This is a post in responce to a friends Fourm Post on Mtbr.com:
http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?p=1618135#poststop

Nice write brother...I am the Nomad Man...Funny, I didn't really think twice about the old ride that you had, just that it was your trail builder ride. I more respected you for riding it. I thought it was great. I really agree that a lot of us get caught up in the upgrade hoopla.

When I was 13 years old, I got hit by a car riding my BMX bike Across the Street. A Lady hit me going 50 mph in huge Cadillac. I flew 40 or so feet across an intersection. She hit me so hard she knocked me out of my shoes. I remember a police man picking me up and walking me by the Cadillac and the front end looked like she hit a light pole. I had some knee bruises and was in a wheel chair for a bit, had a lot of scrapes and cuts, but was lucky not to be killed . The point of this is, because my bmx bike was tacoed, and we didn't sue the lady, she bought me a bike of my choice. She was very poor, so she didn't have a lot of money. I chose the Schwinn High Sierra. This was my first foray into Mountain Biking. A few months later my mother passed away. This was I really hard time of my life and I needed an outlet. I rode the piss out of my mtn bike. I Loved it. These were the days of Tom Ritchey, Gary Fisher and the such. I rode all the way until I was 16 or so.

After that, while I was working at a bike shop, I got a road bike(Schwinn Tempo) and a better full rigid(specialized stump jumper) and continued to ride. I mainly rode the road bike and raced quite a bit. But I always loved my time on the Mountain Bike. My Friend Mike Stahilie (* My adopted Big Brother*)and I rode with a group of guys out of camp Whittle in Big bear, CA By the name of Team Mania. Tom Spiegel was the head of this group of crazies and they showed us some really nice trails. As High school life consumed my everyday being, I lost interest in biking. I was burned Out.

Now the years pass, and Last March, Some 13 years Later, I stumble into a bike shop to "Check things Out". On a quick side note, I lived in Big Bear, CA for about five years before a I moved to Seattle six years ago. So I saw all of the NORBA races come through town but I was more into snowboarding so the summer was a nuisance more than anything and didn't pay any attention to the mountain bike tech. Anyway, so I went to a local bike shop Last year and saw what was available. I was completely BLOWN away. I was on a real exercise quest and had been running a lot so I needed another outlet to get my exercise fix. This would be perfect. So I set my Limit on x amount of dollars. Boy these Bikes were nice. So much suspension. Front and Back, WOW! Drops, Jumps, and the Such. I was FLOORED! Now I saw another bike for X amount More. Test Rode it and OH MY GOD! What a Difference. I scrounged up the Cash and did my research and got the more expensive bike. Okay, now I have this freakin great bike. All New and "the Latest Greatest" I find BBTC. I ride My first ride at south Sea Tac and I am Captivated! Biking becomes my life once again, Just like when I was in high school.

Okay, Fast forward 11 months. Now I am a bike freak! I have Three Bikes, Including the coveted Santa Cruz NOMAD. I couldn't be happier. I still think back every time I get on my "NEW" Bikes. What it use to be. When things were way simpler. When there was no Carbon Fiber, No Suspension(on either side), and things were way more "Pure". There still were riders who had to have the best! Even back then. The "Upgradeitis" was in Full effect. I guess it is never-ending. The most important thing is to have Fun. Who gives and "F" what your "On" or what your "riding" as long as you are having a good time. Thanks J for the look back on things and sorry if I was long winded!