After putting a good 26 or so miles in two days on our legs, we thought it was best to give ourselves a day of rest back in Park City. We had big plans to climb Mount Timpanogos and with 14+ miles round trip and a nice 4300+ feet of elevation gain, we knew that our bodies needed a break before tackling it. After some careful consideration, we thought what better way to recuperate out and about town than to try out a new to us activity - mountain biking. (I’ll let you all have a good laugh at our expense now).
Mountain biking is something that has always placed just a smidgen of terror in the depths of my heart. I consider myself a fairly competent cyclist but the problem is I tend to have terrible reactions to anything sudden. Case in point, Grace and I were riding to the Rockaways a few years ago when I fishtailed in some sand and hit a curb. I was going so slowly that all I had to do was put my foot down - just remove my foot from the pedal and ever so slightly stretch out my leg so my toes could meet the sidewalk. Instead I opted to let the bike tumble over with me still fully attached, both hands gripped to the handlebars, feet somehow attempting to pedal as if it would prevent the inevitable. Now place me on the side of a mountain and the consequences are a bit more painful than having to ask the local fire department for some antiseptic and bandaids. However, despite my inherent quirks, this time around I was not to be deterred.
Park City has a very extensive network of biking trails that meander through the town and up into the surrounding mountains and/or hills. Even the city itself is very bike friendly with biking lanes, paved trails, and cyclist-aware drivers. We made a few phone calls and after a short stroll from our hotel, we found ourselves chatting up the bike shop dudes while trying to figure out what we had just signed ourselves up for.
Being that neither one of us had ever attempted mountain biking before, we were sure to ask about the difficulty of the trails, specifically which ones were for beginners. You see - I was kind of a bit nervous about this whole downhill over rocks and such at a fast speed piece. Yes, until a recent theft, I rode my bike throughout NYC. And yes, I do plenty of other things that others may consider on the riskier side of things (ahem surfing… rock climbing…). But I just couldn’t shake this idea that I was going to careen off the side of a mountain. This preoccupation ultimately led to a gross oversight. While I spent all this time worrying about getting down the mountain, I forgot to consider the whole getting up the mountain piece. In case you haven’t already figured this out for yourself, let me help you out so you don’t make the same mistake I did. They way up should definitely be one’s primary consideration. Our initial excitement over reaching the trails quickly gave way to the realization that one must go up to come back down. At times the only motivation I had to continue pedaling was knowing that I would otherwise be rolling backwards. The bonus to the very real, all-consuming burning sensation in my thighs was that I suddenly no longer cared so much about falling. If anything, it would have brought relief to the fire that was currently engulfing my lower limbs. At least then I could have pretended to the guys back at the bike shop that I was so hardcore. (Those dudes may have been the other motivation to keep my legs moving… freaking pride.)
As we meandered up what was really just a large hill, we began to gain confidence in addition to our indifference to crashing. No longer did we feel the need to be tied to the easy green trails. No - we decided to go all in for the intermediate blue trails. I know, we’re such daredevils. Soon instead of accidentally careening off the trail, we were intentionally flying down it. Mud splattered in our faces, rocks kicked up behind us, and while it was by no means pretty, we managed to avoid ditches and maneuver over obstacles. And it was the greatest thing ever. No longer did I care about the previous moment’s pain nor the very real possibility that I would eventually eat it on the trail, I wanted to experience that rush again.
At some point, I became somewhat aware of the very dark and very large clouds rolling in behind us. But what I failed to realize was how quickly that would mean pelting rain and blustery wind. Against both of our better judgments, we attempted to make our way back up the hill again because how bad could it really be? I know. I am going to blame this one on all of my blood being in my thighs. Fortunately, we didn’t get very far. No sooner had we decided to attempt ascent that a very fancy looking rider (so much neon spandex) swung on by stating, ‘It’s really rough out there’ to which I brilliantly replied, ‘The trails?’ As though he was about to respond, ‘Yes, I know man - those trails are rough, have you tried the uphill bits? They’re the worst.’ My new best friend gave me a look I thought was only reserved for my father as he gestured emphatically at the looming clouds and the far off lightning that had decided to accompany them while he furiously rode away. Slightly defeated, we decided that yes, fancy biker dude you are in fact correct and yes, we should definitely be heading back to town.
Another grand oversight on our part was that the trail we had chosen to come down led us to the lowest elevation and even better, the way back to town was directly into the wind. For 2-3 miles, I stood while pedaling and simultaneously attempting to keep my body positioned as aerodynamically efficient as possible. There was no talking at this point. No smiling. Not even a smirk. Now the only motivation was the promise of hot chocolate and hot tub back at our hotel because rain + wind = freezing ladies.
Just as we made it back toward the trail leading back to the shop, the sun decided to reappear warming us up and drying us out as we munched on some lunch. It was at this point we had a bit of a realization - we had the bikes for 4 hours; we had only been out for maybe 3. There was no way we were returning these bikes early on principle and pride. So we did what any sane human being would do with sore bodies and time to kill. We biked an extra 6 miles on the rail trail alongside some cattle, which brings us to oversight number 3… just in case you are keeping track. I was slightly aware that it was much easier pedaling along this path and I knew, inherently, that the grade had to be working in our favour but how bad could it be? We had just survived mountain biking and we were passing families with little ones and large groups of 20-30 somethings uneasily maneuvering their bicycles on the packed dirt. Rookie mistake. In addition to the grade, there was also the wind (how quickly one forgets) to contend with which meant that for the 5-6 miles back to the shop, we pedaled ever so slightly uphill and directly into the wind.
As we neared the bike shop, my pride kicked back in and instead of taking the safe, paved trail all the way around I opted for the makeshift dirt and rock filled one because lest we forget - we are hardcore ladies who bike up mountains. We dropped off our bikes outside and forced our legs to not wobble as we returned out helmets to the shop. Asked how it went, we were all smiles -- ‘so much fun, it was awesome, best time ever but we totally got caught in a storm though’ -- to which bike shop dude replied -- ‘you don’t look wet.’ So much for impressing the locals.
notes:
despite my previous whining, we really did have a ridiculously good time mountain biking. the bike shop dudes (as they will forever be remembered and therefore referred to as such) recommended round valley which has a great variety of beginner and intermediate trails (here’s a map). these trails are also open to hikers and horses so please remember that as a cyclist, everyone has right of way over you. and please please please - always let a horseback rider know well in advance if you are approaching them from behind. failing to do so could be detrimental to both the rider and you -- no one likes a hoof to the face. no one.
we rented bikes with white pine touring. the people there are super friendly (despite not acknowledging our obviously apparent badassery) and took the time to make sure we were comfortable with our bikes and where we were going. also their shop is located right next to the rail trail making it pretty easy to get to a wide range of terrain. if you are someone who actually mountain bikes - as in you’ve got skills- check out slim & knobby’s down in heber city.
if only just for me, go to atticus teahouse should you find yourself in park city. they have the cutest little book/sandwich/coffee/tea shop in town with lots of veggie friendly food, if that’s your thing. for a huge, oh my goodness how did i eat so much breakfast, we enjoyed eating establishment. they also have plenty of veggie dishes and even a few vegan options. (you’ll have to ask for vegan modifications but a very kind and accommodating bunch).