Mountain bikers have a reputation for being independent characters. We spend all our time, many would say, finding secret trails, building unique bikes, and paying little attention to mainstream society’s concerns. But that picture isn’t entirely true: our 2026 European rider survey shows that over half of us are involved in a mountain bike club or trail association, and as mountain bikers, we can accomplish a lot when we work together.
This point has been driven home in the past month, when Erasmus project work, the Euro’Meet conference, and preparations for our own MeetUp in October have shown the importance of working together and collaborating with other stakeholders. Through collaboration, we make allies in unexpected places, and we can nudge others to see the benefits of mountain biking. Collaboration can achieve big, far-reaching goals. Addressing others’ concerns and working together as a team isn’t just a polite, feel-good exercise; it’s a practice that can achieve more than working in isolation.
The CONNECT project seeks to improve relations between outdoor sports organizations and the protected areas where we practice. While these stakeholders’ goals may seem at odds, we all care about the nature we seek out to enjoy on our mountain bikes, and this project shows how collaboration can benefit everyone. The key is building trust and mutual respect, and finding common ground on topics like nature protection.
Similarly, the ROUTES project brings together diverse stakeholders concerned with trail design, construction, and maintenance, and ensuring everyone can get out into nature and have a good time on quality trails. By working together in this project, we’re ensuring a wide range of stakeholders are heard, and by working toward common goals, we are ensuring broad application of our work and its longevity.
These are just a couple of examples of how collaboration and coordination can deliver results that benefit the mountain biking community and contribute to a positive image of mountain bikers in the broader community. IMBA Europe will continue to engage with these projects and more.
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