Happy New Year Tales: “Why We Started Riding”

Wyatt Higbee, a rider from Alpine, Utah, wrote us and explained he would love to hear the results from the question “If you started mountain biking in the last 3 years, what was the reason?”

Great question so we threw it out on our Facebook page. The answers that flooded in helped us remember, as we approach the end of another year, just why we are so addicted to mountain biking.

Stuart Lopez: Was well over 400 pounds….lost 150+ on the bike in the past 3 years…now I’m addicted to bikes not food.

Char Antonenko: I started 6 years ago. Been so busy with school and work for the past year I finally got back into it. I missed it so much. The reason why I did it are several but it all ties together: getting fit, losing weight, burns off negative energy and kept me mentally happy. Love the outdoors and figured what better way to feel good about yourself without going to the gym.

Tony Alvarez: To pick up a new hobby and ride with my boys. I love it.

Heather Bush: Biker guys are cute.

Kathryn Adams Boylan: To get in shape, but now it’s so much more than staying fit. It’s for inner peace!

Anthony Ortiz: $3k in the garage collecting dust. It was time to explore new terrain!

Nick Vitulli: Started 9 months ago and lost 50 pounds. Finally found something I love to do that is good for you. The gym stinks.

Jeff Peterson: Got sick of riding with roadies!

Randy Blackston: Fried taters.

Tim Schmidt: I started 30 years ago and it still feels new to me.

Jason A Hammett: I started just over a year ago when moved to a new home. I was asked if I would like to come along on a bike ride but had no bike. Next day I was given an old bike & was told that I had “no excuse now.” Over a year later (& a new bike) I have clocked up thousands of miles now, taken part in loads of organized off-road bike ride events, including the 75 mile London to Brighton off road bike ride for charity. I have lost loads of weight & have never felt healthier.

Jennifer Sandenaw: I have a few friends that are mountain bikers and I was always too afraid to start mountain biking because I thought I would get hurt. I attended a Multi-sport Extravaganza event in Peoria and tried mountain biking. I was so afraid that I couldn’t even bend my elbows and relax!!  Finally, I got used to it and loved it. I eventually bought a used bike from a friend and have really had a good time. Can’t wait to ride in Arizona and Utah in 2013 now.

Sharon Godlewski: fitness, fun, friendships.

Jose Pena: Tried it with friends from work an I got hooked

Jay Van Dood: Two years and 1,500 miles on nothing but trail. I’m on my second bike and loving every ride. Oh yea lost some weight as well.

Mark Nikonowicz: I was into dirt biking for a while but every time I wanted to go ride I would have to drive hours to the nearest track or trail. Every time I looked up trails to ride their we’re so many trails but only for hiking and biking. So I decided to try it on my BMX bike that I had since I was a kid. This year I sold my Kawasaki KX250 and bought my beautiful Santa Cruz Tallboy LT. Now I’m the motor.
My cardio and health is at a level it has never been before. I wish I would of known more about the sport along time ago. But I’m here to stay, I guarantee.

Aaron Stone: Prescott, Arizona

Neil Beltchenko: Hooked after I demoed a Trek Fuel EX 5, in Crested Butte.

Jacob Furchak: After a local bike demo at a local trail.

Mr Jonah Simmons: I started mountain biking because that is what the kool kids are doing.

Blaise Danielle: Exercise, fun and to challenge myself to do something new!

Adrian Galarza: When I was a kid I use to ride my bike almost every day, cuz it was fun. I got older got my car and I stopped. As years passed by I remember the days when I was a kid and how much fun it was and I said to myself “why not do it again” so 3 years ago got me a mountain bike and hit hills, and loving life

Jose Diaz: Needed the exercise and went back to childhood basics. Now I do both mountain and road cycling.

Colin Moakley: I can no longer handle having a YZ450 slapping the daylights out of me on a weekly basis. I have always “trained” on a mountain bike, now I’m a mountain biker.

Bill Goff: World domination

Kevin Bolton: The WHEEEE factor.

Kevan Goodrich: Started riding three years ago on an old mountain bike on easy horse trails near my home. I was 5’8 and 385 pounds. Today, lucky for me, I am still 5’8 but now weigh 238 and clock almost 150 miles a week in the So. California mountains and hills. Now own three beautiful bikes. My 50-inch waist is down to a 38. Yeehah.

Bruce Sones: I stepped on the scale and I didn’t like what I saw!

David Chadderton: No cars!

Steve Marshall: Because I like it and the fitness you get from it is the best! I have dropped 63 pounds, 1 shirt size and two pant sizes. I’m 54 and still ride all the seasons! Snow packed roads will be today!

Adam Dixon: To be young again! (It worked)

Elias Sleiman J: My ex girlfriend left me saying I was boring. So I started running in the mountains and climbing. I started having problems with my knees, bought a mountain bike and now its pure adventure. Lots of fun and traveling!

Brent Hartman: I was tired of talking about do it!

Jeff Bevan: Funny story. I was walking and there was a bike with a “free” sign on it. Made sure with the guy it was legit. Took a day off from work and rode a local trail that is very beginner friendly. Had an awesome time. Gave that bike away and bought a better bike….and the journey began!

Noelle Montesinos Anzures: I started 32 years ago! I still riding and the reason was: I love it!!!

Drew Langland: Buddies asked me to ride and I got hooked first ride.

Alain Martinez: To get off the couch.

Josh Sherwood: To kill the down time between ski seasons.

Carlos Chee: Enjoy nature faster.

Mike Corley: To get in some riding during the BMX off season …now it’s like BMX what’s that ?

Daniel Toomes: Because I moved to Colorado and if you don’t mountain bike, you are missing out on some incredible adventures!

Miguel Iñiguez Gonzalez: Severe twisted ankle playing basketball, almost two months with a cast, decided to buy a MTB.

Carrie Runner: Loved hiking the trails, and wanted to check out more before I started running them. Now I am hooked!

Mike Alford: It had been a few years since I stopped riding BMX, and a friend invited me to go using a borrowed bike. The first 5 mins riding singletrack opened my eyes!! I’ve been riding since!

Michael Slattery: It’s Fun, It makes me feel Good.

Miguel Alvarez: I started because I wanted to get out of the same daily routine I had, and to relief my head from the constant headaches, now I love it and have a passion for it. If you have any pains I highly recommend you ride a MTB

Bobby Johnson: Because I got bored of golfing.

Randy Sanders: YOLO. (you only live once).

Lee LeDoux: Stopped riding dirt bikes but still needed a rush!!!

Christopher Heslin: To get over being fat and lazy.

Peter Repetti: Mid-life crisis.

Felipe Herrera Rondon: Fun,family and friends!!!

Jon Lavelle: I had three, one was it made the bond between my father in law and me a little stronger. Two it’s helping me get into shape and three it’s let me meet a lot of cool people.

Nathan Moore: hanging out with the buds on the trail

Grant Spring: not good at team sports

Matt Paulson: Paintball lost its thrill for me. I needed a new high, hit the local single track one time and…I love it! I can’t ride enough, wish I would’ve tried riding MTB a long time ago.

Cameron La’shawn: Whittier Boy Scouts and being able to do it with friends and family
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Kim Allen: Demoed a full suspension bike and loved it!

Laura S Brewster Andersen: To have something fun to do and have in common with my boyfriend.

Ken Holloway: Being out in the wild and exercise; it’s one of the most exhilarating things to do on the planet!

Nicholas S. Minter: To get in shape and enjoy God’s creation, not sure if shaping any better, but lots of great views.

Corey Simms: Get back to the shape I was in when I rode 13 years ago.

Keith Lyles: Exercise, stress relief and being outdoors

Alan Evans: The newer bikes are amazing…..

Meir Memi Pluznik: Was in parenthood sabbatical, and cholesterol issue, also the technology improved!

Lou Rodriguez: Started exactly 3 years ago. Was looking to get back on 2 wheels after being off a bike for 5 years since quitting BMX racing. Wish I woulda started way sooner! I’m addicted!