Rob Babboni

Pedal Montclair: What do you ride?

Rob: My daily driver is a 2020 Scott Genius. A Santa Cruz Chameleon for when I want to get back to basics, and a Scott Ransom for big days at Mountain Creek and other scary places where I need a little extra travel to keep me safe.

Pedal Montclair: Favorite places to ride? Why?

Rob: Stephens State Park, where the air is clean, the squirrels are friendly, and the downs are always longer than the ups.

Pedal Montclair: Where would you go on your ultimate biking trip?

Rob: I love riding in the Northeast where we have lots of good dirt, rocks and roots. Keeps things interesting and encourages good bike handling skills. The grippy black dirt and flowing trails of Northern Vermont are a dream. Probably the top two places on my list are Moab for varied terrain and scenery, and anywhere in the Pacific Northwest so I can ride LOAM.   

Pedal Montclair: Advice to any newcomers? 

Rob: Start small, ride at your own pace but keep pushing yourself to progress. I’ll steal the Kingdom Trails philosophy “Ride with Gratitude” which for me means appreciating the green spaces we ride our bikes in, keeping the trails friendly, and doing what you can to give back. Oh, and join a local shop ride. It’s a great way to meet other mountain bikers and connect to a cool community.

Pedal Montclair: Who's your favorite rider? 

Rob: I love watching Amaury Pierron crush a race run. The sheer strength and precision are mind-blowing -  gapping entire sections of trail and putting the wheels right where he wants them. I learned to jump mountain bikes in my late 40s and it still feels terrifying at times, so I enjoy seeing riders who love to be airborne like Paul Couderc and Hugo Frixtalon. Those Commencal edits always make me want to try things that I probably shouldn’t…