How did I get started?

Hello, I’m Daniel, MTB enthusiast, process engineer and a like to test parts, built and ride bikes and share what I like and learn about it here.

Despite riding a mountain bike for several years, I didn’t really get into mountain biking until I jobbed at an LBS during my time a the University. Through the guys I met on a weekly evening ride I got directly into a 24h MTB marathon as my first amateur race. I’ve done that a couple of times with a team of 4 riders as a relay race and soloed a 12h race. I participated in a couple of XC races and crossed the alps from Innsbruck to Riva del Garda and since then I enjoy longer day rides or multi-day rides.

Ever since  I finished University there is barely a month between parcels with new bike stuff. I’ve build up frames from hardtail to 190mm full suspension, steel to alloy to carbon, experimented with frankenbrakes, drive trains from 3 to a single chain ring and 9 to 12 sprockets on the rear, hacked derailleurs (front and rear) cranks and cassettes, tested several dropper posts, saddles, pedals, grips, forks and shocks and a wide range of lights, bike computers and plenty of other gear. I do all the maintenance and repairs myself.

I participated in two mountain bike trainings and decided to go one step further and do the basic guiding training. That led me to follow-up with the bike coach trainings I + II and the ‘kids on bikes’ guiding training. All these coach trainings are offered by the german mountain bike association DIMB e. V. (external link).

So this is where the knowledge, first hand experience and stupid opinion I can share come from.

Happy reading and I hope you find one or two useful hints or tricks.

Cheers, Daniel