Wise Words is our new interview series talking to some of mountain biking’s most switched on people.
We’ll ask our short list of questions to a heap of influential, inspiring and outspoken people that we feel are driving the direction of mountain biking today. Some will make you think, some will make you laugh, some will be plain dumb, some will inspire you to better yourself and your riding. We hope!
This week’s Wise Words come to you via the medium of the one and only Andy McKenna.
Andy is the man behind the growing Scottish guiding empire that is Go-Where Scotland. From humble beginnings in the Tweed Valley, Andy knows his way around the most isolated trails and the best refuelling stops between them. During that time, he’s also become a champion for a drug-free journey with Multiple Sclerosis through Stoked on MS.
Photos by Andy McCandlish.
How would your closest riding buddies describe you to someone who has never met you?
Feral. In appearance. And in outlook. Looks younger (and more handsome) as he ages.
What thing or things have you bought in the last year that had the biggest effect on your life as a mountain biker / cyclist / person that works in the bike industry?
CBD and a juicer! Riding with Multiple Sclerosis comes with some funky effects – CBD has got my shaky legs under control a bit, and juicing has made my mind sharper. So I can hold on more. And crash less.
What unusual habits do you have as a bike rider?
I almost always carry a Lavazza ground coffee wrapper. It smells lovely. And it makes for a sturdy tyre boot too. Plus it makes me feel more European.
What piece of advice do you think every mountain bike rider should hear? And what piece should they ignore?
Look around and soak it all up, every time you ride. Do all you can to ensure the places you love riding are there for everyone, forever.
Ignore Strava.
If you could go back and re-ride one day from your life so far, where/what/when/who would it be? Would you change anything?
I don’t know if I would if I’m honest. Unless I could take all the lessons in life along with me. And if I did/could I’d hope it’d be a groundhog day kind of ride with Aneela everytime, it’d probably be in Scotland, Slovenia, the Basque, Pyrenees. On a constant repeat loop.
What have you wasted the most time on in your life as a rider or bike industry career that you wished you’d given up years ago?
This is less of a regret and more of an observation from being around mountain biking for so long, since the mid 80s. The evolution of the sport and the technology is nuts since I started and now we’re riding the best bikes ever by far, but sometimes I think we all need a wee reminder what’s important.
Instead of getting too preoccupied with the tech geekery, it’s good to remember what this mountain bike caper is really all about. Getting up/down a nice big hill or two, appreciating being outdoors and taking in what’s around you. It doesn’t really matter what you ride to get you out there.
Did I really answer the question?
How do you motivate yourself when you’re struggling or lacking inspiration?
For me, it’s not about the struggle or the motivation. Mountain biking’s my medicine. My body tells me exactly when a dose is due.
What single and specific thing about riding bicycles do you gain the most happiness from?
Like Graeme Obree says, perspective. Nothing gives me more perspective than riding bikes. Exploring new places, old places, being a tiny dot immersed in a big landscape, overcoming challenges and the healthy states of mind that riding bikes takes me to.
What single thing would you like to erase from cycling history from the last year?
Jared Graves’ brain tumour.
What single thing would you like to make happen in the cycling world in the next year?
I’d like to continue the conversations that ‘Stoked on MS’ seems to have started. Bikes are important for everyone’s health (physical, mental, spiritual) and I’d like as many people as possible to feel that truth too.
Who else should we ask these questions to?
Ian Grant.
