Wise Words is our new interview series talking to some of mountain biking’s most switched on people.
We’ll ask our short list of questions to a heap of influential, inspiring and outspoken people that we feel are driving the direction of mountain biking today. Some will make you think, some will make you laugh, some will be plain dumb, some will inspire you to better yourself and your riding. We hope!
Wise Words this week come to you from 18 Bikes’ chief and Ride Sheffield stalwart, Si Bowns.
Anyone who has ridden any of the classic Peak District routes will no doubt have found themselves in Hope, and will have wandered in 18 Bikes, where Si Bowns is king. Voted best bike shop at the Singletrack Reader Awards 2019, Si has made the shop more than just a place where bikes are bought and fixed. Si is also instrumental in the Ride Sheffield setup.
How would your closest riding buddies describe you to someone who has never met you?
I do a lot of my riding on my tod, but I reckon that folks who I’ve ridden with would describe me as happiest up a hill, plodding across the Peak District. A man with more enthusiasm than skill.
What thing or things have you bought in the last year that had the biggest effect on your life as a mountain biker / cyclist / person that works in the bike industry?
E-bike commute bike. It’s that nudge to commute much more by bike, without feeling like I’m wearing myself out completely. I don’t want commuting to be my only activity, the e-bike means that I’m fine to gym/mountain bike/whatever on top of the commute miles. I’m a proper e-bike evangelist now, unashamedly.
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From Wide Open MTB
Wide Open Mag is a group of friends producing a magazine, united by our love of mountain biking. We started as a PDF magazine, printed for a year and now we are focused on our website.
