Here's a cool story: The guy who was way ahead of everyone else in the most elite class- advanced men's- got a flat tire. When the guy who was in second came up on him, he helped him change his tire instead of blowing by the guy, then let him keep the lead. At the end they were so close it would have required a photo finish to know for certain who was first, so they both agreed to call it a tie. Is that awesome or what?!

I'm still having fun learning a little more each ride over there with Penny--(and now Pam & "Electra"). As expected the toughest thing for me to get through my head has been that sometimes- pretty often actually, speed is your friend on the trail. But I'm getting it, and expanding my comfort zone.

Maybe someday I'll be speedy enough to-- OMG-- almost said "compete"! We'll go with "not be totally embarrassed to be seen" for now.

The rest of you who aren't into trying anything this darey- blow the dust off whatever bike you've got and get out there. There are so many nice trails in MN, and all over the world even super old people bike. Go outside-- check it out-- reclaim some of that feisty little kid feeling. It's still in there somewhere!