AIR MOUNTAIN BIKING- “THE LATEST CRAZE TO HIT SOCAL?”
RL HITTING IT BIG AIR STYLE
So Friday night I’m sitting in the living room brain dead, contemplating all of life’s interesting paradoxes, enjoying a nice piece of beef jerky, while having a bowl of Tamalitos, chasing it down with a Lavern (that’s a Pepsi with milk all), trying to think of a way to get out of helping the wife clean the house when I’m saved by the bell or phone ringing. “Hello!” “Yes RL I would love to meet you at Aliso for a ride. Should I bring my Enduro bike are we going to go for it? No! The XC bike, are we going for a long ride then, I need that. What no bike, really?”
So He begins to tell me about this new Mountain bike discipline that’s all the rage and that the discipline is very precise in how you do it, plus you’ll get in great shape. RL begins to tell me that the other riders out there may not approve of us and look down at us. Well I’m in for losing a few pounds, besides I like going against the grain.
ART AGUILAR DOING THE CLASSIC “FLYING W”
SATURDAY MORNING COMES
We meet up and this Saturday morning is like no other. The crowds are out in abundance, more so then usual. Large groups of hikers, Mountain bikers, and runners. I’m dressed to the Teee’s as RL is. Lady P looking at us thinking, they think they are so pro (always in our minds, lol).
RL goes over everything with me; I’m cool with it, so let’s do this thing. I know it will be the greatest thing ever. It makes me feel like I have new blood in me. We set up our rides, dial in our gear, go over our riding styles and how we will hit the jumps and ride the rough.
RL WHIPPING IT OUT SIDEWAYS ON HIS SECOND RUN
HITTING THE TRAIL
As one may expect, it came to know surprise that the main stream riders gave us looks of discuss, crazy, stupid, and even wonderment ( yeah Lady P did think we were crazy, but she went with it).
RL and I hit the trails “MTN AIR BIKING”, that’s right, you heard me, “MTN AIR BIKING”!
And why not Air Bike, the cost is low (only gear, and chances are you have that already) .If you plan on AIR BIKING good safety gear if monument. If you go down hard you can break a leg, twist an ankle, or worse hit your head on the ground.
We were having fun catching big air, riding rough rock sections, and hitting fast switchbacks. What an awesome feeling!!
ART PULLING OFF ANOTHER CLASSIC “DEAD MAN HANG”
At the end of the ride I was invigorated, though a little wiped out, as was RL.
This made me think of the guy who invented the wheel. I bet all his buddies thought he was a nut, next thing you know you have the Flintstones.
One must embrace change with vigor; after all we may owe Air Mountain biking to the great legends of the Air Guitar and let me tell you this, it’s big now, competitions, videos, the works
Just think what could be next, Air Mountain Bike racing Big Bear perhaps???