Amateur Bike Adventures!

(October, 2010)

One of my biggest investments here so far has been my mountain bike. A friend helped me with the purchase and helped me pimp it up, it’s very different to my hybrid bike that I have at home but there’s no chance that my little silver bullet that’s collecting dust at home would survive the cobbled streets, the steep mountain climbs and the bumpy, unpredictable forest tracks.

My first bike ride was a steep 90 minute climb in the dark, through the forest to La Torre, which is the highest view point in Valle where the Paragliders take off, accompanied by 10 boys, some of which were professionals. Obviously I was a bag of nerves but I gave it my best shot and came out with a great result. I kept at the pace of the boys, only fell off twice and held in every groan and complaint, which were soon washed away with a beer around the bonfire watching the fireworks explode over Valle.

It was a great moment and I was certain that it was to start off a new mountain biking obsession for me. Unfortunately I haven’t been out as much as I would have liked to. It’s hard to get everyone together and make an event out of it and it’s no fun going alone. I smell potential for a new years resolution.