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Specialized Hard Rock (Mine) left, Marin (right)

Today I went down to St. Louis with friends/coworkers to Chubbs Trail in St. Louis. We originally ventured out to go the trails at SIUe, but they were completely muddy from last night’s rain.

I hadn’t been on my mountain this year at all. I’ve been starring at blacktop and road kill the last few months. It was a welcome change from the norm though. Mountain biking is different in that you can’t not let your mind drift for the next 2 miles. No, you’re thinking about the next foot and a half with the sharped edged Dolomite and how you’re going to clear it without clipping your pedals on a tree stump.

Above a former pro biker and his equally good son.

I wish I had taken a better camera with me and taken more photos, but at the time I was more worried about not falling.

Christa pushing her 29-er up.

There were some truly gnarly sections and we did a lot of the above (walking the bike). The downhill was an incredible rush though. I think I topped out around 15 mph which is considerably fast when you’re wizzing by trees and crossing rock beds. Mom, we were all wearing our helmets. Don’t worry

We all had a great time, no one got hurt, and the truly amazing part: no flats.