I fell in love with mountain biking the first time I tried it. The first time Dad took me out, I had no idea what to expect. The rented mountain bike felt so weird compared to my road bike. The tires were huge, the seat was hard, and the suspension was so soft it felt like a pillow while riding. We were almost at the trailhead, and the closer we got, the more nervous I got. It looked way scarier than what I was picturing in my head. My dad, who is more experienced than me, smiled and said, "Just follow me." I rode closely behind him as he weaved through rocks and roots with ease, whereas I was struggling. I crashed a few times, and my hands hurt so much because I gripped the handlebars too tightly, scared of falling again. But I was still majorly hooked.The forest was beautiful, with tall pine trees and cool, fresh air. Even though it was tough, I couldn't stop smiling. Then we hit our first downhill. It was terrifying at first, so steep I thought I'd fall off the bike. But as I picked up speed, the fear turned into excitement. The trail twisted and turned, and it felt like flying. By the time we reached the bottom and rolled onto a paved road, I was grinning like crazy."How are you liking it so far?" my dad asked."I love it! This is awesome!" I said as I was catching my breath."Good, now we have to do the climb," he said, pointing to a huge hill. I let out a huge groan but still followed him to the hill. The climb was brutal. It was steep, rocky, and endless. My legs were burning, and I was out of breath, but I kept going. By the time we finally reached the top, I was exhausted. But I immediately forgot all about that exhaustion after seeing the view. The trees parted in one area, and we were able to see down the valley. I couldn't believe the number of trees and hills that seemed to go on forever."Pretty great, huh?" my dad said."Yeah," I said, still staring at the view. After a short break, we started on the last trail down, which led back to the car. This last descent was the best part of the whole ride. The trail was fast, fun, and challenging enough to keep me focused. It felt like the bike and I were working together as one. Before I knew it, we were back at the parking lot. I was bummed because the ride was over, but at the same time, I was extremely satisfied with the day. My legs were shaking, and I was covered in dirt, but I couldn't stop smiling. I was hooked after that first day. I got a bike, started riding more, and eventually started to find others to ride with. Mountain biking has become one of my favorite activities because of how much I enjoy getting better and finding new trails, but also how it makes me feel alive and one with the outdoors. It's all because of that one ride.