Why Del Sur Dirt
As my own adventure in mountain biking began over 2 years ago, I was anxious about all the changes that have happened in the 25 years since I last rode this discipline seriously. I knew that my interest would not be passing and that I was “all in.” So nearly a year of research commenced, a voluntary retirement from my job followed, test rides, reading reviews, watching endless YouTube bike reviews and gear videos, all in attempt to make the perfect bike selection and know why it was right.
So much has changed, it’s incredible. From wheel size and bar width to geometry and suspension capability. These were not the 26” wheeled rippers I thought I knew. To further muddy the water, the last 2 or 3 years have seen a complete revolution in frame geometry and a resurgence in the discussion over wheel size (29” vs. 27.5”). After a fair few late nights, I was able to establish that the “new” geometry and philosophies underpinning their development was not bogus. In fact, it has been one of those sea change moments in the industry that has been like moving from a landline to a cell phone. Yes, I love that clean crisp reception of my old dialable phone, but the immense capability of the pocket icon are undeniable. The change in capability of the modern bikes is equally impressive. In future articles, I will address many of the topics that I researched during my process.
Finally, I bought a Yeti SB130 from our local shop, The Bike Shop at Del Sur, and haven’t looked back. 6” of suspension travel up front, 5” in the rear, with huge 29” wheels. The Del Sur shred machine. The first thing I realized riding it, was that I didn’t know how to ride it! It is a bike, right! I ride bikes really well, right! It’s not that simple. I was having a blast, suffering while trying to regain my fitness, bombing downhill at speeds I should not have been, and riding technical terrain I lacked the experience to master. The bike was beyond amazing, yet I could tell I had far to go in unlocking it’s full capability.
The new way of riding is not only different for marketing’s sake, it is actually way way better. The bikes are longer, lower, and slacker (the front wheel has been raked out slightly, like a chopper, but not quite that far). After more than 6 months of riding and over 1000 miles of trail, I’m still unlocking my Yeti’s potential! Now, on to why I started Del Sur Dirt.
As my skills have reawakened and progressed, my passion for mountain biking and performing trail work has become consuming in an increasingly positive way. The community that has embraced me and supported my adventure is diverse, robust, and awesome. Fellow riders who love to engage the trails, suffer up the climbs, and pick the dirt out of their grinning teeth at the bottom of a joyous, heart pounding descent are my people. I have been making new riding buddies every week since I began.
Coming back to the sport after a long absence gives me a unique perspective, that I believe I share with a ton of potential mountain bikers, who for various reasons haven’t made the jump to get into or back into the sport. As so many bike reviewers say, “it’s a great time to be a mountain biker.” The bikes are at their peak of capability and the trail opportunities are abundant, especially right here in Del Sur. Having worked through the discomfort of not knowing what all the new technology and technique was about let’s me understand the barriers that prevent folks from joining our legion of dirt hounds. The perception is that mountain biking is expensive, dangerous, and the bikes are complicated. It turns out, it’s not necessarily any of those things.
With the opportunity to reinvent myself at 50, I kept coming back to being outside, teaching, and bringing people together. These three things are just what I do. I quit mountain biking 25 years ago to do just these three things. Whitewater guiding and kayak instruction were my vices back then and required my full focus. For a decade I pursued my passion for water, wilderness, and adventure, sharing whitewater excursions with hundreds of people from all over the world. A couple decades later, I’ve found the opportunity to share my passion for riding the trails in a similar way. Now, as a resident of Del Sur in North County San Diego, I intend to dispel the myths surrounding mountain biking and introduce new and experienced riders to the best that our sport has to offer.
By offering skills clinics, daily training rides, and advocating for and creating more great trails in our area, I will provide an unparalleled opportunity for our local riding community to grow and thrive. Tailoring my daily training rides to riders of varied skill levels creates an opportunity that is not currently available. My ride schedule attempts to accommodate riders that have varied time constraints and fitness goals as well. Night, early morning, and midday rides will give ample opportunities for member of Del Sur Dirt to get out on the trail together with me.
As a Bicycle Instructor Certification Program (BICP) certified instructor, I am trained to guide, instruct, and design rides that are safe, create massive potential for training skills and fitness, while providing an incredible outdoor experience. My goal is to share the joy and fulfillment I experience on the trail and empower my friends and neighbors to spend their precious exercise time getting the same satisfaction and enjoyment.
My knowledge of the trails in our local Del Sur/4S Ranch and Black Mountain area now borders on encyclopedic. I have focused my attention on understanding and gaining an intimate knowledge of our local trail network in the hope of curating the best experience possible for all Del Sur Dirt subscribers. By tuning our routes to present opportunities to cultivate particular skills and training goals, we can achieve the most effective and fun results. I am looking forward to assembling a cohesive and active community of riders around our subscription model to foster incredible skills development and an ethic of being outside in our incredible San Diego climate and landscape.
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