Riding off road is a means of escape, and a way to slow down the rest of your life and connect with the here and now. A mountain bike ride draws your immediate attention to a multitude of small decisions that all involve keeping you upright. When to brake, where to brake. What to steer around, what to pop over, and what to avoid at all costs - when to jump, when not to jump, and when to haul on the brakes. Riding off road demands attention, and the reward is immediate but also ongoing, pulling you away from any struggles off the bike, and placing you in the immediate here and now.
But this escapism is not just reserved for technical trails and the exploits of riders charging trails hard and fast. Riding off road and the rewards it provides is far more egalitarian. From a cruise along a winding bike path, to a climb into the mountains on a little used forest road, the chance to interact with the living environment and escape from the 9-5 is the same. With more road and every day riders discovering the joy mountain bikers have long since known of riding off road and away from traffic, small towns and communities across Australia
