Sustainable mountain biking

Sustainability. Am I sustainable? Could I be more sustainable? I’ve been thinking about this a lot recently for one reason or another, more so since my employer’s recent carbon reduction drive.

At home I recycle, I use energy saving light bulbs, I turn the tap off whilst brushing my teeth, and the usual guilt induced actions that a typically adult will carry out in a vain attempt to save the planet, or their bank balance (whichever is priority at the time).

There’s no doubt I could be doing so much more to avoid unnecessary energy waste and reduce my carbon footprint at the same time, but I’ve not really considered doing so within the area of my life I thought wasn’t contributing to the destruction of the planet, mountain biking.

I love mountain biking and am lucky enough to live on the edge of a forest where I can freely ride the trails and indulge in the countryside. However, I do like to spread my wings and ride more challenging trails, as those found in Wales or Scotland, for example. I’d also like to experience trails further a field, maybe in Spain, USA, and other known legendary riding zones.

The sustainability drive my employer has just completed along with all the recent media hype surrounding temperature changes and global warming got me thinking about this a little more. It occurred to me that whilst my riding opportunities close to home were not necessarily impacting on my carbon footprint, my jaunts to Wales were seeing my carbon footprint swell.

All the paraphernalia needed to go mountain biking is significant, so going to Wales by train is not practical, meaning the car is essential for getting from A to B. This in itself is a 500 mile round trip during which the car is spewing ozone killing gases into the environment. The thought of going to international destinations to ride is appealing, but the budget flight will inevitably bulge the carbon count to substantial levels.

Thinking about it even more, my local rides as well as the distant ones aren’t without their sacrifices to the planet. After all, what chemicals do I use when cleaning my bike? How much wasted water am I using to jet spray the gunk off my chain set? I use a separate wash to clean my mud-sodden clothes. More energy waste!?. Do the chemicals I use to waterproof my jacket potentially damage to environment? Do the oils and sprays I apply to my stead pre and post ride have any detrimental affects to the land I ride on?

These are some of the questions that I’ve recently asked myself.

I love mountain biking, so while I’m on the trails I do what I can to enjoy them, safe in the knowledge that man and machine are at one, in harmony with my surroundings. It’s only when I get off my bike that the damage begins, assuming I haven’t already spent a BBQ’s worth of carbon getting there.

There’s always a bi-product to the good things in life, however hard you try.

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