This year I went to Batchelor Street for the first time, which is one of the most difficult mountain bike courses in Massachusetts. I was downright terrified because of all the tales I had heard about it. It definitely lived up to expectations because there were 30-foot cliffs I had to ride along, but once I started riding I remembered how experienced and skilled I am, so I found my confidence.

Riding at Batchelor Street has taught me three things: first, I have a lot of endurance. On other trail systems I would have only ridden for an hour at the most, but at Batch I can ride for two or three hours. There is bumpy terrain, a lot of uphill, and an all-out struggle to climb rocky obstacles, but I find them fun and they make me a better rider. 

The second thing I learned riding at Batch is that it’s worth it to work hard. If I climb up an exceptionally big hill sometimes I might get really grumpy. I might want to stop or go back because it’s so much work. But I don’t, I keep going because when I get over a large uphill my muscles feel relieved as I descend the sweet-loving downhill. And then I am ready to climb the next hill!

The third thing I learned riding at Batch is to not think about how I feel in the present, but how I will feel in the future. Sometimes the present is really hard, like climbing up a large hill, but I know in the future I am going to feel really good about myself. Therefore, I use what I feel before the hill the convince myself to go over it. 

It’s worth it to go through the struggle of riding my mountain bike because I feel strong and healthy at the end. This will help me when I am facing a particularly hard challenge in school, in work, and in life.