And the next second, you can become Robbie Knievel. Whatever their ranking on the guts meter, each member of the team has experienced competitive success. Williams finished last season as the fourth-ranked rider nationally in his age group. Linder was the top rider in the Cane Creek Cup Series, a regional mountain biking tour, while Raney was ranked seventh and Griffin 12th. But there seems much more to this unique avocation than rankings and ribbons.
Some people go mountain biking for the first time, and they're ready to do it.
A lot of it is just natural you immediately have an urge to want to ride very fast downhill. Pretty soon you're picking bark out of your helmet. Ah yes, the helmets. Probably the most valuable pieces of equipment, these helmets are motorcross style, covering the entire head and face. And that can be a good thing.