Over the years, I have had the pleasure of traveling to widely different types of terrain from east coast clay based mud and roots to desert sandstone to northwest loam and flow trails. In that time I have learned how fun and exciting it is to ride new trails, now I thrive on it! Here are the reasons why:
1) Improve Skills – From roots, to rocks to flow trails to jump trails, there are vastly different types of terrain out there. Becoming skilled at riding and reading different types of trail can greatly improve your comfort level and enjoyment.
2) Work different aspects of fitness – From the short punchy climbs and rough steep descents of Sedona to the epic long climbs and downhills of Crested Butte to the jump trails of Whistler, different physiologic systems and muscles are trained.
3) Meet cool new people – I rely on local knowledge to find the “must do” trails and greatly enjoy getting to know new people and mingling on their local trails. I equally enjoy showcasing my local trails to newcomers, for all the good karma it brings.
4) Recharge and keep riding stoke HIGH – You’ve heard it before “Variety is the spice of life.” I’ve found that no matter how motivated I am about a job or project, if I don’t keep mixing up my riding to keep things exciting, all other projects suffer.
5) Find new opportunities – I’ve had more than a few jobs take wings on trail encounters where I’m asking for trail beta or stumble into someone who shares my love of two wheels.
So, there you have it, all the reasons to get on it and plan your next trip. Here are some suggestions that we are hitting up in the upcoming months: Crankworx Whistler, BC, Mountain Bike Oregon in Oakridge, Wydaho in Driggs, ID and Outerbike in Moab, UT.
