Eating Dirt

So what exactly do I know about racing a mountain bike? Very little. I've been riding for some 13 years, both on road or off, but have usually steered clear of the prospect of riding so hard I cough up a lung.

I guess that makes me a hedonist. All I usually care about on a mountain bike is zipping around, over or off of obstacles. And sometimes, I even negotiate such obstacles successfully enough that I don't dump myself on my head. I post pictures of these occasions on as many websites as possible. Gullible people are impressed.

But I do know that I like to try new experiences, especially on my bike. This is one of the reasons I own and buy so many bikes. Big, cushy downhill bikes. Fast carbon road bikes. Dirt jumping bikes. Another reason is that I break bikes. A lot. In fact, I am renown in the local bike shop for the rare and complete destruction I wreak upon my rigs. "How in the world did you break that?" I believe I have may have singlehandedly paid off the mortgage of the local bike shop owner. We joke that he should offer me frequent breaker miles.

All of this makes me sound like a fool. Rest assured, I am. But I make up for this by doing a lot of trailwork and trail advocacy. I am president of my local mountain bike club and a state rep for IMBA. You can learn more about my illustrious efforts here.