Mountain Biking! Links, videos, personal experiences, it’s all good! I used to actually be an avid mountain/rough trail biker in Etobicoke since I was close to Centennial Hill and loved being alone out in the wooded areas and parks. Much to the eternal chagrin of my parents I’d be out there for hours until the sun went down and I’d stumble back home. Once in a while me and/or my bike would even be in good condition. See, I’m not much of a technical rider, yet. I’m one of those “too fast for my own good but thankfully has the reflexes to balance it out a little” riders. I have developed a little bit of foresight over the years but I know it’s my instincts that save me when things feel a little out of control. Case in point, I managed to find and fall off of one of the few cliffs in Etobicoke and still managed to walk away. I had to carry my bike home and get a new helmet but I was otherwise unhurt ;)
So this fall I’ve made the difficult decision to not bring my hockey gear back to campus. It’s not that I didn’t have fun last year playing with my brother, mind you. I guess my tolerance for BS in hockey has again reached an all time low. Yes, I’m a girl. Yes, I play guys hockey. No, I’m not a superstar but, no, I don’t suck. It doesn’t matter that I’m a defender with a zillion assists and blocked shots, I’m still “just a girl” and that’s not going to change here. I also don’t have the time to spare to go for Varsity since I’ll be taking on a very heavy courseload going into my second year. I’ve spent a lot of time the past month planning my fall semester very carefully and by Thursday (I hope!) it should be all set. Anyway, not to drone on about academics since that comes later this week, I was scouring through all our club and sports listings trying to find a suitable replacement for hockey and my best friend totally came through with an awesome suggestion.
She’s been bugging me for years now about racing with her on the inter-university mountain bike circuit. Now that I’m actually in school I can finally go for it and realized that it’d be perfect for me this year (even though my parents are probably screaming right now as they read this)! A Windsor student has competed in this circuit in the past but it was only one guy, literally, and he appears to have graduated. So I wrote the head of the league to ask about getting started and, next thing I know, I’m the official Windsor rep. Woo! The organizer did his undergrad at Windsor so in my last e-mail I had to ask him for an ideas of where to train since this town is as flat as bowling alley. Of course, now I need to look at maybe getting a new bike (or at least borrowing one) if mine isn’t suited to these courses and I have some paperwork and advertising to do to start an official club at Windsor so it’s not just me racing. At the very least, I am allowed to compete with or without official backing and still have any points I earn count for me as an individual and as a team if that happens down the line :)
Are you an avid mountain biker? Do you ride as a hobby? Talk to me in the comments!
What I want to know is how to get to any interesting “mountains trails” when one lives in the financial district, in downtown Toronto, and one doesn’t have a car (or friends with one). By the time I’d bike to anywhere “interesting” I’d be pooped. I guess I’ll have to rent a car to go biking — ironic, isn’t it! Any suggestions for any beginner, yet scenic, trails?
I’ve been riding for 10 years now and really enjoy it. I am training for a 24 hour race next year. I have one mountain bike right now and will buy another a month or so before the race. I am riding an older aluminum Trek 8000 hardtail for training and plan to buy a Trek Fuel EX 7 due to financial constraints. Don’t overlook the Specialized Stumpjumper and the Trek Women specific bikes, (they are supposed to have better geometry for womens body/legs height proportions.) good luck and great riding!
I ride as a hobby, but will be looking for a new course in LA… not holding my breath… ob better said im going to have to.
I cant afford the lightweight expensive bikes, and usually fair along quite well with a 200$ version.
LifeOnEight, that’s a good question! I never went downtown much on my bike unless it was along the Lakeshore. I can’t imagine biking in the core. I don’t even like driving in it ;) Since I did most of my biking in Centennial Park and along the Etobicoke Creek/Mississauga border those are the only areas I am familiar with. I think there are supposed to be some cool trails by the Don River. The friend who put me up to all this told me about Out There today and they list the main spots in Toronto, even if they are not that close to you.
Charlesolp: those Trek bikes look totally sick. They are also totally out of my pricerange!! I’m hoping that I can find the proper tires in my parents garage for the bike I have stored with my brother right now (presently using road slicks) and then get it fitted and tuned for the season. Since Windsor is flat flat flat and I won’t be going home a lot this fall I can’t justify that kind of purchase. So pretty though… and thanks for the well wishes :)
Underseen: yeah, that is the pricerange I might be willing to deal with! I can take the money that would have been spent on hockey and use it towards a bike that I will, hopefully, ride all year long. <3 snow.