While summer is not officially over yet, the start of the school year, the crisp nights, the beginning of apple and pumpkin picking season, and Labor Day weekend all signal change is in the air. With the changing of the seasons, at least for me, comes a mixture of both excitement for the coming epic peak foliage rides yet to be had, as well as bit of a sense of nostalgia for the passing of summer.

As a self-admitted bike performance data geek, I compare how many miles I rode on my mountain and gravel bike compared with last year, how many feet I climbed, what networks I made it to, and what networks I still want to get to before the snow starts flying. But it’s also a time I’m filled with gratitude as I reflect on the good times I had with friends and family while out on the trails, the laughter, the smiles, the new friends made, the cool new towns and delis and coffee shops I visited for the first time in my travels throughout the Northern Forest, the frustrating mechanicals, the PRs, the DNFs, and all of the many other rich experiences that contribute to this sport we all love so much.

Beyond gratitude for the good times I experienced this summer, I’m filled with gratitude for the folks who make these experiences on the trails possible:

• The landowners and land managers who provide the resources needed for the sport to exist.
• The staff, volunteers, and board members of area trail organizations who help steward recreational resources.
• The bike and pedestrian committees advocating for safe connections between towns and trails.
• The donors, grant makers, trail organization members, and foundations who provide needed funding.
• The bike patrol and emergency service responders who keep us safe and respond when things go wrong.
• The gear libraries and volunteer youth coaches who provide affordable access to the sport.
• The folks working hard to make mountain biking a more inclusive sport for folks with disabilities, women, the BIPOC community, and the LGBTQ+ community.

I’m also grateful for the riders all throughout the country who have pledged to #RideWithGratitude, an initiative that grew out of our Bike Borderlands program, and in so doing act as welcoming ambassadors of our sport. By choosing to Respect this Gift, Protect Nature, Care for Others, and Be the Example, the Northern Forest has not only become a world-class destination for mountain biking, but one known for being welcoming and inviting and comprised of a ridership that has a strong stewardship ethic.

As we enter these last few weeks of mountain bike season (on dirt up here in the Borderlands at least), I encourage you to #RideWithGratitude by following the link below. And, if you haven’t yet and are able to, pick up or renew a membership to your local trail organization or make a donation. These trails don’t build or maintain themselves. Your financial support is another way to express gratitude.