Obscure awesome moments

[mattj]

I have had these two amazing moments recently, one a while back and one today.

Last one was when I was riding UOC a while back with Huckme88. I dropped in, and pretty much after the log roll I didn't use brakes. I initiated the corners by diving the front wheel down and turning it, which unweights the rear wheel and creates a drift, basically allows you to slow down as much or little as you want and also allows one to rail corners.

That was a pretty ridiculously good run, and felt significantly faster than any other time I was on UOC.

Had a similar moment today. Was riding Ned's as fast as I can trying to keep Giggler off my tail (not likely to happen - dude you're fast!). Got some sections pretty dialed and we ripped from just past the river crossing (DD junction) all the way to the bottom without stopping. Again, insanely fast run for my standards and I loved it!

The actual moment I am referring to is hard to describe. It's almost like that final scene in Matrix 1 where Neo gets surprised by how easily he can hold off Smith's attacks, which was happening because he was so fast. Basically even though I rode these two trails faster than I ever have before, it felt as though things were happening slower, and I was able to take my time and execute each element of the riding. I don't know really how else to describe it. It was pretty zen-like...

Tell me about your little obscure moments of awesomeness that make you love riding. Things that are deeper than just "woah man did you see that air?". Things that are subtle, yet you feel in your very core (which we have determined is actually strengthened through fr/dh riding)...

PS I totally see what DH racers see in racing. They must feel what I felt these two times on every race run, or at least the guys that win must be feeling it... It must be amazing to be able to summon that kind of control on command...


-m

[thebigchin]

I thought theGiggler HATED Ned's. Oh man! Giggler is sooooo busted.

[Rat]

Chock it up to second hand smoke.

[barry]

:lol:

I know exactly what you mean man!!!

Last week I rode solo to the top of Cougar Ridge after work. Had the headphones bumpin some mean infected mushroom, and a nice "indulgence" at the top.

It's like getting to the next level in a videogame. All of a sudden you have confidence in your cornering to the point that you'll rail harder than you think you can, but they still stick. I ripped the trail waaay faster than my racerun in the Rockstar, but it was more focussed and precise. I find leaning over the bars (like you said) is really the first step. More weight therefor more friction over the front tire, and the back tire can just go where it wants. Reminds me of Kovarik's style, but numbed down :P

[freerider guy]

I know that feeling also. I just felt like goin for a easy day so i was gonna do a couple laps of bobsled and floppy bunny on fromme. On my first run i decided to do bobsled. (Just a quick side note: that ride was the first time I rode with music in my ears) SO i set up my music to play darren bearcloths segment's music from the collective. I don't think I have ever ridden that smooth, fast and pumped soooo much down a trail. I was nailing everysingle corner with either a big pump through the berm (thanks to the esc camps for the trailwork) or a wicked sam hill type 2 wheel drift. The feeling for me is undescribable and i realized that is what I bike for. To be fast, smooth, flowy and to have that "zen" feeling.

[heckler]

last time I rode neds with the whores top to bottom at race speed, my upper body hurt for 3 days after. I know what you mean matt

Nice working with you on the CBC trail day today! THanks a lot for coming out, even with that nasty flu.

[Hack On Wheels]

I haven't really had anything quite like that, for me it has just been the occasional day when I can relax and then I can just ride. It seems so much more effortless and fun when I am not tensed up and over-thinking. When it happened at Whistler one day it was just amazing, next time, I wasn't so relaxed and it really showed. This kind of relaxation is one of the slightly obscure almost intangible things that I want when I ride.

[PT-Colin]

That sometomes elusive 'feeling' is why I like to race. I do not think you ever ride faster or push harder than when racing.

[LeeLau]

I had that moment on Doukhobor Draw in Rossland. Usually I'm slower then Dipper but I was on his tail the whole way on a trail I'd never ridden. Not a single pedal stroke - just pumping the bike through loam and natural little undulations. It was getting a bit dark and it was totally quiet - all you could hear was the bike performing beautifully - and the vision focused on the trail. Wish i could recapture that moment on every ride but then I suppose the moment wouldn't be special then

[.Robinson]

cutties

[dirty deeds]

Chock it up to second hand smoke.

too funny.

[TheGiggler]

I Wish i could recapture that moment on every ride but then I suppose the moment wouldn't be special then


yup, this is how i feel.

i sometimes ride for weeks and it just isn't quite flowing like i want it. then all of a sudden, when your expectations are lower and you aren't expecting it, things just flow together and you're in that state where you're riding at your limit without any consious thoughts and it seems like you can do no wrong.

those few moments of singletrack flow are so good and are the main reason i ride. to me that's way better than riding some skinny/stunt or sending some new drop/gap. there's nothign like flowing singletrack at your limit, except perhaps a pow day on skis :)

[thebigchin]

My obscure awesome moment was while riding up the Garbanzo chair by myself.
It was about the only moment that I was completely in control. I felt as though I could just close my eyes, let the machine take over and the force would guide me all the way to the end.

[Dan CH]

cutties

I :heart: cutties