I recently got a road bike! Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Levi, you ride downhill. What the heck do you need a road bike for? You should be ashamed of yourself. You can’t get better at riding over rocks and roots on a skimpy road bike! Are you gonna wear the funny lookin’ spandex suit too? Downhill kits look way better! Don’t even get me started on the wheel size. 29ers? Psh!! You might as well ride cross country. DH all the way!” Well, if it was a few years ago, I probably would have agreed with you, but road biking is one of the best ways to build my base endurance for downhill biking.

Notice the cute lookin’ spandex?

After changing the pedals to Shimano SPD’s and adjusting the seat height, I hopped on and went on my first road ride. I decided that I would try to go to my friends house who lived relatively close, plus it was the only place I really knew how to get to. I never realized how much I took an engine for granted. There is a long hill not too far from our house, and I decided that it would be a good thing to train on. I made it about 3/4 of the way up before I had to stop. The second time, I broke it up into “stages” where it got steep and where if flattened out. I also tried to go slower and put my multiple gears to use. I made it all the way up the second time without stopping. That hill has been a necessity in my daily rides and I ride it faster every time. I actually have found that it’s harder to come down because some idiot decided that it would be a good idea to put a stop sign at the bottom, so I can’t just let the brakes go. Oh, well, I guess I’ll just try my luck and hope I don’t become a hood ornament.