Liv ambassador Katie Holden uses the bike as a platform to break down cultural barriers.
Katie Holden never intended to fall in love with mountain biking.
The downhill racer and free rider who is now a full-time global brand ambassador for Liv cycles used to dream of being an Olympic swimmer or sled dog musher in the Iditarod. Dream boards she made while growing up are filled with cut-out magazine images and words of inspiration reflecting those early aspirations. The Iditarod spoke to her inner adventurer. Swimming was rooted in her athletic pursuits: She swam the breaststroke and played soccer and softball competitively throughout her childhood and teen years. She was even on track to attend college and play catcher on a women’s team.
By accident, she ended up on a high school mountain bike trip, and everything changed. While attending International Community School in Kirkland, Wash., she was scheduled for a trip to Europe with some classmates as part of “Focus Week,” an intensive five days of real-world experiences for students. Due to the travel restrictions in place after 9/11, however, school administrators cancelled the overseas tour. The only other options were a film festival and mountain biking. She didn’t want to sit inside watching movies, but she was terrified to ride.
“I had absolutely no interest in bikes. I didn’t even have a bike. I went to a bike shop and rented a bike for the trip,” Holden told Mountain Flyer. “I was so scared of it. I was scared to even ride through a ditch. I had no experience on a bike.”
For their final ride that week, the students went to a trail that had jumps and drops and free ride features. It was way beyond her ability, but it was enough to give her a taste.
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Denne historien er fra Number 52-utgaven av Mountain Flyer.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Breaking The Mold
With his standout upstart brand Corvid Cycles, Chad Corbin finds himself on a new and rewarding path
Parents, You Want Your Kids At This Party
Crested Butte Devo is upholding the MTB heritage of the Rocky Mountain town by teaching kids how to be respectful and responsible, all while having fun on bikes.
Evil Offering
Take one look at this bike and you can surmise its intentions.
To Be Or Not To Be
When backcountry routes like British Columbia’s Purcell Mountain Traverse are so raw, inviting and fulfilling, maybe it’s best to just stay away.
La Dolce Vita
Living the sweet life in Italy’s Aosta Valley
Kona Process 153 CR/DL 27.5
“Why does this cockpit feel smaller?” Holly, my coworker, asked when she hopped on the Kona Process 153 CR/DL to take it for a spin. I’d had the same experience when I first took a seat on this bike, and it’s a quality I grew to appreciate during my time testing it.
A New High
Mountain Biking Helps Endurance Racer Reclaim Life After Drug Abuse.
No Trail Elves Here Sierra Nevada Group Makes The Magic
When he was 17, Greg Williams took a life-changing bike ride into the northern Sierra Nevada.
Of Bikes And Beer With Dan Loftus
Fat Bikes and Christmas Ales.
All In This Together
Liv ambassador Katie Holden uses the bike as a platform to break down cultural barriers.
