The Return to Dillon trailer currently on Tour with the Big Bike Film Night

In 2022 I self-filmed a short film called "A year in the life of a gravel bike”. A very special thanks to @RideShimano for their support to make this film project happen.

In this episode, I sit down with Damian Stones. Damian is a professional MTB Guide, instructor, and pump track builder extraordinaire! With a long and wide-ranging career and life revolving around bikes, Damian has an incredible amount of wisdom to share, and a deep understanding of the processes behind progressing on a bike.

The short film, "Butters - Skip the gym & go digging" documents the crew building this trail for the upcoming EWS in April 2022, located in the top of the South Island, Nelson, New Zealand.

In November 2019 Damian Stones and Mike Anderson set off to the Marlborough Sounds across the top of the South Island in search of challenging trails on their gravel bikes.

In December 2019 the Paparoa Track on the West Coast of the South Island New Zealand was officially opened. This track is the 10th ‘Great Walk’ to be built and is designed to be mountain biked as well, meaning at present this track is the only Great Walk alongside the Heaphy Track that can be ridden. At 56 km this single track travels along the Paparoa ranges linking Blackball to Punakaiki.

It never gets old, building up a new bike, pumped to go to the bike shop and put together this new bike. A little bit cart before the horse as I put out the West Coast Wilderness Trail film, but here’s a video of the build. Big cheers to Santa Cruz NZ, Shimano and the crew at My Ride. 

At least once a season I try and ride the Heaphy Track and usually it’s on our annual family trip. It’s been a few years now since we all did it as a family together. My kids have grown up riding this track and they still never tire from riding it.

I have a new sponsor, CLIF Bar. Anyone that knows me would agree that food is a pretty high priority for me. I have a small mantra when doing adventures, ‘eat a little often.’ Essentially it’s about efficiency, when you pause to look at a view or have a rest etc. have something to eat and drink. By doing this you are keeping the body fueled and hydrated and avoiding going into deficit.