Why you should start mountain biking like, right now.

Not that I’m biased, but here are some reasons that mountain biking will change your life for the better.

MOUNTAIN BIKING BRINGS YOU CLOSER TO NATURE

I 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 are pedalling through the forest navigating roots, rocks, and other fun obstacles. When you’re mountain biking, you’re only focusing on your bike and the trail ahead. 

MOUNTAIN BIKING IS CONSTANTLY CHALLENGING

Mountain biking is a sport filled with physical and metaphorical false summits. There are always new obstacles to get your front tire over, drops to conquer, hills to climb faster, and descents to race down. Every time you ride, you can set a new goal: make this drop, ride that skinny, get a Strava PR on those climbs… 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 opportunity. 

MOUNTAIN BIKING TAKES YOU TO INCREDIBLE PLACES

Yeah yeah, I 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 so you could share the experience with them. 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, there are bike trails for all abilities and all budgets. From South America to Greenland, you can take mountain biking with you all over the world.

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 that 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 venue 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! Hell, it’s so fun sometimes you forget how hard you’re exercising. Unless you’re doing a trail like Lord of the Squirrels, 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 autumn, 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 mid-October, and for enduro riders, the trail network gets a lot quieter and a lot more tacky (which is a good thing). Whistler’s hot, 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. Crashes, near misses and sending it to flat – there are always so many daily highlights after a day mountain biking. 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.