Sadie's Winter Ride

Two days ago I embarked on a new and highly recommended adventure, winter mountain biking. I have been an avid mountain biker for the past two and a half years; however, two of those were spent in Hawaii. While Hilo, the town in Hawaii where I lived and learned to mountain bike, had more rain than any sane person could enjoy, it did not ever snow. However, if you travel approximately thirteen thousand feet up the nearest volcano there is snow year round and enjoyed by snowboarders, sledders, skiers, and even mountain bikers occasionally! Now that I have returned to my home state of NH for another frigid winter, I have the opportunity to experience an entirely new realm of the sport.

I headed over to the trail after finishing work at the private Pre-school where I teach. My adventure began surprisingly, before I even got to the trail! The entrance to the parking area is a small dirt drive with a short steep hill, all of which can become quite icy given the correct weather conditions. Needless to say, the conditions were just right, and upon turning into the drive, my tires began to slide and the car spun ninety degrees and nearly slid into the small culvert on the side of the road. Once I regained control and my heart returned to its normal rate, I switched the car into four-wheel drive and, after two attempts on the hill, made it safely into the parking area.

When I first set out on the trail, I was a bit hesitant, having never ridden in the snow. I quickly learned that on an icy trail the word “brake” adopts an entirely new definition! Rather than as a tool for slowing down and helping to regain control, the brakes now cause the bike to slide uncontrollably and often inevitably into large rocks and trees! Fortunately, Hilo is a very muddy place, to put it lightly, so I had learned to handle similar conditions; and even to use them to my advantage, such as on corners or sharp turns.

It did not take long for me to fall in love with this new form of the sport. Sure, it adds an entirely new aspect of danger to mountain biking, but who takes up mountain biking if they are not looking for a challenge? Though initially the cold chills your fingers and toes, after you get moving it becomes quite warm, and I even found myself sweating in twenty-degree weather! The snow adds tranquility and beauty to any trail, and the cold seems to keep walkers and the likes at bay. For these reasons and the realization that I can now ride year round, I am officially a winter mountain biker, and will be out on the trails snow, rain, sleet or shine 365 days of the year.

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