Mountain biking is objectively the best sport, it scratches the itch from so many different angles, (I know I'm preaching to the choir but i just feel the need to put this out there today), I've been into mtb for over 10 years now, racing bikes, working as a mechanic and a trail guide, whenever things get boring a new challenge or discipline appears. MTB is a rare intersection of athleticism, technology, and logistics that is hardly rivaled by any other sport, and i've tried most of them (ball sports, climbing, river sports, snow sports, running, motor sports), nothing comes close for me. let me lay it out:

• Endurance / Cardio: a primary benefit is the cardio load provided by even an hour of riding, I'm ADHD / depressive and with an hour of cardio everyday i've been off meds for a decade, and it works better than anything else I've tried.
• Strength: mtb requires serious strength at certain points to climb over a tough sections, in addition there is the isometric load imparted by descents.
• Balance and coordination: MTB requires balance and coordination skills, as your skillset grows, the challenges become different, and new skills and challenges present themselves.
• Focus: you often need to lock the F in on descents. The sport gives IMMEDIATE feedback. If you're caught lacking, or you do something wrong, you're going to know quickly!
• Mechanical aptitude: one of the great pleasures for me is making sure my bike is completely dialed, cleaning, adjusting, and regular maintenance is a ritual that I can't get enough of. It's not a requirement that you understand how your bike works, but it sure helps a lot and adds depth to your experience.
• Logistics: Planning a route based on skill and terrain, checking the weather, understanding local conditions, water and nutrition, are critical aspects of a successful ride that can't be overlooked.
• Nature connection: when I'm having a rough ride, it's always still worth it because I'm outside enjoying nature, When i stop in a quiet section of woods, I often get a tingly feeling of euphoria all over my body, like i've discovered some secret magical place I'm not supposed to know about.
  
• Clear progression: When you first start, you can't even comprehend how experts ride the terrain they do, or how people can ride for 12+ hours a day, but with experience you learn what you like and what you're good at, you see good riders and try to ride behind them, you start riding faster and hitting bigger features. You start riding further with the same effort and cramming more elevation into each hour. Eventually you look back and can't believe you thought you'd never clean that black, it seems like cake now!

All of things have worked to stimulate my slightly neurodivergent brain almost everyday for the last 10 years, I plan to have many more decades in the saddle. Todays challenge is trying to find time to ride between a desk job and two tiny humans. Cheers friends.

https://preview.redd.it/s26esouwj1gf1.jpg?width=1512&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8ee27b6a91a40497b6119ea6b83935e5bf22da49