Mountain biking

And now for something completely different…

Each year on Thanksgiving weekend, we take out the mountain bikes and drive up the Ottawa valley to Madawaska Kanu Centre (MKC) for some mountain biking, good food and quiet times in the woods. MKC is situated halfway between Barry's Bay and Combermere on the Madawaska River. The MKC crew opens up their lodge in the woods to cyclists for this weekend only as they have done for the past 42 years.

Although I am 99 per cent roadie, I choose to mountain bike because the trails up there are so perfect for my level and it’s a unique opportunity to explore the gorgeous mountainous terrain in the Madawaska region.

Here are the top 12 reasons I am thankful for mountain biking:

1. No cars
2. Being in the woods
3. Fresh air
4. It’s warmer than being on the road
5. Single track = no ATVs
6. Steep slippery inclines
7. Steep rocky descents
8. Sunlight filtering through the trees
9. Coloured leaves
10. Puddles of unknown depth
11. Roots and rocks
12. Soft landings

It was really fun to be a mountain biker for the weekend. The fall is the perfect time for off-roading because the weather – wind, rain, and cold – out on the open road can be a drag. The woods provide protection and warmth from the elements.

Pedalling a mountain bike on a trail is such a different experience than riding skinny tires on the road. It takes a while to find your legs… and your balance. But once you get in the groove, it is a ton of fun. It is necessary to shut out all distractions, like one of your mates falling before reaching the top, if you have any hope of making it up successfully. Learn from their mistakes and/or just do your own climb. Some of the toughest climbs can be achieved with laser focus and steely determination. Breathing (and sometimes grunting) your way up and over obstacles helps a great deal too. These successes are the most gratifying. But the gnarly descents are more fun and almost as gratifying.

In Madawaska, the lookouts are very difficult to get to by bike. Sometimes we have to push our bikes up. But the work is worth the effort. From Tom’s Lookout and Madawaska Mountain, you can see for miles; the panorama is more than 180 degrees overlooking a sea of orange, gold and green spotted with shimmering lakes. On the road, getting to the top is all about fitness: lungs and legs. Off-road there’s fitness plus finesse: maintaining your balance as you are constantly being jostled by the terrain. It really is a wonderful thing.

I hope everyone had the opportunity to spend time outdoors this Thanksgiving weekend, enjoying nature in your favourite way, while getting fresh air and some physical activity!