Ready for the Ride

For most of us we ride a trail for the sheer pleasure of  going from point A to point B but for adventure seekers like me it is the journey rather than the destination that really matters. Even before I started riding the thing that really excites me is the actual travel itself simply because a lot of  things may happened along the way. Good or bad this will make the rest of the story for that journey.

Throughout my riding career I have experienced a lot of bad things along the way, dozens of flat tires, crashes, encounters from wild animals and so on. In the end  those experiences became a part who I am not only as a mountain biker but as a person. For every crash or flat tires will make you wiser and ultimately more prepared for the next ride.

I soon realized that these are not bad experiences after all but a lesson that needs to be learned sometimes the hard way and you can differentiate them from those which can be perceived and be  avoided from those you cannot.

 One of ways to perceived something before a trip is get information on a location as much as possible, you can get them from websites, forums, blogs if they are available or get in touch with actual people who went to that place before such as guides or even a resident.

With the information that you obtained you can basically plan ahead and give out this information to the rest of the group so that you will know what kind of preparation that needs to be done. Also the specific equipment to carry or if you have more than one bike, one that is suited for the the trail.

There are times that  a typical trip will take more than a day this is a very important data as well, so that each one has an idea on the amount of food and water that is needed for the trip and sometimes a few extra clothing.

For the things that one can easily expect to happen, the usual equipment should always be included like bike tools especially for flats or fold-able tires and spare spokes and portable pumps.

Also the old first aid kit, a snake bite kit should always be included, rain gears for sudden changes in the weather and a GPS.

For things that cannot perceived such as accidents it is through experience and training that will be a the key. Its always best to get CPR and swimming lessons just to be updated, at least you do have an idea on how it is applied properly.

Remember that no ride experience is the same, and it will require you to tap those survival skills to a certain level. However the best thing  with a bad experience is how one overcomes it, and that would really make a great story.