The Mountains Are Calling

In-field research with a mountain biking coach

By Rivian

November 2^nd, 2018

It’s almost time to start waxing our skis and boards. Before some of our favorite single tracks redecorate for the winter, we took one last in-field research trip to Colorado for a specific mountain high that only the rigors and rewards of flying downhill, on a bike, can provide.

When you only have a day or two to explore, seeking out local experts to point you in the right direction can be invaluable. Before we even get near a mountain, we connect with YETI Cycles Ambassador and Mountain Biking Coach, Andy Winohradsky, to make the most of our time in Colorado. He suggests we start by stopping at Base Camp Cyclery for our gear rental needs and to get our bearings.

Fitting four bikes, four enthusiastic riders and one willing photographer in a rental van is no small feat — but that's part of the reason we're here in the first place. To map all the pain points in the gear-up and load-in phase so we can design thoughtful solutions around them. Eventually, we manage to fit in all our gear, and our whole team. Unfortunately, it means getting creative with seating arrangements.

Pre-ride rituals

We meet up with Andy at a local trail and he confirms something we’ve already learned the hard way through countless trips like this, and that is: the adventure begins long before you reach the trailhead. It starts with prep. For many who live an active lifestyle, your vehicle is more than a means of transportation. It’s your garage, your closet, your kitchen and sometimes your bedroom.

"Creating a system within your vehicle to organize your gear and keep your clean stuff separate from your muddy or wet stuff is a good habit to get into," Andy says. "Making sure everything has it’s own designated space and, more importantly, is easy to find, will make life easier before and after your ride."

Obviously, know where your snacks are at all times.

It's all about technique

Everyone thinks they know how to ride a bike until they attend a clinic or a camp. Learning some basic techniques can often make more of a difference in your performance and overall enjoyment than upgrading your equipment.

“I played football, baseball and wrestled all throughout school, and while I was never the strongest or the fastest guy on the team, I focused on my technique, and that gave me the advantage,” Andy says. “Technique is key to performance as well as preventing injuries, so I brought that philosophy to mountain biking.”

Look up clinics in your area, or follow Andy's blog for videos, articles and insights.

Get those climbing lungs ready

With only a couple of days in Colorado, our team didn't have too much time to acclimate to the altitude — and our lungs felt it. Do yourself a favor and give yourself some time to adjust. Mountain biking requires a higher level of fitness than many other sports, and because of that, your physical activities outside biking directly impact it. Developing core strength, stability and endurance is important before tackling more difficult trails — and helps mollify the inevitable burn you’ll feel in your lungs and your legs when you do.

"When it comes to strength training, it's not as much about heavy lifting as it is about control and precision," Andy says. "A good personal trainer can help you create a customized regimen and teach you how to move your body with intention — so that you're not spending energy on unnecessary movements that can throw off your balance and increase your chance of injury."

You will fall

It’s a fact. Nature is unpredictable and trails are full of unexpected obstacles — but that’s what makes things interesting. If you didn’t love the challenge of navigating wild terrain, you’d be in your living room on a stationary bike. Getting a solid foundation and applying the right techniques may not prevent a fall, but as Andy emphasizes, it can prevent a gnarly injury.

No two rides are ever the same

There are so many factors that can affect your ride — the bike, the weather, the trail, what you ate beforehand and what kind of shape your body is in that day. Andy recommends keeping a journal while training and writing down the conditions before and after. It can help you figure out where to make adjustments to improve your performance.

Do it for the fun of it

Mountain biking is one of those sports that requires you to go out of your way. "It’s a certain kind of person that will make the effort to drive or fly to the places where you can find the best trails — so already, you have something in common with the people you meet along the way," Andy says — and we agree. At the bottom of the mountain, at the end of the afternoon, members of our design and engineering team share similar looks of exhilaration and exhaustion.

“Bikes and gear have come a long way in the last 20 years. It’s made a lot of aspects of riding more comfortable, more convenient and more accessible, but I had just as much fun riding back then as I do now,” Andy says. “Going outside, getting away from everything and getting your heart pounding in a beautiful place — that’s what mountain biking is about.”