Whistler Bike Park was NOT Great.

[@mtb_alan]

I was able to stay grounded and centered during this Whistler trip. I use meditation and mindfulness. What methods do you use?

[@growlith6969]

I hate that you seem to be kinda bummed and down on this trip. Isn't there a quote that goes something like "Comparison is the death of joy"? Buddy if I was there I would take it in, ride everything, smile from ear to ear because I was biking in Whistler. Hitting jumps and linking features wouldn't be a goal, staying healthy and session-ing my favorite stuff would be. Every trip, every trail, every ride is going to be different, fall in love with that and don't worry how it "should" have gone. Ride for the smiles and I guarantee you, we will smile with you.

[@mtb_alan]

I appreciate your effort to instruct me. I was filled with gratitude on this trip. I didn’t need it to be more than it was. And you’re right. Comparison can steal joy. So I will refrain from comparing how I conducted myself with what you imagine you would do in the same situation.

[@growlith6969]

@@mtb_alan Exactly ;-)

[@EverythingsBeenDone]

Alan you are such a ripper! I appreciate your vulnerability and honesty through your Journey. Much love and respect.

[@mtb_alan]

Yo! Thanks my dude. 🙏🏾

[@RapidoRafi-MTB]

Despite the recent injuries and crashed you still killed it man. Awesome job on clearing the step up on A-Line 🤘🏽

[@mtb_alan]

Appreciate that, man! A-Line is always a test of confidence.

[@madaboutmtb.21]

Hey Al, greetings from down under! I love your channel; you're ten times the rider I am. What you say about enjoying riding without constantly thinking about progression is something I truly live by. Progression will come naturally when we spend enough time on the bike; we don't need to force it. Skills will develop over time, and that is progression. I constantly remind myself not to push my limits on features I'm not ready for, just for the sake of progression. If I come home in one piece, that means I had a rad day on my bike. Thank you for sharing! Marc

[@mtb_alan]

Heck yeah! 💯👊🏾

[@jaydub308]

Another great video. I know you've had a rough bit. What an awesome attitude you rock. Thank you for sharing

[@mtb_alan]

Thanks! 🤘🏾😁

[@DownhillParty]

Next season you should come to Okanagan. You get access to 3 world class mtb bike parks (Big White, Silver Star, and Sunpeaks) lines are super fast and you get to ride a lot! If you are looking for downhill progression, come ride out here!

[@mtb_alan]

Sounds fun, I'll look into it!

[@Highfiveletsride]

@@DownhillParty the Okanagan is so sick. So much good riding

[@never7277]

Bro this was an awesome video! 🤙🏽

[@mtb_alan]

Glad you liked it! 🤘🏾

[@PaulTjoen]

Nice riding. Love the stoke on your last A-line run. It's good to end your trip on a winning note.

[@mtb_alan]

Thanks! In the end, Whistler delivered.🤘🏾

[@AlEx-oq4fn]

Great vid. Whistler is bananas every time. I can show up unprepared and it’s like I never left or I can arrive confident and get spooked on a crank it up warmup lap. Whistler visits seem unrepeatable but they’re always worth it. Again, great vid!

[@mtb_alan]

Thanks! Ha! You said it. 💯

[@andrewpavel4929]

All the crashing means you're progressing Alan! glad to see you went to whistler and came back in one piece 👊

[@mtb_alan]

Thanks!

[@Juicy_jakeMTB]

That was a fun trip. Can’t wait for next year.

[@mtb_alan]

Heck yeah man! Let’s go!

[@robiveevee840]

Great video Alan ! Its good to see real, honest riding instead of the usual "balls out" radical runs ! Everything is not always perfect but you work on it , great riding ! (seemed like you we carrying more speed on those final good runs) 👍

[@mtb_alan]

Thanks! The trip was definitely a practice in mindfulness. And yeah, the last day, things started to come together. 🤘🏾

[@mnflyrn]

Really nice episode 😂 Dang those crashes, dude!!

[@mtb_alan]

🙏🏾😆

[@coachcurt7606]

Always great to see your riding, bruh. There's always ups and downs, hopefully setbacks lead to breakthroughs.

[@mtb_alan]

Totally agree. 👊🏾

[@adamtaylor4627]

I used to ride 4-5 days per week back in my late teens-mid 20s and just got back into riding at 49. lol I want to visit some of these places so badly. I love watching videos where people say that they're having a "bad" day knowing that your worst day would probably be my best day. lol Nice video man.

[@mtb_alan]

Ha! For sure. A bad day of fishing, right? 😆 I have to say, put Whistler at the top of your list. It’s epic!

[@CHMTB-IRL]

Yooo big ups from Ireland. Love the video and the authenticity. Saving the best till last for “Enders” is such a skater move which I’m well down for unreal riding from you and your mate! 💪🙏

[@mtb_alan]

Yo! Thanks! "But do you have an *ender* ender?" 😆 IYKYK

[@CHMTB-IRL]

@@mtb_alan us skaters are a rare breed🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@BrawndoDrinker]

Cali guy here too. Used to got up to Whistler every summer about 12 times. Rode it dry and wet, outside the park the trails seemed grippier in the wet compared to bone dry. If you're not 100% just keep on the chill blues until you start to feel it coming around. Even the blues will help most people progress in jumping and cornering. Blues up there are like some black trails in other parts of the world.

[@mtb_alan]

🤘🏾

[@ogmr.c3714]

Awesome video Alan whistler is definitely on my bucket list. If you ever find yourself in wine country (Napa) ill be too down to hit up some trails around here with you.

[@mtb_alan]

Thanks! Heck yeah, put it at the top of your list. You won’t regret it. 🤘🏾

[@mtb_alan]

Thanks for the invite. 👊🏾

[@ogmr.c3714]

@@mtb_alan hell yeah. Offer stands for when ever you find your self out on this side of cali 😎💯🙏🏽🖖🏽

[@bikes4lifebaybee]

Whistler is really pretty insane and demands respect. It’s hard not to feel like trash when some 8 year old goes backflipping over you as you case a jump. But at the end of the day it’s a really fun place

[@mtb_alan]

Ha! I feel you! Those BC riders get good quick. And totally agree. Whistler is such a rad place!

[@MTBQandA]

Epic video! Out of my wheelhouse but so fun to watch you do it!

[@mtb_alan]

Thanks! The rad thing about Whistler is it's got a full range of trails and anybody can have an epic time up there.

[@splooshmtb]

As an east coaster, you put me in your kitty litter stuff and I'd be even more lost, meanwihle I'm super at home riding wet roots and rocks!

[@mtb_alan]

Ha! It's funny. Coming back to SoCal, it took me a little bit to readjust back to our loose-over-hard-pack.

[@shid0619]

Thx Alan! You got the TIGer in you! I only started 2 year riding and learning so much and your my inspiration because I'm same age 😂 don't be discouraged. Cheers!!

[@mtb_alan]

Appreciate it, keep shredding! 👊🏾🐯

[@rcrocha72]

Nice! I am looking forward to trying to clear all of a-line jumps next year. When were you there? I was there labor day to Sunday.

[@mtb_alan]

Heck yeah! I was there mid-October.

[@nevakos24]

Well, you say sorry as much as us Canadians do! 😂 Great video!

[@mtb_alan]

😆 🙏🏾🤘🏾

[@JoshuaCussins]

Sweet ride man

[@mtb_alan]

🤘🏾🙏🏾

[@sonic_attack]

As a new viewer, I don’t believe you need to include “I’m a dark skinned mountain biker”. Firstly, we can see that so you don’t need to highlight it. Secondly, no one cares what colour you are. Good vid, I’ll subscribe.

[@mtb_alan]

Thanks for sharing your opinion. I regularly hear from BIPOC people who let me know that my content made them feel more comfortable about entering into this sport. I also hear appreciation from light skinned folk who want to see greater diversity in MTB. It definitely turns some people off when I state that I'm dark skinned, but I am willing to make that tradeoff if it helps get a greater diversity of people into this awesome sport. 🤘🏾

[@emtbhookes]

I don’t think anyone should care if you call your self a dark skin mountain biker or not. You call yourself whatever you want my friend 🤙

[@mtb_alan]

👊🏾

[@AliasHSW]

@@mtb_alan as a person on the color spectrum that is associated with a type of fever I appreciate your channel and you.

[@mtb_alan]

👊🏾👊🏾👊🏾

[@thebrewgeek]

I don’t shred 1/100th as hard as you do but I swear that I’ve been healing from one crash injury or another all damn year. Crashes have all been on relatively chill sections. I’ve managed the hard and sketchy stuff just fine.

[@mtb_alan]

I feel you. It seems like it’s been like that for a lot of people this year.

[@MloVisual]

let me tell you this...last year i went to whistler...the same year i only touched my bike once prior to that trip lol! Idk how i made it out alive from the three days of riding i spent there. But it was friggin awesome. Im pretty sure had i been riding more prior to that trip i would have easily rode some of that stuff...maybe..ah who knows.. but i never crashed during my time there. so much fun can't wait to go back

[@mtb_alan]

Ha! Sounds rad!

[@thomasboard7350]

thats tough man youre still a great mountain biker! way to push yourself. i went to whistler 2 years ago and only did the intermediate blue trails, and i still crashed 😅 fun times

[@mtb_alan]

Thanks! The great thing about Whistler it’s a rad time on whatever level trails you ride there. 🤘🏾

[@ryanswearingen3413]

Dude, I was going through the same thing a year ago! I had crashed so hard so many times, broken stuff on my bike, and started getting in my own head. I got over it too. I think it’s a rut we all get into sometimes.

[@mtb_alan]

Glad to hear you were able to get over it. I feel like I'm still tuning back in, but if anything I have a deeper appreciation for riding bikes.

[@solaris8118]

Good for you to make it thru your injuries and back to Whistler! Well done riding in those conditions too! I have to wonder why go all there and mostly ride ALine when there are so many other great trails to ride.

[@mtb_alan]

Thanks! It was a process. A Line is a blast and Dirt Merchant is a rush. I love all the tech there too. I’m always impressed by how easily the locals ride that stuff when it’s wet.

[@growlith6969]

You're better than me bro. The thing that always hits me when I ride park is how much BIGGER everything is than normal trails, and I ride in Colorado. The berms are as tall as houses, the jumps look physically impossible, the chunk is psychotic. I learned to ride in my own bubble of ability and completely tune out what I see everyone else doing. It's easy to think that because a trail exists and people ride it all the time, that you should be able to roll the thing, that can be an unfortunate thought process. Edit: By the way, I also ride a Glory 🙂

[@mtb_alan]

I hear you. FWIW, I started riding in my late 40s and didn’t start riding park until I had been riding for a year or so. When I started riding park, I only rode the greens and blues for a full season. And it took years for me to build confidence on the black diamonds and double blacks.

[@growlith6969]

@@mtb_alan Mid 40's for me, I ride it all unless it has mandatory gaps. I know that I don't know how to fly and may never get that good so I usually just make big jumps into little hops into the middle and carry on. I'm always in a bit of awe of people who are comfortable in the air. So to me it looks like you are out there killing it.

[@blazelong3803]

@@mtb_alan I was curious as to your age. I'm 36 and just got into mountain biking this year. I already have some past injuries from sports and just wear and tear, so just a hard day biking without the crashes makes all those things flair up. It's certainly a hard balance when you're a competitive person that wants to improve but also has the wisdom that you have to be a bit more cautious then perhaps, we'd be in our 20's. It's inspiring to see someone a bit older than me be able to get to and ride at your level. I sometimes catch myself frustrated that I didn't start sooner and the "I'm too old" to get to the skill level I'd like. However, I'm starting to tell myself to just enjoy the process because ultimately that's a huge part of what makes it fun. Anyways, I'm only 2 minutes into your video so I'm going to go watch the rest.

[@mtb_alan]

@blazelong3803 I feel you on sometimes wishing I started earlier. And like you I ultimately came to the attitude of being grateful I found MTB, enjoying the ride, and progressing where I can. I started riding in my mid 40s and am 51 this year. 🤘🏾

[@growlith6969]

@@blazelong3803 prob don't want to hear this, but, buy and e-bike. I knew that I couldn't move from an island at sea level to the rocky mountains and pick up the skill and endurance instantly to ride with friends, bought a Levo and kit'd up for battle, rode every day that I wasn't too sore to get in the saddle. Being able to explore at length without gassing out kept me interested, skills came quick, bought a DH bike and started going to Trestle which vaulted my confidence and ability. Like I said earlier, I don't jump like you see guys do on KZbin videos, but my comfort with hucking small stuff is great now, weirdly a big heavy bike helps because it's so stable.

[@50whatnomadtravelnursemtb5]

I just don't do big jumps, I'll do gnarly trails but the jump trails just aren't worth it...especially if you are pushing 50 or over and still working, it's dangerous enough of a sport just riding let alone trying to get big air.

[@mtb_alan]

Totally understand, gotta do what feels right.

[@mrvwbug4423]

With all the crashing this year, are you just not getting along with that bike? It seems like the front end of that bike just does not stay planted. That Whistler trip still seemed to have gone as well as it could have given the weather.

[@mtb_alan]

It was the rider, not the bike. The first couple crashes were on different bikes and were kind of fluke crashes. My body was not recovered, and my confidence was knocked. But yeah, agree about the Whistler trip going as well as it could have gone.

[@joremmartinez6376]

Yea bro. Hope to ride with you next year at whistler 👊🏼🙏🏻

[@mtb_alan]

Yew! 🤘🏾

[@tomassanesson902]

Awseome bike and amazing trails

[@mtb_alan]

🤘🏾

[@xolomartinez6036]

Try going to Park City UT, lots of nice mtn trails and closer by.

[@mtb_alan]

It's on the list!

[@kzeWhistler]

I'm a sky half blue person as well, mostly because lighting for gopro filming sake 😂

[@mtb_alan]

😆🎯

[@douglaskaye1395]

IMO Not wearing protective gear is foolish. Gloves and pads ride safe, slow down and go back to basics. You are a killer rider be patient and enjoy!

[@mtb_alan]

Thanks!

[@mikeyp3694]

Slow is smooth and smooth becomes fast....ease back in....

[@mtb_alan]

🎯🎯🎯

[@SarahBaethge]

Ouch! 😮

[@mtb_alan]

🤘🏾

[@Rainbro121]

Dude, have you tried going back to the Reign?🤙🏾🚲

[@mtb_alan]

It’s a great bike!

[@mrvwbug4423]

The Glory seems to not live up to the hype, I know it's gotten rather iffy reviews from PB

[@mtb_alan]

Eh. PB has their opinions. I dig the Glory.

[@mtbjourney8209]

What trail is that in Secdona (sorry bout the crash too :/)? Is that in the skills park?

[@mtb_alan]

Thanks. Yeah. It was one of the jump lines in the skills park. 🎯

[@bobbycosta26]

Hey Alan what watch are using in this video?

[@mtb_alan]

Garmin Instinct 2X 🤘🏾

[@SteveHarris-mi9ou]

Give yourself a break - even the stuff you were taking it easy on is rad :)

[@mtb_alan]

Thanks! 🙏🏾

[@EverythingsBeenDone]

That's what I'm saying I'm not touching 90% of the stuff that Allen's ripping

[@viperdemonz-jenkins]

gotta get back in the right headspace man.

[@mtb_alan]

🙏🏾

[@AC-sr3pb]

Put the bar down on the chair!

[@mtb_alan]

Safety third.

[@simondemuri4961]

Cant just be a mountain biker?

[@mtb_alan]

Nope.

[@simondemuri4961]

@@mtb_alan fair enough...lol. Imagine if Phil or Brian said im a white boy on a mountain bike..the backlash would ruin them.....crazy ass world we live in man. Keep shredding and keep the tires down!!

[@mtb_alan]

Thanks. Here’s a thought experiment for you. Imagine if the sport were dominated by dark skinned people and white people felt like they didn’t belong. Imagine that white people felt like they often had to act more “black or brown” to be accepted in a sport like MTB. Now imagine that Brian or Phil were the rare white MTBer on KZbin out there owning their skin color. Imagine how it might help white people to see that example. Many BIPOC people feel shame about their skin color. It’s not something that we talk about openly. Why would we? I have worked through my shame and am proud of my skin color. But…that’s a lot to put into the intro to a video about an MTB trip. So, I just own my skin color and those who know will know. 🤘🏾❤️

[@mtb_alan]

As a note: I do get a lot of backlash and lose subscribers every time I mention skin color. People come at me with mean comments that get flagged, so only I see them.

[@simondemuri4961]

@@mtb_alan I mean no disrespect to you or anyone else. Glad you worked through your shame, sorry you had it in the first place. Keep ripping and making the best of your life. Ride safe!

[@AliasHSW]

Happy he is not self identifying as orange skin. 😅