Video: Building Trails & Coaching in 'Life After Racing' with Matt Simmonds

In this episode of Live To Ride, we catch up with Matt Simmonds, an ex downhill racer who’s used the last year to venture into mountain bike coaching and re developing the Caersws Bike Park. We first filmed with Matt in 2012 so we thought it would be good to rewind time and meet where it all began, his old local.

Riding has seemingly changed a lot since 2012, for starters trail bikes weren’t common place and free ride jumps could be found at everyones local woodland.



Nowadays you have to hunt for the new local gold, and Matt knew where some locals had been building a little gem that was far more suited for his trail bike. Even if at times it resembled a downhill track...




In recent years Matt has moved further into Mid Wales where he has a new local, Caersws. Over the years the venue has been used for downhill racing and Matt remembers the first time he raced there.


Now Matt is trying to regenerate the hill, spending the 2020/21 lockdowns working to re build the trails. Using inspiration from his old local to try and build a mixture of features for everyone to enjoy. His hope is to be able to use the venue for coaching with his new venture ProLine MTB Coaching.





On our last day of filming in Wales Matt took us to some trails hidden in the hills behind his house and of course #walesneverfails and it decide to snow the entire time.


Thanks for watching another episode of Live To Ride, next week we are catching up with Roger Veira a Brazilian downhill racer living in the Midlands and aspiring to break into the top 30.

Rider: @mattsimmondsdh
Video & Words: @livetoride
Photography: @danthemantheroadmanclark / @lunatyk
Sponsor: @privateerbikes