Riding high after all these years

Interests change with time, although I have enjoyed a few since childhood. Cycling, for one, even if my mountain bike has sat idle for a while.

My interest in the sport was rekindled recently when friend Kenny Talbert invited me to ride a nearby trail. Although physically unprepared, I knocked the dust from my bike, filled the tires with air and prepared for the next opportunity to ride a trail.

I began riding along level and paved trails, soon progressing to a hillier terrain. Last weekend, friend Dave Hoffman joined Sandy and me on a drive to Russellville, where we would ride a paved trail that we had hiked several weeks ago.

Only six miles long, the designated route was paved and level. It would be an easy ride, especially for Dave in his first bike ride in 25 years.

Sandy, on the other hand, consistently works out four or five days a week. She was in great physical shape. But having not ridden in a couple of years, she would have a perfect time to get reacquainted with her bike and prepare for the rigor of trail riding.

The ride went without a hitch, Sandy leading the pack and Dave handling his bike like he had ridden regularly for years.

I mentioned a trail a few miles down the road, an unsurfaced path making its way through the forest but not overly technical. If memory served me correctly, it consisted of a succession of loops, lending to ample opportunities to head back to the rig when we got tired. But the trail had been rerouted and was longer than I recalled. Not to worry; we had several hours before darkness and were willing to tackle any obstacles that lurked ahead.

Fortunately, the River Valley terrain is rider friendly, though the route switched back and forth several times as it ascended to a large hill. Bear in mind that a few years had passed since Sandy and I had ridden a trail, and this style of riding was all new to friend Dave.

Quickly, I became involved in the day’s first mishap. Pedaling up a steep hill and pulling against the handle bars, I flipped backward when my front tire hit a large boulder lying in the trail. Just like that, I found myself sprawled out on my bank amidst a creek bed.

Sandy was not beyond errors as well, sharing a story of falling from her bike. And, Dave returned to rig with a few minor cuts and abrasions.

I’m aware that the challenges we faced were far from what the avid rider would consider technical. Despite our blunders, we returned to Hot Springs eager for our next ride and convinced our time was enjoyable.