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that I knew, when those bikes came flying down the trail
     — I knew I wanted to do that.”
    Danny seemed dumbstruck. “Really? Why?” This time, his voice was incredulous.
    “It has to be the greatest feeling,” Will said dreamily. “Total speed and freedom, nature — I don’t know, everything!”
    “You’re not telling me you’ve already gone down a mountain,” Danny said.
    “No, not yet,” Will admitted. “But —”
    “Then you don’t
know
anything,” Danny insisted. “You’re only imagining. And while you’re doing it, imagine the terrified hikers you’ll be passing
     on your way down. Imagine hitting one of them.”
    “Cut it out, Danny. You know I would never hit anybody.”
    “Well, either you would or you wouldn’t,” Danny insisted. “If you wouldn’t, then quit thinking you’re going to fly down the
     mountain. ‘Cause you can’t do that and be careful, too.”
    “I think you can.” Will held his ground. “I’ll bet I can.”
    Just then, the librarian came over to shush them, and they both opened their books and started doing homework.
    Will’s reverie was broken. Suddenly there was a downside to his new hobby. He hadn’t realized just how upset Danny was about
     the incident on Saturday. Unless he could make Danny see how great mountain biking was, it might come between the two of them.
     Will might even wind up losing his best, oldest friend. And he sure didn’t want that to happen.
    On Friday at two-thirty the club met outside the gym doors. Everyone was in a great mood. There was no school the next day,
     and they had all weekendto do their homework. This afternoon was strictly for fun!
    Will, like the rest of them, had left his book bag in his locker, knowing that the school would remain open all afternoon
     and evening, as it did every Friday.
    He would retrieve his bag later. All he carried now were a few granola bars crammed into his pockets and his two trusty water
     bottles, which fit neatly into holders on the sides of his bike frame.
    Even though he’d been in the club for only a few days, he felt totally at home with the other bikers. Everyone had welcomed
     him warmly from the first moment. Even Ace, who had some reason to be angry at Will for buying “his” bike, was being super-friendly.
     Will wondered why anyone would ever have a problem with Ace.
    Following Gail’s schedule, they rode out to Slide Mountain. The ski resort was a good eight miles out of town, and they had
     to be careful of traffic. But once they were there, they registered, paid the small entry fee, and got ready for their ride
     uphill.
    “I hope you’re ready for this, Will,” Gail said. “It’shard work. Just ride alongside me or just ahead of me. I’ll give you some pointers if you’re in trouble.”
    “Oh, don’t worry about me,” Will said confidently. “I’ll be fine.”
    Famous last words. After five minutes of exhausting pedaling, Will had to stop to catch his breath. Gail called out for the
     others to meet at the trail head, then came back to check on Will.
    “You okay?” she asked.
    “Yeah,” Will gasped. “But this is harder than I thought.” He stared longingly up at the ski lift and noticed that plenty of
     riders had their bikes hanging on the lift as they rode comfortably to the top.
    Gail noticed his longing look. “Forget it,” she said. “We only use those when we go on the advanced trails. We’re doing the
     bunny slope today.”
    “Oh.”
    “Are you sure you’re okay?” she asked.
    “Yeah,” he assured her, his breath finally back to normal. “I don’t know what the trouble is. Maybe I’m not shifting right
     or something.”
    “No, it isn’t that,” Gail said. “You’re, like, not getting up and over the bike enough.”
    “Huh?”
    “You have to lean more forward to keep your momentum going,” she advised, demonstrating. “Go ahead — I’ll follow you. Just
     remember to stay forward on the bike.”
    Will tried it, and sure