10 Reasons to not climb that trail

Starting clean in Fernie

20 years ago I found myself racing mountain bikes. If you needed to find me on any given day, you could wonder the trails in Fish Creek Park (Calgary, Alberta) and usually see me slowly going up a hill and ripping down a trail. 7 days a week was spent on a bike, even for work. The challenge of cross country mountain biking was an adrenaline rush, a challenge. I was in the best shape of my life. The peak of my racing career was in 2001. I competed and completed the Kokanee 24 Hours of Adrenaline. At 18 years old, I had the energy of a cheetah.

2001 was my last year of racing cross country mountain bikes. School and a social life became more of a priority. My bikes started to collect dust. They became a mode of transportation rather than a sport. Eventually they found new deserving owners since I didn't have the need for a high valued mountain bike.

2014 came and I found myself yearning to ride the mountain trails again. In the time away from the sport, it had changed significantly. Downhill racing, enduro/trail bikes, 29" tires?!?! This was all new to me. What happened to the traditional 26" tire that was the norm for all mountain bikes? Clearly I had been away too long and needed to do some research. After borrowing a friends hard tail bike for a few weeks, I began to learn some things about myself and about the sport that had changed. Seeing people get shuttled up in a truck or riding up a chair lift? This was definitely new. I borrowed another bike, this time a trail bike. I was hooked from the start. Admittedly, I was/am no longer in the same shape I was back in 2001. So the idea of not having to ride my bike up a hill and just ride down? SOLD! Don't get me wrong, it takes an immense amount of energy, endurance, stability, strength, etc to ride downhill but to save some time and energy was brilliant to me. What I've learned over the last few years are...

10 Reasons not to climb that hill

10. Look how steep that is!

9. How many more lines can I ride today if I got a lift to the top?

8. My old man muscles can't get me up there!

7. I probably shouldn't have had that last beer.

6. Ya, my bike is too heavy for this.

5. I like to go fast.

4. All that armor and gear makes me look bad ass! Fake it til I make it!

3. It looks a lot more fun than sweating up a slow steep incline.

2. It's more fun!

1. I'm old and out of shape!

So, it's now 2019 and I'm on my 3rd bike since picking up the sport again. From a 2011 Specialized Enduro, then came a 2012 Nukeproof Scalp and now a 2015 Giant Reign. Needless to say, I've also realized that going up hill 'SOMETIMES' is required and a reality hence why I sold my DH Nukeproof Scalp and picked up an enduro Giant Reign. Maybe I will find myself racing one day again, in a "seniors" category but until then, I'll hop in a truck or on a chair lift to get me to the top.

If you're not like me and do want to ride uphill, check out some of the related blogs to help you get up hill fast!

5 Common Rider Mistakes that Make Cycling Uphill Harder - Michelle Arthurs-Brennan

When climbing on your mountain bike, don't forget 'scissors' - Dennis Coello

Ask the Expert: How to Tackle Steps and Roots When Riding Uphill - Lauren Jenkins

Finishing muddy in Fernie