Rocks kick up under my mountain bike’s wheels, snapping and popping against the rubber as I tense my body, keeping my legs bent slightly under me, prepping for a series of stones in the trail in front.

I ride along a thin log that makes a branch in my path and drop down a few feet off the elevated end, keeping my weight back to avoid sending my body over the handlebars, an experience I have had before and remember vividly. Landing a little harder than expected, I tap the breaks with my gloved hands to slow down. I wind my way down the slope for a few minutes, traversing several more obstacles in the path. Tight corners and rocks keep my mind occupied and my body active.

As I finish the trail, I am left at a concrete circular meeting place. My concentration slips from keeping myself upright on my bike and I again realize where I am: winding between massive concrete columns under the muted roar of I-5. Taking a few moments to catch my breath before heading back to the top of the hill, I watch other riders make their way through the course. A more experienced rider on a full suspension bike takes on rocks and drops with ease, appearing to ride down a smooth path.

The I-5 Colonnade, a bicycle skills park that will be finished later this year, is mostly complete, with only the advanced technical features still in production. When complete, the park will cover two acres and have challenges for all levels, from amateurs to the most advanced riders.

“It’s not intended as a big gnar place to ride, but it keeps you tuned for when you go out to the I-90 corridor trails and hit bigger gaps,” says Brad Tibbs, a mechanic at Downhill Zone, a bike shop that specializes in downhill mountain bike sales and repair. “Gnar” is short for gnarly, which describes the steeper inclines, bigger jumps and drops that some expert trails have.

The shop has a huge collection of full suspension bikes (bikes with shocks in the front and back), and trail guides for other biking locations near Seattle sit in a neat container on the counter. Adam Schaeffer, the shop’s service manager, engages Tibbs in a conversation about the merits of these other trails, which Schaeffer feels are more akin to the true mountain biking experience.

“You do have to be aware of other users, hikers and others [on those trails], so the Colonnade is nice in that there are only bikes there,” he concedes, though it’s clear by his tone that he would prefer to ride at St. Edwards National Park despite the 30-minute trip.

The price tag on the bikes at Downhill Zone are probably out of range for the typical college student, $2,000-$5,000. However, Schaeffer says that it is best to learn to ride on a hard-tail bike — a bike like mine, which only has suspension in the front — because the experience forces a beginner to understand the mechanics and feel of the bike.

While at the Colonnade, I run into Myles Scott, a UW freshman that started mountain biking last summer. Despite riding for less than a year, he rides in the more advanced area of the Colonnade, where there are steeper hills, sharply banked turns and jumps. He wears a full face helmet, gloves and leg guards that cover his shins to his knees.

The signs at the entrances to the park warn that mountain biking is an inherently dangerous sport. They advise riders to always wear a full face helmet and body armor.

I agree. After taking a few falls, I eventually purchased padding similar to what Scott is wearing. The multiple dents and scratches, some of them deep, are evidence of the injuries I have avoided.

For Scott, the benefits of increased padding are as much about safety as they are peace of mind.

“I wear [the pads] mostly for confidence, I know it will save me and will hurt less when I fall, so I can try a little harder than I normally would,” he said.

Freshman Brendan Boyer, who is helping to build the Colonnade, recommends arm and leg padding because of hard landings. Since the park is made to last, many of the trails are hard-packed dirt or concrete, which makes falling a harder lesson than most natural trails with foliage to break a fall.

“It’s nice because it’s always dry—in Seattle where it rains 11 months out of 12,” Boyer jokes.

Front suspension mountain bikes can be rented from Recycled Cycles, with prices at $20 for six hours or $40 for a full day.

For beginners looking to purchase a bike, Schaeffer recommends a new, name-brand bicycle in the range of $600. Because mountain biking is much rougher on both the rider and the bicycle, having quality equipment is important. Cheaper bicycles won’t have the ability to withstand the wear of rough conditions.

“One of the best things to do is to get up off your feet,” Boyer suggests. “You always see beginners trying to ride through stuff sitting down and you just can’t do it. It limits your ability to move.”

When entering rough terrain, Boyer says that the arms and legs provide the suspension to ride over objects.

When entering steeper slopes or taking small drops, the key is to keep your weight back. This is difficult to do with the seat post high in a street riding position. Adjusting the seat post down as far as possible allows the body to shift over the back wheel.

“Try to hit [the breaks] gradually, so you don’t skid out,” Scott says. When the bikes wheels are locked, it is more difficult to control where the bike goes. Applying a lighter touch to the breaks repeatedly serves about the same function as anti-lock brakes on new cars.

The Colonnade has a level area with basic obstacles that are challenging for beginners, like small logs across the path.

“It’s highly beneficial for beginners because the obstacles are low consequence. You won’t fall off a cliff if you mess up,” says Jerry Knight, the store manager of Fluidride, a local bikeshop exclusively for mountain biking.

Fluidride offers lessons from mountain biking experts and even touts a recently released instructional DVD titled Fluidride: Like a Pro. A two-hour lesson for up to three people of any skill level is $199.

The best advice I can give is to look ahead on the trail. Good body position will allow the bike to ride over small objects. If too much attention is payed to the area directly in front of the bike, a much larger obstacle that could cause a crash may go unnoticed until it’s too late.

From milder rides with great scenery to steep adrenaline-filled declines, mountain biking is as varied as the rider wants it to be.

“Once it grabs a hold of you, it becomes an obsession,” Schaeffer says.