Daring Feats and Bicycle Stunts

The other day, my dad and I were driving through our local hometown and coming to a four-way stop. We saw a teenager on a bike riding a wheelie right up to the intersection, all drivers froze wondering what this kid was going to do. All of a sudden, he comes down on both wheels and darts off to the right like nothing at all had happened. In his mind, I’m sure nothing was dangerous about his actions as I’m sure he knew exactly what he was going to do. I was clue as were all the other drivers having no clue whether he was going to stop, barrel straight ahead on his wheelie, turn right or left, or pivot on the front tire and reverse course. My dad and I laughed and said no foul done as we followed the kid down the street popping and riding his wheelies. In fact, the last one right in front of the police who didn’t seem to care at all as they headed in the opposite direction. But it got me thinking about all of the stupid things I have done in life that had potential negative consequences if they had gone a little different.

The first thing that came to mind was during the last summer before I wasn’t eligible to drive a car and was still pedaling around Kremmling on my bike. Every once in a while, I went beyond the city limits normally to go fishing along the Colorado River or one of the other numerous waterways we had that fed into it. This particular incident had nothing to do with fishing but instead out of sheer boredom, several of us decided to find out if we could get our ten speeds over fifty-five miles and hour. The only place we knew we could get to easily was just south of town riding the hill on Highway 9 from the Gore turnoff back into town. An easy ride for us and we got to the top sitting waiting for a clear distance of no cars from either direction. Mind you, helmets weren’t something common place back then as well as other protective equipment, like knee and elbow pads. Shorts, T-shirts, and guts were all we had and our skinny tired ten-speeds. Finally, we saw our opening and we all darted into the middle of the highway and began our descent. About halfway down I realized we were going to hit the bridge at near sixty miles per hour, I knew this as I was the only one with a speedometer, more importantly we were going to hit the seam in the highway that divided the road from the bridge. Now in a car, this seam was not detectable, but sixty miles per hour on a tires the thickness of my thumb was about to be very much noticed. I was the first to hit and I felt it all the way into my teeth as I was fighting for control, finally getting straight only to realize there is another one coming up, thankfully my speed had decreased enough, and my anticipation was better as I pulled the front end up while crossing it. Back up the hill on the other side of the bridge and we all pulled off the road laughing our asses off. Normally, people would just check off the bucket list item and move on, but not us, nope we decided to do it again. Again successful, and as I’m writing this, obviously I didn’t kill myself in the process. However, twice was enough. You might be wondering about brakes and why didn’t I just slow myself down. Yeah, I thought about that too as I rode home, never to mention this one to my parents until years later.

Just north of Kremmling were some chalk bluffs affectionally known as the cliffs by the locals. We were the last ones to hang over the top and paint our year on the face. I was not the one to hang from the winch cable of the truck, but Steve was. Sadly, he passed years later from a boating accident. But the real thrill we used to get on the cliffs was jumping across the gaps at the top. I don’t know what it’s called and I’m sure it’s an erosion thing that happens, but there would be these three-to-six-foot vertical gaps that would be a hundred foot or so down. I never gave it two thoughts running and jumping across these gaps. I never looked down and I was not the only one doing it. Funny thing is, I never could do it if someone was close to me. Put someone within five feet of me and my fear of heights kicked in. Amazing to think back on that knowing now I tremble at having to jump more than six inches and still wondering if I’m going to fall as a result of my hanging air attempt.

I would be curious at anything you did that was stupid, especially by todays standards. I still drink from the garden hose, will use the five-second rule on dropped eatable items, and many other things frowned on these days by a society that obviously knows best about what is good for us. I gave up sugar, don’t eat salt, and only eat red meat occasionally. I limit seed intake, and I wear a helmet on my bicycle. I stay well hydrated, and I stop when my body tells me enough is enough. But I still long for the days of unbridled excitement living on the edge and not having a care one. Life has certainly gotten less thrilling and more predictable. Maybe I’ll go ride my lawn mower and not buckle my seatbelt and leave my ear protection in the house. I need to be daring once again, if only once to experience the joy of conquering what I shouldn’t be doing.