Through riding I've met a bunch of cool people.
Some of my best friends are mountain bikers, and I've introduced the MTB bug to some of my friends that have gone on to great heights.
There is something about riding that binds us together. Obviously you get A-Holes everywhere, and on a ride/race you will always get someone who won't take the time to greet you or help you when you have a trail side issue, but they are in the minority.
When I've had broken chains, punctures, cramps and even fallen off the bike there has always been someone who stopped and asked whether I'm fine, need help and even people who give up their races to get me to a hospital as soon as possible.
The Stanford race was a good example of this. In the span of 5km's I met 5 people, and we rallied together and motivated each when the going got tough. The random chit chat helped us to take our minds of the pain, and Philip Grutter's cramp stop pills helped me to finish. He didn't hesitate to give me the pills even though he was near cramping himself.
In the 06 Epic random people who I've never met helped me to push my team mate when he got sick. After doing about 130kms from Hermanus to Franschoek they still helped me to push Sybrand the last 5km's home. We made it, and finished the race, but to this day I believe it was only possible because we got help from total strangers.
On the other side of the coin I've had some great fun doing rides with friends where we had no goal other than to get into the mountain and have FUN. By sharing in the beauty of nature, in the fun of the trails and just being out there, we magnify the magic of mountainbiking.
That is essentially what MTBing means to me. It is magic. A potent cocktail of endorphins, adrenalin, thrills and friendship.
By sharing this magic, we are spreading the love, and that is beautiful.
Happy trails
Phlip
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