September 29th, 2008
Nothing To See Here, Move Along
Over the past year I’ve been increasingly feeling a disconnect from my mountain biking friends. I can justify why I’d rather not drive two hours for a ride than why I would drive that long. At the same time I will throw those arguments out of the water (pun intended) and drive seven hours for some good surf.
Because I don’t travel to rides I’ve grown apart from friends I used to ride with. Earlier in the year I had the chance to ride with a really nice bunch of lads on my old trails, trails I hadn’t ridden in years, and I really enjoyed it. But I used to ride those trails on my own, and as much as I enjoyed the company I missed the solitude. Although I’ve since been invited back out for more rides I just can’t be arsed to cope with all the faff of meeting in car parks and the stops on the trail. Anti-social? Maybe.
I always enjoyed mountain biking as a loner, and it was years before I started to enjoy it with a group of friends. But to use a clumsy metaphor some of those friends were let into the sweet shop that is the SSWC and then complained that they didn’t like the selection. Now I’d have loved to have even been let into the shop, never mind have money to spend there, but I was left outside with my nose pressed against the metaphorical glass leaving smeary nose prints. Alongside lots of other kids who wanted to go too. Now when I pointed out that those kids who were privileged to get into the shop have been whining about the sweet selection it was apparently me that was being insensitive and uncaring of other peoples thoughts.
Well, pardon me!
Having reflected on this recently while in a chilled out good mood floating out back on a surfboard I couldn’t manage to be positive about it at all. But I did catch a cracking wave in.
And as I floated out there I asked myself if it is time to complete the disconnect and just unplug. Just enjoy mountain biking on my own again. And I think that for a while at least, that time is here.
I hope I’m not withdrawing from the circle of friends as we still have other pursuits we share and encourage each other in, our flickr photostreams for example.
Nothing To See Here, Move Along.
![[Valid RSS]](http://32sixteen.com/wp-content/themes/three_column/images/valid-rss.png "Validate my RSS feed")
del.icio.us
September 29th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Don’t disappear completely Nick.
I can rarely be arsed to drive to rides which is why almost all of my riding is done from my doorstep but it’s nice to get away occasionally. I can’t be arsed to drive for other things either though which is why I haven’t surfed for about 7 years.
Are you still in Cornwall? Go and call Mikey a cock from me if you are :)
September 29th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
Follow your instincts! I’m the same, often loner on the bike or with the camera, but sometimes I like the group vibe - it’s good to share homemade cake and a beer :-) Driving two hours though …. Have fun on trail and wave, mike
September 29th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
Simon, moving home to somewhere I can’t ride from the doorstep has been part of the disconnect.
And no, we’re not still in Cornwall - we did a last minute impulsive flit for the weekend and got back yesterday. We did pop in on Mike last time we were there.
I won’t be disappearing completely, just keeping myself to myself and holding my tongue a little more.
October 8th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
Hey Nick
I know where you’re coming from. Biking to me is like surfing to you by the sounds of it. A time to clear your head of stuff and really think about things, those that are really important to personal life and future and ways to tackle day to day bullshit.
Other times you just zone out and enjoy the trails. Your real friends will always be there and chuffed to bits to enjoy some trail time with you.
Word :)