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My bike is barely ahead of Stephen’s as we dart like sparrows between branches and low-hanging grapevines. The trail cuts left sharply, rounding a tree trunk. I brake, but slide off the trail. He passes me as I struggle to manoeuver back on course. I look up and my jaw drops because I can’t see him anymore. Three seconds of lead time and Stephen is gone; vanished like a phantom night hawk in the night! Me, I’m still just a sparrow (peep, peep.)

Oh. My. Gosh. How am I gonna keep up with the Gear Junkie?

It’s the most action-packed day of the Choose Your Own Adventure vacation we’ve won from GearJunkie.com. We’re mountain biking the new Allegrippis Trail System in the Allegheny Mountains, and your votes for my daily challenge favored that I race Stephen Regenold, the Gear Junkie. Holy holler from the mountain, what have I gotten into? For the full story and tons of pics, keep reading.

The Allegrippis Trail only opened this last spring, but it’s quickly becoming a destination for singletrack thrill-seekers far and wide. Its 30-plus miles of rollercoaster thrills are thankfully maintained by mountain bikers with the same devotion as those who designed it.

One such guardian is Evan Gross, our guide from Rothrock Outfitters. Evan is also president of the local mountain biking association, and he’s out here every day. When he’s not on his single speed this time of year, he’s hand raking those 30 miles of their thick autumn cover.

At the trailhead, Evan points out the more popular, challenging and scenic loops. Even from the map, this is looking fun.

There is fun. And danger. The trail alternately swoops, dips and soars, all the while clinging to steep wooded slopes. Evan also warns us to watch the turns. The oaks have just dumped the last of their foliage, and though dry, the ground cover is deceivingly slippery. One false move could end with you sliding downhill to a brown, leafy grave. It’s hours of genuine white-knuckle thrills.

What’s worrying me though, is that we haven’t even started a race. And yet, The Gear Junkie and Evan are consistently far, far ahead of Pam, Todd Lepley and myself. Patiently waiting up for us at regular intervals. Talking gear. Changing the occasional bike tire.

On one stretch we find a jump — the perfect “sweet jump” candidate that I’m beginning to wish people had overwhelmingly voted for me to take. The guys are all ahead, but Pam will capture it on film. She takes a position and I power up. Speed is good. I’m feeling both tires leave the ground for a golden euphoric moment. S-w-e-e-e-e-t! Best ever!

I land, however, pointing in the not-so-general direction of Pam. Knuckles clutch brakes and I’m bucked over the handlebars and into her lap. And in the interests of self-preservation, Pam wisely opts to miss the shot. Attempt #2 yields the picture at the bottom of the post. Pretty sweet. At least for me.

Before long, we notice daylight is quickly waning. So is my energy. And in an effort just to get closer to the pack, I bust my chain. Not popping off the gears — I break the thing. Which feels intense and extreme in a pleasing way. As if my machine has given out before I have.

And that’s what I keep telling myself. Because though I’ve given my all; though it’s been the hardest pedaling I’ve ever loved, I won’t go on to beat the Gear Junkie. Nor will I race him on this day. Even on small rises I am walking my bike uphill now.

So while I feel badly about letting down my peeps, I feel pretty goodly for taking a killer jump twice and messing up a rugged bike (thanks for the repair, Evan!)

And I feel especially excited about the next morning’s kayak adventure, in which I DEW deliver on a crazy Mountain Dew stunt. Stay tuned for that adventure in our next post!

Guide Evan Gross points out the must-ride loops.

Stephen rides the edge of a precarious slope.

Go Pam, go!

I eat air for breakfast.

... and I eat leaves for lunch.

Rolling trails like this went on and on.

Evan fixes a busted chain faster than Bo and Luke Duke change tires.

Does any serious mountain biker ever really do this?