Matt Roda flying away to neverland. (Gabe Donohoe | For the Juneau Empire)

Matt Roda flying away to neverland. (Gabe Donohoe | For the Juneau Empire)

Trying out mountain biking

  • By GABE DONOHOE
  • Thursday, May 10, 2018 7:15pm
  • News

Recently, I had been riding my bike around town and thought it would be fun to take it to the trails. I called up my friend Matt Roda because I know he does this kind of stuff. He let me use one of his super fancy bikes because mine is a piece or garbage. The bike he lent me felt like it had better suspension than my car.

We rode three trails: one out in Auke Bay, one out Back Loop and one out on Douglas. I can’t talk too much about the locations because I don’t know anything about the mountain biking community here in Juneau and I don’t want to cross any boundaries. At least not yet.

A large Costco pack of chocolate covered mangoes replaced my standard donut holes for the snack of choice on this trip. Such a beautiful day. It felt like summer at 65 degrees. Too hot to drive with the windows rolled up in my car. My Jeep only has a heater.

The first thing I learned about mountain biking is to get rid of the seat. Just push it far down and out of the way, because if you hit a large root and lose your foot pedals, you’ll injure your crotch. Next, the faster you go the more stable you are, even though the potential impact is harder.

The second day of dry weather made it so the trails were mostly mud free. Thankfully, bike suspension and wheels take most of the impact when going over roots. No time to admire the surroundings. Why is there no time to admire the surroundings? You are going too fast making sure you don’t die. This is scary. Why do people do this? I fell a bunch of times. Most of my falls were actually because I was braking too hard. As soon as you lose speed, your balance goes as well. Both of my hands and arms were bleeding. Thank goodness the chocolate mangoes were all eaten by the time I started falling or they would have been all over the forest.

My body is wrecked. I am 21 years old. I am in good shape; 4 percent body fat, 160 pounds. I exercise and I find joy in climbing trees and mountains. Right after this trail bike ride, I wanted to go home and sleep until the end of time. Instead I wondered around downtown like a lost dog, hungry and looking for a place to curl up and nap.

It’s tough to capture candid photos in this sport. You use both your arms and legs constantly.

I’m glad I tried mountain biking. I think maybe I should train on some less intense trails before I attempt to complete these ones again. I’m definitely still an adrenaline junkie; just not the two-wheeled down-trail kind.

 


 

• California-born and Alaska-bred, Gabe Donohoe has taken photos daily for the past five years. He is currently a student of the University of Alaska Southeast’s Outdoor Studies program. His photo archives can be seen on www.gabedonohoe.com. “Rainforest Photos” photo blog publishes every other Friday in the Empire’s Outdoors section.

 


 

Biker heads down slope. Dog following right behind. (Gabe Donohoe | For the Juneau Empire)

Biker heads down slope. Dog following right behind. (Gabe Donohoe | For the Juneau Empire)

Matt Roda makes his way down the hill at full speed. (Gabe Donohoe | For the Juneau Empire)

Matt Roda makes his way down the hill at full speed. (Gabe Donohoe | For the Juneau Empire)

Taking a break. Bike off the side of the trail. (Gabe Donohoe | For the Juneau Empire)

Taking a break. Bike off the side of the trail. (Gabe Donohoe | For the Juneau Empire)

More in News

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Aurora forecast for the week of March 25

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

The aging Tustumena ferry, long designated for replacement, arrives in Homer after spending the day in Seldovia in this 2010 photo. (Homer News file photo)
Feds OK most of state’s revised transportation plan, but ferry and other projects again rejected

Governor’s use of ferry revenue instead of state funds to match federal grants a sticking point.

The Shopper’s Lot is among two of downtown Juneau’s three per-hour parking lots where the cash payments boxes are missing due to vandalism this winter. But as of Wednesday people can use the free ParkSmarter app to make payments by phone. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Pay-by-phone parking for downtown Juneau debuts with few reported complaints

App for hourly lots part of series of technology upgrades coming to city’s parking facilities.

A towering Lutz spruce, center, in the Chugach National Forest is about to be hoisted by a crane Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2015, for transport to the West Lawn of Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., to be the 2015 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service)
Tongass National Forest selected to provide 2024 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree

Eight to 10 candidate trees will be evaluated, with winner taking “whistlestop tour” to D.C.

Annauk Olin, holding her daugher Tulġuna T’aas Olin, and Rochelle Adams pose on March 20, 2024, after giving a presentation on language at the Alaska Just Transition Summit in Juneau. The two, who work together at the Alaska Public Interest Research Group’s Language Access program, hope to compile an Indigenous environmental glossary. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Project seeks to gather Alaska environmental knowledge embedded in Indigenous languages

In the language of the Gwich’in people of northeastern Alaska, the word… Continue reading

The room where the House Community and Regional Affairs Committee holds its meeting sits empty on Tuesday. A presentation about an increase in the number of inmate deaths in state custody was abruptly canceled here. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)
Republican lawmakers shut down legislative hearing about deaths in Alaska prisons

Former commissioner: “All this will do, is it will continue to inflame passions of advocacy groups.”

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Monday, March 25, 2024

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Employees at the Kensington Mine removing tailings from Johnson Creek on Feb. 17 following a Jan. 31 spill of about 105,000 gallons of slurry from the mine, although a report by the mine’s owners states about half slurry reached the creek 430 meters away. (Photo from report by Coeur Alaska)
Emergency fisheries assessments sought after 105,000-gallon tailings spill at Kensington Mine

Company says Jan. 31 spill poses no risk to Berners Bay habitat, but NOAA seeks federal evaluation.

Dozens of people throw colors in the air and at each other during a Holi festival gathering Monday night outside Spice Juneau Indian Cuisine. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Holi festival in Juneau revives colorful childhood memories for some, creates them for others

Dozens toss caution and colored cornstarch to the wind in traditional Hindu celebration of spring

Most Read