One of the biggest reasons I waited so long to start downhill mountain biking was fear. Everyone kept telling me that I would love it… that it was like snowboarding in the summer… that it was so fun… but I was scared. I was scared of going over the handlebars… Even though I was used to speed on my snowboard, the idea of weaving myself through the trees on a bike was super intimidating. This sounds almost ridiculous to admit out loud, but I was also scared to start anything that would take me away from my other summer activities like climbing and hiking. And then I tried it… ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Truthfully, the fear was still there on that first ride earlier this summer but there was also this little spark of childlike joy. On my first day in the park here in aspensnowmass we took three laps. My quads were completely burnt out and I could barely open my hands up. Even after being in some of the best shape of my life, I was sore the next day. I was sore… but all I wanted to do was go again the next...