It’s important to know the difference between the two, and to recognize the merits of each.  In terms of racing, and the healthy, productive benefits of competition, USA Today has published a great article on the NorCal MTB league, who are pushing for Mountain Biking to become a legitimate high school sport.

Who knows, maybe one day all mountain bike races will have cheerleaders, and instead of the star quarterback being the center of school attention, it’ll be a rivalry between the star cross country and star DH mountain bike riders at the school.

All the news fit to print on the development of NorCal HS league Mountain Biking can be found HERE.

And now I will digress, to the ride.  Sometimes, it’s not about being faster, it’s just about going places.  About riding with friends, about feeling the magical sense of leaning a bicycle in and out of turns, even if those turns are nothing more than a right hander onto 2nd avenue.

As mountain bikers living in the city environs of San Francisco, has anyone else ever noticed how often the race infects the riders of the commute? We’ve all been infected by it, the need for speed between stoplights, but that’s just the point.  You’re always between stoplights.  ‘Fastest between the stoplights’ doesn’t nearly have the same ring as ‘Fastest and First at a Race’.  If that’s the case, why are fellas passing me on the left to make a right hand turn in front of me? Why are fellas running stoplights? Oh, wait, it’s cause they don’t have any brakes.  That and they’re confusing rides with races.

Ah well. Get into the dirt this weekend.  I know I will.  Race your friends, but ride the city.