Editor’s note: this article originally appeared in the March 12, 2026, Singletracks email newsletter. It’s free to sign up, and you’ll receive links to the week’s top articles plus original content just like this in your inbox each week.
Apparently, I’ve gotten soft. I became painfully aware of this fact on a recent group ride at the Standing Boy trails outside Columbus, Georgia. I was riding with a group of friends, both old and new, including a couple of folks who I knew to be very strong, fast riders. Inevitably, the talk at the trailhead featured plenty of sandbagging, and to be honest, I wanted to believe it.
But this would not be an easy ride.
Though I started near the front, the group quickly sorted itself by speed, with the fastest rider leading and, well, me, at the very back.
I have to admit that my pride was hurt, not just because all of the guys in front of me were older by half a decade or more, but also because I’m just not used to being the slowest in the group. For a few moments, through strained breath and a heart rate pegged at 170, I told myself I wasn’t having any fun. And mountain biking is supposed to be fun, damnit!
Here’s the thing: no matter where you find yourself in a group, or on a trail, how you approach the ride is up to you. Grinding it out at the back, trying to hold on for dear life, it dawned on me that I was actually getting a much better workout than I usually do. This was making me stronger!
I’m not big on aphorisms, but the phrase “don’t get bitter, get better” came to mind. Instead of being frustrated and upset that everyone else wanted to hammer up the climbs, I told myself to focus on getting better so I could keep up with them the next time. That’s good motivation, and it’s also easier said than done.
Eventually, I ran out of juice and made another decision that day: I would ride my ride. With no one behind me putting the pressure on, I was free to pedal at my own pace, the way I wanted to ride. For me, that meant keeping a reasonable, steady pace on the climbs so I had more energy to bomb the descents. It meant jumping ahead of the group at stops so I could set up and take photos of everyone. It meant not worrying about whether the others were judging me.
Sure, being the fastest rider on the trail is a massive ego stoke. I’ve been there, and while it can feel good, it’s not the best way to build fitness. Or to get better at bike handling. Or, in a lot of ways, to truly enjoy the ride.
Turns out, I haven’t gotten soft at all — I just finally unlocked a new way to ride my ride.
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