For the first time, last week I rode my mountain bike on a single track trail.  It was challenging, difficult and I can hardly wait to go again!  Becoming aware that balance and focus are just as important as strength and fitness was an interesting lesson.

Single track is a narrow mountain biking trail that is about the width of the bike. It contrasts with double track or fire road which is wide enough for four-wheeled off-road vehicles.  The single track trails around here are quite tricky with roots, rocks, lots of loose ground cover and steep terrain.

During my first venture doing this new sport I struggled, skidding out on the gravel, missing the sharp corners and crashing through the trees.  I felt like a fish out of water, flopping around and gasping for breath, feeling totally out of control.  I started to think this wasn’t going to be one of my favourite activities.  Finally one of my colleagues stopped and explained a few things, thankfully, in non-technical terms.

These and a few other simple things made sense to me.  When I worried about what I actually was riding over, I lost the opportunity to get ready for what was to come.  Keeping focused on the trail in front of me allowed me to adjust my balance, shift into the right gears and enjoy the ride.  The bumps and stumps became much easier to endure.

For me this was a great reminder for traveling the road of life.  Of course choosing to travel along a single track does make life interesting but instead of worrying about the little day-to-day headaches, keeping focused on the bigger picture would ensure I get to where I want faster and with far less drama.

Next I want to find the courage to hurdle down steep hills, without breaking anything … now I am safely walking my bike down steep hills and I don’t like the nickname ‘granny’.

(Thanks Claire for your patience and great pictures!)