Any mountain bike competitors?

[Amanda44]

thoughts of a pile up seem terrifying.

Exactly!
Although fnf, , the responses had made me forget about that side of it for a bit, so thanks!

I was doing 8-10 miles every few days (from one side of my town to the other). I haven't been riding my bike as much recently, my right pedal likes to fall off of my bike, it might be fixed now. It's been awhile since it has fallen off, the nut is hard to tighten cos the stupid pedal.
My wife usually rides 1 hour a day and bikes to the store if we need something small. She also rides it to work, most of the time. She isn't a fan of rain or snow so she'll ask me to take her or take the car. I like riding in rain and cold weather, best times to do it for me. I like going to the store on bike also, people look at you like "can't you afford a car?!"
I turned my mountain bike into a single speed I missed having a coaster brake too much. I hate grip brakes In 2008 and 2009 I was biking a lot with friends of mine who would go on 20+mile trips. My cousin's father goes on really long trips, he's 58 or something and beats the hell out of me Anyway, I don't trust my current bike enough to do much and my old reliable bike needs a new wheel (best $25 bike ever). My newish bike has been nothing but a pain.

I've been riding my road bike mch more now, like your wife i've started riding to my local shop, i live on the top of a hill so its good practice for the legs.
I've never used a coaster brake but i've read about them. I use shimano for the mechanical advantages, my brakes and saddle are prob the most expensive things on my bike, the frame itself is quite old now - if i do well and want to continue i'll really need to upgrade.

I was going to start a topic about lifting weights and exercising to see what some of the people here on the forum like to do. I was afraid that it would turn into a troll thread where people post about what they do in game for exercise

Good idea, it would be interesting. When i first posted this i had just been to see the track and i honestly think i was in shock, lol, some of the descents look lethal! I desperately wanted some advice or even just plain reassurance i was doing the right thing - later that day i thought the same thing with regard to trolls, i figured i'd get home and thread would be trolled to shreds, lol, but i was pleasantly surprised.
No riders with advice but the positive comments did have a knock-on positive effect and i feel a lot calmer and more optimistic about the whole thing now.

So thanks guys

(I'll let you know how i did on the 5th.)