What could possible make "new bike day" better? New trail day of course. #followcamfriday with Alex Petitdemange on Sedona's newest bit of tech trail. Ground Control. 

After spending way to much time skiing over the last 2 months, the desert was desperately calling my name. What better way to break in my freshly built Yeti SB130LR. Rocks were just begging to be smashed. 

Sedona just recently completed a couple of new trail sections for the masses. Ground Control links Airie into Outer Limits, offering a more technical option in the predominantly XC westside trail experience. 

Not bad. 

The amount of trail work that has occurred in the last few years is staggering. The local Forest Service has been working closely with the local riding community to produce some of the best sections of trail anywhere. This sort of cooperation is an example of things being managed and built correctly. How very refreshing. Good work Sedona. Keep it up. 

Frenchie Alex Petitdemange works at Absolute Bikes in Oak Creek. When he isn't fixing your broken bike, Alex is smooth and pinned. He has been know to strap a baguette to his frame for the longer rides in the area. A connoisseur of wine and cheese. He is faster than you in his car as well, but that is another story entirely. 

I am in town for the Sedona Mountain Bike Festival. You may see me riding shirtless, with jeans, and a flask of tequila. The trails will probably be too crowded to properly ride this weekend, so I may just get drunk and ride around and heckle people. If you see me out there, please give my a hard time. You bay get a sop from my flask in return. 

Keep it locked right here for more red-rock smashing. Spring has sprung. I can hardly contain myself.  This new bike feels amazing so far. The coil is smoothing out the Sedona chunk nicely. Very nicely. 

#followcamfriday shuttle laps with the loose as Kiwi squad in Fernie, BC

One Kiwi is pretty loose. 2 Kiwi's is a party. 3 Kiwi's is pure danger. Compounding stupidity is a glorious thing. There is basically nothing better than banging shuttle laps with your friends.  There will be laughter. People will fall down. Trails will be shredded. Chaos. 

This was filmed in July, after racing the TransBC event. 6 days of pedaling our brains out was evidently enough to tucker us out a hair. But we were not about to stop riding... We were okay with using a bit of mechanical assistance. Since we couldn't find any E-Bikes, "Gypsy" the van would have to do. 

First run, 100 meters down the trail. Mitch Curry is a god damned legend. Fully pinned into the bushes. His bike may have been a little broken, but that is another topic for another day. NBD, just pin it bro. Mitch lived to ride another day. Somehow. 

No one in this photo is actually touching the ground. If you are bouncing, you are doing it right. Cam McHardy is another great New Zealander, never one to leave his wheels on the dirt for more than a few seconds at a time. There isn't much better in life than riding in a train, hacking holes and spraying loam at the guy behind you. So good. 

Yes, Tom Bradshaw is wearing a cape. In case you were unaware, the cape is faster in every situation. Fucking legend, that Tom Bradshaw. You can clearly see that Tom is taking the slower, but more fun outside line, so as to smash this turn properly. Be like Tom. 

Foot out, flat out. Every road crossing is an opportunity to slide off the face of the earth. Mitch is barely holding things together here. Good man. If your tires are getting traction, you need to ride faster. Loose is fast. Mitch is loose. 

Chris Kovarik or Tom Bradshaw? I'll never tell. If you are sitting down with a foot out and your bike is desperately searching for traction, you are a champion. This is pretty much a roll of the dice. 50\50. Tom stayed upright and I went into the bushes. Perfectly played. This photo makes me so happy. 

As I type these words, I am sitting in my office ( Whole Foods), stealing all of the internets. Don't worry, I won't get out of here for less than $100, so I guess they get the last laugh. Pretty happy I found this day on my hard drive. I had almost forgotten how amazing it was. The Trans BC was relatively tiring and I basically blocked this day out. Good thing I save everything on drives, so when I am less tired, I can comb thru the memories. Fuck Yeah Fernie. 

#followcamfriday giving you a taste of the green room in the dead of winter. Just trying to keep the levels elevated for the people. 

So much desert riding lately. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love smashing into rocks and hucking off of cliffs, but every once in a while, I need to be reminded of the forest. Mostly, I have been spending time in the white room lately, so this change of color is a good reminder of why I love bicycles so much. 

Would you just look at it.... This section of forest on Maroon Mountain in Terrace, BC is basically my happy place. Loam, green, mist. All of the ingredients to create the perfect recipe for mountain biking in its purest form. Right now this is buried meters deep in snow. Snow that will eventually melt and produce more green. And so the cycle goes. Free refills. 

You always carry a saw when you ride, right?? I was fortunate to get the locals tour of the Maroon Mountain Trail from Theo and Tyler. Tyler is the president of TORCA ( terrace off road cycling association). These two gentlemen have poured many hours of time and many droplets of sweat into the local trail system. In addition to being amazing hosts, these dudes work their asses off to make sure that mountain biking has a future. Much respect. 
Please consider donating to TORCA HERE. Anyone who owns a $5000 mountain bike can surely spare a few bucks to insure that our sport has a future. 

Terrace is world renowned as a Steelhead and Pacific Salmon fishing destination. Basically the Moab of the fishing world, so I'm told. I grew up fishing but have not thrown a line in the water for more than 20 years. Perhaps it is time to rediscover a less dangerous sport. A sport that I can feed myself with. There is a joke in there somewhere.... What is the difference between a professional mountain biker and a pepperoni pizza? A pepperoni pizza can feed a family of four. Zing. But I digress. 

Now here is something that I am familiar with. Snow in the alpine in late June is perfectly normal. My feet were far too dry anyway. Pro tip for traveling and living out of a van- bring extra shoes. Your feet will still smell, but at least they will be dry. You are welcome. 

I've said this before and I will say it again. Trails that you CAN climb, are usually not worth descending. This one was basically 1000m of pushing and granny-gearing to reach the alpine. I wouldn't have it any other way. The sustained pitch on this one was unreal. If you do ride this one, make sure your brakes are working properly. 

It is also worth noting that the lower trailhead for this one has the absolute worst mosquitos that I have ever encountered. Thick. Just go right ahead and spread that high-chemical bug spray DEET crap all over yourself. You are going to need it. Seriously. The mosquitos were blocking the sun. It was fucked. Fortunately, the skeeters make you move as fast as possible on the hike-a-bike sections. Very motivating indeed. 

Good dog. I don't know you, but please stay close to me to attract some off those mosquitos away from my skin. You are wet and smelly, but I like you. Good boy. Pete would be so jealous. 
​The green room is good for the soul. Go there whenever possible. 
Big thanks again to Tyler and Theo for the hospitality. 

#followcamfriday presents the Southern Utah Collection. For discriminating tastes. Don't be fooled by imitations.

Wait.... You made a "best of" video? I did. After spending a bunch of time in Southern Utah over the last few months, the place has really left an impression on me. What can I say, this place is unique. Devoid of crowds that exist in iconic places like Moab and the Front Range of Colorado, this area has tons of riding and very few people. Perfect.

And if I am being honest, I really prefer this style of riding and the terrain down here. I won't be trying to qualify for Rampage next year, but this area is very inspiring and has helped me get my head around some of the lines that I had only previously seen on my computer screen. After spectating my first Rampage event this year and feeling the energy and vibe, I have really become attracted to this type of riding. 

Whether on skis or on bikes, exposure has always been appealing to me. Not for the camera, but for myself. There are very few environments that make me focus 100 percent on the task at hand. All of the mundane "problems" and struggles in life disappear in this environment. There is only focus. As it turns out, I need that in my life. Some time without my phone and computer and the constant pull of work and obligation. Sometimes I just need to go and scare myself and be completely immersed in the moment. 

No, you can't climb these trails. Not even on an Ebike. You carry our bike to the top and ride it back down. If I am being honest, any worthy descent, isn't actually climbable. As it should be. Everything in Colorado and Moab is built sustainably and thus is ridden in every direction possible. Aside from creating user conflict, this just ruins the fun-factor on any of the classic descents, having to yield to some asshole who is on a Strava mission to KOM a climb that is supposed to be a descent. Of course I always stop for people climbing, but some things are meant to be descended. Longhorn is a great example. As it turns out, if you actually cannot climb the trail physically, that situation fixes itself nicely and also lets one ride at full-speed, without endangering any spandex bandits. If this makes you mad, I used to hold a pro XC card, so I get it. You are into fitness. There is so much more than that to "mountain biking".

There is nothing quite like the ridge-lines and soil here. It just feels amazing under your tires. It looks as though you would have absolutely not traction, but quite the opposite is actually true. The dirt is perfect for building and riding. With just a bit of moisture, anything is possible. The dirt is also reasonable friendly for falling down. Not that I recommend that you do that...

So yeah, Southern Utah is a diamond in the rough. So much good riding in a 1 hour radius. I barely scratched the surface. Camping is easy, people are friendly and the possibilities are endless. The food is awful, but that is another rant for another time. Just bring some snacks and you will have energy to carry your bike all day and huck off of things. 

When you bring a knife to a gunfight. #followcamfriday riding trail bikes with James Weingarten on King Kong. 

It is worth noting that this is James' first run down the infamous " Kong". If you look closely, you will notice that I am leading and James is trusting me to NOT kill him. This is a proper role reversal. Usually I am the one, blindly trusting someone to show me how NOT to die. How refreshing. 

This trail is an absolute work of art. It was originally constructed by Josh Bender. Interestingly enough, Josh was my neighbor for a year and we got to know each other quite well. I had the unfortunate luck of breaking my ankle that summer and Josh came over and made me laugh every day, while I was pilled-up, laying on the couch. He even left me his Trailer Park Boys collection to watch. Those dvd's are still somewhere in my house... Bender is a fucking legend. Respect. 

Some people like to trash-talk Bender. Saying he is a hucker, cant ride, whatever. Those people can fuck right off. Just because you are on the Pinkbike forums, doesn't give you a right to be a complete douche. If you can't say something to someone's face, it probably doesn't need to by typed on your keyboard either. This current trend of keyboard douchebaggery is getting on my nerves.  If it wasn't for Josh, mountain biking would not be even close to what it has become today. The man was a pioneer and paved the way for this style of riding. Trails advanced, bikes advanced, the general skill level was elevated. Again, Josh is a god-damn legend. Respect. Thank you. 

It wouldn't be FollowCamFriday without James manualing off into the sunset. Front wheels are stupid. No point in mulleting your bike if you don't use your front wheel anyway. Let that sink in. 

The only part of my kit I had right was the pants. For this trip, I didn't have a full face helmet, or my new DH bike. Blowing it. But that wasn't going to stop us from having way too much fun on this Hurricane classic. Fair warning if you want to ride Kong, it is better on a DH bike, there are mandatory 10ft plus hucks to tight landings, this is not a flow trail. If you cannot accept all of that, please just stay away. You will get cliffed out and have to hike back to the top. Fair warning. 

If I am being honest, I don't ever need to  ride a flow-trail again. If there are not rocks, trying to stop my wheels from rolling, I don't need to ride that trail. I am not trying to sound elitist or arrogant, but I just don't give a shit about riding smooth trails. I have a "gravel" bike for that. *Jump trails being the one exception. I still love you, Dirt Merchant. But seriously, what happened to all of the rocks? Bikes just keep improving and trails keep getting easier. Long live jank. Break my wheels. I dare you. 
End rant. 

So yeah. Go ride this one. Or don't. It's definitely not everyone's cup of tea. Which is perfectly fine. The beauty of King Kong is that it actually can't get easier. No one can sanitize, make go arounds, or chicken lines. It's just some sweet cliff hucks, linked together by some exposed ridge lines. So simple, so beautiful. Nothing more. Thanks Bender, you fucking legend. 

#followcamfriday back from ski vacation, straight into the thick of it. Flying Monkey with James Weingarten.  Monkeys don't fly, they swing. 

I went skiing for a bit. Sorry, not sorry. Thanks for understanding, I feel much better now. I am actually wanting to touch my bike again.... My plan worked. Discipline is important. All of the gym selfies and indoor trainer photos posted by "pro" mountain bikers didn't crack me either. Outside is my area. 

I rode for the first time in a month this week. If I am being honest, I am more than okay with taking a little break from the bike, in fact, I really needed it. This last month represents the longest time off of a bicycle in the last 6ish years. Guess I was due. 

I did my best to eat everything in sight and put on some weight, while sitting on the couch for the last month. Unfortunately, ski touring every day has had the opposite effect that I was looking for. Now I am skinny. And cold. And I need more down coats. Pete is pictured above for reference. He is licking his lips, begging for bacon. Dear Pete, you can't have my bacon, I need it. I'm cold. 

What were we talking about again? Right. Bikes. So I rode with James the other day. James is my summer friend, so I have been missing his presence for the last month. I was relieved to learn that James is still a ninja, nothing has changed. I felt like a complete passenger, but James was dialed. It is remarkable how strange my bike felt after sitting in the garage for a month. She must have been mad at me, jealous of my skis, sitting just feet away and getting all of the attention.  I even lubed her twice before riding her, but she was still mad. 

This sort of thing should be mandatory at the start of every trail worth riding. If you can't ride the first feature, just turn back. This one may not be for you. Squirrel catchers are a beautiful thing. Not everything should be easy. I am looking in your general direction, "flow trail". Not everything needs to stroke people's egos and reward mediocrity. It's okay to suck at times. It builds character. There are plenty of things that I am scared of. Everyone should be challenged. Mountain biking is supposed to be hard. End rant. 

If you didn't jump the qualifier fence, surely you can't stomach this exposure... One mistake and you are falling a very long way off of a very big cliff. That three-foot tall fence jump doesn't seem so bad now, does it? Poachers are warned. This beast doesn't get easier. Quite the opposite actually. 

So I guess that everything is going to be okay in the world. I like bikes again, and am feeling fresher physically and mentally than ever. James crawled out of this rock to manual this entire trail. Pete the dog is fit as fuck #faf ,from xc skiing every day. All is right in the world. Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Yay bikes. 

First inaugural #followcamfriday winter edition. Disclaimer- there is no MTB in this video. If you hate snow, keep scrolling. 

Sometimes I go skiing. If I am being honest, I love skiing just as much a riding bikes and could have happily gone in that direction as a career choice. Thankfully I didn't, and ski for fun, without sponsor obligation or much of an agenda. Riding bikes pays the bills. Skiing keeps me sane.  

Japan has been on my bucket list for a very long time. The skiing, the food, the culture. There is nothing not to like about Japan. I had the best ramen and sushi of my life on this trip, by far. No question. I had better sushi off of a conveyor belt than I had ever tasted previously in my life. For $28. True story. 

​

I have been so busy riding bikes and shooting videos , and answering questions about bikes, that I almost forgot how much I love to ski. Correction- need to ski, to be happy. Skiing is in my blood. My mind and body need a reset from the constant bike situation that I have created around myself. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the situation I have created, each and every day, but at times, I need another focus in life. When it is time to ride bikes again, I will be fresh and stoked, not burnt  and tired. Balance is key to most things in life. Skiing gives me balance. 

So yeah, Joey Schusler, Thomas Woodson, Blake Gordon (who took this photo above) and myself, skied our brains out for 9 days, drank sake, and ate fish. We submitted 3 volcanoes and skied balls-deep pow, the rest of the time. We all work in the outdoor film industry, take photos for a living, and travel the world doing so. This was a solid squad and the goal was to basically NOT work. We all work hard, year round. This trip was for skiing. Yes, photos were taken and obviously I made a video, but there was no agenda. Just ski.  

When traveling the world with these cats, it is never a bad idea to bring a head lamp. The tour will always be longer, we will always run out of food and water, and get lost more than once. Some people are looking for a relaxing vacation to chill out and get some rest. These are not those people. That said, we did spend our fair share in the onsen after skiing every day. Would be rude not to. It is important to keep those hygiene levels in check while ski touring for 7 hours a day. 

 Mount Yotei is the classic Hokkaido volcano ski line. The skiable crater at the top offers 360 degree pow lines. We were fortunate to get a clear day to make the 6K climb to the summit. After banging laps in the crater for a couple of hours, we decided to circumnavigate the rim, before descending into the sunset in the valley below. That day will go down as one of the most memorable ski days of my life. Very fortunate. 8 hours later, we were at 7 Eleven, panic eating fried chicken and ice cream. 

I would never be caught dead at a 7 Eleven in my country. Not a chance. The 7 Eleven's in Japan however, are top-notch. We started and ended every day here. Snacks, Sake, and the best damn fried chicken a man could ask for. Seriously. I was apprehensive at first, but am now missing this place at home. This was where second breakfast, and first dinner went down each day. 

The gas in this photo is reasonably poisonous. It burned my lungs for a bit, but I think it somehow gave me superpowers. Science says different, but who listens to "science" these days anyway? The gasses that escape from the earth smell like eggs, just like the gasses that escape from me. Coincidence? I think not. 

I haven't ridden my bike in almost a month and I am very okay with that. It's not like I am just sitting on the couch, eating cheeseburgers, I am just taking a little break. When I walk into my garage and look at my bikes, I am almost getting the urge to ride one. Almost... There is still some skiing to do in Colorado. The longer I can abstain from cycling, the better my return will feel. Absence makes the heart grow fonder. 

#followcamfriday getting our XC on at Blue Diamond in Las Vegas, Nevada

Normally when I am traveling with my bike, the last thing I am looking for is XC trails. I am usually trying to find the rougest, jankiest, most unfriendly trails to ride my bicycle down. Every once in a while though, I just slam a protein shake and giver. 

Merrick and Kevin are both clearly into fitness. Merrick basically made me cry-breathe on every "descent" . Merrick is a giant man, and once that giant man is up to pace, it is all I can do to hold his wheel. I feel like a Prius, chasing a freight train. Clearly I need to harden up. 

Once again, I am in Vegas, without feeling the pull of the strip. I have bicycles to ride, after all. While I could spend thousands on hookers, drugs, and booze, this is definitely a better use of my time and energy. 

Big night out for Pete. He was getting some much needed down-time after sending it at the club all night. He just doesn't have the stamina of a young pup anymore. 

Every ride should end with a tube ride. The Whole Enchilada ends like this. Get pitted.

Merrick knows the first rule of riding bikes. Always pull up. Never not. I am still in Japan skiing pow, until further notice. 

#followcamfriday ticking off red-rock classics with Lars and Alex. 

As I type these words, I am in the mountains of Hokkaido, Japan, skiing powder. It occured to me that I had not taken a non-bike related "vacation" in about 5 years. I love mountain bikes, don't get me wrong, but sometimes I just need a break. I am definitely not complaining, I love my job and feel fortunate to be able to travel and ride almost every day, but sometimes, I just need a change of perspective. A reset, if you will. 

Yes, a change of perspective. I have ridden Sedona many times over the years and filmed all of the classics, more than once. Hangover and Hiline are two of my favorites, without question.  My new drone is definitely allowing me to be creative in a different way and show the beauty of Sedona from a different angle. Same friends, same trails, same lightbro, just from a different perspective that had not previously been possible. 

I am currently hanging out at backcountry touring lodge and hot spring situation with some close friends. We are ski-touring every day, eating sushi and staying away from the internet and work, as much as possible. It is increasingly hard to remove myself from grip of my iPhone and the constant white-noise that is my social media. This trip is refreshing and a much needed reminder of how much I love traveling in the mountains with close friends. The connection that people form in these bonding situations is just not possible on a phone or a computer. I call this "real life", and I need more of it in my life. 

So about Sedona. It is hard for me to even focus on typing words that are related to mountain bikes as I stare out the window of our ski lodge, as the peaks are just about to lose the orange afternoon light. My mind drifts to the day we just experienced, and what adventures are on the books tomorrow.  But the content machine must keep being fed. It is ravenous. So here is the most cinematic shit that I have ever produced, thanks to my new toy. I hope you enjoy the visuals. 

So what keeps calling me back to Sedona? I guess the answer is real experiences with my close friends. We push each other, feed off of the energy and progress together.  The trails are fun, the scenery is unmatched, but the people, that is why I do all of this at the end of the day. Without my friends, I would have nothing. Go out and get weird with your friends in the mountains this weekend. I don't care if you ski, or you ride, or you hike, or whatever. Just leave your phone in airplane mode and live that "real life" that looks so sweet on the internet. 

#followcamfriday putting the new Skydio 2 drone to the test in Sedona with Lars Romig. 

What a time to be alive. If you had told me 10 years ago that a drone that follows you around is coming, I would have laughed in your face. Well, now I have seen everything. Whatever your stance on drones is, you have to admit that this is a pretty amazing bit of tech. The possibilities are endless. Sky's the limit. 

So you are saying that this drone follows the #followcam??? Yup. That is correct. The Skydio 2 is autonomous. This is certainly a tool that will come in very handy for my current style of filming. This thing has subject tracking and obstacle avoidance, so basically, you just launch it, lock it onto a subject and ride. Mind melted. 

This is a tool that will keep things fresh and breath new life into trails that I have filmed several times. Like the infamous "white line" . If you ask me, it's easy and has certainly been done to death on the internet. I still have full respect for this line and while it does require full-focus, it's been done before and isn't exactly revolutionary. This drone will allow me to show this sort of thing in a different way, from a different perspective. Fresh. 

And about getting bored of "white line" ....... Well, Lars and I decided to try and ride some lines above the traditional route, just to keep things fresh. Linking this from almost the top of the ridge, through the normal descent, and all the way to Chicken Point is actually a reasonable chunk of "trail". The upper part is steep and exposed, proceed with caution. Lars is the man for the job, no one has more experience riding the steep red rock slabs of Sedona. 

I compare riding exposed lines like this to ski mountaineering. The aesthetic is important. This is a beautiful line, etched into the side of a dramatic landscape in an iconic location. Much like some of the greatest ski descents in the world. The beauty of the mountain and challenge to overcome fear is enticing. Intoxicating even. The natural beauty is humbling. None of this is for the camera, just to be clear. This is for us, to feed out need. Without risk, you have nothing, are nothing, and will accomplish very little in life. 

Happy New Year! I am not a fan of resolutions, because I try to always live correctly and don't need a certain date to make a change for the better, or an excuse for that matter. My resolution is to keep riding my bike, keep loving my friends, and keep exercising my dog every day, and to keep drinking gin. Cheers to 2020. Thanks for the ride.