Outdoors - Explore

POSTED: Wednesday, Mar. 25, 2009

Meet mountain bike enthusiast Matt Durand

Name: Matt Durand

Age: 36

Residence: Ferndale for four years (longtime Bellingham resident before that)

Day job: Assistant principal at Lummi Nation School

What gear do you use? I ride a Transition Bikes' BottleRocket and DirtBag. Transition is a great local company.

How much time per week/month do you spend doing your sport? I spend 12 to 15 hours a week riding and trail-building.

Tradeoffs/what you've sacrificed to do the sport? It depends on who you ask. I don't see it as a sacrifice at all, rather a way to have a huge amount of fun and stay in shape. However, I don't ski and snowboard as much anymore.

How you got started/learned? I rode and raced BMX as a kid and then a roommate of mine got me re-hooked on bikes in my early 20s.

What are your biking goals? To stay in shape, continue to progress and promote downhill and free-ride opportunities in Whatcom County.

Favorite Web site or blog? One of my favorite Web sites is www.nsmb.com.

Favorite place in Whatcom County to mountain bike? There are so many great options, but for our backyard, definitely Galby (Galbraith Mountain).

What's your biggest biking pet peeve? People who complain about trails, but never pick up a shovel.

What has been your biggest victory? Discovering mountain biking and having an incredible wife and kids.

EXPERT TIPS

FOR BEGINNERS

"All the local bike shops are good resources. Get a bike that's going to handle the particular environment we live in - with the mud and rain. WHIMPs will hold beginners' skills clinics in late spring and early summer." - Mark Peterson, former bike shot employee and president of the Whatcom Independent Mountain Peddlers (WHIMPs) for 10 years

"Borrow a bike from a buddy who has an extra one sitting around and have him take you for a ride at Lake Padden, Blanchard Mountain or some of the beginner trails on Galbraith." - Bill Hawk, a local rider since the early '90s who has made the transition from no suspension to front suspension to dual suspension models.

FOR ADVANCED RIDERS

"Don't forget the Chuckanut Range. They offer a totally different opportunity and good views of the bay." - Peterson

"Mountain biking is all about progression. Whether it's riding ability, bike technology, or trail design. Riders are looking to push the limits of going fast, going big, and being creative with their riding style. You see many advanced riders getting involved with trail-building so they can build these new progressive lines and then ride them. Good trails don't build themselves." - Hawk

LOCAL RESOURCES

RETAILERS

Fairhaven Bike and Ski

1108 111th St.

733-4433

www.fairhavenbike.com

9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Thursday

9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday

10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday

11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday

Fanatik Bike Co.

2025 James Street

756-0504

www.fanatikbike.com

Winter hours:

10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday

Jack's Bicycle Center

1907 Iowa Street

733-1955

www.jacksbicyclecenter.net

Winter hours:

9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday

9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday

Closed Sunday

Kulshan Cycles

100 East Chestnut Street

733-6440

www.kulshancycles.com

10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Friday

9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday

11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday

WEB RESOURCES

www.northwestmtb.com

Whatcom Independent Mountain Peddlers (WHIMPS) www.whimpsmtb.com

Bellingham Parks and Recreation Department (Local Trail Maps Available) www.cob.org/government/departments/parks

www.nsmb.com

www.transitionbikes.com