Opinion: A Mountain Biker's Thanksgiving

To the outside observer, America's Thanksgiving holiday must be a difficult one to figure out, especially since over the last few decades what used to be the stuff of Norman Rockwell paintings somehow morphed into a celebration of consumption. That big turkey dinner now serves as a way for bargain hunters to carbo-load for the upcoming shopping mall mayhem, the type that ends up being replayed on the nightly news, blurry security camera footage of out-of-control shoppers wrestling over shoddily constructed electronic gadgets. That's plenty of reason to keep me from getting anywhere close to a shopping mall around the holidays (or at any time of the year for that matter), but I do think the general concept of taking a moment for reflection and giving thanks is a sound one, and like most things in life, it can be applied to mountain biking as well. Don't worry, I'm not going to start spouting over-the-top, let's all hold hand and sing Kumbaya type sentiments, but every once in a while it is worth reflecting on just how good we mountain bikers have it.

Part of what set me off on this path of reflection was the time I recently spent down in Sedona, Arizona, for this year's Pinkbike Test Sessions. We assembled over a dozen of the hottest trail and all-mountain bikes currently on the market, and then proceeded to beat the snot out of them (and ourselves), riding as hard and fast as possible through the unforgiving desert terrain. I know, sounds like a tough job, but somebody's got to do it, and you'll be seeing the results of our testing throughout the winter months, providing plenty of fodder to drool and debate over while the ground is snow covered and frozen.

After all the bikes were packed into their cardboard boxes and sent back to their respective homes, I started looking through my notes, thinking back on the positives and negatives of each one. And you know what? There are a lot of insanely capable bikes currently on the market, bikes that can climb and descend better than anything the sport's early pioneers could have imagined as they piloted those old Schwinns down Repack Hill. Sure, each bike has its own strengths and weaknesses, and you'll see those laid out as clearly as possible in a review, but at the end of the day, the number of bikes that are complete duds is miniscule compared to how many are able to deliver a good time on the trails, ride after ride, a fact that's certainly worth being thankful for.


Speaking of trails, it's trails and the people who build and maintain them that truly make this sport possible, and if you haven't shown your appreciation yet, now is the time. Whether it's by volunteering at a trail day, donating to a trail advocacy group, or even packing a warm pizza and a six pack of drinks into the woods to surprise your local trail builder, the one who's out there turning dirt into art no matter the weather, the winter months are the perfect time to express your gratitude and give thanks for those miles of smiles a well crafted trail delivers.

Along with bikes and trails, the mountain bike community itself is another facet of the sport to be thankful for. Of course, as with any slightly dysfunctional family, there will always be characters that act like your Uncle Billy after a few too many drinks, belligerent and a bit confrontational, but those are typically the exceptions rather than the rule, and I've found that out of all the people I encounter in day-to-day life, I get along with fellow mountain bikers the best. It's the shared experiences, the common passion for outdoor adventure combined with a healthy dose of tech-geekery that brings us together, and while there will always be disagreements and debates, at the end of the day it's all about the good times that mountain biking delivers that keeps us heading for the trails.

This year, rather than joining the masses in their mindless migration towards the mall, I'd suggest a bike ride instead. Toss those holiday dinner leftovers into your pack, bundle up to deal with whatever type of weather late November brings to your local riding area, and start pedaling. While you're out there, take a brief moment to think about the technology, trails, and people that make this sport so incredible. After that, enjoy the ride, secure in the knowledge that you're doing exactly what you should be – riding a bike.