Dan Stein
Pedal Montclair: What do you ride?
Dan: My current ride is a Revel Rascal 29”, not only is it my first full suspension bike I have ever owned, but also ever ridden.
Pedal Montclair: Favorite places to ride? Why?
Dan: Around here I really do like to ride at South Mountain. Mainly because I had ZERO idea trails like this existed so close to where I live, which made the barrier to start riding less intimidating. Couple that with some actually pretty sweet trails that have a good amount of technical climbs and flowy descends, it is actually a good place to ride regardless of convenience. I am just kind of lucky…
Pedal Montclair: Where would you go on your ultimate biking trip?
Dan: Oh yeah this is a dream for me…. MY ultimate trip would have to be to Mammoth Lakes, CA. Last year I traveled out there to embark on the John Muir Trail and Pacific Crest trail located in the Ansel Adams wilderness within the Eastern Sierras. The main goal of the trip was to backpack through many miles of gorgeous alpine terrain while photographing the night sky each night on my trip. When I finished my journey and got back into Mammoth, I just saw mountain bikers, like... everywhere. Even just in town, people grabbing a bite to eat, then getting back on their bike to ride. Turns out Mammoth is a haven for trails, and with all of my emotions running free post-hiking journey, I don’t think I can let this opportunity slip past me. I will be back there not to just to hike again, but to ride my heart out.
Pedal Montclair: Advice to any newcomers?
Dan: I think my best advice to newcomers doesn’t really just apply to mtb. It’s more of a connection to one of the reasons we all ride, and that is to be out having a good time in nature. No matter if you are hiking, climbing, canoeing, or whatever. If there is an activity out in nature we are doing, we are there to experience it all differently, all the while appreciating the surroundings of which make that activity possible—Earth. So, respect that. Leave it better than you find it. If you find a piece of trash on the trail that isn’t yours, take it. Do what you can so the next rider can enjoy their own journey.
Pedal Montclair: Who's your favorite rider?
Dan: For my favorite rider, I’ll answer this one in two parts. One is someone who I know personally and the other more of a well known person in the entire mtb community. I’ll start with the latter; Seth from Berm Peak. This dude just seems like an insanely wholesome individual that wants to get as many people riding and enjoying their time on a bike as possible. He also is incredibly knowledgeable with his videos being helpful for me, and overall is a pretty solid rider. The next dude hits home for me. It has to be the locally famous Ryan M. He saw my new hard tail the day I got it when I picked up some odds and ends at a plumbing supply and it totally shook him that I rode. I have him to thank for showing me local trails and getting me more into this community. The result of riding with “Ry Guy” led to me being more appreciative NJ wilderness, instead of consistently thinking I need to travel far to seek the solitude I can really find here in my backyard.