Conquering Demons

This past weekend we had a No Dabs Contest on Gooseberry. I had a good day and was able to beat Sir Prattipuss by one dab. It was fun and the weather was amazing. But that is not what this post is about.

I conquered a demon that has been haunting me for years. Yes years. I am right now trying to figure out how long it has been since I first pussed out on this move, but my memory is failing me. I’m sure it has been at least five.

It was such a huge demon for me that I dubbed it the Wall of Death. I’ve watched it ridden by numerous people hundreds of times, but I could never get myself to drop in.

Well, this past Sunday I did. I rode the Wall of Death. Shelby has a photo of it.

Which I have stolen.

As in all demons, once conquered I felt like a pussy. It sure didn’t seem like it was as bad as I thought it was.

Here’s Danny riding it.

Demons have haunted me since I first started riding bikes. I can’t recall a time that there wasn’t a move that I was either avoiding or unsuccessfully trying to clean. The first one I killed was the middle finger of the Three Fingers of Death. I had ridden both the right and the left, but I couldn’t quite get my front tire to drop off that tiny drop that takes you to the end. I would roll up skidding (they used to call me skid) sideways right up to the lip and then stop. Looking over the edge, my fingers twitching with anticipation but then my ball sack would suck back into pussy zone and I would dab.

At this point I would be angry with myself. Shouldering my bike I would scramble down the drop and then roll the last section of the finger. I would always stop and look back, knowing that at some point I would have to drop that bitch and kick its ass.

Of course, I finally did let go of the brakes and send my front tire over the lip. At which time I arrived safely at the bottom and did my ever so characteristic throw of the bike and screaming that has become my victory dance over demons. The rush of adrenaline of success is what probably hooked me on mountain biking. I’m still an addict today.

In many ways that is what the No Dabs Contest is about. Attempting and attempting until that demon that has plagued your mind and sleep is cast into the deep. Just like Gandolf conquering his demon in The Fellowship of the Ring. Yes. It is that epic. The idea is to take a trail that is close to impossible to clean and then give it everything you have to clean it. Have people cleaned it? Yup. Do they tend to do it consistently? Nope.

I’m not sure when the next contest will be, but I hope more of you come out. It is a good time and a great way to challenge yourself on some of the most awesomest riding in the world (and it happens to be in our back yard).

P. L. and R.