salvation through two wheels.

We all seek things to make us feel better, this is an ingrained directive that we all have deep

within us. Obviously, for some it is easier to create this feeling in ways that could be in the arms of another, in the blur of drugs, or in the bottom of a bottle.

I, on the other hand, always feel really fortunate to be able to occasionally create this feeling through a number of different more socially accepted ways (well some anyway). This particular example i'll use today is through just being you who want to be while riding a simple bicycle. The feelings that come over me when just rolling down a hill in parks local to me or more exotic ones far far away is hard to capture in words. The silence, the trees, the water, the sound of...nothing else. Even looking back on that after writing it, I almost feel compelled to delete it just because of the stupidity of trying to capture something must only be experienced, not read about.

Last time I rode was last sunday with Ed (a guy who embodies the ideal of living life to the best of your ability, a lesson I think so many other people should really think about, more later...) Ed and I had the plan to drive up to Gambrill state park, and ride the downhill sections on the watershed side. We were both really excited for these trails we've both heard a bunch about. We get set up to ride the first set, and start talking with these other two cats (Dave and Tyler), who we didn't know. These guys turn out to be some of the nicest people I've ever met on a trail on the east coast.

(sidenote ehh)

When I was out in Utah at slickrock that was really the first time I'd met anyone on a trail who was just stoked to be where they were at that point in time, not there to lose weight or look more in shape, not because they felt that they had to be, they were just there to enjoy the ride and be.

So, we get to talking with these two and ask if Ed and I can tag along with them the first time down the hill to get a feel for the line and the proper route. We have a run with them, and it was excellent, they were both very technically good, but never in a way that made you feel like a total shit head for being slower at first. I'm smiling from ear to ear at this point, not only because it is a totally sick line down the hill with nice set up jumps and berms (yay!), but because it gave me hope that there are still people out there who are just down to have a good time with who ever. These guys just wanted to "go fast" and have a good time, their riding styles showed it, as did their attitudes. So refreshing.

Riding, good people, and 30-40 degrees of decline will make me smile any day of the week.

sander.