Geoff and Jason mountain biking
I just got back from Albuquerque where I was visiting a very good friend form high school. It’s been ages since I’ve seen him (well, a couple years) and it’s funny how our biking hobbies have progressed in the same direction. One of the priorities of our visit was for me to go on a few rides with him. It’s winter in Boston, and it’s such a pain to go on a nice ride. ABQ has, in addition to some nicer drier weather, lots of bike paths, both of the mountain and road variety.
The first trip was mountain biking in the northern Sandia foothills — here’s a similar route that jason does. I had never been mountain biking, and Jason was kind enough to lend me his Paragon 29er, while he borrowed a friend’s bike. I was amazed at the low gearing, but once we were moving, it seemed so natural. We did a pretty challenging course and I had to get off the bike a few times, but it was a blast. I have no idea if New England is a good place for mountain biking, but i think for now, I’m going to choose ignorance, because I certainly don’t need to get into a new sport. Plus, I can’t imagine it comparing to the high desert climate!
The second ride we did was around the city. The afternoons in ABQ were pretty windy, but didn’t really pose much of a problem. We rode on bike paths the entire time! It was absolutely wonderful. The first part went along a raised canal for the flooding that occurs when it rains. After that, we were riding along the river in the bosque for quite a bit. No cars whatsoever. Also a first was that I was riding his fixed gear Bianchi San Jose the whole time. Depending on how the Xtracycle build goes, maybe I’ll convert my panasonic to fixed gear, or at least single speed. Then again, there’s enough hills around here that I sort of like the gears.
As I’m waiting for the Boston snow to melt and for the bike paths to magically materialize, I’ll be missing the riding I did there. And obviously I’ll need to come back soon.
me coming up the path