The feeling of heading to some exciting new place is always one filled with anticipation, maybe a bit of fear and the joy of new discovery that awaits. From the first time we set off on a bicycle we know that this freedom to explore beyond our normal boundries has opened huge doors in our lives. From when we were young and could stroll along new streets or visit a far away friend under the power of our two feet; freedom to go new places is a key part of a young life. To most of us who patron this site and Over the Edge (Thank You) we know that feeling still. Is there anything like turnign down a new trail towards a new unknown destination. Even if we know what is at the end its the feeling of knowing that a new experience lies around each corner and over each rise. I cannot rival the experience of a new piece of flowing singletrack qwith any of the wonderful things I have enjoyed in life; some might suggest that ‘something" rivals it? But Im not so sure. As of late I ahve fallen in love with the experience of finding my self some great new places in the Alps or the wanderfing roads of Italy, Switzerland, France and beyond. For me to set off on my road bike towards some place I selected from the number of twists ion the road on the map, this has opened up for me a riding expereicne that transends just a ride. I have had the chance to wander back into the core of my persona nd the feeling of the childhood adventure around the neighborhood or down to the creek or some crazy attempt to jump the un-jumped ditch behind the house. Once again on my bike I am wandering around to a place that I have never been before and it opens up places in my person that I delight in exploring. I get the same feeling each time I board a plane ofr some trip to some new place. Theres peiople like us who are drawn to adventure and new palces and relish in the experience of being challenged or uncertain about what lies ahead. It’s a wonderful common traight that we share amongst our fellow mountain bike family members. We love to explore; be it our skills our world or the depth of what we are inside ourselves. Thats what we mean when we say "find yourself in great new places" its about you finding a place that provides and experience that evokes a wonderful inner experience in your self. Thats why we ride; its that feeling of doing that move or ripping that line or climbing that huge hill or making that move that has eluded us for so long. Or in this case; rolling into the great unknown and letting yourself master what you have never known before.
Its a great place; I can assure you, I spend way too much time there. In my last post "home" that was the unexplained meaning of my title. My house is a lionely place for me so much of the time. Filled with the things I havent finsihed and the things I should have done and the marks of the many fuck ups I have so masterfly repeated through my lifetime. It’s hard for me to sit at home and in that I really have a hard time calling it "home". Its a house and its aplace for my stuff to sit. Home for me is rolling toward a great unknown destination and the wonderful faces and places I will find there. I hope you have a great adventure in your near future. Let me tell you; the point of the OTE Experience is to help YOU find yourself in one of the great places we have found and we want to share. Come ride with us, in Fruitya or Hurricane Utah or Melrose South Australia where I can garabtee you will find enough adventure to keep you coming back time and time again. Its waht we love, its why we are in this business and its all that keeps me going forward. Lets go somehwere great; let us know if we can help.
Ciao from Fruita my home