Video: Episode 4 of Anthill's 'In the Blink' - Community
Ask almost any mountain biker what they enjoy the most about the sport and they'll likely give you the same answer: riding with friends. The short-of-breath chats on the climbs, the hoots and hollers of a joyous descent, cracking a beer and toasting to a good ride while kicking back on the tailgate. These are the moments that define us as mountain bikers, when we enjoy the connection to each other as well as the environment around us. They're also the moments we sought to capture in the Community segment of Return to Earth.
The backbone of mountain biking culture is the community behind it. Born out of gatherings at ragtag local races and eventually morphing into veritable clubs and organizations that have real lobbying power, these communities have connected people through their shared values since the nascent of mountain biking itself.
For the fourth episode of In the Blink, the Anthill Films crew traveled to Oregon, Colorado, British Columbia, Switzerland and the UK in search of what makes mountain bike communities tick. We asked a few of the crew members their thoughts on the role communities play in the sport.
On the growth of the global MTB community…
 | As mountain biking grows and more people get into the sport it’s only going to mean more trail advocacy, more trail building and more areas that will get opened up to mountain biking. If you look back 20 or 30 years… There are way more mountain bikers than there used to be and there’s also way more places to ride. More mountain bikers is ultimately a good thing. |
On the personal connections…
| It’s so much more than the buzz of adrenaline. Mountain bikers are pretty social and like to discover the sport together. The fact we can get away, get on a trail and move through the landscape with some fresh air… That’s what connects us. Nobody is ever going to say ‘No, you can’t come ride with us.’ You see groups of two merge with groups of three and all of a sudden you’re an eight-pack ripping down the trail together. |
On the community in geographic locales...
| There are places like Crested Butte where biking is ingrained in the community. You see a bike in every person’s yard and they all ride. There are only a few places around the world where the community of biking is so strong. Now you’re starting to see local governments getting behind the sport. They’re seeing the benefits to having people come and ride in their town and are employing people to build signature trails that will attract more riders. |
| You have all these enthusiastic mountain bikers that choose to travel or live in Lenzerheide, it’s probably the most representative of a group of people that share the same pastime. That same passion goes all the way up the ranks of the people who organize and plan the resorts. |
On transcending cultural barriers...
| Mountain biking seems to be a pretty big sport, but the scene of freeriding is really small. You have freeriders that do Rampage and film or sloperstylers that just compete. But overall it’s maybe 30 people that you know. Mountain biking is a shared passion between all of us. A few years back I could barely speak any English at all, but you don’t need to speak the same language to have fun with someone else. |
In the Blink is a six-part web series that dives behind the scenes of our upcoming feature film Return to Earth. Stay tuned for Episode 5: "Party in the Woods” when we gather the athletes in Hawaii for an off-the-grid camp trip.
Watch Episode 1 "Fall Colours" with Thomas Vanderham and Ryan Howard
Watch Episode 2 "Creativity" with Brett Rheeder
Watch Episode 3 "Youth" with Jackson Goldstone and friends
Return to Earth. Summer 2019.
Brought to you by Shimano and Trek Bicycles featuring Brett Rheeder, Brandon Semenuk, Casey Brown, Reed Boggs, Matt Hunter, Thomas Vanderham, Ryan Howard, Joey Schusler, Thomas Genon, Emil Johansson, Tahnee Seagrave, Koas Seagrave, Kade Edwards, Jackson Goldstone, Jakob Jewett and Dane Jewett in association with Pinkbike, Trail Forks, Evoc, Clif Bar, Whistler Mountain Bike Park, Sony and Freehub Magazine and additional support from Rocky Mountain Bicycles, Spawn Cycles, Arosa Lenzerheide. A new film by Anthill Films with art direction and creative by Good Fortune Collective.
Brought to you by Shimano and Trek Bicycles featuring Brett Rheeder, Brandon Semenuk, Casey Brown, Reed Boggs, Matt Hunter, Thomas Vanderham, Ryan Howard, Joey Schusler, Thomas Genon, Emil Johansson, Tahnee Seagrave, Koas Seagrave, Kade Edwards, Jackson Goldstone, Jakob Jewett and Dane Jewett in association with Pinkbike, Trail Forks, Evoc, Clif Bar, Whistler Mountain Bike Park, Sony and Freehub Magazine and additional support from Rocky Mountain Bicycles, Spawn Cycles, Arosa Lenzerheide. A new film by Anthill Films with art direction and creative by Good Fortune Collective.
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Peace, quiet, nature, fitness, blood pumping in your ears, I love riding alone and love riding with friends. I love riding.
OK, now get off my lawn! Also, riding solo is therapeutic but there is no replacement for sharing the experience of a good ride with friends.
My point is that riding solo and with friends are both good experiences for different reasons. And you are correct, having friends is great! My complaint isn't against riding with other people, it is against dealing with crowds.