Do you remember when you were a kid and went for a bike ride? You didn't plan, you didn't think "I need my pack and some Gu and my gloves and my shoes" and it didn't take you 20 minutes to get ready. You hopped on your bike and went riding.
Yesterday, I decided to do just that. I went for a ride, just me and my bike (yes, I had to drive to the trail, but still…) no helmet (WHAT???? OH MY GOD, NOOO!!!!) yes, no helmet, no gloves, no water, no pack. It was cold, so I was in jeans, long sleeve shirt, high top Converse sneakers (which is how I dress regularly anyway) and my bicycle.
Ok, I didn't do an epic huge ride, nor was it extremely techy. It was a fun four mile loop, reletively easy, and it was super f*&#ing awesome. I didn't care about a KOM, I didn't care about my heart rate, or my cadence, or if my body position was correct, or any of that. I just rode my bike. It was amazing, I actually really felt my bike, I noticed my surroundings, I rode like a kid, and it was great. Sure I was sweaty, and yes, I was a bit thirsty, but I somehow managed to ride a bike on an actual mountain bike trail and not die. I didn't even come close to dying. I've been closer to dying in my sleep than I was riding my bike with none of the accoutrements I usually ride with.
At what point did we get so damn serious about mountain biking? I'm not talking about racing, training, or competition, where being serious has a place. I am talking about just going out for a bike ride. Some people ride for fitness, as a workout, and some ride to escape whatever crappy situation they are dealing with, or to release stress. Those are all perfectly valid reasons to ride, and a bike is a lot cheaper than a gym membership or a therapist.
What about riding just for fun? I know there are many people out there who are having a great time, and do ride just for fun, but we see a lot of folks making something that should be fun into an almost stressful endeavor. They overthink it, they make it out to be a huge undertaking, like they are planning a four month expedition into the uncharted wastelands. (oh no, i don't have my spare derailleur hanger, what am i gonna do?).
It's riding a bicycle, that is all it is. It's play. Don't make play work.
Try it and see. Just take one day, go on an easy-ish trail, one you know quite well, and just ride. No water, no food, no kit, (you should wear a helmet, but don't feel like you HAVE to), just you and your bike, wear regular clothes, wear your jeans, and see what it's like to ride like you were a kid again. You might remember why you started riding a bike in the first place.