Finding your kind of adventure

Adventure riding: there’s no one way to do it

Ask a hundred ADV riders what the best adventure bike is, where to go for great trails or which activities they’d recommend, and you’ll probably get a hundred different answers. We’re all unique, and that means adventure riding can look very different from one rider to the next.

That’s one of the things we like about it. Adventure is personal – it means different things to different people. Discovering what revs your own engine is a big part of the fun and can give you the confidence to enjoy riding in your own way.

What’s your adventure compass?

There are many elements that go into the mix of why we ride and what we enjoy. Perhaps you like:

🧭Technical challenges - seeking out gnarly routes to test your skills

🧭Exploring somewhere new – navigating the unknown

🧭Getting away from it all – finding remote places to feel the freedom

🧭Camaraderie – riding with buddies or making new friends

🧭Being active – relishing the physical and mental flow of riding

🧭Perfecting familiar trails – noting the small changes, revisiting favourite places

🧭Having fun on small bikes – enjoying the agility and playfulness 

🧭Distant horizons – getting the mileage in to travel far from home

Most of us find we want a mix of all this and more, whether we’re new to adventure bikes or have been riding for donkey’s years.

So, if you’re trying to find your groove, or indeed, feeling a bit stuck in a rut (maybe also literally!) - how do you find what you’re really looking for in adventure riding?

1. You don't know what you enjoy until you've had a go.

OK, you might be certain you’re not up for Red Bull Romaniacs this year, but staying curious and keeping an open mindset helps us drop pre-conceived notions of what we can and can’t do and could reveal unexpected passions.

2. Don't compare your riding to someone else's

They say, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” Adding to the pressure by feeling you need to be as fast, brave, precise or well-equipped as someone else takes away headspace from your own riding. Remind yourself this is about your pace, your bike, your preferred terrain and your idea of a good day out.

 

3. Familiar is good too

Confidence doesn't always have to mean progressing to something harder. Repeating something until it becomes comfortable is progress too. There’s plenty of enjoyment in revisiting your favourite trails, having a day roll out smoothly and knowing your buddies have got your back.

4. Keep exploring

Even once you know what you enjoy, there's still an enormous amount to discover. Changing just one ingredient of a tried and tested recipe adds a whole new flavour. A different bike, a new place, a variation to the routine or different conditions can bring fresh enjoyment to your riding.

There’s no one way to enjoy adventure riding. Your exploration might look completely different from someone else’s – and that’s rather the point.

Taking the time to uncover what you enjoy, what challenges you, what makes you feel good and ultimately, what makes you want to get out on your bike, is all part of the adventure.

And those things can change too. What gets you excited to ride today might be completely different a year from now. So perhaps there’s no final destination. Just plenty of opportunities to discover what makes you want to turn the key and head out.