All images by Ben Gavelda.
He might look like an accountant or an attorney, but once he’s on a bike Jeff Kendall-Weed is all style. Even when he’s on a bike from the mid-ninetees. Dammit.
Some of you probably lusted after the bikes he and the Durango locals take to the trails, and maybe a lucky few of you own – or even still own – one. But would you risk taking it round your local blue route, never mind the trails you see here?
Mike Wilk’s Yeti Ultimate
We’re torn. Given the chance to ride these trails in Durango, Colorado, we’d be tempted to say ‘yes’ to whatever bike we were offered…maybe we’d draw the line at a Brompton. But even on a throughly modern bike we’re not sure we’d have the skills to pull off all the lines that Jeff and friends take here. But what lovely trails. And what lovely bikes…
Do they ever actually Hi-Five? Or just pose and then go ‘nah’.
For the retro nerds among you, the local bike shop in the video looks like it would be well worth a visit – although the bikes are rather disappointingly up high and out of reach of any stroking.
Jeff hooks up with a bunch of local riders with improbable skills and bikes that we want to showcase what the area has to offer, and to take us back to the days of 1992 when Durango hosted the World Championships.
It’s heartening to see that these great trails can be ridden on a less than super bike – Ok the riders have skills, and they’re hitting some jump lines. But we can’t help think that if they can ride there on those, then maybe we could ride our local trails on something not too spendy. That fun is in the riding, and not the bike you’re doing it on?
Everyone in the video looks to be having plenty of fun, and as well as the amazing trails and bike nerdery, we’re loving the attitude to riding. Just get out there and see what you can do. Play a bit, have some fun.
