Mountain biking is not a hobby for me, it is my life. It is what I do. I wake up in the morning, do some writing, then plan out where I'm gonna go ride," says Kurt Gensheimer, also known as The Angry Singlespeeder (which he uses a funny acronym as an advertisement). Gensheimer is a lover of mountain biking and his work reflects his passion. He writes for outdoor magazines, works with state tourism boards (Utah, Oregon, Nevada) to promote mountain biking, and works building trails with the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship. All of his work is related to his love of the outdoors.
He is not the only one who loves to mountain bike. According to International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA), the U.S. sees nearly 40 million participants annually. It an extremely healthy activity- emotionally, spiritually, and physically. It can burn up to 1,000 calories per hour and it improves cardiovascular health and endurance. The activity hit its peak in 2011, however it has stayed steady since then, some statistics stating that its ridership is increasing.
An interesting tidbit about mountain biking is that one of the first examples of off-road biking were built for Buffalo Soldiers going from Missoula to Yellowstone in 1896. Fast forward a few decades and interest in riding bikes off-road recreationally grew, particularly in Northern California, where the sport of mountain biking is said to have originated. Riders would retrofit cruiser bikes to meet the off road environment - better brakes and fatter tires. In the 80s, road bicycle companies started to manufacture bikes specifically for off road.
The U.S. sees nearly 40 million mountain biking participants annually [Photo/BLM Oregon & Washington]
Then came the 90s. Along with the Macarena and Beanie Babies, came the culture of mountain biking. Unlike the Macarena and Beanie Babies, mountain biking has stayed and grown. Not only has it stayed, it is making a significant impact on economies throughout the United States. As Gensheimer talks about the economic engines that can help struggling mountain communities. "I am building trail with a purpose - to create jobs and help these mountain towns I love so much stay alive."
Gensheimer is echoing a sentiment heard elsewhere, also. Many towns throughout the United States, previously dependent on a single income such as mining, are at a loss when the mine or factory shuts down. Many have found an answer in outdoor recreation and building trails for hikers and mountain bikers. A recent article in Outside magazine talks about the Cuyuna Mountain Bike Trail System in Cosby, Minnesota. A long way back the area was used for iron mining, which destroyed the landscape, along with the town when the iron was exhausted. It was soon designated a state recreation area to help it recover and stayed basically empty until a cycling club lobbied with the International Mountain Bicycling Association to make a trail system for mountain bikers. It now has 25,000 cyclists come through every year, which adds about $2 million to the economy.
The fun doesn’t have to be limited to warmer weather, particularly with the growing popularity of Fat Bikes. Fat Bikes are called fat because of the big tires that have very low ground pressure (typically 8-10 psi) to ride over soft terrain. The funny looking bikes are found all over the U.S., but mostly in the Northern part of the country. States have specifically groomed trails for Fat Bikes. Places like Minnesota, Upper Peninsula Michigan, and Wisconsin have a plethora of options for riders to explore nature in the wintertime.
For people like Gensheimer, riding is a way of life, something he tries to share with everyone. “We are meant to be connected with nature, not sitting in a car in gridlock three hours a day,” he says, “My goal is to get people out of the cities and into the mountains where they belong.” Gensheimer lives in Verdi, NV, “Right on the doorstep of the Sierra Nevada and Lake Tahoe.” It is a town very close to Reno, that has access to alpine terrain and desert. He has been a biker since he was a teenager and used to spend a lot of time road biking. “The bike has become an essential part of my life. It is an extension of me,” he says. He used to log over 10,000 miles per year on the road, but he doesn’t road ride anymore. “The emergence of distracted driving due to smartphones and road rage has pushed me away from the road.” So he hit the trails and never looked back. Now he lives it and wants others to, also.
“My main goal is to inspire people to get off their butts, get out of their cubicle and go adventure. Do something amazing. Meet some incredible people. And do it all on a bike,” he says. And his final thoughts drive the nail down. “As Morgan Freeman said in Shawshank Redemption - “get busy living, or get busy dying.”