More Views From a Couch
Why Can't I Do That?
By COuch
I seem to have this bad habit. It follows me to have it with every sport I participate
in; rock climbing, adventure racing, snowboarding and of course mountain biking.
I unconsciously compare myself to the best in the sport. I meet these guys and
gals that are amazing at what they do and I ask myself "Why can't I do
that?"
| It's not like I sit around getting fat and watching
TV all day. I train hard, eat my Wheaties and do volunteer work. I try to
be nice to people and I pat my cat at least once a day. So why can't I throw
myself across a stream gap or drop 6' to a perfect trannie? |
|
Photographer = Rich Vigurs Rider = Dangerous Dan |
The question is rhetorical. I know what stops me it is called self-preservation or in mountain bike terms "wimping out". When I choose to turn off the fear, that funny feeling in your stomach, and just ride, I can things that seemed impossible just the day before. Case in point. There is a log drop at the entrance of Boogie Man on Seymour Mountain. Difficult? No, unless you sit around and think about it. Then all those doubts climb into your brain, things such as," Is this going to break my bike and since I am even easier to break than my bike what is it going to do to me?" If I had only rode up and dropped it…but NOOOOOOOOO I had to stop and stare. |
| Now don't get me wrong. Riding without thinking can get you very hurt and possible dead. No, I am talking about the stuff you know in your heart that you are very capable of but just loose your nerve. |
|
Photographer = Rich Vigurs Rider = Dangerous Dan |
I was fortunate enough to be up on Mt. Fromme with Dangerous Dan and Thomas Vanderham a couple of weekends ago, what a show those 2 can put on. Watching Dan climb the skinnies (he nailed everything first time) on Walk In the Clouds and Circus and then seeing Thomas throwing himself off of everything (no hander over a 23' stream gap) on Groovula and Airsupply. |
| After spending two days with these guys I went for a ride on my own and decided not to think and just ride. I astonished myself with a great ride full of stuff that I had never done before. These guys had instilled a great deal of confidence in me that resulted in a ride of "firsts". |
|
Photographer = Rich Vigurs Rider = Thomas Vanderham |
I eventually did the log drop on Boogie Man and it was not a problem I just had to keep riding and stop thinking. |
RIDE ON
COuch
