Wise Words is our 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!
Wise Words this week come to from Mr. David Evans.
David Evans is the man behind Bike Corris, offering guiding and coaching in the Dyfi Valley. On top of this Dave has been on a one man crusade to document and champion wild trails in Wales with his exhaustive behind-the-scenes work.
Photos 3 & 4 by Pete Scullion.
How would your closest riding buddies describe you to someone who has never met you?
A connector of people, places and possibilities. Usually via the pub.
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?
A Vitus hardtail for my 9yr old son. Trickle-down technology (and massive over supply) means there’s now a range of quality bikes, with great geometry, you can buy for under a grand and take straight onto some lively terrain. Hopefully this pricing will make the sport far more accessible, especially for young riders.
What unusual habits do you have as a bike rider?
Giving directions in the past. A habit inherited from my mother, I like to give directions such as: “Carry on past where Dan used to live, heading towards where Sam used to live. Where the bridleway used to be, turn right and follow where the Dyfi Enduro used to go”. Pint for the first person to name that trail.
What piece of advice do you think every mountain bike rider should hear? And what piece should they ignore?
Look after your trails. The MTB scene is told to be obsessed with new everything. This attitude has lead to trails being “ripped, shredded, slayed, etc.” into useless ruts, before the scene moves on to the next new spot. Working together on the trails is a great way to build your local MTB community, protect your spot and pass the sport forward to the next generation.
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?
My days on the bike highly depend on the “set and the setting”. One of the best days I’ve ever had featured a massive climb, then carry, then the joy/terror of an Alpine trail called Spineology. And a few beers to relax and recover after.
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?
Asking permission. Our Community Trail Company has waited seven years for a permission agreement from NRW. If you want to achieve something, do it well and keep doing it. “They” will catch up eventually.
How do you motivate yourself when you’re struggling or lacking inspiration?
I take a break Last year I discovered running for the first time, and I’m attempting to restore a vintage Subaru. A change is as good as a rest.
What single and specific thing about riding bicycles do you gain the most happiness from?
Bringing people together through their love of the sport. I’ve run kids’ sessions on-and-off for a couple of years, and it’s great to see them gaining skills and friends they wouldn’t otherwise have met. We do the same for grown-ups, with a strong regular crowd even in the darkest of winter.
What single thing would you like to erase from cycling history from the last year?
Lizz Truss. In October it seemed we had a plan for making things much easier for community trail groups to legitimize their tracks across Wales. Then Liz had a go and running the country and broke it, taking the funding with it.
What single thing would you like to make happen in the cycling world in the next year?
I want to see a united approach to allow MTB communities to look after and preserve their Wild Trails on Welsh public land. Welsh Government and NRW policies all promote “getting communities to work together, in outdoor spaces, for the benefit of their physical and mental health” [sic], so why is this taking so long?
Who else should we ask these questions to?
Kath Goodie. Fellow MTB Guide and Chair Trail Collective North Wales.
