BIKEMONKEY

Gregg @ MTBR posted his Top 10 Mountain Bike YouTube video list. He didn’t choose any of my short Santa Cruz trail videos, and thankfully none of those lame-o Xtranormal movies made the cut.

The blow up doll is perverse, but I kind of liked the clip from Fat Tire Fury of Bobby Root mountain biking in San Francisco, maybe because I hadn’t seen it before.

Paul of Bike Intelligencer posted his faves from that list. Which videos do you like? What do you think of Bobby pulling those manuals right along side the cable car tracks?

Yuri Hauswald leading blind rider Bobby McMullen across the finish line at the 2009 Sea Otter Classic.
photo credit: Watson Lu

With my “GUIDE” plate firmly attached to the front of my bike, Bobby and I towed the line for the 45-49 Beginner XC race, both of us nervous and excited about the 19 miles of fire road and single track that awaited. After our pre-ride learning experience, Bobby made a few adjustments to his bike that would enhance his chances of cleaning more sections of trail: he put 2.1 WTB Wolverines on, front and rear, and decided to run flat pedals so he could tripod the sandier sections without having to worry about clipping out.

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Despite multiple watchings of  ”The Way Bobby Sees It”, the inspiring documentary about blind mountain biker Bobby Mc Mullen’s heroic  navigation of the 2007 Downieville Classic downhill,  nothing but practice with the man himself could’ve prepared me for what I experienced  while riding the 19 mile Sea Otter cross country course with him this past Wednesday. I definitely went into my guiding experience blind, not sure what to expect, but came out of it with a new appreciation for what someone can accomplish with  an iron will, passion, dedication, and a positive attitude. 

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We often take for granted the fact that we have the faculties to go about our daily lives in relative ease and comfort. Some of us, those that pursue adrenalin pumping activities that take us close to the edge of safety, forget how lucky we are to be able to do these things. What would happen if you lost one of your senses, let’s say your vision, what would you do then? Well, if you’re blind mountain biker Bobby Mc Mullen, the star of “The Way Bobby Sees It”, you continue to ride bikes, bomb downhills, and push life to the extreme.Tomorrow night at 7:30 pm, with all proceeds benefiting the Norcal Highschool Racing League, the Rialto theater will be screening the inspirational documentary that chronicles Bobby’s attempt to ride the 2007 Downieville downhill course. Those of you who’ve ridden there know that navigating the longest downhill in the nation, with sight, is a harrowing task. Those of you who’ve have ridden there have probably left some flesh on those hills at some point in your career, I know I have, plenty of times!  Now imagine doing it legally blind, because that’s how Bobby does it. Sounds impossible, right?! Come watch Bobby show all of us that a disability is not the end of the road, but rather a new opportunity to push ourselves beyond what we thought humanly possible. Bobby will be on hand to answer questions following the screening. I promise you will be moved by his story.

The NorCal League and Bay Area Outreach and Recreation Program Present:

The Way Bobby Sees It
A documentary about falling down seven times and getting up eight.

To learn more about the film, visit http://www.norcalmtb.org/events/bobby

Showing at 5 locations in the Bay Area this December!

San Francisco - Tuesday, 12/02 - Sundance Kabuki Theater - 7:30pm
Livermore - Thursday, 12/04 - Cinema West Theater - 7:30pm
Santa Rosa - Tuesday, 12/09 - Rialto Cinema - 7:30pm
Oakland - Wednesday, 12/10 - Grand Lake Theatre - 7:30pm
Larkspur - Thursday, 12/11 - Lark Theater - 8:00pm