The Ridge Riders are a great example of a club that has been able to tackle multiple projects while keeping a pulse on the local issues. Through grant writing, events, and trail stewardship they are an integral part of the riding scene throughout the Austin area. We had the pleasure of meeting a few members at the Thursday night social and were impressed by their commitment to enhancing mountain biking in the community. We look forward to hearing about their work in the future.

That afternoon we began our important multi-day journey by discussing the importance of mountain biking to the local community and economy. Sedona is a major tourist destination in Arizona, second only to the Grand Canyon. It’s not the ‘if you build it, they will come’ type of place. They are already here and many of them are mountain bikers. By the end of the day we had the Forest Service, the Verde Valley Cycling Coalition, Friends of the Forest, and others sitting around the table having meaningful conversation.

In one week we’ve gone from the deep forests of the Sierra to the stark beauty of the Mojave. Welcome to the West, baby…
I love the desert. To some it seems like a wasteland, but to me it’s beautiful. There’s no place else where you can witness life in such a delicate balance.

Working the Stewardship throughout the weekend turned out to be many things, but most of all, it was inspiring. They are responsible for so many things; events, fundraising, trailbuilding and maintenance, grant writing… the list goes on and on. And what’s really awesome – they do everything well. Their events run smoothly, their trails are challenging yet very sustainable, and they generate positive energy within the community. We will be proud to tell their story as we continue our travels.