Once a month, I bring a group of guys together for a mountain bike ride. This is my third season organizing these trips, though we’ve been riding regularly for two. It’s a completely different experience compared to riding alone. There’s a lot of fun, some complaining, plenty of jokes, climbs feel easier, and I always get to meet someone new.

We’re XC riders/cross-country. In our slang, we’re the grinders. It’s mostly about riding forest roads. We usually avoid the really tough sections and technical descents. At the end of the day, we don’t really have the bikes or the skills for that.

I used to hate riding rough terrain, the kind that shakes you up. To be honest, it wasn’t even really doable on a gravel bike. I rode it in the mountains for a while, and I’ll admit, it hurt more than it was fun. I promised myself that if I ever got into mountain biking, I’d try those rougher trails too.

Just because I now ride longer and more demanding routes doesn’t mean I’m technically skilled. I know my limits. And with that comes fear also respect, especially in tougher terrain or tricky situations.

As I keep riding in the mountains, I’ve met guys who ride gravity disciplines. I watch them with admiration, the way they handle the bike so effortlessly. I always try to learn something from them. There’s always a new idea I hadn’t thought of before.

Of course, they’ve got bikes, tires, brakes, and suspension suited for that kind of riding. They’re not beginners. Still, I should be able to handle at least some of it on my bike too.

One key thing is focus. Look ahead, but not too far, and not straight down either. Watch the obstacles and the turns. When there’s fallen leaves, you have to slow down, unless you know what’s underneath. Usually, it’s ruts, branches, or rocks. It’s important to be careful, but not overthink it. The bike can handle more than I think.

I’m not a very technical rider yet. I’m not flying over the ground on descents. Sometimes I let go a bit, but always within my limits. At the same time, I try riding more difficult terrain to improve.

“Zubatá” is what we call a tougher forest trail. I showed it to the guys because many of them didn’t know it. We took the easier section, but it was still technical enough for us. Modern XC races actually include sections like this, so it’s a good addition to training.

Since cycling and the mountains have become a big part of my life, I’ve started to see training differently. XC riding isn’t just smooth “flow” on perfectly groomed forest roads. But at the same time, life isn’t just “zubatá” either.

I see it like this: some days everything goes smoothly. Other days, it’s rough. I make mistakes. Fear holds me back. I doubt myself. But step by step, I ride more of these “zubatá” sections.

Do I want to fly between trees on a bike? No. This is about building better skills and learning how to handle not just tough sections, but tough days too. It’s about gaining confidence, in my hands and in my head, that I can manage even the harder parts.

Will I include “zubatá” on the next ride with the guys? Hmm, not sure. But I’ll definitely add a short, more technical section. That’s how we improve, not to perform better, but to trust ourselves more. Not just on the bike, but in regular days too.

More and more, I believe mountain biking has a huge impact on life. It’s not just about improving skills or fitness, but also about building mental resilience.

But that’s a story for another time.