“You like mountain biking, right?" asked my friend and professional photographer, Ryan.
"Yeah, I ride all the time, I'm as into mountain biking as I am into skiing," I said.
"Well, I'm shooting a feature article for Bike Magazine about South Lake Tahoe," he said, "You ever ride down there?"
In the non-skiing months, I ride my mountain bike nearly everyday, but it's not everyday that I get asked to shoot pics while doing it, especially for an article in Bike Magazine. While I may have my picture taken somewhat regularly for skiing and ski related things, mountain biking is something that I've focused on purely for fun, exercise, and endless passive aggressive competition among friends.
To say that I ride a lot would be a bit of an understatement, it could be said that I ride a little too much, just ask my girlfriend... That being said, I've spent quite a bit of time exploring the trails in and around the Lake Tahoe Basin while I've lived here for the past 13 years.
Over the course of the past several summers, I've found myself spending more and more time riding the trails above South Lake Tahoe. One of the main reasons is that there are a number of incredible trails, and a true big mountain feel that is different from other areas around the lake.
Recently, the Tahoe Area Mountain Bike Association (TAMBA) and the U.S. Forest Service have had great success working together on cooperative projects in the area, creating new connectors and trails, and building the first of it's kind US Forest Service designed and constructed freeride mountain bike features on the Corral Trails.
There has been significant momentum and stoke surrounding mountain biking in the South Lake Tahoe area, and the community is growing and supporting it as it progresses. The ongoing trail work, maintenance, and generally incredible trail riding is what has me driving down to South Lake a couple times a week all summer long, and what piqued the interest of editors at Bike Magazine as well.
It was really fun for me to be included as one of the athletes over the course of shooting the pictures for this article. Sure part of it was simple coincidence that I knew the photographer, but my intimate knowledge of the trails certainly didn't hurt either. Keep your eyes peeled for the article on South Lake Tahoe in Bike Magazine, there might just be a photo of me in there. I'm the one wearing a Deuter pack...
During the photo sessions, and anytime I'm riding my mountain bike for that matter, I wear the Deuter Compact Air EXP 12. This pack is ideal for long trail rides in the Sierra and I can fit everything I need for a 2 hour ride up to a full day, even those marathon photo shoots... The compression straps help me keep my load compact and tight to my back and the EXPandable panel never leaves me wanting for more storage space. Combine that with all of the thoughtfully designed and integrated features that Deuter is known for, like a Source water bladder, breathable mesh straps and back system, rain cover, helmet holder, the list goes on and on, and you've got the best bike packs on the market today.