Island

It started in 2007 with a visit to The Bike and Trike, a local bike shop in Rock Springs, Wyoming. I was out of shape, and feeling the need to get on a bike again. The Gary Fisher HiFi was there on the rack, calling my name, and I walked out of the shop a proud new owner.

A few days later, while I was telling Derek about it on the phone, I was surprised to learn that he had picked himself up a mountain bike too, and had been hitting the trails for months . It seemed as if I wasn’t the only one with an urge to be back on two wheels again. After a little wheeling and dealing with the wife, we planned our vacation around a trip to visit Derek out in California, and he planned a couple rides for us while we were there.

My first ride was in Folsom, where I both wrecked, and puked. The second was down the mountain in Downieville, where Derek and I were joined by Steve. A trial by fire. I broke my chain, lost a contact, and pushed myself way beyond my physical limits, and abilities, but I made it. And I was hooked.

Later in the season brought another trip out to California for ride out in Auburn with Derek and Steve, and another one back in Folsom. This was getting easier, and funner, with every ride.

Springtime came and Derek, Steve, and Aaron drove out here to Wyoming and we all took off for Fruita, Colorado and the Fruita Fat Tire Festival. From there, we headed over to Moab and the famous Slickrock trail. It was an amazing week of riding, and we decided we were going to do it again.

In the spring of 2009, we rented a cabin in Lake Tahoe and tackled the High Sierras. While our wives and girlfriends enjoyed life at the lake, the four of us headed out for 56 miles or so of heartpounding singletrack. We tackled Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, The Flume, and the downhill fun of Northstar, and we threw in a trip to Auburn before we went home.

Through it all, The Singletrack Mafia was born. We live for the the thrill of singletrack, for the love of good beer, and most of all for the company of great friends. One by one, we will tackle the trails of the world, and conquer them.