When we think of sports in school, one sport that certainly doesn’t come to mind is Downhill Mountain Biking. The school doesn’t have a downhill club, although with the danger and risk it’s easy to see why.
Downhill Mountain Biking is an extreme sport where people send bikes down mountains one at a time as fast as they can, rolling over rocks, roots, jumps, and much more. Since this is only an introduction to the sport, I won’t be giving too many details, although follow up articles will definitely have many more cool little facts.
The Bike
The bike certainly looks different to a regular bike. You can see that there are 2 large “tubes” in the front (called front suspension) which are made to adsorb impact, and a coil in the back (rear suspension) for the same reason. The tyres are huge, and the seat is very low compared to other bikes. Here is a picture of my personal bike, to give you an example.
Why do people do it?
The sport is certainly not for the faint of heart. If you’re not about to get injured, you’re recovering from one. I can certainly tell you my body has taken some hits here and there. But to me, and many others, there is no better feeling than to look back at the 40 foot jump you just cleared and say “How on earth have I gone and done that?”
The adrenaline rush is surreal, unlike anything you’ve ever felt before. The wind blowing against you as you fly past trees, bushes (and sometimes angry hikers) is incredible, and it’s something I hope everyone can experience at least once in their lives.
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