Nate Hills
  • Home
  • BIKES
  • Blog
  • Camera Gear
  • Media
  • Sponsors
  • Schedule / Results
  • Home
  • BIKES
  • Blog
  • Camera Gear
  • Media
  • Sponsors
  • Schedule / Results

Is blogging still a thing?

So there I was, drinking beer and looking at the internet. What ever happened to my blog..... I don't think people even realize that I race mountain bikes for a living. I think people know me as that guy who posts weekly POV videos on YouTube about riding on the edge of some scary cliff in the desert. I am a Vlogger now, do I really need a blog? Well, after a two-year hiatus, I just turned it back on because it made me smile. Let me know what you guys think. Times were simpler then. More projects, more problems. Wouldn't trade it for anything. ​

Bug Springs

2/22/2019

0 Comments

 
#followcamfriday on Bug Springs with Alex Petitdemange and Randy Sooter. Tucson tech at it's finest. 
After spending the last three weeks, riding ridiculous Sedona slabs with Lars, I headed south to decompress in Tucson. This would be my first trip to Tucson and the farthest south in the United States that I have ever been with a mountain bike. What have I been doing with my life?? And to be clear, this couldn't be further from "decompression" Tucson is ROUGH.
Picture
Enter Randy Sooter. Randy was introduced to me by Alex. Interestingly enough, they both have a background in gymnastics and this becomes very evident when following either one of these gifted gentlemen. Randy is an 8 time national collegiate club champion and now coaches and runs a gym in Tucson. Randy also has good taste in shuttle vehicles and drives a Bronco that just so happens to be the  same age as me.... 
Picture

As this was my first time in Tucson, I didn't really know what to expect. After riding Sedona for a bit, this place was reasonable rough and raw in comparison. Like, break your wheels and get flat tires, rough and raw. Pretty much what I am looking for when I ride my mountain bike. The decomposing  granite deals wonderfully with the moisture, which is good, because it rained more this week than Randy had seen after living here for most of his life. Seemed like perfect grip to me. 
Picture
As per usual, always jump everything. Back to the part about these guys having a background in gymnastics.  When your body awareness is on point, the trail is your playground. Every root and rock is a jump. Every corner, an opportunity to send gravel into the air. Crashing is a rarity, but even when these guys hit the deck, its fucking catlike. 
Picture
French Technique. I think this is a product of your surrounding. If you grow up riding jank hiking trails in the European alps, this is second nature. If you grow up riding flow-trails in the States, this is a skill that probably needs work. Frenchie Alex is dialed. Legend has it that Mark Weir built some unrideable swithbacks behind his house to practice before racing enduros in Europe because the turns were not challenging enough in the states... Smart man, Mark Weir. 
Picture

The sunsets in Tucson are next-level. People seem to think that all I do is race around and shoot video, but I promise you that I do make some time to appreciate my surroundings. I feel very fortunate to be able to travel to all of the sweet places to ride, and always try and make the most of my time and appreciate things fully. Keeps me grounded and reminds me why I ride and why I am attracted to dramatic landscapes and new experiences. 
Picture
Randy mentioned that the rivers on the trails were deeper than he had ever seen. The crossings were BB deep. I think that is good for your dirvetrain, right? Pete seems to like it. Soothing on his paws after walking around on all the sharp rocks. 
Picture
As I type these words, I am sitting on a couch in New Zealand. Sweet as bru. I just arrived for a bit of racing and a bit of filming over the next few weeks. The riding here couldn't be more different from AZ. Variety, spice of life. Once again, very fortunate and grateful opportunity to see the world by bike. Keep it locked right here. 
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    The Vlog Blog. Stay up to date with the constant adventure that is my life! 

    CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL
    Just can't get enough?!?!​
    Become a Patron!


    Archives

    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    September 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    October 2013

    RSS Feed

©2012-2017 Nate Hills. All Rights Reserved