Bike every mountain, avoid any tree: Back Country Excursions

Thrill seeker.

Not a phrase I'd expect to hear at my eulogy (assuming I could, in fact, hear anything at that point).

It's not that I'm anti-thrill - or that I even "accidentally" avoid thrills by, say, lying about pre-existing plans I have elsewhere (that, uh, I just can't get out of).

I simply have a lower thrill threshold. You launch yourself from an airplane - I'll chase wild turkeys on Mackworth Island. Everyone's happy.

But every now and then I find myself on some thrill precipice. Usually I'm in a helmet and always I'm acutely aware of the long list of "Ways This Could Go Wrong." I can get very creative with those lists - disasters most folks could barely fathom.

This past weekend, for example, as the front tire of my borrowed mountain bike dipped down toward the base of a steep, rocky, tree-crowded trail, I had a vision. Let it suffice it to say it involved said bike's handlebars and the severing of important upper-body limbs.

Alas, no limbs were lost on Saturday when a friend and I headed out to Back Country Excursions in Parsonsfield. It's a mountain biker's delight out there - trails 'til the thrill seeker's heart is content. Founder Cliff Krolick happened to have a handful of newly trained mountain biking teachers in need of some practice students. So I volunteered.

I have a shockless hand-me-down bike that I ride regularly enough - in the woods on wide trails with slow inclines. This mountain biking thing is an entirely different animal.

So first things first - I was matched with a bike. Both being scorpios with liberal politics and a love of used books, cheap coffee and NOVA, this red and white bike and I made a complementary pair.

The lessons started slowly, with each of us students spinning pedals and learning how to change gears on the bike. "Change gears?" I thought. "This really is a beginner's class." Then we moved out to the practice circle, where the teacher shouted "harder gear," "easier gear," and "stand up" as we rode 'round and 'round and 'round the circle.

Eventually, we were directed up a small hill, changing gears in quick succession and motoring to the top. Then coming down in the proper downhill stance: feet at 3:00 and 9:00 and butt back.

The speedy gear changing took some getting used to, but I seemed to have this whole hill thing under control.

So out to the trails we went, a handful of teachers and a handful of students all eager to get into the woods. The down shifting came in handy along the gravel road, with its rolling hill after hill after hill.

And suddenly, we were in the woods chasing each other along thin and winding trails. Tree branches slapped our faces as we rode past. We cut around rocks and stumps - and sometimes went over the rocks and stumps. The hills dipped low and then high again and I couldn't help but brake a little going down and then pedal, pedal, pedal going up.

Thirty minutes in and I was getting it. Sure I was breathless, sweating and distracted by nerves. But my bike confidence was at a record high.

I momentarily considered quitting my job to pursue a mountain biking career.

I fancied myself an eventual record setter - a cover of Mountain Bike magazine - a role model for children in woodsy, mountainous regions of the country.

And then I wrecked.

Straight into some shrubbery and the dirt. As falls go it wasn't a bad one. No injuries to speak of. But my confidence was shaken. I could barely get my foot back in the cage pedal.

But on we continued. A few others fell to the dirt - or into a tree.

I dueled a pine myself and it drew blood (bleeding on the trail is, in my opinion, a testament to my impressive toughness).

After a few more spills I hit the wall. Metaphorically speaking. Cliff asked who was "feeling more adventurous" and wanted to go higher up the mountain to steeper terrain.

I wasn't. I figured I'd quit while I was ahead (and by "ahead" I mean "alive"). Most of the group continued on, and by my count they all came back.

And we were all exhausted.

Nothing a quick nap on the lawn can't fix.

Check out the Back Country Excursions website for details on the trails, upcoming rides and weekend tours.

There's great online video of some of the trails as well.

Cliff also noted that beginners can call any time and get set up with some skills training - and I can attest to the solid guidance you'll get here.

And mountain bikers, mark your calendars for the Mountain Biking Micro Brew Festival on Aug 7-9.