Just about two weeks ago I took my sister and oldest nephew on their first mountain bike ride.  I’ll have to admit, I was a little anxious about taking two newbies out; they had never turned any knobbies and I had never been an instructor.  However, I remembered that someone once taught me to ride (my uncle) and it was about time that I paid it forward.

My sister lives in Castle Rock and had noticed a new trailhead in her neighborhood.  As a fellow adventurous spirit, she decided it was about time that she too should take up mountain biking.  It’s a nervous proposition for me since she possesses the raw athletic talent in the family, and if she sticks with it, is likely to surpass me someday.  Anyway, I digress.  Back to the story…

Sometimes people learn the sport of mountain biking on inexpensive bikes that way three times more than they should.  Sometimes people learn on bikes that make them fall in love with riding.  Such was the case for my sister and nephew.  She got the steel Ibis hardtail and he rode my current Crew bike, the Trek Remedy.  Good bikes ride great on sweet trails.

As we pedaled the Ridgeline Trails (built by Arrowhead!), I gave them a few pointers and then just let them figure it out.  They took to it like ducks to water.  The setting of a recently passed thunderstorm giving way to a perfect, complete rainbow didn’t hurt either.  In all of the days I’ve ridden, it will stand out as a highlight for me.

My nephew was so psyched he rode all the way home.  Apparently, he’d like to kept riding, but only if he can have a bike like mine…

I just talked to my sister this evening – she’s been riding every other day, exploring more trails, and wondering if it will ever get easier.  I just smile knowing it’s the beginning of a new sport, the start of a healthy outlet, and the beginning a wonderful journey to discover the outdoors.  Ride on!