What drew you to mountain biking?

I liked being immersed in nature, and as mountain biking emerged, I found it very challenging,  so I always wanted to ride in the woods. It’s invigorating and can really bring you to a zen moment. My background is in movement and health, and the second most difficult sport, after motocross, is mountain biking. It’s multidirectional, it’s body English, it’s reading terrain, it’s timing, it’s shifting, and it’s being your own motor. So, if you have ever been trained in a multidirectional sport like hockey, soccer or motocross, riding in a straight line lacks challenge and you want your nervous system turned on. I’m definitely into riding in the snow and riding all year, there’s no end to my season. It’s so fun, there’s nothing else like it, and I remember who I am. 

How did Chris Kegel influence your journey as a cyclist and a trail advocate?

I met Chris at the Kettle Moraine Fall Color Festival in 1991. It had rained heavily the night before, trails were closed and the event was cancelled. Event leaders invited volunteers to breakfast where trail stories were told and I got a spark of inspiration. I learned that mountain biking is a privilege of access that comes from patient pioneers holding a vision, building consensus and making trails possible through relationships. Someone showed up in the past,  before my time and made mountain biking possible. Chris’ legacy as an advocate showed us all what it takes: being there, having a plan, working with land managers and other stakeholders, doing the work, keeping it fun, inviting people, learning sustainability, following through, and being diplomatic. Chris improved bike access in many ways over the years, he never stopped working on it.

Because of the leadership I saw in Chris Kegel, I made sure that if I wanted an opportunity to mountain bike, I made myself available to work for it. All you need to do is find your local trail crew and show up. Give a few hours and make it happen for your community, you might enjoy it! I’ve served in Illinois as the IMBA state rep, served on boards, built coalitions of trail clubs, helped on numerous trail plans, worked on trail crews to keep the riding good. Currently I help the local IMBA chapter, Southeast Wisconsin Trails Alliance, Kettle Moraine Trail Club. All When you love mountain biking and want to ride, being part of a trail project is a natural step. Making cycling better is up to us--that was the lesson from Chris Kegel. 

You’ve done a lot of work, as you mentioned, creating and maintaining and advocating for trails; what does that look like?

I recently completed a 6-year project building 10 miles of singletrack as the lead volunteer at Silver Lake Park. It all started because of a fat-bike race in 2010; the Kenosha County Parks Director asked who could help build mountain bike trails. I had always wanted trails closer to home. The County liked our plan and hired a trail designer who mapped and flagged 10 miles of singletrack where an old gravel pit had been. Over six years, working in phases, a team of close to 300 volunteers made magic happen: from overgrown woods to rippin’ twisty singletrack. It’s a really fun trail with something for everyone and it’s even more fun since I completed my commitment and turned the project over to the county’s new Trails Coordinator. I’m so proud of Silver Lake and now I’m enjoying the ride a lot more often! 

If people are interested in mountain biking but haven’t tried it, what do they need and where should they start?

You need a mountain bike that fits, and a few pieces of the right gear: a helmet, glasses because sometimes branches overhang the trail, gloves, hydration pack or a water bottle, bike shorts if you have them, and bug spray in Wisconsin! Join a friend or look for a beginner group ride, or find a free clinic. You’ll learn the basics and it’s easy to get hooked! Always check trail conditions before you go, don’t ride muddy or wet trails, the tire track damage destroys the trails and makes a lot of work to fix them.

Women may want to ride with other supportive and fun women, creating confidence and empowering new riders to fall in love with riding singletrack.

What kind of bike should people start out with?

You don’t have to have a fancy mountain bike, but don’t take your hybrid comfort bike out into the trail, ‘cause it doesn’t have the right tires and it doesn’t put you in the right position. Front suspension is a basic feature on most mountain bikes, full suspension can be even more comfortable. If you don’t own a mountain bike, you can rent or borrow a bike. There are some great basic mountain bikes, like the new Marlin 6: it’s a modest price but it rides like a trail bike, making it a really good starter bike. Make sure it fits you, stop by the shop to try a few bikes on and learn about all the things that help you enjoy your mountain bike ride. We love to sell fun!

Any tips for folks who are still getting used to mountain biking?

Don’t feel like you have to go fast or show your fitness. Mountain biking is a brain thing, it’s about reading the trail ahead of you, and moving through twisty terrain. There’s nothing that says you have to ride everything at first, you can walk over sections, especially if you are a beginner. It’s easy to miss a climb by not shifting early enough, or get tired and make an error. Feel free to go at your own pace and walk over stuff anytime you want. Every time we ride, we’re always saying, “Oh, I rode that hill great,” or “Oh, you know, I dorked on that climb and walked”. Every ride is a learning opportunity, then later in the season, the more repetitions you’ve had riding that trail, the better you get and the faster you are. Mountain bike mastery feels really good there’s a lifetime of learning and fun to be had. If you love both nature and bikes, try mountain biking, it’s a blast!