I don’t view myself as a very athletic person. I don’t see exercise as very exciting; I don’t focus on my diet; I don’t hit the gym with my friends to gain muscle. I do, however, think of myself as a person who loves being outdoors and someone who can be very passionate about things out of nowhere. One such thing would be mountain biking.
I came to Denver a little over 2 years ago for school. I wanted to start a new life after high school. This past January, my parents followed me west. They had been moving around our native New jersey for a little over a year and finally relocated to Colorado, a dream come true. My dad has always been athletic, from lacrosse in college, to running and mountain biking, as well as CrossFit to stay active. He exercises 5 days a week. My stepmom has always been a runner, boasting races that crossed multiple state lines in a week. I have never been much more than a kid who went to school, hung out with my buddies, and liked video games.
Colorado changed something in me though. When I came out west, I was immediately in awe of the beautiful mountains the state so proudly boasts. I’ve been snowboarding for over a decade. However, snowboarding in Colorado for the first time made me want to be better at it, and conquer these mountains for all they’re worth. I started to spend more time outdoors, and it taught me some wonderful things.
The best thing that I’ve gotten from my outdoor adventures is a better relationship with my father, through mountain biking. It wouldn’t have happened without the culture and opportunities that Colorado and the Rockies have to offer. My dad has been mountain biking for over 30 years now, and he’s seen cutting edge technology come and go for many reasons. He’s always been a very hands-on person, and mechanic work is in his blood. He’s always taking things apart to see how they work, just to rebuild them. This was something I had always envied in him. He was always my go-to for mechanical questions when I just couldn’t figure things out.
Because of mountain biking, I’ve found a love for bike repair. Over time, I have come to know many things about bike repair and diagnostics. The main reason why I came to appreciate this skill so much is because it gives me more reasons to spend time with my dad. In our basement bike shop, we’ve spent hours working on our rigs, preparing them for our next battle with the Colorful Colorado trails. We found something we have in common, that’s not just a hobby but a passion, and we developed a strong bond over it. My dad had a similar relationship with his dad when he was younger. They would work on cars at the gas station that my grandfather owned before his passing. This connection lead my dad to own a car repair shop and got him started as a mechanic early in his life.
I feel a very special connection when I work on a bike with my dad. He shares his knowledge and experience in the same way his dad did with him. He enjoys being able to teach me and I love being able to learn from him. These moments in our basement bike shop are moments I would not have without moving to Colorado, and I couldn't be more thankful for what I’ve gained since moving here.
With my dad, I’ve traveled the state and a bit into bordering ones in search of thrill, making out bond even stronger. There are always injuries expected and a day isn’t done unless we’ve fully pushed our body beyond belief, but every ride is followed with smiles and good memories. I’ve learned a lot about control while going over 20 miles per hour over rock gardens on a steep and narrow trail with switchbacks lurking everywhere. I’ve watched my dad sent himself off of things that I wouldn’t want to do even if I knew it was safe. I’ve seen him take mean falls that put him out for a few days. Through all of the emotional onslaught that mountain biking brings, I can always count on him to cheer me on.
Although we have had many hardships in our family and he’s had to make some giant sacrifices for me, when we’re on the trail none of that exists. The past isn’t something on our minds; if it was, we’d fly off a trail and into a valley. The only thing we have time to think about is ripping, and rip we do.
Neither of us is in any way competition ranked or really even capable of placing on a podium for a local race. But, the feeling we get on the trails make us believe we are. I’ve never really been much of an athlete, but I can recognize when a little bit of a workout is worth the memories that are associated with it.
I’m not lazy enough to pass on spending time with my dad and create new adventures. Especially knowing we might not have much longer, as we might end up moving again or my dad might just not have the time.
Experiences like the ones I’ve had on the mountains are the reasons why I love this state and that I’m happy that my life has brought me here.