We’ve crossed the power lines on Seymour and it’s now uncharted territory for The Clairebarian as we make our way to Ned’s Atomic Dustbin for the first time. She’s armed with the only tools one needs to enjoy any mountain biking adventure – a great attitude, and a love of climbing. More specifically, in this case, a love of steep grades, perfecting pedal pressure, wizard-level weight-shifting, and balancing on baby heads. 

I don’t know that I’ve ever been more motivated on a climb myself. I’m hovered over my bike trying to find traction for the rear tire as I follow Claire’s meandering line. It’s half-planned and half-bucking-bronco, riding out the hand that the trail deals to her. We take a breather before the final pitch and she’s smiling. “I love this climb!” No dabs, all around. 

It’s not the only climb she loves either. Penny Lane to Good Sir Martin, No Quarter up to the Baden Powel, and I’d be remiss to not mention Big Trouble In Little Chainring in Mission, BC. BTILC is hilariously a Green-rated trail. It does start out with a beautiful low-angle meander through a mossy forest scape, but it has some properly punchy steep rock armoured sections that many talented riders I know don’t clean every time, never mind us slubs.  

No whinging, no cajoling, no bribery required but there’s also no magic here either. Just normalize a love of – and the personal achievements in – the journey. Love to climb the bike. Love to hike the bike. If your pace is anything like mine, and your riding is anything like the pedal-and-plunge affair I’m into, then going uphill is 80%+ of any given ride. Better learn to love it!

I was thinking about it meandering up part of No Quarter today on an early morning ride. For a variety of reasons my ‘normal’ has been significantly reduced from previous high watermarks. I love to climb and hike my bike as much as ever but even when I have all the time in the world what’s entirely satisfactory would have been a solid half a ride in the not-that-distant past. 

I’m fond of saying that we should grab inspiration wherever we can find it and watching Claire constantly finding new normals is inspiring me to find renewed normals. I’m back to packing extra water, extra food, an extra T-shirt, and plans for one more lap. Now I just have to drag (read: inspire) my friends to come along with me.