1 00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:08,279 Speaker 1: Little friends from across the niche in and around the world. 2 00:00:08,800 --> 00:00:12,800 I'm Martin and you are listening to Dad's Bedtime Stories, 3 00:00:13,480 --> 00:00:18,280 the podcast that takes listener ideas and you know, turns 4 00:00:18,320 --> 00:00:21,600 them into bedtime stories. Wants check out the idea we 5 00:00:21,719 --> 00:00:22,519 have for today. 6 00:00:23,480 --> 00:00:24,280 Speaker 2: Hi, my name is. 7 00:00:24,399 --> 00:00:27,719 Speaker 3: Ethan from Australia. I'd like to hear a story from 8 00:00:27,800 --> 00:00:33,679 Spaceship Universe and when you wake up, Spaceship says there's 9 00:00:33,719 --> 00:00:37,920 a mountain biking universe and when you arrive at the universe, 10 00:00:38,359 --> 00:00:41,240 there's a boy named Xavier, and he says, do you 11 00:00:41,280 --> 00:00:46,079 want to come mountain bike biking with me? And you 12 00:00:46,159 --> 00:00:50,679 say yes. Then while you're doing mountain biking, he says, 13 00:00:50,799 --> 00:00:54,600 there's a mountain biking competition that you can make your 14 00:00:54,640 --> 00:00:57,399 own mountain biking trap anywhere in this world. 15 00:00:57,759 --> 00:00:58,079 Speaker 2: Bye. 16 00:00:58,200 --> 00:00:59,439 Speaker 3: I love your podcast. 17 00:01:00,320 --> 00:01:03,079 Speaker 1: Thank you, Ethan. I think that makes an excellent idea 18 00:01:03,119 --> 00:01:05,879 for the podcast and that's exactly what I've come up 19 00:01:05,920 --> 00:01:10,319 with for today. I hope the competition is how you 20 00:01:10,359 --> 00:01:12,319 imagined it, because I didn't really know exactly what you 21 00:01:12,359 --> 00:01:16,040 meant on the competition part. Now, before we get started 22 00:01:16,079 --> 00:01:18,159 with the podcast, I just want to take a second 23 00:01:18,159 --> 00:01:21,799 to say thank you to my latest Patreon sponsors, Ruth 24 00:01:22,200 --> 00:01:27,760 Red and Will. I really appreciate you guys sponsoring the podcast. 25 00:01:28,400 --> 00:01:31,640 As you know, this podcast has sponsored two ways. One 26 00:01:31,680 --> 00:01:34,719 of them is through Patreon, where you can get AD 27 00:01:34,760 --> 00:01:38,719 free episodes and some bonus content. And the other way 28 00:01:39,359 --> 00:01:42,680 is through ads, which some people don't mind, and if 29 00:01:42,719 --> 00:01:46,079 you don't mind, I don't mind, because they support the 30 00:01:46,079 --> 00:01:50,560 podcast as well. Now, I never run ads during the story, 31 00:01:50,719 --> 00:01:55,079 after the story or anything like that, so unfortunately I 32 00:01:55,120 --> 00:01:56,920 try to get them all over with at the beginning. 33 00:01:57,359 --> 00:02:02,040 Like right now, time to get as comfy as you 34 00:02:02,079 --> 00:02:06,680 can in that bed, close your eyes, and imagine yourself 35 00:02:06,799 --> 00:02:13,039 doing what the kid and the story does. This one 36 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:19,039 obviously takes place in our Spaceship universe. You wake up 37 00:02:19,159 --> 00:02:24,400 to the soft hum of Spaceship all around you. You 38 00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:28,360 lay there for a while, wrapped in the cozy blanket, 39 00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:35,960 until you hear Spaceship's voice. Good morning, Spaceship says. You 40 00:02:36,039 --> 00:02:40,360 sit up in bed and look out the window. You 41 00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:47,319 see a blue green planet outside, hanging all bright and beautiful, 42 00:02:47,439 --> 00:02:53,800 with white swirling clouds around it. Spaceship sounds more excited 43 00:02:53,879 --> 00:02:58,599 than usual. I have discovered a new planet. And I 44 00:02:58,719 --> 00:03:04,240 believe you will find it very interesting. What kind of 45 00:03:04,319 --> 00:03:11,719 planet is it? A mountain biking planet, Spaceship answers. The 46 00:03:11,840 --> 00:03:17,360 people here appear to be extremely interested in mountain biking, 47 00:03:18,080 --> 00:03:23,919 not a little interested, not weekend hobby, interested, more like 48 00:03:24,319 --> 00:03:30,520 we built our entire civilization around tires, suspension, dirt trails 49 00:03:30,960 --> 00:03:36,120 and going downhill very fast. You climb out of bed 50 00:03:36,159 --> 00:03:41,000 and walk toward the window. The planet grows larger as 51 00:03:41,080 --> 00:03:46,039 spaceship gets closer. There are no cars on this planet, 52 00:03:46,639 --> 00:03:53,159 none that I can detect. Only bikes, mountain bikes, road bikes, 53 00:03:53,599 --> 00:03:59,280 cargo bikes, tiny bikes for tiny people, and electric mountain 54 00:03:59,319 --> 00:04:03,560 bikes for people who enjoy going uphill without you know, 55 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:08,000 pedaling hard well. Spaceship, I only have one thing to 56 00:04:08,080 --> 00:04:13,280 say to that, Let's go. I was hoping you would 57 00:04:13,360 --> 00:04:18,079 say that. You move to the control center of the ship, 58 00:04:18,480 --> 00:04:22,480 and you watch out the window. As the spaceship gets 59 00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:28,199 closer and closer, fire laid glows around the edges of 60 00:04:28,240 --> 00:04:33,079 the ship. As you pass through the atmosphere, and soon 61 00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:41,519 you see mountains everywhere, tall and sharp and green and brown. 62 00:04:42,720 --> 00:04:48,079 Trails twist down their sides like little ribbons. Some of 63 00:04:48,120 --> 00:04:53,720 them look smooth and flowing. Some zigzag through forests, some 64 00:04:53,920 --> 00:04:59,759 drop over rocky edges, some leap across gaps on really 65 00:05:00,160 --> 00:05:06,319 sketchy looking wooden ramps. You see chair lifts too climbing 66 00:05:06,399 --> 00:05:10,360 up the mountains, but instead of ski racks, they have 67 00:05:11,079 --> 00:05:16,040 bike holders built in. Riders sit on the chairs, helmets 68 00:05:16,079 --> 00:05:21,079 on bikes hanging over the side. At the bottom of 69 00:05:21,319 --> 00:05:24,240 one mountain is a whole village that looks like it's 70 00:05:24,319 --> 00:05:30,879 built around biking repair shops, snack stands, helmet stores, trail 71 00:05:31,040 --> 00:05:35,720 maps and huge signs showing all sorts of different routes. 72 00:05:37,439 --> 00:05:40,519 Would you like to check out one of the mountains, 73 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:44,279 Spaceship asks as you fly over the little village. 74 00:05:44,920 --> 00:05:45,079 Speaker 2: Uh. 75 00:05:45,560 --> 00:05:49,639 Speaker 1: Yeah, it seems like the right place to go. Excellent 76 00:05:50,079 --> 00:05:55,720 setting course. Spaceship flies towards one of the tallest mountains, 77 00:05:56,240 --> 00:06:00,639 one that looks rather busy. Near the top, there's a 78 00:06:00,680 --> 00:06:05,560 wooden chalet with big windows and a whole bunch of 79 00:06:05,839 --> 00:06:13,160 bike racks. It reads sky Peak Mountain Bike Lodge. Spaceship 80 00:06:13,279 --> 00:06:16,879 lands gently on a flat area right by the chalet. 81 00:06:18,040 --> 00:06:21,959 The landing legs hiss as they touched down. The back 82 00:06:22,079 --> 00:06:27,879 hatch opens and cool and very fresh mountain air rushes 83 00:06:27,920 --> 00:06:35,040 inside you step out, the air smells like pine trees. 84 00:06:36,839 --> 00:06:40,160 A boy about your age rolls up on a bright 85 00:06:40,279 --> 00:06:44,360 blue mountain bike. He has a helmet covered in stickers, 86 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:49,639 gloves on his hands, and well knee pads. Hey, he 87 00:06:49,759 --> 00:06:54,639 says the name Xavier. Are you visiting for the trails 88 00:06:54,759 --> 00:06:59,160 or maybe even for the competition? You look at him. 89 00:06:59,560 --> 00:07:06,480 There's a competition, Xavier's eyes widen. You came to Skyeak 90 00:07:06,560 --> 00:07:13,959 and didn't know about the downhill freestyle competition? Yeah, basically, 91 00:07:14,560 --> 00:07:21,879 you answer, well, is that your ship? Xavier asks, yeah? 92 00:07:22,199 --> 00:07:28,120 Is your bike in it? You pause, I don't have 93 00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:32,680 a bike. Xavier stares at you like you just told 94 00:07:32,720 --> 00:07:38,399 him you don't have a head. You don't have a bike, 95 00:07:39,480 --> 00:07:45,639 he asks, not with me? But you do have one? Right? 96 00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:51,920 I think I might back on earth. Xavier slowly puts 97 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:57,439 one foot on the ground. How do you not have 98 00:07:57,560 --> 00:08:04,319 a bike? I just didn't bring it with me in space. 99 00:08:05,720 --> 00:08:11,839 He looks at you, completely confused. That's like saying you 100 00:08:12,079 --> 00:08:16,360 left your legs at home. I've had a bike since 101 00:08:16,399 --> 00:08:21,079 I was born. I go everywhere with it. You've had 102 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:25,839 a bike when you were a baby, of course, tiny 103 00:08:25,920 --> 00:08:29,680 baby balance bike. I learned to bike before I learned 104 00:08:29,720 --> 00:08:35,200 to walk. Most people around here do that. Seems hard. 105 00:08:36,159 --> 00:08:39,720 Walking is so much harder. You have to balance on 106 00:08:39,840 --> 00:08:43,759 two feet, Oh man, At least on a bike you 107 00:08:43,840 --> 00:08:50,600 have wheels. Wheels are obviously better. You glance back at Spaceship. 108 00:08:51,360 --> 00:08:55,600 I can go get a bike, XAVI. You're nod still 109 00:08:55,600 --> 00:09:00,960 looking concerned. Good because the trails here are like amazing, 110 00:09:01,559 --> 00:09:05,320 but walking down them would be very strange and people 111 00:09:05,320 --> 00:09:10,480 would probably make fun of you. You head back inside Spaceship. 112 00:09:11,120 --> 00:09:16,360 The hatch closes behind you. Spaceship, I need a mountain bike. 113 00:09:17,080 --> 00:09:21,360 I suspected this might happen. I will warm up the 114 00:09:21,720 --> 00:09:26,840 three dimensional printer. A panel opens in the floor and 115 00:09:26,919 --> 00:09:31,000 a sleek machine rises up. It looks like a mix 116 00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:34,879 between a robot arm, a glowing box, and like a 117 00:09:34,919 --> 00:09:39,960 really big toaster. A screen slides down from the ceiling 118 00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:44,600 in front of you. Please design your bike, trying not 119 00:09:44,720 --> 00:09:50,240 to select anything boring. The screen fills with all sorts 120 00:09:50,320 --> 00:09:55,000 of bike frames. Some look light and fast, some look 121 00:09:55,120 --> 00:09:58,600 heavy and strong, some look like they're built for jumping, 122 00:09:59,279 --> 00:10:03,679 and others look like they're built for downhill racing. You 123 00:10:03,840 --> 00:10:07,519 swipe through them until you find one that looks perfect, 124 00:10:07,960 --> 00:10:13,080 a full suspension mountain bike with a strong frame, wide tires, 125 00:10:13,240 --> 00:10:18,159 powerful breaks, and enough shock absorption to land from something 126 00:10:18,240 --> 00:10:24,720 that most bicycles probably shouldn't shouldn't do you choose the 127 00:10:24,759 --> 00:10:29,480 best gears, the best brakes, the best tires, the best suspension, 128 00:10:30,080 --> 00:10:33,399 and a seat that looks surprisingly comfortable for a bike. 129 00:10:34,279 --> 00:10:39,279 Excellent choices. You have selected equipment that would normally cost 130 00:10:39,399 --> 00:10:44,159 a small fortune. Luckily for you, we can three D 131 00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:50,960 print almost anything we like. The machine begins to hum, and, 132 00:10:51,240 --> 00:10:55,240 as it usually does, it starts to build the bike 133 00:10:55,960 --> 00:11:01,879 atom by atom. Now, space Ship says, there is one 134 00:11:02,039 --> 00:11:07,080 more possible problem. Do you know how to mountain bike? 135 00:11:08,159 --> 00:11:11,639 You think about it? I mean I think I do. 136 00:11:11,840 --> 00:11:15,720 It doesn't look too hard. You say, that is a 137 00:11:15,759 --> 00:11:19,840 good beginning, But mountain biking down a cliff at high 138 00:11:19,879 --> 00:11:24,960 speeds while performing a double backflip is something different entirely. 139 00:11:25,679 --> 00:11:31,120 Spaceship explains, Uh, what do you suggest? The ceiling of 140 00:11:31,159 --> 00:11:34,759 the ship opens up, and my little helmet attached to 141 00:11:34,840 --> 00:11:39,519 a wire pops down. Put this on. It is a 142 00:11:39,799 --> 00:11:44,440 memory training helmet. We have used it before. You place 143 00:11:44,519 --> 00:11:48,080 the helmet on your head and for a second nothing happens. 144 00:11:49,039 --> 00:11:54,919 Then your mind fills with motion, racing down forest trails, 145 00:11:55,320 --> 00:12:01,120 leaning through turns, hopping over roots, balancing across narrow wooden bridges, 146 00:12:01,919 --> 00:12:08,120 thousands of narrow wooden bridges. You see yourself flying off jumps, 147 00:12:08,519 --> 00:12:14,600 turning in the air, landing smoothly pedaling away. Memories from 148 00:12:14,960 --> 00:12:19,279 all sorts of different mountain bikers pass through your mind 149 00:12:19,320 --> 00:12:25,279 in an instant and almost instantly, you know how to 150 00:12:25,480 --> 00:12:31,919 mountain bike, and not just normal mountain biking either extreme 151 00:12:32,159 --> 00:12:36,320 mountain biking. By the time the helmet turns off and 152 00:12:36,440 --> 00:12:39,960 pops off of your head, you feel like a mountain 153 00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:45,679 biking expert. But the knowledge isn't just theoretical. It's built 154 00:12:45,759 --> 00:12:50,720 into your very muscle memory. You know how to balance, 155 00:12:50,759 --> 00:12:53,720 how to jump, how to land, how to fall safely 156 00:12:53,759 --> 00:12:57,240 if you have to, how to read a trail, how 157 00:12:57,279 --> 00:13:00,840 to spot the fastest line down a mountain, how to 158 00:13:00,919 --> 00:13:05,559 do a backflip, a dale whip a three sixty, and 159 00:13:06,440 --> 00:13:11,279 several other tricks with names that nobody really knows. One 160 00:13:11,440 --> 00:13:16,320 more thing, Spaceship says, I have added eight mountain bike 161 00:13:16,600 --> 00:13:20,919 armor mode to your watch. You lift your wrist, the 162 00:13:21,039 --> 00:13:26,679 watch glows. I have already loaded. It simply pressed the button, 163 00:13:27,080 --> 00:13:31,679 Spaceship says, you press the button on the watch, and 164 00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:36,600 tiny silver nanide spill out of your watch like liquid metal, 165 00:13:37,120 --> 00:13:43,759 racing across your body and forming themselves into mountain bike armor. Chest, 166 00:13:43,840 --> 00:13:48,559 blade pads covering your elbows and knees, gloves wrapping around 167 00:13:48,600 --> 00:13:52,000 your hands, and a helmet over top of your head. 168 00:13:52,799 --> 00:13:58,080 Smooth and strong, with very clear vision. Only inside the 169 00:13:58,240 --> 00:14:03,879 helmet there's what they call a heads up display, I 170 00:14:04,159 --> 00:14:08,759 tech digital information that can be projected out onto your environment. 171 00:14:09,879 --> 00:14:14,360 Can you hear me, Spaceship says through the helmet, loud 172 00:14:14,399 --> 00:14:18,879 and clear. You answer, excellent. Try not to test the 173 00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:23,159 armor too much, however, I believe it should protect you 174 00:14:23,240 --> 00:14:27,360 from even the most devastating fall. Though it looks like 175 00:14:27,679 --> 00:14:33,200 normal mountain bike armor, it is heavily reinforced. Even a 176 00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:38,279 laser blast should not penetrate it, and I have added 177 00:14:38,320 --> 00:14:42,200 an anti gravity mode. In the case of an extreme fall, 178 00:14:42,679 --> 00:14:46,080 you should end up floating just above the surface of 179 00:14:46,159 --> 00:14:52,039 the planet. Cool. You say, you think for a second 180 00:14:52,080 --> 00:14:54,720 that maybe you should test it out by jumping up 181 00:14:54,799 --> 00:14:58,360 and trying to land on your side, But well, you 182 00:14:58,519 --> 00:15:03,759 decide not to do that. Soon the bike finishes, The 183 00:15:03,879 --> 00:15:07,639 door opens up and you hop on it, putting one 184 00:15:07,679 --> 00:15:11,519 foot on a pedal and pushing forward. You ride out 185 00:15:11,559 --> 00:15:14,440 of spaceship like you've been on a mountain bike your 186 00:15:14,600 --> 00:15:22,399 entire life, or many entire lifetimes, honestly. Xavier still waiting outside, 187 00:15:22,960 --> 00:15:27,039 when he sees the bike, his mouth drops open. That 188 00:15:27,759 --> 00:15:33,799 he says, is a very nice bike. Yeah, yeah, my head, 189 00:15:33,879 --> 00:15:38,519 it printed. Xavier nods slowly. I didn't even know you 190 00:15:38,519 --> 00:15:44,480 could print bikes, but that's really cool. You ride together 191 00:15:44,679 --> 00:15:49,120 towards the first trail. Xavier leads the way. All right, man, 192 00:15:49,679 --> 00:15:53,080 this one here is what we call a beginner trail. 193 00:15:53,600 --> 00:15:57,120 It's good for warming up, I guess, but honestly, not 194 00:15:57,240 --> 00:16:03,080 that much fun. The trail begins gently, curving through pine trees, 195 00:16:03,879 --> 00:16:08,360 dirt hums beneath your tires. You lean into the turns 196 00:16:08,399 --> 00:16:13,440 and the bike responds perfectly. You rolled over small bumps, 197 00:16:13,960 --> 00:16:19,080 glide through soft corners, and hop easily over a fallen branch. 198 00:16:19,919 --> 00:16:25,279 It feels amazing. The wind rushes against your helmet, the 199 00:16:25,399 --> 00:16:30,879 trees blur past, and your tires grip the ground perfectly. 200 00:16:31,879 --> 00:16:36,720 You're doing great, Xavier says, yeah, this is fun. You 201 00:16:36,799 --> 00:16:42,720 call back, but it's also easy, very easy. At the 202 00:16:42,799 --> 00:16:48,000 bottom of the beginner trail, Xavier grins, Okay, well you're 203 00:16:48,080 --> 00:16:54,840 definitely not terrible. Thanks, you say, that's a strong compliment. Here. 204 00:16:55,480 --> 00:17:01,279 I want to try like an intermedia trail or something. Yeah, sure, 205 00:17:01,879 --> 00:17:06,000 you say. You take the lift part way back up 206 00:17:06,039 --> 00:17:11,519 the mountain and start again. The intermediate trail is much 207 00:17:11,599 --> 00:17:17,200 more exciting. It has wooden bridges built between trees, narrow 208 00:17:17,359 --> 00:17:23,319 balance beams, steep banked corners, and little jumps placed right 209 00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:28,640 after turns. Some bridges rise high above the ground, twisting 210 00:17:28,720 --> 00:17:34,519 through the forest like wooden roller coasters. You follow Xavier 211 00:17:34,559 --> 00:17:38,440 onto the first bridge. The wood rattles under your tires, 212 00:17:39,279 --> 00:17:44,400 but luckily your muscle memory kicks into place and it's 213 00:17:44,440 --> 00:17:50,480 pretty easy to remain balanced. Then comes a gap. Xavier 214 00:17:50,680 --> 00:17:54,799 jumps first, landing on the next wooden platform with a thump. 215 00:17:55,480 --> 00:17:59,240 You follow for one breath. You're floating in the air. 216 00:17:59,759 --> 00:18:04,519 Then your tires touched down perfectly, and you keep going. 217 00:18:05,799 --> 00:18:08,920 The next section is a series of tight turns and 218 00:18:09,039 --> 00:18:14,240 raised platforms. You pump your legs, lean your shoulders, and 219 00:18:14,400 --> 00:18:19,559 let the bike flow beneath you. Every movement feels natural, 220 00:18:20,119 --> 00:18:25,200 every bump well easy to absorb. At the end of 221 00:18:25,200 --> 00:18:31,160 the trail, Xavier stops and laughs, Well, you're actually pretty good. 222 00:18:31,680 --> 00:18:35,240 You didn't even scream over any of the bridges. I 223 00:18:35,319 --> 00:18:40,079 thought about screaming, you say, but I was too busy 224 00:18:40,119 --> 00:18:44,240 making sure I didn't fall off. Well, then, I think 225 00:18:44,279 --> 00:18:51,400 you're ready for the ultimate extreme trail, Xavier says. You 226 00:18:51,480 --> 00:18:55,680 look up at the trail that Xavier's looking at. It 227 00:18:55,839 --> 00:19:00,759 starts near the top of the mountain and drops almost down. 228 00:19:01,559 --> 00:19:07,200 You can see huge jumps, rocky sections, wooden ramps, cliff edges, 229 00:19:07,799 --> 00:19:13,319 and steep shootes that vanish into the trees. That trail 230 00:19:13,480 --> 00:19:19,279 has a name. Xavier says, Oh, what is it? Bad? 231 00:19:19,440 --> 00:19:28,160 Idea ridge? You stare at him. Is it safe? Xavier shrugs, well, 232 00:19:28,200 --> 00:19:34,279 like no, it's totally not safe, he says, spaceship speaks 233 00:19:34,279 --> 00:19:38,640 in your helmet. I have scanned the trail. It is dangerous, 234 00:19:38,680 --> 00:19:44,160 but not impossible. With your current training and safety equipment, 235 00:19:44,519 --> 00:19:49,920 you should be perfectly fine. All right, Then you say, 236 00:19:50,680 --> 00:19:55,279 let's try it. The chairlift carries you and Xavier to 237 00:19:55,359 --> 00:20:00,200 the very top again, your bike hanging beside you. At 238 00:20:00,200 --> 00:20:04,880 the top, Xavier takes a deep breath all right, now 239 00:20:05,279 --> 00:20:12,119 remember stay loose, look ahead, trust the bike. You nod. 240 00:20:12,799 --> 00:20:19,119 Then you push off. The trail drops fast, Your tires 241 00:20:19,319 --> 00:20:23,680 roll over loose dirt and small stones. You bend your 242 00:20:23,680 --> 00:20:28,440 elbows and knees, letting the bike move beneath you. The 243 00:20:28,480 --> 00:20:32,400 first turn comes sharply to the left. You lean hard, 244 00:20:32,559 --> 00:20:37,359 carving around it, dirt spraying from your back tire. Then 245 00:20:37,880 --> 00:20:41,279 you come to the first jump. Your head's up display 246 00:20:41,480 --> 00:20:47,839 flashes speed good pull. Now you lift the front wheel. 247 00:20:48,319 --> 00:20:52,000 The bike launches up into the air and you soar 248 00:20:52,200 --> 00:20:56,640 over a rocky gap, land on the far side, and 249 00:20:56,839 --> 00:21:01,599 instantly roll into a steep shoot between two boulders. The 250 00:21:01,680 --> 00:21:06,599 walls blur beside you. At the bottom, the trail shoots 251 00:21:06,640 --> 00:21:12,599 into a wooden ramp. Jump Incoming Spaceship says you hit 252 00:21:12,680 --> 00:21:17,880 the ramp and fly without even thinking. You twist the 253 00:21:17,960 --> 00:21:21,759 bike sideways in the air, then bring it back straight 254 00:21:21,880 --> 00:21:29,039 before landing. Your suspension absorbs the impact and Xavier whoops 255 00:21:29,119 --> 00:21:34,680 behind you. The trail gets steeper. You race over roots, 256 00:21:35,000 --> 00:21:38,680 hop over rocks, and drop off a ledge into a 257 00:21:38,839 --> 00:21:43,880 soft dirt landing. Then the path splits around a cliff. 258 00:21:44,640 --> 00:21:48,880 Xavier takes the safe side. Your head's up display shows 259 00:21:48,920 --> 00:21:54,920 the other side glowing yellow optional advanced line. Spaceship says, 260 00:21:55,519 --> 00:22:00,839 technically a shortcut, you decide to take it. The bike 261 00:22:01,079 --> 00:22:05,720 rockets along the cliff edge. Far below, trees look like 262 00:22:05,920 --> 00:22:11,759 tiny green brushes. The path narrows to almost nothing, but 263 00:22:12,400 --> 00:22:17,920 you stay calm, eyes forward, body steady. At the end 264 00:22:17,960 --> 00:22:22,359 of the ledge is a very narrow ramp. Beyond it 265 00:22:22,480 --> 00:22:26,599 is a gap that looks much too large. Don't worry, 266 00:22:26,839 --> 00:22:30,960 spaceship says, you are traveling at the correct speed to 267 00:22:31,319 --> 00:22:35,720 make the gap. You launch off of the thing. The 268 00:22:35,759 --> 00:22:42,039 whole mountain drops beneath you. For a second, you're basically flying. 269 00:22:43,119 --> 00:22:48,759 You tuck, rotate backward, and perform a smooth back flip 270 00:22:48,839 --> 00:22:54,160 over the gap. The sky spins, the forest spins, and 271 00:22:54,240 --> 00:22:58,839 the landing appears exactly where it should be. Your tires 272 00:22:58,920 --> 00:23:03,680 hit the dirt perfectly. You ride the rest of the 273 00:23:03,759 --> 00:23:08,920 extreme trail, and a blur of speed and joy over jumps, 274 00:23:09,039 --> 00:23:12,799 carving around, turns, skidding to a stop at the bottom. 275 00:23:12,839 --> 00:23:22,559 Besides Xavier that he says, what was ridiculous? Good? Ridiculous? 276 00:23:23,039 --> 00:23:29,599 You ask competition level ridiculous? I think you should totally 277 00:23:29,759 --> 00:23:35,160 sign up for the Downhill Freestyle Challenge, he says, Oh, 278 00:23:35,200 --> 00:23:40,440 it's that you ask. Well, basically, each competitor gets to 279 00:23:40,480 --> 00:23:45,880 pick their own path down the mountain, you know, and well, 280 00:23:46,039 --> 00:23:48,759 you have to be as stylish as possible and try 281 00:23:48,799 --> 00:23:54,119 your best to not unlive yourself or anything. There's judges 282 00:23:54,160 --> 00:23:59,279 at the bottom that rate you for your style, creativity, difficulty, 283 00:23:59,759 --> 00:24:04,920 and you know that sort of thing, and that is 284 00:24:05,039 --> 00:24:10,279 how you find yourself signed up for the Downhill Freestyle Challenge, 285 00:24:11,599 --> 00:24:14,680 Xavier helps you go through the process and sign all 286 00:24:14,720 --> 00:24:19,359 of the waivers that explain very adamantly that it's not 287 00:24:19,599 --> 00:24:22,960 anybody else's fault if you don't make it down the mountain. 288 00:24:24,039 --> 00:24:28,039 You watch the other riders go. One spins off a 289 00:24:28,079 --> 00:24:32,839 wooden ramp and lands perfectly. Another rides down a rocky 290 00:24:33,039 --> 00:24:39,039 waterfall trail, bouncing from stone to stone. Xavier, who has 291 00:24:39,279 --> 00:24:43,440 also joined the competition, takes his run and does amazing, 292 00:24:44,000 --> 00:24:49,680 flying through the trees and landing three clean tricks. Then 293 00:24:50,480 --> 00:24:53,759 it's your turn. You sit at the top of the 294 00:24:53,839 --> 00:24:58,240 mountain with your hands on the handlebars. Inside your helmet, 295 00:24:58,680 --> 00:25:04,759 spaceship scans the entire slope, calculating optimal route for style 296 00:25:05,200 --> 00:25:12,000 he says, factoring in jump distance, wind, landing, agle, dramatic effect, 297 00:25:12,599 --> 00:25:16,119 and how loudly people are likely to cheer for you. 298 00:25:17,559 --> 00:25:22,160 A red pathway appears, and your head's up display glowing 299 00:25:22,200 --> 00:25:27,359 across the mountain. It doesn't follow one trail, but it 300 00:25:27,480 --> 00:25:33,359 connects pieces of trails together, many trails, a ramp from 301 00:25:33,440 --> 00:25:37,119 one route, a cliff from another, a wooden bridge, a 302 00:25:37,279 --> 00:25:41,480 rock shoed, a giant jump, a narrow ridge, and of course, 303 00:25:41,519 --> 00:25:44,160 one final drop that looks like something only a bird 304 00:25:44,200 --> 00:25:51,759 should attempt. Spaceship You say, are you sure about this? No, 305 00:25:52,359 --> 00:25:57,079 he says, but again, you have the correct protective equipment 306 00:25:57,240 --> 00:26:01,440 and should be fine. I am very confident in my 307 00:26:01,640 --> 00:26:08,640 anti gravity saving device. All right, you say. You take 308 00:26:08,680 --> 00:26:13,720 a deep breath, and then you go, following the pathway 309 00:26:13,759 --> 00:26:18,759 that's lined out in your helmet. The bike surges forward, 310 00:26:20,160 --> 00:26:24,960 The first ramp comes fast. Your head's up display indicates 311 00:26:25,039 --> 00:26:29,200 your speed and then flashes green when you reach the 312 00:26:29,279 --> 00:26:32,880 right speed to make it across. You pull up and 313 00:26:33,079 --> 00:26:37,039 launch into the air, spinning a full turn before landing 314 00:26:37,160 --> 00:26:43,200 smoothly on a dirt slope. The crowd below is far away, 315 00:26:44,119 --> 00:26:47,599 but you can hear them clearly. As they cheer and 316 00:26:47,720 --> 00:26:54,240 point you race into the trees. Next branches blur around you. 317 00:26:54,240 --> 00:26:58,839 You hop onto a wooden bridge, ride along its narrow spine, 318 00:26:59,359 --> 00:27:03,519 then jump off the side before it actually ends. You 319 00:27:03,799 --> 00:27:07,880 drop to ward a lower trail, tilt the bike, and 320 00:27:08,000 --> 00:27:14,599 land perfectly into a banked turn. Excellent job, very stylish, 321 00:27:14,960 --> 00:27:19,759 spaceship says. The red line in your head's up display 322 00:27:19,960 --> 00:27:23,839 sends you to ward a giant rock face. You pedal 323 00:27:23,920 --> 00:27:28,319 hard and at the last second you lift land on 324 00:27:28,400 --> 00:27:32,400 the rock, ride down it at a wild angle, and 325 00:27:32,599 --> 00:27:37,440 launch off the bottom. This time you flip backward twice, 326 00:27:38,039 --> 00:27:43,759 and the world spins around you twice. You extend your 327 00:27:43,799 --> 00:27:48,160 body straight in the bike and touch down exactly in 328 00:27:48,279 --> 00:27:54,279 the landing zone. The crowd sound rops again, cheering for you, 329 00:27:55,359 --> 00:28:00,279 but the biggest jump still seems to be ahead. Red 330 00:28:00,400 --> 00:28:05,039 line leads to a cliff, not a normal cliff, a 331 00:28:05,039 --> 00:28:08,319 cliff that looks like the mountains started making a ramp 332 00:28:08,359 --> 00:28:13,359 and then forgot to finish. Beyond it is an absolutely 333 00:28:13,519 --> 00:28:19,000 gigantic gap, and beyond that is a very very narrow 334 00:28:19,240 --> 00:28:26,839 landing trail speed requirement displayed, spaceship says. A number glows 335 00:28:26,839 --> 00:28:32,200 in your visor still red, you pedal faster and faster 336 00:28:32,440 --> 00:28:38,359 and faster as the cliff rushes towards you. Soon the 337 00:28:38,480 --> 00:28:43,559 number turns green and you hit the cliff edge. You 338 00:28:43,720 --> 00:28:48,240 fly through the air, The planet falls away beneath you, 339 00:28:49,000 --> 00:28:53,920 and for a moment everything is quiet except well the 340 00:28:53,960 --> 00:28:58,759 wind and the screaming crowd in the background. You pull 341 00:28:58,799 --> 00:29:05,000 the bike up, spin sideways, then tuck into a clean backflip. 342 00:29:05,759 --> 00:29:10,359 Halfway through, you twist again, turning the bike beneath you. 343 00:29:11,279 --> 00:29:15,960 The sky and mountain trade places, and your head's up 344 00:29:16,000 --> 00:29:20,960 displayed draws the landing path in bright red. You do 345 00:29:21,119 --> 00:29:25,480 your best to land on it, and sure enough, the 346 00:29:25,640 --> 00:29:31,960 tires hit the narrow trail and you land. You actually land. 347 00:29:32,960 --> 00:29:37,960 The suspension compresses, rebounds, and sends you smoothly into the 348 00:29:38,000 --> 00:29:42,799 final slope. You race through the last turn, hop over 349 00:29:42,960 --> 00:29:48,200 one final jump, and cross the finish line, twisting sideways 350 00:29:48,240 --> 00:29:52,440 and spraying dirt up into the air. For a second, 351 00:29:53,119 --> 00:29:59,799 no one moves, Then the entire crowd erupts. Xavier runs 352 00:29:59,880 --> 00:30:04,440 up over, laughing and shouting, that was the wildest thing 353 00:30:04,559 --> 00:30:10,039 I've ever seen. You pull off your helmet. The judges 354 00:30:10,200 --> 00:30:15,240 raise their score, paddles one by one they hold them 355 00:30:15,319 --> 00:30:24,759 up ten ten, ten ten. Every judge gives you a 356 00:30:24,880 --> 00:30:32,079 perfect score, which obviously means you've won. All right, you're 357 00:30:32,160 --> 00:30:37,720 the new champion space Visitor, Xavier says, as the crowd 358 00:30:37,839 --> 00:30:42,960 cheers loudly. One of the judges stands up, grabs a 359 00:30:43,039 --> 00:30:49,720 gigantic trophy and hands it over towards you. Thanks, you say. 360 00:30:51,200 --> 00:30:55,680 Everyone celebrats at the top of the mountain. After the competition, 361 00:30:56,359 --> 00:31:00,559 there's all sorts of food and well, you know, great 362 00:31:00,720 --> 00:31:03,960 music and that sort of thing. But after a little 363 00:31:04,000 --> 00:31:09,920 while you get a bit tired. Xavier, I think it's 364 00:31:10,079 --> 00:31:13,960 probably time I head to bed. You say, that was 365 00:31:14,000 --> 00:31:18,599 a lot of fun, though maybe I'll come back one day. Well, 366 00:31:19,079 --> 00:31:22,960 you did really well. I'd love to bike with you again. 367 00:31:23,799 --> 00:31:27,880 See you later. Xavier reaches out to give you a 368 00:31:27,880 --> 00:31:32,640 fist bump. You respond by bumping his fist back, because 369 00:31:32,680 --> 00:31:36,440 it would be rude not to. You grab your bike 370 00:31:36,559 --> 00:31:42,079 handles and walk the bike over to Spaceship. The ramp lowers. 371 00:31:42,680 --> 00:31:47,119 You walk onto the thing, place the bike against the side, 372 00:31:47,759 --> 00:31:52,039 and lay down on the couch. The door to the 373 00:31:52,160 --> 00:31:58,920 ship closes, the engines hummed to life, and Spaceship lifts 374 00:31:59,000 --> 00:32:04,400 up into the air. While he leaves the atmosphere, you 375 00:32:04,519 --> 00:32:09,160 rest your head down on the billow, close your eyes, 376 00:32:10,440 --> 00:32:14,160 and with each breath you let go of a little 377 00:32:14,240 --> 00:32:20,839 more tension, And with each breath your mind wanders off 378 00:32:21,079 --> 00:32:28,799 a little bit further to thoughts of new dreams, new mountains, 379 00:32:29,880 --> 00:33:49,000 and new adventures to come. Good Night, everyone, us. 380 00:33:53,640 --> 00:34:42,400 Speaker 2: Never nion. 381 00:35:02,079 --> 00:39:25,800 Speaker 1: M m M New York. 382 00:40:53,599 --> 00:48:01,000 Speaker 2: More than unionism of things, No more mo M one 383 00:48:01,320 --> 00:48:01,800 one mo 384 00:50:00,079 --> 00:50:00,119 Speaker 1: M