If you haven’yt seen the Danny MacAskill vid, you do not nor have ever ridden a bike.   Its the most cult viral video i know.   I’ve watched it 20 times, dl’d Band of Horses, I’m moved by it.   I won’t ever launch a 20 foot staircase or nose-wheelie on a fence post, but i can see myself trying to pump a public square.   I’ve never ridden pump track, but know i’d like it, just like i’d see a public square and think how neat it would be to pump it.   What inspires me about the video is how he invents the trail.

I don’t know what you’d call what i ride around home, around Rocky Point: dirt jump, urban, freeride, all-mountain, xc, cx, roadie…badly, slowly, timidly?   I explore.   And i like to ride the Heckler cause its potent and capable and strong and stout and small and suspendier.   The Conquistadors were power players, not finesse players.   and then i want to ride it fast, or lean, or big – but The Harem knows the necessary recalibration.

My eye is always towards the trail.   A staircase is a rockline, not a staircase.   An edge is off-cambered single-track.   I’ve been aggressively turning down drainage culverts full of river rock like some of the transitions on Somo.

I think of it as suburban all-mountain terrorist.