Mountain Biking Take 1 and Take 2

Daniel is a very talented mountain biker. He has been mountain biking since he was 14-years-old and as a teenager he won several races. Now, he just bikes for fun and is introducing me to all the fun mountain biking has to offer.

Our first attempt was on Antelope Island sometime in early June.  The bad news is that we made it less than a mile before my bike got a flat tire and to our horror we realized that we didn't have the patch kit with us. The good news is that we did get this pretty awesome picture:

If you look closely, you'll see that Daniel is holding the bike with the flattened tire.

Despite being attacked by bugs, riding in the blazing heat, and getting a flat tire, I would not be discouraged. Attempt number two took place at the Pipeline Trail in Millcreek Canyon. This time we met our match. The weather was perfect, there were not nearly as many bugs, and I had a better bike. I found mountain biking to be exhilarating and a little pee-my-pants scary. There were parts where we rode only a foot or two from a small cliff.  The downhills were scary, yet exciting, and I ended up walking the turns on the switch backs after nearly tipping over. I can now see why people like this sport and I want to keep going and keep getting better.

Taking a break on the Pipeline Trail.

If you are interested in taking up mountain biking, I would recommend the Pipeline Trial (oops Freudian slip). The uphills are not too steep and neither are the downhills. It was very manageable, yet still challenging. I'm excited to try this trail again.