Saturday morning I met up with Jobie, one of the dealers at the local casino for a bike ride. We went over by Tucson Mountain Park (near the Desert Museum), and he had a mountain bike for me to use, since I didn't own one. Both of his bikes are pretty sweet; one was a "Gary Fisher Rig":http://www.fisherbikes.com/bikes/large_image.asp?series=trail-genesis&bike=Rig, and the other a Surly Karate Monkey that he built. Both were set up as single-speeds, which of course was way cool. I got the Fisher, because it was geared a little easier. Both bikes were "29ers":http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/29%22er, which basically is like riding a bicycle version of Bigfoot. We went out on about an 18 mile loop around the park. It was easier than some of the rides that Jobie usually goes on (he's pretty accomplished), but there was still some pretty technical sections. At first I was just trying to stay alive; whipping around tight turns inches away from _very_ scary looking cactii or plummeting down into rocky washes isn't something I'm used to with road biking. After a little while I started to get the hang of it, and started to think that I wasn't going to die, and then it started to get really fun. The huge tires on the bikes just swallow up rocks and other irregularities, but the steel frame still let you know where you were and what you were doing.

About halfway through it started to actually feel like exercise, but I didn't mind. Riding through the desert scrub, cresting turns around giant saguaro; it was beautiful scenery for the ride.

Along the way we met a few other mountain bikers, and they were all really nice. They all wanted to talk gear and trails; you know, shop talk. Jobie has some other really good trails in mind for us to go on around town, so it looks like I'll have to start budgeting for a bike. Apparently there's a swap meet next weekend, so I'll have to have him keep his eye out, because I'll be out in L.A. Damn you mountain biking, why did you have to be so fun? I thought I already had enoug hobbies!!!