Mountain biking, off-road bike touring, commuting by bike or just going for a spin around the neighborhood – for me it has always been about the adventure of the ride and not the mechanics of the machine.

I grew up in the Cariboo-Chilcotin area of British Columbia and like many kids growing up in a small town, I had a bike to explore the world around me from the banana seat model to the 10-speed in my teens. Even then biking wasn’t about being on the nicest bike or being the fastest (I was much faster on ice skates) but about the feeling of freedom and curiosity about where the path would lead (well, and scouring the ditches for empty beer bottles to supplement my allowance).

It wasn’t until I was in my early 30’s and met my husband-to-be that I started mountain biking and found that feeling of freedom again in the woods, far away from the daily grind of life in Vancouver. Sixteen years and seven bikes later and my love for two-wheeled adventures is just as strong.

I’m excited about sharing my stories with The Mountain Bike Life (TMBL) community. My husband and I love road trips and have ridden in many places on our beautiful continent from as far north as the Yukon and down south to Tucson, Arizona.

You won’t get technical bike part analysis from me or arguments that 29’ers are best (life’s too short arguing the merits of different wheel sizes – just ride what makes you happy!). I’m all about exploring new places, riding off the beaten path and stopping to smell the roses eat the saskatoon berries. Road trips and alpine/desert singletrack make me happy as does good food, cold beer and star-filled nights by the campfire.

Thanks to Rivers for inviting me to join the team at TMBL and to Craig for encouraging me to broaden my creative horizons. I hope my stories inspire you to enjoy not just the ride but the journey from your bike seat.