After five decades of riding my bike, I’m finally starting to hit my stride. 2024 has been the most amazing year of my mountain biking life.
Cycling has been a passion of mine since I was a kid. I’ve been riding for 50 years! Along the way, I have been able to ride in some amazing places, level up my skills, learn a lot about maintenance and repair, and develop some lifelong friendships.
January
Compared to 2023, this winter’s storms didn’t start until a bit later. Instead of dealing with deep powder on January first, I was able to get a few local rides in. The weather eventually caught up with me, but not until after I got to say hello to Alien Run, Horse Gulch, and Phil’s World. It was great to be able to ring in the new year with some time on the bike.
After the snow started, I got into the local winter sports. I hit the ski slopes with friends and had a blast at the annual Durango Snowdown festival.
My e-bike finally arrived and it was worth the wait! After riding Joey’s YT Decoy at Greer Ranch in late 2023, I was able to pick up one of my own! A YT Decoy, Core 4 of course, arrived at my house and I was able to get out and ride it in between snowfalls. The bike performs admirably, allowing me to ride any of the trails I would normally hit on my Yeti, but with a few additional laps!
This bike is a game changer. It may just be the way I stay on the trails for another decade or two!
February
Even though it had been snowing for a few weeks, it was dry on the trails in Farmington, about an hour south of town. If that dirt is dry, then why not check to see if the trails are rideable out at Phil’s World, about an hour west?
Big mistake. The clay composition of the trails don’t lend to quick drainage and the dirt gets very, very sticky. I’m ashamed to say that we caused more harm than good. We rode in a short distance from the parking lot, and decided to turn around and hike back out. Well we tried to, anyway. The mud was worse than peanut butter and we ended up carrying our bikes most of the way.
From now on, Phil’s is off limits until at least a week after the spring rains.
My neighbor Chris talked me into the Uncle Clyde’s Run N’ Slide competition. Costumed 2-person teams run up the hill and tube down over and over and over again. We entered the 90 minute competition and, after running up this hill at 9000ft in the freezing cold, I was breathing funny for a few weeks.
March
March means it’s time for another Sedona Mountain Bike Festival! I headed down to Arizona with the Yeti and the Decoy on the back of the 4Runner. After two months of easy winter riding, I may not have been in the best shape, but I was ready to ride!
The trip began with a ride at South Mountain in Phoenix. I was riding with my friend Brian Gong and I got to finally meet Robert, of B1KER fame. This guy’s awesome! I was looking forward to the ride, but the sky out west was looking pretty dark.
It started dumping rain the moment we arrived. We hit a taco shop and waited it out.
Once the weather cleared the group rode up and down through the canyons and hit some great tech. The e-bike made the climbs effortless and the descents were chunky and grippy. I’d love to ride with these guys again someday, they were super cool and a lot of fun!
I met up with the Sedoners! Josh, John, Joey, Mark, and I hit the famous HiLine trail and rode some of the most challenging tech that Sedona has to offer. And Joey Bringhursted the entire trail – he rode every single inch of it! (I got off the bike and walked a few sections).
It felt so good to see my friends again and to ride some great trails. Everybody was up to the task and rode well. I watched as the group rode the Chute, a section that I had a VERY hard time with the last time I tried it, and I was able to use their encouragement to motivate and challenge myself! It felt fantastic to get some redemption and to share it with my good friends!
The next day, we rode with Mia and the gang on the Women’s Mountain Bike Network group ride. They led us all through the hills on the Soldiers Pass and Adobe Jack trails and enjoyed a fun afternoon. Look at this turnout!
The last day in Sedona, we were joined by Jeremy from the Bike Inn in Bentonville. We found ourselves riding the Llama and Little Horse trails on the southeast side of town. Anyone who knows this area also knows that this is the location of the White Line; considered by many to be the most dangerous trail in North America.
We couldn’t just let this one go unanswered. Mark, Joey and I rode up to the trail start to take a look, and Joey found himself in the right headspace – and he rode the line! This guy was having an amazing week!
I am so proud to know these guys and to be able to ride with them. I count them among the best friends I have, and I hope we know each other forever.
A quick trip to California allowed me to spend a couple of days riding my old hometown trails. St. Joe’s in Los Gatos, and some trails at Wilder Ranch were a great way to enjoy the west coast and get some dirt riding in until I got back to Durango. The Enchanted Loop is always a favorite of mine.
Perfect timing! The Durango trails in late March were slowly becoming rideable! I rode the dry areas at Horse Gulch over and over and checked out a stretch of trail named “Ben’s Down and Out”. This is a double black trail, and I rode it the wrong direction. It’s a descent, not a climb. But the lookout from the top is still majestic.
April
An opportunity presented itself. I was able to hop on a plane and make a quick run out to San Diego, California to visit my Sedoners pals! A spur of the moment decision landed us all at a Padre’s game and everyone was able to attend! Even John from way up north! Such a great time hanging out, enjoying the city, and getting a new hat with my initials on it!
While I was there I got to visit the YT Mill in San Clemente. Wow – this is a SHOWROOM! These guys do a lot of things right!
We also rode a local, pretty aggressive trail right in Mark’s backyard! It was a tough climb and a fast and super-techy downhill that woke us up!
After an evening of pinball, I joined up with Joey and rode the Vailocity trail system near Temecula. We e-biked a sixteen mile route that cut through the park on almost every major trail that the place had to offer.
We enjoyed tacos, I jumped in on a Segment podcast, and hopped my flight back home where I was greeted with snow! But it didn’t last and I was back on the bike pretty quickly.
Riding the Hyper Extended Loop in Durango is a double black diamond challenge that I have been simultaneously looking forward to and dreading. It is a long and grueling climb to the top of the ridge, and that’s just the beginning. This trail runs a knife’s edge along the rocky ridge that looks down upon town from over 1000 feet above. It is rocky, filled with tech, and it is very satisfying to complete.
In late April I drove to Tucson to visit my cousin Cass and to enjoy the warmer weather. The hills around the city are filled with incredible terrain and flora. On the drive home I stopped in the small east-Arizona town of Show Low. I rode the Ellsworth Hills trails and enjoyed the clean air and beautiful scenery.
May
Chet was traveling through the Durango area and we got to jump up into the local hills to ride the Log Chutes trails above Junction Creek. We were some of the first people to ride these trails in 2024 and the terrain was wet and rough!
These trails are considered to be some of the only true downhill trails in Durango. They get fast and rocky, and they have their technical sections that got the better of me a few times. Overall, it was a great riding day and I’ll be back.
May the Fourth be With You! Durango Trails held a Star Wars trail work day where Dennis and I worked on the Star Wars trail in Overend Park! Robert, from Beyond X, made the trek and joined in on the fun. After the trail was repaired, we jumped on our bikes and checked our work. Fast, flowy, and fun! That’s the Star Wars that I have grown to love!
The second half of May brought with it the first of three big road trips that I had lined up this year. The first trip would be through New Mexico and Texas, and into a few of the southern states. The second would head west to California and Hawaii. The third would be the big event of the year, taking me across all of America through Minnesota, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Arkansas, and back home through northern New Mexico.
The first stop on trip number one was in the town of Carlsbad. It was a fun and strange drive. I ended up in this dry New Mexico county seat where I rode La Cueva, a bit south-west of town. The trails are flat with a few rocky climbs and they navigate the hills among the oil rigs.
These rigs are how a lot of the locals put dinner on the table. It’s impressive work. This hard workin’ fellow gave me the five cent tour and I learned a lot about the local economy and how oil influences the way they make decisions around here. I thanked my host and continued down the trail with a little bit of appreciation for the people who help make it possible for me to take trips like this one.
The following days brought me east across west Texas. I must admit that this stretch of road was utterly desolate, industrial, and arid. If you can avoid it, I would suggest doing so. But it was direct and led me to a place I have wanted to ride for several years; Spider Mountain Bike Park!
I met up with Big John, from my days of riding the “Seth Trip” in Brevard. He and his Buddy Steve brought their e-bikes and we all rode the mountain together. I can’t thank them enough for showing me around. We were there on a day the lift was closed, so we paid the fee and used our e-bikes to get up the mountain.
Spider Mountain may not be very tall, but it packs a punch! The trails range from green to double-black and they hit every notch in between. There’s jumps, jank, and flowy sections that bring all the fun and challenge you could hope for from a park of this caliber.
And I finally got to see a Buc-ees!
My next big stop was in New Orleans. My friend Mike’s bachelor party was an amazing time with my pals! I stashed the bike in the back of the 4Runner and it sat in the parking garage while I lived it up and ate great food. On the last day, I pulled it out, hopped on, and did a lap around the city near the waterfront. New Orleans is a pretty slow town in the mornings, but riding is a great way to see its beauty and architectural vibrancy.
Driving north through Mississippi brought me to the Zion trails near the small town of Brookhaven. This appears to be a well-loved trail system by the locals. They have put a lot of work into the parking area and base, and they added some fun and exciting features to the trails! If it wasn’t for the humidity, I would have had a perfect day.
Memphis, here I come! I drove through this town on previous trips but I never stopped to ride. Well, that changed this year as I visited Nesbit Park in Bartlett. Every trail here is blue. It is mostly made up of cross-country dirt, and it has a few small ups and downs. It’s a lot of fun and a great way to turn the pedals if you live nearby and want to get a ride in. There’s also a pump track at the back of the park that was just a bit above my pay grade.
As I made my way west, I stopped in Russelville, Arkansas to ride Mount Nebo. Unfortunately, the rain started just as I arrived and I didn’t get to see the trails. Instead, I was greeted with tornado sirens. After the storm, I bugged out and headed north a day early.
It finally arrived – the long awaited Bentonville Bike Festival. This is one of the major national mountain bike events in the USA. Spanning three days, it celebrates everything mountain bike.
Josh and Agota joined me from southern California, and we also got to see Mark, Brett, and Eric! Additionally, I got to meet Scot from Gnarkansas and Johnnie U and from Mountain Biking Q&A! We rode, ate, drank, and partied every day while the storms rolled in.
Our sport makes for the best of friends.
Waking up on the final day of the bike fest was tough. We were up almost all night listening as the infamous Bentonville tornado blew through town right on top of our rental house. It took my 4Runner out of service, but I was one of the lucky ones. Many residents lost a lot more.
Of course, the festival’s last day was canceled. People scrambled to work together and save what they could after everything calmed down. The trails were closed, the power was out, and it was time to take a breath and begin the recovery process.
I paid for a replacement windshield out of pocket and limped back to Durango in the 4Runner. I called off my ride stops in Missouri and Kansas and spent some time at home trying to figure out what would come next.
The insurance company junked my 2021 TRD Off Road Premium. I got a decent check, but I really hated to see her go. This put me in the old GX for the trip to California. I immediately started thinking about what the best move would be to get me into a decent vehicle for the big east coast trip later in the year.
June
In between trips, my friend John and I floated the Animas river, in the heart of Durango, for River Days. Everyone in town jumps into a boat and braves the waters for a fun and casual float. There are parties all along the river, and the bravest challenge the rapids at the very end.
Aspen and I trekked out to California and kicked off Event II of the big 2024 road trip series! On the way out, I stopped at Gooseberry Mesa in Hurricane, Utah. I did a big loop on top of the rock and loved the views, the challenge, and the quiet. This was just a taste of that area’s trails, and I bet I’ll be back sooner rather than later to try out some more.
I arrived in Las Vegas to see Dead & Company at the Sphere! I dropped Aspen off at doggy daycare and met Johnny at the hotel so we could tear up the town and enjoy the show. We grabbed the pup and drove out the next morning to San Jose. A quick pit stop in Mammoth led us to great beer, awesome views, and a drive through Yosemite National Park!
Aspen was so excited!
A ride in Santa Cruz was a great stop in California. I got to ride a bit of Wilder and the UC trails. The ocean air smelled fresh and the air was warm.
Next stop: Hawaii! Linh and I took the kids out to the islands for a week. We loved the water and the weather, and the kids really took to the island life. While I was there, I took a day to rent a bike and ride the Pupukea Sunset Hill trails on O’ahu’s North Shore. This park was pretty and fun, but the price of entry was a bit too much to pay. Bring together the heat, the humidity, and the insane rocky trail entrance and it made the resulting dirt on the ridge not quite worth the effort. This day was absolutely brutal. Towards the end, I couldn’t wait for it to be over. Oh well, time to go back to the beach!
Back in California, I got a visit from Josh and John! Patrick joined us and we explored several of the riding areas in and around the south bay. Riding UC and Wilder in Santa Cruz introduced the guys to the beauty of the northern california coast.
The Barille and Flow trails at Soquel Demo involved some hard climbs and incredible descents that kept us tired and hungry. Braille has some pretty challenging tech, and the Flow trail is renowned for its fast, dynamic berms and turns.
The older I get, the more difficult the climb back to the car is.
While in California, I hopped up to Napa to see if a new 4Runner there would grab my interest. It was a 2024 TRD Pro in the new Terra colorway. I was replacing my old 4Runner friend that was damaged in the Bentonville tornado and I wanted black. But this looked pretty cool…
I bought it.
July
I broke in the new ride by driving it back to Durango with the bikes on the back. After arriving, I immediately got on the bike and spent some time riding the local dirt. Test Tracks, Horse Gulch, and Pass Creek prepared me for the start of my biggest road trip to date; Event III was the east coast adventure!
I hit the road with Dennis on July 12. We drove up through Breckenridge to Lander, Wyoming where I dropped him off at a multi-week NOLS backpacking trip. From there, I rode the local Bus Loop trails and headed east.
My first major stop on this trip was at the Hanson-Larsen Park in Rapid City, South Dakota. These trails live on the city’s edge and quickly rise up to meet the ridge and look down on the people below. The weather was perfect and the trails were fun! I especially loved the ride back down the mountain on the Rock Garden and Dark Forest trails. There was some good rocky chunk in there!
Minneapolis, Minnesota was a big city stop on the trip. After rolling into town, hit the mall and kicked back with my cousin Kyle, who’s made Minneapolis his home base. We soaked in the city vibes and caught up on life and everything that’s been going down in his new urban playground. This guy rode with me when we were younger, in the 90’s – we go way back. We brought our bikes out to Lebanon Hills Park in Apple Valley to play on the dirt and rocks.
This place was fun! It had some great chunk and a few really challenging, albeit short, sections. This part of the country is pretty flat. The climbs are short and sometimes punchy, and the descents are equally short and sometimes swoopy. The day’s elevation is earned slowly, but that doesn’t make it any less enjoyable. I’m gonna miss this guy!
My official next stop on the trip was in Duluth, but I stopped off at Cuyuna. Located in central Minnesota, this trail system is a well known place to get some great climbs in and to enjoy a few dashing and dynamic downhills. It was worth the detour!
Arriving in Duluth, I settled in and rode at Spirit Mountain. Just one of the options in town, this lift-access park is way more aggressive than I was expecting! Just look at those rocks! I did seven runs on the mountain, four of which contained double-black trails. I was just starting to get the feel for it when my body told me it was time to quit.
The next day I crossed into Wisconsin and then Michigan. My first time in either state. It was a warm and sunny drive up highway 26 and I arrived at Copper Harbor in the mid-afternoon.
I attempted to check in and get my door open at the motel. I checked into my room at the Copper Harbor Motel. After walking around this impressively tiny town, I met up with Chet! We grabbed a quick bite and worked on the bikes that evening.
The next day, we jumped into the shuttle and did laps on the Capper Harbor trails. We ripped down the hills and experimented on the wide variety of tech and flow. Every trail offered a challenge, and it was easy to get back to town to catch the next ride. This beautiful place seems like it was made just for mountain biking.
After driving out to the point, we stopped by East Bluff and had a quick look at the signage. This place looks fun – and Chet stuck around to ride it! But I was on a schedule and had to cut out of town to start the long drive to my next stop.
Racine, Wisconsin. This was a big stop for me. I was looking forward to finally meeting JT, the Dusty Dutchman! We had been in touch for a while online, and it made a lot of sense to make time to enjoy a few evenings and do a ride together out at the John Muir Trails.
Eleven miles doesn’t seem like a lot. Especially when there’s only 900 feet of elevation involved. But when you are riding behind a talented – and younger – group of riders, it can be exhausting! JT and I rode with a friend and raced through the Kettle Moraine trails at a pace that I’m simply not used to. I loved every single minute of it, but I was a sloppy wreck after the ride.
JT and Ryan were fantastic hosts. I loved the time I spent there, and I am so happy to make new friends! I look forward to future rides and great times together.
A stop in Sylvania, Ohio to see my pal Kevin, and then on to State College, Pennsylvania. A beautiful college town – no surprise there – but too much rain for a good, long ride. Eight miles at Galbraith Gap proved to be slippery and very wet. It was fun, but maybe it would be a bit drier further east.
I was excited to drive into New York City. I had only been once before and it felt like a place you don’t drive into unless you have to. Challenge accepted! I got a parking spot near the George Washington Bridge, stored the bike inside the back of the 4Runner, and grabbed a taxi into midtown. I was met by my friends Brian and Hector and my Brother Pete! We spent a couple of days exploring and parading around Manhattan together while we waited for the main event; the last Billy Joel performance of his residency at Madison Square Garden! It was a legendary night of great music and awesome friends.
On the last day in the Big Apple, I pulled my bike out of the truck and rode a small trail system at the north end of the city called Highbridge Park. I was in New York City, I felt it was important to find a place in town to ride the bike! Highbridge had a few janky trails, and it was fun, but the trails weren’t very well maintained.
That being said, it checked a pretty cool box and I felt good about moving on to Philadelphia to pick up my friend Patrick! He was joining me for the last two weeks of the road trip. We were going to ride some pretty cool trails together as we made our way back to Colorado.
Our first stop: Frederick Watershed in Maryland. We arrived early and didn’t quite know what to expect on these rocky trails. A few miles into the ride, we met a local rider, Jeff. He offered to give us a quick tour of these sometimes rocky trails!
We grabbed a beer afterward and checked out the downtown. Big bike mural!
Carvin’s Cove, near Roanoke, Virginia was a beautiful and serene open space where the climbs were rough and the air was wet. We could have canceled due to the rain, but we pressed on and did a short loop in the park. I’m glad we did – the ride down The Gauntlet was fast and the rocks were pretty serious. It was easy to let the confidence take over.
I wasn’t hurt, but it did rattle my cage a little bit.
The sky started out dark when we entered the Smoky Mountains, but we were rewarded with sunshine upon our arrival in Brevard. We grabbed a few local pints, visited a few shops, and checked into the rental. We were prepared to ride two days of local trails.
Our first day was a long but mellow climb into Pisgah Forest. We spent the first six miles climbing Headwater Road, huffing and puffing all along the way. We joined up with the top of the Cove Creek trail and realized that it may have been too wet to ride. Wet trails aren’t really a problem in this part of the country, but parts of the trail weren’t just muddy or slick, they were completely washed out. So a few sections were hiked, and the rest rolled really well.
On day two, we visited DuPont State Forest. Our eight mile loop took us up a rocky climb out to the Hooker Creek trail. A fun lap at the top, climbing Hickory Mountain meant that we got to ride the Ridgeline trail back down to the 4Runner! This is one of my favorites in the area!
August
Our original plan was to stop in Chattanooga, Tennessee and ride Raccoon Mountain. When we arrived, the humidity was over 90% and the forecast was heavy rain. No thanks! We grabbed some barbecue and got a good night’s rest for tomorrow’s drive to…
Bentonville!
Now… Bentonville and I, we have a little bit of a history. We agreed that, if this fine town could give me another shot at having an amazing riding weekend, I’d let the little things go – like millions of loud and annoying cicadas and post-tornado trail access. Bentonville, along with the greater region, are still really feeling the aftermath of May’s storm.
Patrick and I rented E-bikes and spent our first day on the trails riding Coler Preserve. About 75% of it was open, and we got to enjoy many of its amazing trails! Thunder dome, Esthers, Fire Line, Rock Soft, Applegate, and Rock Solid were just a few of the lines we ran in this amazing park! It’s easy to forget just how well the Bentonville trails lend themselves to adventuring on an E-bike. The quick climbs and aggressive downhills are a fantastic format for these riding machines. Man, this was a great day!
Riding down from the top of the hub at Coler was startling. Back in May, this was a dense and wooded canopy that protected riders from the sun and sheltered from the wind. After the bentonado blew through, it looks like about half of the trees got knocked over and the area is extremely bright and exposed by comparison. I’m sure it will grow back in after some time, but sunblock is a real concern here.
Day number two found us meeting up with Scot from Gnarkansas! We parked near the Castle and hit almost every line dropping in. Catapult, Medieval, Loam Wolf, and Dragon Scales exhausted us early, but we did our best to preserve some energy for what came next.
Scot showed us the Schroen Train trail, a Bentonville original where the rocky jank and fun jumps convinced us to climb back up for a second lap. After that, we rode out on Techgnar and called it a day.
Bentonville is always a treat. It’s fun to level up – these trails are real confidence builders. And it’s even more fun when a local comes along to share the day.
We left Bentonville and pointed the 4Runner towards Angelfire, New Mexico. I had been there before, but Patrick had never been. Unfortunately, we both felt pretty bad after the drive and we were in no shape to ride the next day. Was it something we ate?
We loaded up and drove to Durango. It was good to be home, and it was great to have some time to recover from that epic journey.
After some rest and a good meal, Patrick and I headed up country to ride Engineer Mountain. It was a great day to enjoy this trail. The climb was rough, as always, but the downhill was fast and rowdy!
Mid-August was filled with lots of local riding. Horse Gulch, Test Tracks, and a 40 mile ride up into Missionary Ridge filled the late Summer days with fun rides and beautiful views.
My pal John invited me for a few days of rafting on the Colorado River in eastern Utah. We floated Westwater and I got a taste of life on the river. This is a chill group of experienced rafters who meet a few times each year and take in the clean air, amazing wildlife, and technical waters. The river was flowing high and the hydraulics were pushing us every which way. Experienced hands guided us through the worst of it and turned it into a whole lot of fun!
September
September first was the day of the Durango Derby! No, I didn’t ride, but I got to cheer on the locals and visitors who came out to ride this enduro series that wound through the various trail systems we have in town.
The Ska Anniversary party popped up on the calendar and what seems like half the town showed up to celebrate. We partied with Save Ferris and drank fantastic brews with our pals until the sun went down.
Linh and I attended Telluride’s 30th Blues and Brews festival! This three day party is filled with the best beer and music you can imagine. Grace Bowers, Ben Harper, Joe Bonamassa, Samantha Fish, and Gary Clark Jr. rocked the weekend. We took the gondola down the mountain every morning and didn’t head back up until the party was over every single night.
I had to run out to California to see family, and I brought the bike! A quick stop in Nevada City got me a day of riding in with John where we rode Harmony Ridge’s awesome flow. And we ran into an old friend while we were cruising the dirt!
October
I got a few Bay Area rides in before I had to leave for home. Calero kept my heart pumping between beers, and Sierra Azul was a harder than expected ride up the Dogmeat trail on the E-bike. The air isn’t as clean as Colorado, but the coastal mountains are beautiful, regardless of where you’re coming from.
On the way home, I stopped in San Clemente, in southern California to meet up with some riding buddies! The Segment, UncagedMTB, Unspoken MTB, Josh and I rode the YT Decoys out and assisted Ryden Dirty, who drove out from Arizona for the day! He demoed the new Decoy SN and loved every minute of it. We tore up the hills around the YT Mill on the San Onofre trail system. The dusty, rocky jank was fast and insane!
The next day Mark, Josh, Brett and I hit Santiago Oaks! I had been hearing about this place for years and it was great to finally see it in person! The trails were pretty dusty, but they rode fast!
Upon my return to Durango, I jumped back in the 4Runner and drove to Denver to attend the Great American Beer Festival! As a proud representative of Carver Brewing, my favorite hometown brewery in Durango, I got to experience the GABF party from the perspective of a brewer, rather than a mere attendee. We toured the hundreds of tasting booths, enjoyed the awesome costumes and displays, and met the people behind some of the best brews in the nation – and the world!
It was the biggest beer bash I have ever attended.
On the way back home I stopped in Golden Colorado to ride a few trails. White Ranch was recommended to me by a guy at Yeti Bikes, a local Golden business, and I endured the long and tiring climbs up Belcher Hill so that I could enjoy the fun and fast descents down Maverick and Longhorn. This is a great trail system and I think it’s a must-see if you have a day to ride the hills west of Denver.
The town of Moab, Utah is filled with amazing and beautiful rides. Some of the newest dirt for mountain biking is in the strip of land that stretches between the Slickrock riding area and the Whole Enchilada. It’s called the Sand Flats Recreation Area and it follows alongside the dirt road that winds into the mountains above town. A new friend and riding buddy, Scott, invited me to join him on an exploration of the area. We rode out on Falcon Flow and let the roads guide us into the sandstone hills. We rode up Lazy Man’s Road to the top of Hawk’s Glide trail. This beautiful desert singletrack wound through the sandstone and scrub. It was a fast and rocky descent with a pretty techy morsel at the end!
Scott is an accomplished rider who has great technical skill and incredible endurance. I look forward to the next time we get to ride together!
November
The Winter months were setting in and the weather was changing. The signs of the season were making themselves known, and that made for icy mornings and wet trails. It wasn’t a very productive riding month.
It had been a week since the last snow, and the trails were a little bit drier. A quick ride out at Test Tracks kept the blood flowing while I waited for ski season to start.
Chicago! I took my girl out on a date to the windy city. We visited this amazing place to spend some time together and to relax a little bit before the holiday season really kicked in. We walked the waterfront and met some great friends at a pretty good restaurant for dinner!
Back home, another ride at Horse Gulch was a welcome distraction from the impending cold. The rides are becoming much more difficult to plan with the extremely short days and the uncomfortable chill, but I wanted to get time in so that I would miss the Durango dirt a little bit less when I need to wait for the Spring thaw.
December
December was pretty slow. I didn’t get a lot of rides in, at least not in Colorado, but I did get a chance to hit the ski slopes up at Purgatory Resort, about a half hour north of town.
In the mean time, we made the most of Durango’s winter wonderland.
I was not able to ride any trails, the weather made that impossible, but I did manage to travel up to Purgatory Ski Resort and get some turns in.
I got a few small rides in on local trails, but the cold was always present and made for some uncomfortable time on the bike. But hey – anything is better than sitting at home all day. I need footage to edit!
It felt good to stay active. It felt good to stay active and to spend some time with friends.
We packed up and headed out to California for the holidays! Dennis, Linh, and I – and Aspen too – headed west for a few weeks of family time and fun with friends. The air is just a bit warmer at sea level and it allowed me to get in a little bit of time out on the trails.
The Santa Cruz trails were, as expected, a bit on the wet side, but a lot of fun!
Patrick and I pushed the pedals up and down the mountains. The climbs were rough, the descents were thrilling, and the beers were delicious!
Between fun and family, I squeezed a few solo rides in. The sunlight felt great! It got chilly, but at least it wasn’t frozen!
We loaded up the last of the stuff from California and prepared for a slow January drive back home to Colorado. I’ll be back to explore more west coast trails in 2025!
2025
It would be pretty much impossible to repeat my 2024 list of events. Let’s be honest, this will probably end up being my most active year on the bike in my lifetime. It would be pretty difficult to out-do this list of places, faces, and accomplishments.
That being said, the new year holds a lot of promise and will not be without its highlights! There’s a chance I’ll make it out to Sedona for the 2026 MTB fest. If I make it, I’ll be riding with Mia and the Women’s MTB Network! They are the best way to break out of the winter funk and get back on the bike in the new riding season.
2025 will be the year I make it a point to get out to southern California for Ride and Shine. This is a mental health awareness event put on by Skypark and features Adam Mock, The Segment, and many other mountain biking luminaries. Benefiting the Making Spirits Bright foundation, the event celebrates triumphs over mental health issues and acts as a place where the MTB community can find support and explore resources on the journey towards physical and mental fitness.
I’ll be traveling to Wisconsin in the late summer to visit my pal JT, the Dusty Dutchman, for Creator Camp! I missed its inaugural year, but this year’s event is sure to be as epic as the first, if not even more so! Creators from all over the region and the nation will gather to discuss content creation techniques, collaboration ideas, and to compete in a variety of ways that are designed to push the limits of what we are capable of on the bike as well as behind the keyboard. It’s sure to be an amazing experience!
There will undoubtedly be other trips, but it’s tough to say what may or may not happen in the coming year. I can say for sure that the content will continue to roll out – at least bi-weekly – and I’ll continue to improve my skills and storytelling. Damn, I love this lifestyle!
Thank you for tuning in and riding along with all the crazy adventures! It means a lot to me that I can share these great times with you. The rides are fun and fulfilling on their own, but being able to share my experiences with my friends, both online and in person, is what really makes it all worthwhile.
Until the spring thaw, I’ll bid you a temporary farewell. Feel free to reach out and chat, and remember to always make time to climb onto the bike and explore a new trail.
I’ll see you when I see you!
