It's good to be home

For the uninitiated, Downieville is home to some of the most fun and challenging trails in the California sierras. Mountain bikers from all over the world descend upon this little town along the Yuba River padded up and ready to shred. The preferred way to the top is by shuttle van from town, but my old friend Mike and I chose to ride to the top. We don't need no stinkin' shuttle!

The climb from town to the top is about 18 miles and 4400 feet, peaking at the summit around 8000 feet above sea level. We took our time pedaling up the never ending fireroad and labored in the heat, but we knew what awaited us at the top. Miles and miles of untamed, rocky, flowy trails that whip and twist until finally spitting you out back into town. So we grunted and sweated out the climb, catching each other up on our respective lives, having not ridden together in a few years.

Pause in the action after ripping down the mountain.

Mike says it's time for a break on the climb to Big Boulder

It's been over three years since I've been able to ride Downieville, and one of the places I dreamt of returning to once I was physically capable of absorbing the terrain. I must admit, I was a bit nervous about this ride. I've been pounding on my back pretty hard in Santa Cruz and surrounding areas on the bike, but Downieville is a different beast. It never relents and if you're not careful it will bite (I've got scars courtesy of previous Downieville trips as proof of my arrogance). My back protested a bit on the climb, forcing me to move around the bike to keep things loose, but it was all manageable and never forced me into submission.

On January 1st of this year I set a goal of visiting Whistler, BC later this year. At the time my back wasn't near ready for a visit to the mecca of bike parks, but I was optimistic. After yesterdays journey I'm feeling rather positive about spending a week shredding the gnar in Whistler.

Biggest and most challenging ride since the comeback began.

For all my friends who are in pain and seeking relief, don't give up. Yeah, it's corny and cheesy and cliche. But it's the truth. Don't stop moving forward. If each day you can only take one step, that's one step in the right direction. I know some days it feels like living without pain is forever out of reach, and every day I still deal with pain and discomfort, but I continue to find solace in the even the tiniest of victories.

Peace out my strong friends,

- I