#followcamfriday driving cars and riding bikes with Alex Petitdemange in Phoenix, Arizona

This was my first time ever riding as a passenger on an actual track. I only got a little bit car sick and was absolutely amazed by the driving skill and commitment by Alex. Everything makes perfect sense now. 

Alex has been racing cars for most of his life now and much of the skill that he displays on the track crosses over to how he rides his bike. Seeing the two sports influence each other was rather surreal. It is true with both disciplines, exit speed is everything. Limit of grip is the determining factor and slight mistakes will end in disaster. 

Alex's friend Eliot let us borrow his M3 for the day so that he could do some hot laps with me in the car. Alex taught me a  handy trick before we got started. Basically, put the seat all the way back, engage the seatbelt so that it locks and then push the power seat all the way forward until the seatbelt is basically choking you. This is proper practice in a car without a harness. I was amazed at the g forces and at how much my collar bones hurt after a few laps. Driving a car like this is exhausting. 

In addition to racing himself, Alex has been doing some teaching and helping others learn how to drive better. We did a handful of laps in the 550hp M3, the most powerful car Alex has ever driven at the track. Despite my fat ass sitting in there, he was able to set some of his fastest lap times. Barf. 

After we got good and car sick, it only made sense to ride some bicycles at South Mountain, just down the road from the track. Multi Sporting at it's finest. It takes the brain a minute to adjust from car mode to bike mode as it turns out. That said, the resemblance is uncanny and is is glaringly obvious that Alex is good at racing anything that has wheels. 

While you can't exactly nose-pick a car, you certainly brake hard into turns and accelerate out with speed. This is what works on the bike too. Every set-up is rewarded with amazing exit speed. Just like on the bike, races are won in the turns. Poetry in motion. 

South Mountain has a special kind of anger in the ground. It has not rained in months and the rocks are loose and unrelenting. This is where tires go to die. Keep your body off the ground and lean away from the cacti. Great success. 

#followcamfriday chasing around Mr. loves back wheel in Sedona, Arizona

Not gonna lie, I am pretty happy to be back in the land of the red rocks, riding with Lars and Frenchie. Getting the quaranteam back together just in time. As it just so happens, Jeff Kendall-Weed was in town, so we got a couple of rides in. 

Sneak attack! 
Every Thursday at Posse Grounds Park, there is a phenomenon known as Yappy Hour.  Despite there being a sign on the fence prohibiting dogs from entering the field, Sedona is okay with 1 hour of chaos per week to run the doggos. Grab the poop bags and leave the leashes in the car. Pete is getting too old for this and he will basically sleep for 2 days straight after this puppy party. Live for it. 

Jeff's riding style is unique, all his own. It's like Braydon Bringhurst and James Weingarten had a baby. They named it Kendall-Weed and the back wheel saw most of the love. The world is your oyster, make the most of it. Slickrock skate park things. Nothing better. 

As I type these words, I find myself in Tucson. Don't worry Sedona, I will be back for you once I break some rocks and smash some parts, a bit further south. The riding in Tucson makes Sedona look smooth. Should have brought more tires... 

The Hogs are some of my favorite trails anywhere. Crowded and blown out, but fun nonetheless. Christmas week through New Year's was complete chaos in Sedona. Not that I would expect anything less, but I was amazed by the crowds. Fortunately, there are plenty of places to hide. Stay away from the vortexes and you will be dialed. Jeff has all the energy he needs, so we were able to avoid the masses for the most part. 

I actually want to go skiing, but it isn't really snowing quite yet where I live in Colorado. Fortunately I have this house on wheels that holds my dog and some bikes and some tequila and some snacks. Priorities. I honestly wish I had brought my road bike to do a lap on Lemmon in Tucson. I had the pleasure on 2019 of riding the finest climb in the United States. I will return. 

Keep it locked right here for more adventures from the desert. I will be here until further notice, or until I break all of the parts and burn through all of the tires. Whichever comes first. Then, I will go skiing. I am truly spoiled. 

#followcamfriday wishing everyone a Happy New Year! Let's put this dumpster fire of 2020 behind us and ride forward into 21. 

Last week I had the pleasure of spending some time at the original Rampage site in Virgin, Utah. My how far the sport has come. The things these guys are doing today in these hills is certainly humbling. This is where it all began. Props the the pioneers of freeride for pushing bikes and bodies in the name of progressing the sport. No, I will not be going out for Rampage in 21. Way above my pay grade. 

It is reasonably amazing what you can get away with on a trail bike nowadays. Real tires, big fork, and a coil will buy you some confidence. I really need to come back here with my 165 and actually send some shit. There is only room for so much crap in the van. I can't be taking Pete's bed up with my DH rig. Puppy priorities. Truth be told, if I had my DH bike, things may get dangerous. I don't trust myself with that thing sometimes. My 165 makes me make bad decisions. What can I say? 

I want to formally thank everyone who entered to win my Season Of Giving campaign over the last month to benefit the Grow Cycling Foundation. Props to my partners Yeti Cycles, Rockshox, Smith Optics, and Maxxis for donating prizing and experiences. All of the winners have been  announced over on my Youtube page- WINNERS. 
Congrats you lucky dogs! 

I have to say that I feel very fortunate to have had a reasonable year, despite the global chaos. The bike industry is crushing it as people are finding more ways to get outside in these pandemic times. It's a curse and a blessing but I have luckily come out on the right side of things overall. I am truly sorry for those that have not. I have just been lucky with my profession and positioning. I fully realize that others are not in the same boat. Let's put 2020 behind us and move into the new year with optimism. Just keep riding forward, don't look back. 

I have never been one to make resolutions. This year has taught me a ton and made me reflect on my circumstances more than ever before. I have things really good if I am being honest. Yes, I work my ass off, but at the end of the day, I have it really, really good. No question. I hope to use my voice and reach to give more back to the sport in 21 and bring some awareness to organizations and causes that need a helping hand. If I can leave this sport better than I found it, I call that a win. Go ride your bike. 

#followcamfriday ticking off some of the freeride classics in Virgin, Utah with Braydon Bringhurst.

This is the final week of our Season of Giving campaign to benefit the Grow Cycling Foundation. We have raised over 30K so far. Huge thanks to my friends over at Yeti, Rockshox, Smith and Maxxis for donating product and experiences for me to give away to raise awareness and funding for GROW. All of the winners will be announced in next week's episode as we usher in the New Year, and bid farewell the the dumpster fire that is 2020. So far we have the custom painted Yeti frame, 3 sets of tires and a zoom call with Greg Minnaar from Maxxis, a fork of the winners choice and a zoom call with a suspension tech courtesy of my friends at Rockshox, and now Smith is offering up a full riding kit, choice of helmet, performance eyewear, and lifestyle sunnies to the lucky winner. What a time to be alive. Thank you for entering! Each entry gets Grow one step closer to their first initiative of building a pump track in Los Angeles, to offer cycling opportunities to marginalized communities that may not otherwise get the chance to fall in love with bicycles. Thank you for supporting this wonderful initiative! ​
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Freeride is alive and well in the hills in Virgin. This is one of the last places in the US where a proper DH rig is a better choice. We are making things work on the trail bikes, but make no mistake, this is DH rig country. It is really refreshing seeing people in jeans and 10 year old clapped-out downhill bikes absolutely sending it. A pleasant reminder that technology is great and all, but you can still have just as much fun on a bike with 26" wheels and no drivetrain. These are my kind of people, riding for the right reasons. 

The views looking into Zion National Park are something to behold. There is just something special about the afternoon light in the desert that keeps me coming back for more. 

As I type these words, I am sitting in my van in front of Whole Foods in Sedona, stealing wifi and watching the Christmas chaos from my bubble.  Throngs of masked up tourists going about their daily lives as if we weren't in the middle of a pandemic. Please remember to look out for one another this holiday season. Christmas is a privilege. Let's not kill all the old people just so that we can uphold religious tradition.  Look out for your fellow man. I lost a family member to Covid this week. 

#followcamfriday with Braydon Bringhurst. Uphill ninja beast mode engage. 

In all of my years of riding bikes, I have never seen anything quite like this. In addition to being the nicest guy on the trail, Braydon is an absolute ninja. Barrel Trail is incredibly hard by most people's standards on the way down. Most cannot clean all of the features. Braydon rides them in the opposite direction. Scared of that 6ft drop? Try riding up it. I was in awe. 

Further evidence that there is no "right way" to ride a bicycle. Everyone seems very concerned with placing labels on things. Enduro, XC, DH, whatever discipline comes to mind. Braydon transcends all of this. He does his thing, and does it well. I always jokingly use the word "upduro". Well, maybe if you have to label things, you can call it that. Braydon doesn't care what you call it, he just loves riding his bike. More than most, and in a very different way than most are capable of. Myself included. I was humbled. 

I have never witnessed such commitment or raw determination to clean an unrideable section in all of my life. "Uphill challenge"  is an understatement. This is an uphill grudge match, fist-fight of sorts. Braydon will win. 

This marks week 3 of my "Season of Giving" campaign to benefit The Grow Cycling foundation. Go HERE to enter. My friends over at RockShox have been kind enough to donate a fork of the winner's choice for the giveaway, along with a Zoom chat with a suspension tech to get things all dialed in. What a time to be alive. Big thanks to the wonderful people at RockShox. 

Since beginning this campaign a couple of weeks ago, we have raised almost 27K for GROW. Big thanks to all who have entered to win. So far we have a custom painted Yeti frame, some tires from Maxxis and a zoom call with Greg Minnaar, and now a fork of the winner's choice. Coming next week, we will announce additional prizing from Smith Optics. That is a pretty sweet stack of radness to raffle off to the lucky winners. The suspense is building. 

So remember this, next time you head out the door to go for a ride. Forget everything you think you know about riding bikes, and just go have fun. You might surprise yourself. Try something new. Don't let "norms" define your riding, You do you. After all, riding bikes is fun, and no one should tell you how to fun. Enjoy the ride. 

#followcamfriday week 2 of our Season of Giving to benefit The Grow Cycling Foundation. Go here to enter now -    GROW GIVEAWAY

Welcome to week 2 of our giveaway. After beginning the campaign last week and announcing the grand prize of a custom painted Yeti frame of your choice, we have already raised over $22,000 for Grow. THANK YOU for entering! We will make a difference together. This week's prizing is courtesy of Maxxis Tires. To the winner goes 3 sets of tires and a Zoom call with none other than the GOAT, Greg Minnaar. Yes, you read that right.

I have had the pleasure of knowing Shawn Neer for almost 15 years now, and have watched him grow into the amazing rider and person that he is today. Shawn and I have both worked with Yeti for the last 8ish years. Shawn has a bright future ahead, ranking 15th overall in the Enduro World Series in 2019 and helping win the Trophy Of Nations for our country alongside teammates Richie Rude and Cody Kelley. Legends. All of them. Hopefully things get back to normal next year and Shawn can resume kicking ass on the global stage. 

Shawn Neer is co-owner of Traction Coffee Roasters, right down the street from Hall Ranch in Lyons, Colorado. He puts as much passion into the art of coffee as he does his riding. Traction actually did a custom Grow Cycling Roast a couple of weeks ago. Pick up some beans here- GROW ROAST. The cycling community sure is an amazingly tight family and this is another great way to support Grow and the small business that is Traction Coffee. 

Before we filmed this episode, Shawn got me absolutely wasted on caffeine and even let me pull a couple of shots with his home setup. Maybe this is the secret to riding really fast. After watching Shawn do things that I never even imagined on the trail, I just might start drinking more coffee. It couldn't hurt. 

Crown Climbing. It's a thing. Has your local tech-climb gotten too easy? Give this a shot. I watched Shawn clean the most technical turn on the uphill on his crowns..... What was your excuse again? Mkay. I can ride my bike with no handlebars, no handlebars. 

If there is ever a race at Hall Ranch, you would be a fool to bet against Shawn. I have never witnessed such dialed and creative riding in all of my years. That is saying something. I have seen a thing or two. 

Keep checking back over the next two weeks as we have some additional prizing to release from RockShox and Smith Optics. This industry-wide push to help Grow accomplish their goal of increasing diversity in our sport is highly refreshing. What a time to be alive. Thank you for entering and supporting this wonderful organization. 
​CHEERS

#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!

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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.