Two Choices in Mtn Biking and Perhaps in Life

A friend asked me about a ride I am putting together this weekend. He wanted to know how hard the ride would be. Well, that’s a little like asking How is the oxygen is where you are sitting? because as with most things … It Depends. It depends on a lot of factors with skill & experience leading the way.

After thinking about it for a minute I responded to him and also tweeted this out: “2 Choices of Mtn Biking --- Let off the brakes & go for it; Jam on the brakes & (try) to stop; #3 can happen in either case ... Crash & Burn”

In my email response to him I also added that “The views are incredible. The downhills are fun, fast and dangerous. And that it can take 4-5 hours to complete the ride --- allowing for mechanicals (aka mechanical issues) and "other" factors --- like finding missing teeth and skin on the trail.”

Note: I have never lost a tooth on the trails, but my son did lose a tooth in the Philadelphia Airport. If you found it he wants it back.

Just like in Life

You can’t always predict the hazards that will confront you on the trails.

Just like in life ... THEY APPEAR right in front of you.

Where you will have two choices --- Let off the brakes and go for it or Jam on the brakes and (try) to stop ... with the ever present option #3 that can happen in either cash to Crash & Burn.

Sometimes you’ve just got to push on

Mountain biking is sport where you sometimes just have to go for it. Just like in life … sometimes you just have to go for it.

Thanks to Kat Armstrong for putting it in perspective.

 

I’ve done plenty of Crashing & Burning and I’ve had some incredible experiences because I let go of the brakes.

How about you?

       Do you …

• Let off the brakes and go for it or
• Jam on the brakes and (try) to stop

I’d like to hear your thoughts. Good or bad … about times when you let go of the brakes and times when you jammed ‘em on.

Image Credits: Warner Bros. (The Hangover) and Bike198

About The Author:
I have spent the last 20 years working in various aspects of the ECM industry. I am currently with Kodak as a Director of Business Development. In my past I have spent time at Kofax, Microsoft, FileNet, K2, and at Captaris (which was acquired by Open Text). Prior to that I was a Unix VAR running my own company. Follow me on Twitter, check my blog, send email or find me on Facebook or LinkedIn.

Copyright 2009 Jeff Shuey Some Rights Reserved Except where otherwise noted, content on this site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License