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.

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