Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Pedaling for Balance.

Pedaling helps keep me balanced.  The self motivation just wasn't there yesterday to get me to the trailhead, yet somehow I made it out there for a quick 7.5 mile pedal. I think that maybe I was just tired from not enough sleep the night before and classes and homework all day long. 

Getting in the saddle consistent really does help me stay emotionally balanced.  The emotional benefit can probably be attributed to the effects of dopamine release due to aerobic activity, but I have a hard time doing any sort of aerobic activity that doesn't involve a significant adrenaline release as well.  Personally, I think the adrenaline/dopamine combo is the best drug there is.  Who needs coke, seriously?  I've got a mountain bike.


It was a gray day... didn't help with the motivation any.

No Tell

No Tell Wash Out

6 comments:

Mark February 24, 2010 at 8:41 AM  

MTB is like a drug, I am always thinking about when will I get my next ride (fix)! Weather like yesterday and today makes the yearning more worse because I know I should have ridden despite the snow (and my tummy bug) yet I chickened out (excuse: tummy bug). Today, it's sloppy seconds and while I have an opportunity to ride in the afternoon the conditions do not permit it. Tomorrow, more snow? All this wet stuff will freeze. Yuck! Might have to do it in the gym - not the same - but it's pedaling.

Greg Heil February 24, 2010 at 9:17 AM  

Yeah you guys really have it rough up in the Northeast! But I can still really empathize with the struggle to fit rides between bouts of nasty weather and wet trails.

Sometimes it gets so bad I just have to get out and ride USFS roads to satisfy the urge.

It's a little bit like an alcoholic drinking nyquil though...

Mark February 24, 2010 at 9:24 AM  

Riding dirt roads can be fun, too, with the right equipment - which was what got me into Gravel Grinders, which takes the Nyquil out of the picture!

Greg Heil February 24, 2010 at 9:40 AM  

True that, but the only bike I own is a 5.5" full suspension trail rig with no lock out... not as much fun.

But hey, it is better than pavement!

Mark February 24, 2010 at 9:44 AM  

That I can see as being a dilemma. Except for riding to the trailhead, riding the full susser on anything but trails is a downer.

If you have a big network of USFS roads, then you should should try them on a Monster Crosser, fixed! I would be in heaven if I had access to a road network like that.

Greg Heil February 24, 2010 at 5:41 PM  

Checked out your "Monster Crosser," and I could definitely see myself dominating some serious gravel road riding on that thing!

Yep, access to a massive network of USFS roads is exactly what I have! Literally hundreds of miles of them all across Northern Georgia. They're beautiful, but I'm A.D.D., and like I said, I get bored riding them on my All Mountain rig.

But something rigid and fast would be much more enjoyable!

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Greg Heil is the Editor in Chief for Singletracks.com. He's been writing and publishing online since before blogging existed.

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Mountain biking, plain and simple. Trail reviews, ride reports, and philosophical musings induced by delirium from grinding up way too many vertical feet.

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