The main man behind WCRC (West Coast Riders Club), Ryan is the kind of guy who makes stuff happen. His name can be associated with kilometres of trail in the Auckland region. When he’s not busy crafting buff singletrack he is behind the spanners at his shop Freeride’n’ in Kumeu, coincidentally home to one of the best coffees in Auckland. Luckily for us, the man who never seems to sit still has taken time out of his day for Frankly Thursday:
How old are you (if you want to tell us)?
37 years young.
Where do you live?
Sunny Browns bay.
What do you like best about living where you do?
Great views, pretty central.
What do you dislike about living where you do?
Nothing, wouldn’t move for all the tea in China.
How did you get involved in the MTB scene to begin with, and how long ago was that?
About 20 years ago I brought my first real mountain bike, a GT tempest, then purchased the life-changing upgrade of a suspension fork. Friends of mine rode out at Muriwai and I went along to check it out, and I’ve been riding out there ever since. Opened Freeride’n’ back in 2004 as there were no shops on the way out which made for a long drive back if you had any issues or forgot something.
What’s your ‘day’ job? What does it involve?
I own and run Freeride’n’ in West Auckland with my wife, a typical day involves making coffee for addicts and then servicing/fixing bikes. If I get an early day then off to Riverhead Forest for some trail building / riding.
What are five benefits of working with bikes all day every day?
1. It’s something I enjoy
2. Knowledge of good / bad gear
3. Contras
4. People’s stoke on new gear
5. I need to test a lot of stuff out on the trail
How would you describe your riding style?
Trail assassin.
Favourite trail?
Hand Job – Riverhead. It’s got a great feel to it, plenty going on and is one of the longer trails in the WCRC block.
What’s one thing you’ve learned in the last 10 years?
Patience.
What’s wrong with mountain biking?
Nothing really. Well, complainers I suppose.
Three things right about mountain biking?
1. Mates
2. Bling
3. Beer
Top two MTB development in the last 10 years (bike park, part or whatever)?
Long travel single crowns, and West Coast Riders Club. We have completed nearly 30 trail projects over the years with a heap more to come.
All time favourite rider?
Shaun Palmer. He had skills, attitude and was a huge personality.
Top five favourite bits of MTB kit?
1. 510s
2. Chilly bin
3. HammerSchmidt
4. Totems
5. TLD T-Bone knee pads
Who do you look up to?
Most people; I’m a midget.
What are your vices?
Trail building. I enjoy it as much as riding. The down side is I haven’t done a lot around home in the last few years.
Finish this sentence. “On a Saturday I like to get up and….”
On a Saturday I like/have to get up and go to work and help out any of my riding brothers then gap it early for my own riding pleasure.
Good to see this man getting some cred!!