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Defragmentation

 I tease my wife when she commits to self-induced stressful situations. Sometimes she'll volunteer to bake a cake for someone. So she'll  work all day, come home and have to bake and decorate a cake before work the next day. When the flour is flying late at night and the kitchen is destroyed and we can't step too hard on the kitchen floor or make any loud noises, I think, you chose to do this?

Now I've done it to myself. I have a half finished novel that sits glaring at me, begging for my attention. Even now I can see the Google Docs tab is right under this one. I have characters and they are doing stuff, I can't leave them hanging forever. It's an obligation that hangs over me at all times. A commitment I need to fulfill and I've completely done it to myself.

But, sometimes ya' just gotta blog about biking. I went for a ride this morning. This is the season where I ride for fitness and trail maintenance. With patches of ice scattered on the trails I don't do anything too serious. But I still need to ride. The older I get the more I realize how important riding is to the health of my body and mind. 

There was a time long ago when most computers sat on top of a desk. Desk top computers we called them. And they could reach a point where they started running slower and maybe glitching out sometimes. When this happened you could start a function called defragmenting.

The computer would run through all it's files, reorganize and get everything in the proper order. When it was all done it would run just a little faster and not freeze up so often. This is definitely how my brain reacts to mountain biking. During the slow grind up the hill I tackle a few thoughts that have been bothering me. I work out solutions and hard truths. Then I think about how my life is currently going. Then finally I start having creative thoughts about how to finish my projects and new ones I want to do. 
A nice long climb by myself has always had this effect on me. I don't achieve the same mental state if I'm just making laps at the dirt jumps. I'm sure the same level of cardio engagement can be obtained by running on a treadmill or cycling down the road or swimming laps in a pool. 
But for me the mountain is part of it. The mountain is a literal obstacle in a life full of figurative obstacles. With each sucking breathe and every downward push of the pedals I slowly climb higher. Finally I reach the top of the trail. Then I turn towards the downhill and throw it all away. All that hard work and exertion, gone in minutes. 
The feeling I get at the top of a long climb is so gloriously miserable. My lungs burn, all my muscles are depleted, but I can savor the feeling of accomplishment. This is why I'm not interested in an ebike. I know those riders will eventually feel fatigued, but it will take them so much longer to reach that state. I want to get right to it.
Yesterday the first six riders I met were on ebikes. I started to wonder if this would be the first ride where I only saw ebikes. It wasn't, but I know that day isn't too far off. The only thing I dislike about ebikes is the total incompatibility to ride with abikes. It will be sad to lose my riding partners, but mountain biking has always been about adapting to new technology.

And hey, division is so IN right now, why should mountain biking be immune? In the early days it was exciting to see another group of riders pull in to the rest stop at the top of a trail. Mountain biking has had a long run of inclusiveness it's about time this sport developed a little but of us and them. Meh, maybe it won't be that bad. Maybe ebikes will start offering a 'Climb with your non-powered friends' mode riders can select.
However it works out I hope I can be here to record the continuing saga of mountain biking.
I recently listened to an interview with Tilda Swinton.  She has a British accent so I regard her view as elevated and wise. 
I've learned all my life philosophy from people with British accents
But she says something like, -Aspects of modern society like religion and politics work to divide us, but Art brings us together. The world needs more Art- 
Maybe the best way I can help the world is by focusing less on what kind of bikes are passing me and more on writing blogs and finishing my novel.
Peace Friends

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