first draft & author's note

Author’s Note:
Obviously, this piece is very much a work in progress as related to its length and grammatical accuracy. Either way, the goal of this piece is to make an argument for the inviting nature and curious juxtaposition of my favorite mountain biking spot in the area. I would hope that readers would want to further explore this space, take up a new outdoors hobby, or just become aware of its meek existence.             The context of this piece is one of exploration of a new hobby, new place, and new attitude as they are altered by just a dirt trail in Corinth. I enjoyed the observation process at this place because it really allowed me to step out of the role I usually assume there. I had to watch dozens of cyclists and runners go by as I typed away on my laptop, feeling very out of place. My rhetorical exploration of the space turned out to nicely parallel my physical exploration of the trail, and the allusions from one to the other didn’t stop there. Several things like the children playing sports helped me draw parallels to my own life and attitude about the space and sport. Sometimes this piece may come off as a little ‘stream-of-consciousness’ and that’s because mountain biking feels that way, too. This sport is about being in the moment, and using as little forethought as possible to make the experience more exciting. I chose this space because it’s probably unique to me. It’s also a new place in my life, and one that holds significance to me as the beginning of a new chapter.

Draft 1:
          North Texas has so many cities named after planes and prairies and the landscape around here does little to disprove this geographical assumption. As a college student with a limited gas budget and a newfound passion for mountain biking, a logistical issue with finding places to pursue my new hobby persists. I really love the youthful feeling of freewheeling over hills and under trees, but there is only so far I can drive to find those things at my beginner-friendly level. Just a half-hour drive down Interstate 35 will land you somewhere near Corinth, Texas. This community calls itself the “Gateway to Success” and my success came in various levels while attempting to mountain bike at my favorite spot right next to City Hall. Just a few years ago, the city of Corinth built and maintained this seven-mile loop of mixed-use trail that sits in between a number of other civic facilities. This city of only about twelve thousand embraces the outdoor lifestyle, as shown by this tucked-away haven in the middle of city life.

            There’s not a road sign or directional map when people arrive to the Corinth City Hall Trail. You exit 35, turn left, park, and you are there. A very non-descript opening in the wooded area that surrounds the City Hall parking lot invites exploration from everyone walking by. Sunlight leaks down between the tree cover throughout the first section of trail, taking off the mysterious edge of what lies beyond. Even just the parking lot scene makes the argument that this place is something special for the outdoors enthusiasts. More than half of the cars at City Hall have no business to handle with the City of Corinth, but they seem to have a few things in common: bike racks on their cars without bikes, running shoes and water bottles littered throughout the vehicle, and various car decals promoting their affiliations with bike clubs, conservation authorities, and more. A steady flow of cyclists, runners, walkers, hikers, and the occasional curious passer-by frequent this opening on a gloriously cool Texas day like this one. After a brutal summer, most of the surrounding grass is still slightly yellowed, but one recent brief storm gave this ground just enough help to firm up for good traction. Traction doesn’t really seem too important until you strap on the helmet and take the first turn into the woods. One steep drop and rise will kick anybody back into survival mode.

            The juxtaposition of these trails between a few key spots in Corinth gives it character.  City Hall on the entrance side of the trail argues a civic edge and an official nature. These trails were not an accident or act of nature, they were an investment and a source of civic pride. Trail maintenance is a topic on City Council meeting agendas, and a few cycling clubs call this loop of dirt paths their home. The only other thing you can see from the parking lot is Denton County’s new railway system for public transit. Parallel to the rail line is a sidewalk that stretches the entire distance, perfect for cyclists less than accustomed to cruising amongst traffic on the streets. The “Rails and Trails” is a perfect lead-up to the trailhead here; It is just a continuation of the fitness-geared escape the trails provide. My personal favorite part of the trail is the third boundary that the city provides. Dozens of youth athletic fields make up most of the back part of the trail, and every quarter of a mile or so of the trail pops out to see kindergarteners playing football or a herd of kids chasing a soccer ball. Too often I go into the trails with a mission in mind (go faster, take turns better, be more confident) and lose the real reason why I mountain bike. I cycle because it’s fun. Flying down hills and taking reckless turns is probably one of the most rejuvenating activities I participate in, and seeing kids with the same innocent attitude toward their hobby gives me that feeling back. Some of the most interesting people to watch fly down the trails were the parents who would slip away from a child’s soccer practice to hit the trails, but every time it popped out onto the fields, they would pause just for a moment to catch their kid make a play.

            The other thing I really enjoy about this space is they way people move through it. The course starts and ends at the same place in the non-descript opening in the corner of the parking lot. Most people, without direction, seem to move the same way through the winding dirt path, so on no occasion that I have been there, ridden there, or observed, have I seen a collision. The mutual respect that cyclists and runners share creates a feeling of camaraderie and common purpose on the trails. From any point of observation, you can hear a faint “on your left” or “right behind you” from a few hundred yards out. The only place in the trails that requires riders to move in the same direction is a single-track section infamously named “Thrasher’s Maze.” Trasher’s is marked with a dilapidated sign no bigger than a sheet of paper and a one-way sign that looks as if it was stolen from the adjacent street. It’s not one-way because they said so, it’s one-way because it is a heinous course if attempted backwards. Very short, steep drops make this not only a great challenge to cyclists but a great source of entertainment for observers on the sports fields.  Thrasher’s Maze would be my choice for anybody looking for a couple of new colorful vocabulary words or some first-aid training practice. On an evening walk or leisurely trail run, the maze has copious amounts of tree cover and a comfortable amount of hills to make for a innocuous workout. It looks easy enough, but the amount of hills that various levels of cyclists can be seen walking their bikes up and the amount of trees that fall victim to human collisions tell the story of a quiet enemy.