A black bear appeared ready to cross a mountain bike trail at Whistler when it was forced to take evasive measures to avoid a collision.
A black bear appeared ready to cross a mountain bike trail when it quickly jumped up a tree to take cover as it heard five mountain bikers racing downhill heading its way.
Leading the “train” at Whistler Mountain Bike Park in British Columbia was Steve Peat, a professional downhill mountain biker known as a legend in Britain.
Alex Griggs happened to capture video of the encounter, and Peat posted it on his Instagram account, writing, “Ace last day in the park!! Even got to see a black bear jumping into a tree while I was leading the train!!”
https://www.instagram.com/p/DBIRrMRx5ie/
The bear clung to the tree while waiting for the riders to pass. Once the coast was clear, it climbed down and continued on its way.
It is not unusual to encounter black bears at this venue, which boasts of being the No. 1 mountain bike park in the world.
Photo credit: Resort Municipality of Whistler
According to Blackcomb Peaks, an estimated 50 black bears make their home in the forests and mountains surrounding Whistler Village, including a family of bears that make its home at the mountain bike park.
Visitors are given the usual tips on how to stay safe. One is to talk or sing to avoid surprising a bear. In this case, the mountain bikers made plenty of noise to announce their presence.
Feature photo courtesy of Alex Griggs via Steve Peat.
Lael Wilcox of Tucson is planning something special for 2024: bikepacking 18,000 miles around the world. She’s still planning the route. And she isn’t going for easy. “I think a lot of people want to design the flattest route they can, but I love riding in the mountains, so screw it I’ll just ride in the mountains,” Wilcox said. “That’s way more inspiring for me.”
Haven’t heard of bikepacking? It’s a relatively new concept, but it’s simple to understand. You grab a mountain bike, load your essentials, and then take off on a multi-day trip over trails. Maybe it’s an overnight, maybe a couple of weeks, or perhaps you dream of biking across the globe.
Depending on your chosen route, almost any mountain bike might do. However, snowy or sandy conditions call for fat tires, and full-suspension bikes will serve you better on technical trails.
Photo by Rue Kaladyte
Bikepacking events
You can bikepack on your own or with friends. Or you can enter a bikepacking race. Event organizers put together some brutal routes. On November 3 this year, The Tassie Gift 2023 took riders on a 1,800-kilometer (1,118.4-mile) race that traversed trails, roads, and goat tracks on the Australian island of Tasmania. Don’t mind the cold? Check out the Fat Viking 2024 on January 27. It’s a 150-kilometer (93-mile) ultra-endurance race through the snowy Norwegian highlands.
Photo by Rue Kaladyte
In the United States, the Arizona Trail Race is an unofficial self-supported bikepacking event. Riders choose between a 300-mile and 800-mile trek, which takes them from the Mexican border up to Utah. Each race is a grueling series of ups and downs. Those riding the full distance must carry their bikes for 21 miles across the Grand Canyon!
Wilcox set a record for the 800-miler in April of 2022, finishing it in 9 days, 8 hours, and 23 minutes. “I think the hardest thing about the Arizona Trail is getting enough water. If I can time where I sleep to be near a freshwater source, that’s ideal,” Wilcox said. “Truthfully, I’m always running at a water and food deficit. When I did it the last time, I packed full cheesecakes, and I would eat those because they are so calorie dense. I also drank salsa because I felt like I needed some vegetables. It sounds wacky, but when you’re out there in the desert, your body starts craving bizarre things.”
Photo by Rue Kaladyte
Making bikepacking female-friendly
The 37-year-old Wilcox loves her adopted home of Tucson. It’s her favorite place to ride and train. This November, she organized a 400-mile cyclingevent there, the Tucson Komoot Women’s Rally. It’s the first Komoot held outside of Europe. Komoot women’s rallies are designed to make adventure cycling more accessible to women, nonbinary, and trans riders. About 50 women aged 19 to 70 plan to participate in the weeklong event.
Wilcox also spearheads Tucson’s Girls Riding Into Tomorrow (GRIT), a program that introduces 11 and 12-year-old girls to long-distance cycling. Underprivileged girls get six weeks of bike training culminating in an overnight weekend adventure ride. And they get to keep the bike they train on. Wilcox loves to see girls surprise themselves with what they can do. “When I see people take on new things, and shock themselves, and get excited, it brings me back to why I love this sport so much.”
Avid and aspiring mountain bikers will be stoked to hear about Madbush Falls, a new bike and ski-centered basecamp that opened this summer in Vermont’s Green Mountains. The 20-acre property has all a mountain or gravel biker needs, with a world-class trail network, 75-seat restaurant, bar, bike and ski shop, guiding center, and 20-room lodge. Oh, and a waterfall and swimming hole. Come winter, biking gives way to skiing. You might never want to leave.
Madbush is the brainchild of long-time Vermonter Jonny Adler, who dreamed of starting a Vermont biking hub. He wanted to share Vermont’s loamy dirt, warm pastures, ridgelines, gravel roads, and cool shaded woods with other enthusiasts. In November 2021, he closed a deal on the old Madbush Alpine Chalet. While the 1950s-era motel had been vacant for 20 years, the property had potential with a river running through it and a 30-foot waterfall. And it’s only about 40 miles from Burlington.
Photo courtesy of Madbush Falls
The finished basecamp is a truly Vermont collaboration. The property’s woodwork, metalwork, landscaping, art, and interior design feature Vermont materials and are crafted by Vermonters. The bike trails are community-built and maintained by Mad River Riders, a founding chapter of the Vermont Mountain Bike Association.
Photo courtesy of Madbush Falls
Guests can bring their own bikes or rent one from the bike shop. Certified guide-instructors from Stowe Mountain Bike Academy can recommend routes ranging from 2.5 to 5.5 hours. Intermediate and advanced riders will find jumps and technical challenges. If you want more variety in your vacation, the Blueberry Lake route lets you combine a ride with a swim, picnic, and SUP.
Photo courtesy of Madbush Falls
“Here at Madbush Falls, we’ve thought through everything you need to power your riding adventure,” Adler explains in a welcoming message on Madbush’s website. “Above all else, Madbush Falls is a magical place,” he says. “Its energy is real.”
People who have lived in Southern California long enough might remember Santa’s Village, a year-round Christmas theme park that delighted children with rides and reindeer. Now, SkyPark at Santa’s Village has been revamped into a mountain biking park that delights riders of all skill levels while preserving a few touches of the North Pole.
Photo courtesy of SkyPark at Santa’s Village
When the old theme park tucked into the San Bernardino Mountains came up for sale in 2014, mountain biking couple Bill and Michelle Johnson jumped at the chance to develop their dream bike park. They envisioned a place with enough variety for a whole family, from toddlers to grandparents.
“We have a pump track for the little ones, entry and medium level trails, and even expert-level tracks that keep pro riders coming back,” Bill Johnson said in a statement. “The park is designed much like a ski resort, although we do not have a lift service. Everyone can ride together to the top, but a scaled network of trails for all levels can bring you down, back to the village, at a central location to regroup. We’re constantly improving and adjusting trails, with expansion continuing to change the experience every season.”
The park offers trails for riders of all skill levels. / Photo courtesy of SkyPark at Santa’s Village
SkyPark offers group and private lessons for ages three and up, plus an onsite bike shop. Buy a bike from SkyPark’s Bike Swap, and you’ll get a credit for a day of riding at the park. Families can camp at the campground next door or bring their RV.
Photo courtesy of SkyPark at Santa’s Village
The original Santa’s Village opened in 1955, before Disneyland. It went through a bankruptcy and a couple of owners and iterations before closing in 1998.
“Bill and I used to come here when we were younger, back when Santa’s Village was closed, and make bike paths through the trees,” Michelle Johnson said. “In 2014, long after we were married and had gained significant experience in the real estate world, we saw the old Santa’s Village property come up on the market and it was like the universe was giving us a chance to share this magical place with the world. Now everyone gets to experience the park we’ve spent years perfecting.”
Photo courtesy of SkyPark at Santa’s Village
SkyPark at Santa’s Village is part of a larger trend of using traditional skiareas for mountain biking during the off-season. “We’re proud to be a part of that mindset shift,” Bill Johnson said. “These mountains need to be experienced and mountain biking is such a great way to do it year-round. It’s good for the local community as well, to have something year-round again. Plus, we’ve brought the famous Santa’s Village theme park back to life for new generations, and that’s really special.”
If you enjoy mountain biking with a side of gorgeous scenery, destination trails are a must. Whether you like cycling through moss-covered forests or biking alongside red rocks, there are plenty of beautiful mountain biking trails open for public use throughout the United States. While notoriously rocky regions like Colorado are known for quality mountain biking trails, there are also stunning options in Arizona, Washington, Vermont, and more.
Curious to discover some of the country’s finest mountain biking trails? Then pack your bags and bike for an unforgettable experience at these six scenic mountain biking locations. And don’t forget to check out some of the world’s most difficult mountain biking trails here.
A passion for connecting with nature drives many mountain bikers. On a bicycle, adventurers can explore a location’s terrain and forget their worries as they navigate the outdoors. The sport’s physical challenges also draw in athletes looking to test their skills and endurance. For the challenge of a lifetime, some bikers even make it their mission to tackle some of the world’s most difficult and dangerous mountain biking trails. Some trails can be perilous even for experienced professionals, but for thrillseekers, the adrenaline rush is worth the risk. Here are a few of the destinations where adventurous bikers can push their limits.
Mountain biker David Smith was riding down the Skyline Trail at Snowshoe Bike Park in West Virginia on Sunday when the unexpected occurred.
Mountain biker David Smith was riding down the Skyline Trail at Snowshoe Bike Park in West Virginia on Sunday when he suddenly had unwanted company running beside him.
A couple of bear cubs came into view as he was racing down the trail. Suddenly, one bear ran off in the opposite direction while the other bear ran alongside him for several feet before bolting off in front of him to the left.
The momma bear was nowhere to be seen.
Smith captured the close encounter on video. (Strong warning about foul language.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgHzWGI7hE8
“My first thought was exactly what you hear me say in the video,” Smith told USA Today/For The Win Outdoors. “I was excited to see the bears, initially thinking they would just run away from me and then I was extra blown away when the one cub started running alongside me.
“We had heard there were a lot of sightings of a momma and two cubs on that mountain in the bike park area.
“I did think I may collide with the cub, so I slowed down to try and let him safely get across the trail. I didn’t want to run the cub over at full speed and I didn’t want to get knocked over on my back or go too slowly in case the momma was coming behind me.”
Smith said he felt more excitement than fear. He figured the momma had run off with the other cub in the other direction.
“That was only the second time I’ve seen a bear in the wild and definitely the closest encounter,” he told For The Win Outdoors.
Danny MacAskill may be one of the most creative and skilled trials bikers in the world, and his Instagram has been a testament to that over the last few days. MacAskill, a Scottish rider, shared some of the mountain biking work he’s done, with a pair of wild tricks that used trees as obstacles.
He’s working to promote his new tricks video on YouTube, “This and That,” which you should watch if you’re interested in these styles of biking (mountain biking and trails cycling) or you just want to see something amazing. But these two bite-sized clips are pretty freaking awesome.
Here’s a look at the first one, where he jumps off his bike, over a tree and back onto his bike.
https://www.instagram.com/p/COaHGWcgEAX/
And then there’s one where he rode up a tree, jumped off it and stalled on another tree before landing on the ground cleanly.
