A year's worth of MTB progression

A year has flown by having fun on two wheels. Looking back it's been a wild ride of learning more about myself as well as the type of rider I'm becoming. I jumped in with a used Norco Range A7.2 I found on Marketplace—big 170/160mm suspension and 27.5” wheels. Not the ideal starter bike, as I later learned, but it got me rolling and lowered the barrier to entry.

I started out in the Ridge Runner trail network in Nanaimo, hitting trails like Black Keys, The Abyss, and Off the Rails. A few weeks in, I met some new riders and branched out to other zones like Doumont—riding trails like Monkeys in the Mist. I started to find some rhythm on the Norco, but everything changed when I switched to the Marin Rift Zone XR.

That bike opened up a whole new level of riding. The 29” wheels transformed how I rolled over terrain and read the trail. I began to understand line choice, bike-body positioning, free speed, and pumping—things just started to click with more time in the saddle. Four months later, I upgraded again to a Canyon Strive, an enduro bike that gave me even more confidence and stability on technical features.

What I’ve learned most this year is that we grow through doing. Mountain biking was something I’d avoided for a long time—mostly out of fear and the perceived risk. Ironically, I learned to ride a motorbike before I ever tried mountain biking. This year also brought some personal perspective. Early on, both of my parents had bad falls (they're doing much better now), and it reminded me that life is short. That was the push I needed to stop putting this off.

Mountain biking has taught me more than just how to ride—it’s taught me about failure and how to face fear. Progress doesn’t come all at once. It’s about breaking features down into manageable steps, staying agile, and staying aware of how it feels in the body and mind.

I’ve since sold the Norco. It did its job—it got me hooked and helped me decide if I wanted to pursue this. In just a year, I’ve had some rough moments: a likely concussion at Mount Prevost, pedal strikes that lit up my shins, a front tire washout that ended in stitches. These are all reminders that this sport carries risk—and that the risk deserves your respect, but not your fear.

Looking back on the year, I clocked 1,000 km of cycling across Vancouver Island (Gnarnaimo, Cumberland, Forbidden Plateau, Qathet, Sooke, Victoria) —and next year, I’m aiming for 1,250 km. I also want to race and take part in more local events.

One unexpected highlight was joining Nanaimo Mountain Bike Club as a director at large and now acting Director of Communications . It’s been a great way to merge two of my biggest passions: design and riding. I’m four months in and learning a ton—both on the trails and behind the scenes. I’m bringing the same mindset to both: learn by doing.

My goals for the year ahead are simple—stay grounded in that beginner’s mindset, keep learning through experience, and find balance between my many passions.