I concluded the last episode with a nod to deep thoughts, and so this time around I will dip into that murky pool. First however, I’ve stated before that living in the Deep South, I can ride year-round. Sure, it gets somewhat cold, but there is rarely any snow. We do get the dreaded freeze-thaw conditions wherein the trails turn to mush once the mercury rises past thirty-two freedom degrees on an otherwise sunny day. We are deeply in that time of the year currently and as a result many of the regional state and county parks remain closed for mountain biking.
Yet, I am privileged to have two work arounds to this.
First, my home base trail is the fastest draining trail system in the region. After it rains, it generally is open in less than twenty-four hours. This is due to a couple of factors, the first being the terrain which is very rocky and natural. This type of trail drains excellently and IMHO makes for a more fun riding experience. It encompasses the most technical natural terrain of any regional North Georgia park and even has its own legit DH/Freeride runs. The second factor and one that is more controversial is that it was, and mostly still is, hand cut. I’ve found that trails that are made via machines (Dingoes/front loaders) tend to dry out slower unless aggressive off camber grading and numerous water breaks are built in. The problem is that while these trails can be built much faster and with fewer volunteers, they don’t hold up as well.
The second alternative to the freeze/thaw closures are pirate trails. There are miles of these near me. Naturally none of them are machine cut, and again the terrain is very rocky and more chaotic than my home base. They can be a mess and still be a blast to ride as many of the same builders/designers/trail stewards of the legit local parks build and maintain them.
We’ll discuss more yins and yangs below, but first…
Compilations. I have not been a huge fan of them as generally you get a few decent tracks, but many that are just okay at best. This holds true for all of the ones I got into over the years. The best part was finding said one or two + bands and then tracking down more stuff by them. Basically, they were just a fancier mixtape made by a record company. Things are way easier now as you just instantly find whatever band strikes your fancy and everything they’ve ever done is at your fingertips. That is why I dig just letting modern compilations like these just play through. It’s a new experience hearing source material you are familiar with reframed in a different way.
CRUCIFIX ‘Dehumanization’ – The CVLT Nation Sessions Crucifix was another foundational hardcore band for me. I liked Discharge which they certainly drew from, but Crucifix somehow captured the heavier UK82 sounds and added more impact and depth to it. They had tons of cred being signed to Crass records, and they brought it live as they did not look nor sound like any average American hardcore band of the time. This tribute shows how well their 1983 album works with modern bands. I particularly dig Traumatizer’s take on “Indo China” which just rips.
MY BLOODY VALENTINE ‘LOVELESS’: The CVLT Nation Sessions Shoegaze has always been kind of a background antidote, chill out musical genre for me. Certainly there are standout songs, but I can often just let it play on and let the swirl just drag me in while still being able to focus on other things. My Bloody Valentine’s “Loveless” is the holy mountain of the genre without question and this fun tribute from modern acts does the canon justice. Steady as she goes or a naked girl falling down the stairs?
Recently I began considering the concept of “Flow State” a subject that has been discussed multiple times here on TCI. Nevertheless, as a brief recap, flow state is defined as a mental state of being fully focused and immersed in an activity. You are in the zone, and everything is happening smoothly within your control or command. This is noted to have benefits of increased progression and creativity in said activity. Moreover, you become more energized and motivated with your efforts. I am in accord with these statements but being a non-joiner, if not occasional contrarian, I think about the opposite to flow state and whether there is something to be gained there.
It took me years to appreciate that everyone had their own definition of fun, and often theirs might not align with mine. In riding, decades ago I could not understand why anyone would want to ride amazing trails yet not seek out the technical features. I could not for the life of me figure out why someone riding in front of me would take a faster/smoother line when they missed out on a fun launch, drop, rock roll or whatever. This was especially true on just routine rides where it was not a race, but just about fun. I came to realize that speed and smoothness was the fun, or being in the zone, for many. Some truly only found such exalted moments under the clock or with their heartrate redlined. Hell, we used to even make fun of roadies and XC riders over this. An oft repeated joke about this among my friends was “The ride was great, but Ray was such a dick.”
My poor behavior aside, what could be better or at least also beneficial to one’s experience, but outside of the hallowed flow state? How about fear of the unknown? Unpredictability? Chaos and the uncertainty of survival or potential harm? Humans have and will always face these situations throughout our brief existence.
It is learning what “not” to do that has promoted our longevity. However, we as a species have actively sought these experiences out as well, whether the consequences be large or small. Horror movies and roller coasters are a couple of mainstream examples with low consequences that come to mind. That moment when you lean too far back in a chair and just catch yourself is more specifically the kind of chaotic, unpredictable experience that I am concerned with. These brief moments are in fact the ones that I appreciate even at a higher level than getting into a flow state.
A couple of higher consequence mountain bike examples of these moments are taking off a jump and having to correct in midflight due a poor velocity, balance or directional choice and still landing it without yard-sale-ing. How about cornering hard enough that you two-wheel drift and then regain traction just before washing out? Casing a gap jump but still riding it out counts for sure. I find these times a bolt of energy, and they become the standout moments when I replay the ride in my head.
As noted above, it took me a long time to understand that everyone defines their fun differently, and I have had flow state experiences that I can certainly appreciate. Maybe when I grow up, I’ll want to find more of those on purpose. In the meantime, I like not knowing what is ahead and briefly being out of control as that often matches the noisy maelstrom in my head.