Why You Should Start Mountain Biking Like, Right Now
Not that we're biased, but here are some reasons that mountain biking will change your life for the better.
MOUNTAIN BIKING BRINGS US CLOSER TO NATURE
We truly believe that mountain biking is one of the best ways to connect with nature and escape the chaos of everyday life. In the current political climate, riding out the aftershocks of a pandemic, it's becoming increasingly difficult to disconnect from technology, news, and just live in the moment. Disconnection becomes significantly easier when you're pedaling through forested singletrack, navigating roots, rocks, and other fun obstacles. When you're mountain biking, you're only focusing on your bike and the trail ahead.Â
MOUNTAIN BIKING IS CONSTANTLY CHALLENGING
Mountain biking is a sport filled with physical and metaphorical false summits. There are always new ledges to make it up, drops to conquer, hills to climb faster, and descents to speed down. Every time you ride, you can set a new goal: make this drop, ride that skinny, get a Strava PR on the Kadenwood Climb… if you’re someone who enjoys a challenge, then mountain biking is the sport for you. Of course, the main goal should always be to have fun, but if you're the competitive type - biking will open up a whole new world of fun.
MOUNTAIN BIKING TAKES YOU TO INCREDIBLE PLACES
Yeah, we know, hiking and airplanes do too, but biking is way more fun. Once you reach your first peak on a mountain bike, you'll look around and wish everyone you knew owned a bike. The variety of terrain in the Sea to Sky corridor itself is mind-blowing, from the wet'n'wild North Shore to the high alpine Chilcotins wilderness, there are bike trails for all abilities to be discovered. From South America to Greenland, you can take mountain biking with you all over the world. There's even a Whistler-based mountain bike global tour operator, Big Mountain Bike Adventures, who you should check out for some inspiration.
MOUNTAIN BIKING IS A BONDING EXPERIENCE
The mountain biking community is extensive, passionate, and it spans across the globe. There's a certain magic that happens when people come together to ride bikes, the communal stoke is infectious and soon you'll be asking yourself "I went how many years without riding a mountain bike?!" You end up not only motivating each other on the bike but also creating life-long memories. You also don’t need any kind of facility to hang out, just grab your bikes and go exploring a new trail! It's that easy (until someone gets a flat and you all forgot an inner tube...)
YOU'LL GET SUPER, MEGA FIT
Yep, biking is one hell of a workout, and it sure beats the treadmill! Heck, it's so fun sometimes you forget how hard you're exercising. Unless you're doing Lord of the Squirrells, in which case you definitely know how hard you're exercising (hard, really hard). The amazing thing about biking in Whistler (and Squamish/Pemberton) is that you don't have to be an amazing endurance athlete to start mountain biking. Choose from paved road ascents to technical climbs or logging roads, and progress to harder climbs as you improve. If you bike 3-4 days a week with a solid climb, your fitness levels will go through the roof.
WHAT OFF SEASON?
In the spring and fall, when the leaves are changing and the temperatures swing, the 350-plus miles of riding available throughout the Whistler valley is in prime condition. Whistler Bike Park stays open until October 12th, and for enduro riders, the trail network just got a lot quieter and a lot more tacky (which is a good thing). Whistler's hot and dry summers mean that many trails improve into the fall with a little more moisture, giving them extra grip. Having a hobby that carries you through until the first major snowfall is a real life saver in the occasionally gloomy weeks between seasons.
BEER!
Biking isn’t just about biking. Having beers after bikes is like going to church. After a long day in the saddle, nothing is more refreshing than a cold beer. Mountain biking is rooted in camaraderie; it’s about being out with your friends and sharing some beers in the parking lot as you reminisce the day's activity. Oh, and there's some epic mountain bike festivals to attend with your new mountain bike squad, like Whistler's annual Crankworx festival.
So what are you waiting for? Download Trailforks and get inspired to start mountain biking, today!