#followcamfriday with Eliot Jackson. Enter to win HERE. All of the proceeds will be donated to the Grow Cycling Foundation. 

A couple of months ago, I had the pleasure of riding with the legend that is Eliot Jackson on some of his home trails in Simi Valley California. In spite of the fact that Eliot actually forgot his shoes and was bouncing down the hill in his tennis shoes, standing on his clip pedals, Eliot was still able to humble me with his skill and natural talent on a bike. 

When I heard about the foundation earlier this year, I felt compelled to try and do something to help raise awareness. Cycling has given me so much in my life and my only hope is to be able to present these same opportunities to people in marginalized communities that may otherwise never have the chance. Everyone deserves the chance be the next Eliot Jackson. GROW is a step in the right direction.

The first initiative of GROW is to build a 30,000ft Velosolutions pumptrack in Los Angeles, California. The goal is to host pumptrack Worlds in 2022 and build community and access through this asset. Giving kids a safe and inclusive environment to ride and learn what makes cycling so special is absolutely important and truly has the power to change lives. Thus, creating a path for people of all genders and races and backgrounds to get access to the sport. The end goal is to build a sustainable program that can be replicated throughout the country. More people on bikes!

Seat-bounce goals. Eliot is an absolute legend and wonderful human being. He was kind enough to show me a track that he grew up digging and riding on, a track that would eventually mold him into being one of the best American World Cup racers in history. Witnessing his sense of pride in this place and the history that shaped  him into the man he is today was humbling. This really proves that all you need is a dream and a bike and you can make anything happen in this world. Providing a place to start the process is essential.  

Over the next 4 weeks, I will be hosting a campaign to raise funds for Grow Cycling. My partners who have supported me over the years have been generous in donating product and experiences for me to add into the giveaway. Each week I will announce more prizing. I have some amazing things to tell you about in the coming weeks as we reveal prizes courtesy of Yeti Cycles, Maxxis, Rockshox and Smith Optics. All of the winners will be announced on Jan1st. 

For the grand prize, Yeti has been kind enough to donate any full-suspension frame they currently make to the lucky winner. This will come with a Super Deluxe Ultimate rear shock, courtesy of my friends over at Rockshox. As if this wasn't sweet enough, the frame will be getting a custom GROW inspired paint job from Tony Baumann (@maderadbytony) The winner will have a chance to work with the designer and place a quote or something of importance on the final design. What a time to be alive!

ENTER HERE

Keep checking back to see what the next prize is each week. The end goal is get as many eyes on this campaign as possible and get as much funding donated to GROW as possible so I would encourage you to share this with your friends. Thank you!

#followcamfriday riding Longhorn, Denver's Directional DH trail with James Weingarten in 2020

This is my first time riding Longhorn in a couple of years, since Jefferson County officially made the lower section "bikes only" and directional in 2018. I am very happy to report that this track is getting faster and more rough than ever. Just the way we like it. I cannot say it enough, our user group needs more of this. It drastically eliminates user conflict and gives us a place to ride to our full potential. A huge "thank you" from mountain bikers everywhere. 

A skiff of snow in the shadows and mild temperatures makes for hero dirt, this time of year. Once if freezes again, this makes for death-ice, so choose your timing wisely. Death-ice, like grab the brakes and go faster, death-ice. Sub optimal, but always engaging. We timed this lap properly and were rewarded with some tacky bits and a lack of traffic. Well played. 

Be like James, always jump the road. It is more like a driveway, or a cart-path. But tarmac, nonetheless always needs to be jumped. Never not. 

This represents the final episode of season 5 of FollowCamFriday. What a journey it has been. I would have never imagined that this would grow into a full-time situation and am eternally thankful for James and all of my friends who have been a part of this project since it began. My goal has always been to provide quality riding videos in hopes of motivating you to get out there and enjoy your time one the bike. Thank you for being here and supporting my end goal. 

Season 6 is on the horizon and I have some new and exciting things in the works. Colorado will always be my home, but I am definitely looking forward to a return to global normalcy in 21 and a return to the travel and exploration that has keep me motivated to ride for so many years. I am missing my Canadian friends the most right now, fingers crossed for 21. 

As I type these words on Thanksgiving, I truly have much to be grateful for. Cycling and the friends I have made along the way have made my current life possible. I have amazing support from my industry partners to pursue my dreams and have been able to motivate people to ride their damn bikes. At the end of the day, this means the most to me. Just go ride. Appreciate every minute. 

Thank you for all of the support over the last 5 years. Go ride your bike. 

Nothing is free in this life. Especially not lunch. #followcamfriday snacking on jank with James Weingarten in Grand Junction, Colorado

After last week's episode from the Lunch Loops, it was painfully obvious that a second helping was desperately needed. Sometimes a second lunch is called for. Until the belly is full, satisfaction is not attained. 

This photo perfectly sums up why I ride mountain bikes. The drone has been an amazing tool to show the riding, along with the scenic backdrop, to tie everything together. Amazing perspective. 

Grand Junction built this new section of bike path to keep people off of the road on the way up towards the monument. Good call GJ. This photo shows two very different trails, but it is definitely striking how similar they look. I would say that when planning infrastructure, blending into the surroundings is paramount. Kudos GJ. 

This section of Free Lunch reminds me of Hangover in Sedona. Except, traversing on the opposite side. And more yellow... Pretty similar feel though, riding under the wave of rock. If you ever find yourself out here in the rain, this is an proper place to seek shelter. You won't actually be able to ride if it is raining due to the bentonite in the soil, but at least you will be dry as you carry your bike out of the desert. 

This was James Weingarten's first lap on most of these trails. It is always a pleasure watching someone ride a new section that I am very familiar with already. Watching someone else's brain process trail is basically witnessing art being created right before your very eyes. The canvas of rock provides ample space for expression and inspiration. Watching James ride lines that I had never even noticed always puts a smile on my face. 

Another line that I had never considered before. Why not carve high on the rock and huck to flat, back into the trail. Makes perfect sense to me. Outside of the box is where you want to be. Be like James. Remove yourself from the box. 

Is this desert or dessert season? #followcamfriday packing on the pounds leading into Winter with James Weingarten.

Desert season means different things to different people. For me it is a time to escape the high country before ski season actually takes hold and enjoy some mild temperatures, just to the west of me. This also happens to be dessert season, as an extra portion or three of ice cream will go a long way to keeping my meager frame warm in the coming months. Another portion of pie please. 

This is a photo of James trying to break his rear wheel. Oh, the magical sound it made as he smashed his poor rig straight into this maneuver. It was music to my ears. Immediate smiles and laughter followed. There is just something about watching your friends try and destroy their bike that will never get old to me. Too good. Fortunately James is very light and catlike, so the wheel survived. More dessert for James. 

Eagle's Wing is a special bit of trail. I would imagine that most opt for Free Lunch at the top, but Eagle's has that old-school jank that always puts a smile on my face. As an added bonus, you could definitely fall off of a cliff on this bit. Now I am in my happy place. Danger ranger. It is worth noting that this is first-run for James. You only get one first, so you had better make the most of it. 

James took this one deep. Disregard for bike and body, deep. Good man, that James. Always entertaining the camera that is chasing him and making last minute adjustments accordingly. To be fair,  this was first-go for James, so I definitely respect the fact that he went sending, instead of "taking it easy" Be like James. Always cary way too much speed everywhere and always pull up when you see an obstacle. Safety third. 

As I type these words, I fully acknowledge that I am very lucky to live near some of the best dirt jumps in the world. I am spoiled, Frisco is absolutely World-Class. How do I put this nicely.... These jumps are... Dangerous? Sandy? Need help? Yup, all of those things. The city should really hire someone to maintain these things. They are honestly dangerous and could benefit greatly from a makeover. This could be such an asset to Grand Junction. Especially considering all of the infrastructure improvements to the parking lot, signage, and bike path. Maintaining these properly should be a no-brainer. Do it for the children. Seriously. 

All of that said, we didn't come here to dirt jump, we came here to get some of the best afternoon light a man could ever gaze upon. And tech. Yeah, we also like that. If we could get some lightbro with a side of tech, lunch would be very satisfying. As outdoor dining is the norm now,  we did not leave disappointed. Fat and happy actually. 

I did ski some powder this week at WolF Creek, just 1 day after riding my bike in the desert. Colorado things. There are not too many places in the world where you can have ultimate ski and bike conditions in such close proximity. You are okay, Colorado. I might just stick around for a bit longer. Maybe I will make another ski episode. 

Does it still count as #followcamfriday if I am not following anyone? Bucking the trend on Kong

I have been seeing a bunch of quality content coming out of the Virgin \ Hurricane area in the last few weeks. Desert season is rapidly approaching for Pete and I, and Southern Utah is definitely due for a visit. I shot this in 2019, you know, back when things were "normal". Interesting fact, if you are riding by yourself, you can't fall victim to Covid. I guess I was social distancing before it was trending.  Always stay ahead of the curve friends. 

It was well below freezing when I started this ride. After parking the van at the top the night before, dropping into Flying Monkey was more than enough to get the juices flowing. The three shots of espresso also may have had something to do with that. Just me, my trail bike, and my autonomous drone. What else does a man need nowadays... You can capture footy for the boys without any boys. So many cameras to charge. 

Kong is no joke and definitely warrants a proper DH rig and full face helmet. On my next trip, I will bring both of those things, but as they say in racing.... run what you brung. What could go wrong? Trail bikes are pretty darn capable if you ask me.  It should also be noted that racers win races, not cars. And, on the plus side,  if I knock myself out, my drone will at least capture the unpleasantness. Maybe it will go for help. Maybe the footage of my demise will be recovered many years from now, when someone finds my drone laying in a canyon, memory card intact. 

All of the riding shots in this blog are courtesy of Tito Tomasi. We rode this together a couple of weeks prior to filming this edit. Tito travels the globe to ride as many places as possible and documents the journey along the way. We first met at the Andes Pacifico in Chile, and have been friends ever since. You can check out his YouTube channel HERE if you are looking for some inspiration. Tito crushes. 

Legend has it that Josh Bender build this masterpiece. I have not seen Josh in years, but he did live nextdoor to me for a summer, many years ago. True story. I happened to break my ankle that summer and he came by to check on me each and every day and succeeded in putting a smile on my face every time. Cheers brother, love your work. 

There is a reasonably large winter storm coming in this weekend. I may just ski a day or two at Wolf Creek, because that is what you do when you live in Colorado and southwest flow starts turning on. After that, the digging will be prime in Southern Utah. The question is..... Can I fit all of my ski gear, 2 bikes, shovels, and still have room for Pete in my van? Only time will tell. Van Jenga commence. 

#followcamfriday bringing a canon to the knife fight with Noah Sears in Granby, Colorado

There is a current trend that the bicycle industry seems to be getting behind. Riding bikes with an insufficient amount of travel is now cool again, according to the Pinkbike audience anyway..... Yes, mountain bikes are amazingly good right now, and you can probably ride your 110 bike down the Whistler Bike Park, but.... Do you really want to do that? Really?

If I am being honest, we were a tad overbiked for this one. It isn't as much of a travel thing in my mind, but more of a geometry situation. Slack bikes suck to turn in the flats. There, I said it. If feels like parking my van in the "compact car" spot. It will fit, but it isn't going to feel very good...  I am less concerned with the climbing efficiency, and even less concerned with weight. But I will say that a 68° head angle just feels so much snappier while dodging aspen trees on flatter grades. All of this said, I am certainly not complaining, I will ride any bike, anywhere, and have a smile on my face. Damn these flat trails!!!! lol

I am a man who doesn't mind pushing a bit of extra weight on the climbs. It just makes you stronger in my opinion at the end of the day. Unless you are entering an XC race, there is no real reason to have a 21 pound race machine. They just aren't that fun to ride. It should also be noted that riding XC tires and wheels is a recipe for disaster if fun is your focus. But that said, a 64° enduro bike feels a bit "poochy" on the flatter bits. What is a man to do? We are so spoiled right now. These are not real problems, just bike nerd thoughts that enter my brain at times. It is a good thing for me that Noah was not on his XC bike, because he would have torn my legs off. Hurt locker situation. 

Noah and I filmed this a while back, before the Colorado wildfire situation had escalated. Grand County is taking it hard currently. Despite recent snows, the Cameron Peak and East Troublesome fires are continuing to burn. If you are interested in donating to fire relief in Grand County, GO HERE. Several hundred buildings and residences have been destroyed, with many being displaced and evacuated.  A HUGE thanks to the people fighting to keep our public lands from burning. 

Fall was short-lived this year. We are now in that holding pattern that I like to call "drinking season" . As if I needed an excuse. Drinking Season sets in when snow closes the high country to riding, but doesn't produce enough white stuff to actually go skiing. With no major storms headed our way in the foreseeable future, the current foot in the alpine will be the snowpacks first and most stubborn weak layer. It always is. But that is a different story for another time. I am headed to the desert. Drinking Season.

#followcamfriday riding Herman Gulch with Jank Master James. 

Definition of Jank- Awkward, lacking flow, nonsensical trail construction, almost unrideable, not intended to be ridden smoothly on a bicycle. Jank. Trying to make sense of ridiculously eroded, and over-used hiking trails is an art. Live for it!

Of course, this trail is a 100 year old hiking route and was never intended to be ridden on a bicycle. That said, I have ridden a trail or two in my day, and this one has to be the most abused, and best examples of over-use, and lack of maintenance in the state. Maybe that is why I love it so much. It's close proximity to I70 has left this as the easiest option for hikers to get into the "forest".  Covid had exacerbated this trend. 

It is worth noting that as of October 21st, this trail and the entire Arapahoe and Roosevelt National forests are closed to prevent the further spread of wildfire.  Humans can't be trusted unfortunately and are banned from the woods. Basically, the entire Front Range is closed currently, so you are going to have to wait till the spring to give this one a go. Props to the people fighting the fires in our state and protecting the land. Please check into the local restrictions if you intend to ride anywhere in the state right now. Interesting times, to say the least. 

I prefer to ride this one from Jones Pass, but there was a closure in place on the CDT at the top of the divide due to the Williams Fork fire. So many fires.... We did this as an out-and-back, and it was still worth the effort to unlock the jank. Herman Gulch is basically a pile of anacondas with some gravel and rock mixed in. My happy place.

James is always keen for an adventure and keeps his hydration levels in check. Especially before stacking it to flat. Hydration is never more important. Herman Lake is likely very cold in the background. I do not recommend that you put your body into it. It does however make for a tranquil moment amongst the rocks.

You will notice that the aspens in this picture are devoid of leaves. This is due in part to the high winds the state has been experiencing for the last 2 weeks (also the reason the fires are spreading rampantly), but mostly due to the fact that winter is just around the corner. Colorado is setting up for a reasonable winter storm this weekend and I would be surprised if the alpine is rideable again this year. And so the cycle goes. Make the most of it friends. I am stoked to ski. 

#followcamfriday riding Suicide in So Cal with my homies from Worldwide Cyclery.

Strange as it sounds, this was my first time anywhere near Southern California. The crew over at Worldwide Cyclery was stoked to show me one of the local classics, Suicide. 

Just a touch of smoke and pollution make for epic sunsets. Health levels aside, this was one to remember. Jeff Cayley, owner of Worldwide, grew up around here, pushing his DH rig up this track to bang out laps. Now we have bicycles that pedal to the top and ride down faster than an a proper Dh rig from 10 years ago ever could. My how times have changed.  

Jeff and Jared enjoy tequila as much as I do.
​You can check out a podcast that we recorded while I was at the shop HERE

I also recorded a video for the Worldwide Youtube Channel in which we talk tech and, wait for it.... Drink tequila. Would you expect anything less? Watch the video HERE

I will have to come back and visit again when there is some moisture present in the ground. Most of the forest is also closed due to the wildfire situation, so another trip is definitely in order when things settle down a hair. 2020 par for the course. I'll be back!Perhaps if the global travel ban is still in order this winter, I will make some time to come here and train.

That afternoon light though.... Nothing better than running trains with the boys. 

This was my first trip out of Colorado since Covid. It was a bit strange, if I am being honest. I was self contained in my van, but still, things just felt different. Maybe this is just how LA always feels. It's probably less crowded now, thanks to Covid, but there is still an inordinate number of humans everywhere. I was passed by 100 Teslas while I was cruising at 80 in the middle lane. Complete culture shock, coming from small-town Colorado. 

That's good roost. 

#followcamfriday on segment 8.2 of the Colorado Trail with James Weingarten.

Fall happened amazingly fast in the high-country this year. It seemed as though the window of aspen color was shorter this season. The alpine still has a pleasant color to the ground, but it won't be long until these mountains are covered in snow. I am looking forward to some skiing in the coming months. It's not worth fighting the seasons. All you can do is make the most of what you have in front of you. 

I have always ridden Searle as and out and back, starting at Copper Mountain and climbing up to about 12,200, before sending it back down. The upper bit of alpine singletrack is nothing short of amazing, and well worth the 3000ft grunt to get up there. 

Janet's Cabin is hidden in the forest, as the trail rises above treeline. We stopped, searching for snacks, but the place was locked. This is a popular hut to rent in the winter, with skiing opportunities right out the door. It's way too nice to be just sitting up here locked in the middle of the woods. Very strange. 

The kinnickinnic was glowing in this particular section. Visually stunning, to say the least. Kinnickinnic. Say that ten times fast...

Somehow, James and I managed to each break a spoke within about 30 seconds of trail. No sooner had I wrapped mine around another one and carried on down the trail, than James immediately matched my effort, breaking one of his own. In all of my years of riding, I have never seen two spokes break on two different bikes in the course of 50ft of trail. Reasonably amazing.  I guess that is a testament to the terrain and how hard we are actually pushing these bikes. 

Bring back Slalom!

Just meadow-skipping along. The lower section of Searle is nuclear-fast with amazing sight lines. Hold on tight and jump over sharp things. Rules of the game. You will know when you do not adhere to the rules. 

Get out there this weekend! Our time in the alpine is limited. There is no time like the present. 

#followcamfriday fall color extravaganza continuing from Breckenridge, Colorado with James Weingarten. 

It seems as though every time I ride in Breck, I find myself in the alpine on Miners Creek or a section of the Colorado Trail, or Wheeler. That said, the town trails are amazingly fun in their own right. Throw in some peaking aspens, and it doesn't get much better actually. 

You will notice that James is wearing his down coat. Winter is rapidly approaching friends. Make the most of these crisp fall days. It won't be long before we are pursuing different sports in these mountains, and I am traveling to ride my bicycle. 

I am currently in Southern California, working on a project that will see the light of day in the coming weeks. It is well over 100 degrees in the shade. The contrast, going from this, to sweating my ass off is surreal. From down coats to the the beach in a couple of days. How strange. 

Found some jank. Choose your adventure wood situation on B Line. I took the skinny, James took the high line and we both rode the drop. Some sort of synchronized ballet shit. 

When people think about mountain biking in their dreams, I would imagine that this sort of scene is what they are looking for. Blasting through a tunnel of aspens on aptly named, "Aspen Alley". I wonder why they named it that.... This is as quintessential Colorado as you can get. I mean, would you just look at it. James loved this section so much that he needed to ride it on his back wheel. #backwheellove 

So grab yourself a PSL and get out there this weekend. The fall vibes are strong and these trails are not going to ride themselves. I am currently researching pumpkin Old-Fashioned recipes. Fall is in the air.