From Mountain Bike Curious to Trail Enthusiast: How a Goal, a Coach, and a Community Created a Lifelong Steward
In Pisgah National Forest, community is forged through shared challenges, mentorship, and a deep respect for the dynamic terrain. And, sometimes that journey starts with a goal that seems a little bit "crazy."
In early 2023, Peter Michaels was new to mountain biking. Many people spend years slowly building skill to conquer the technical terrain in Pisgah but Peter had a different timeline in mind. Just months after picking up a mountain bike, he set his sights on the Pisgah Stage Race, five consecutive days on some of the most demanding terrain in the Southeast. The race has challenging climbs as well as downhill segments that are as difficult as they come.
To bridge the gap between being a beginner to becoming a finisher, Peter decided to work with coach Cypress Gorry from the Rouleur team.
"The Pisgah Stage Race is a serious undertaking for seasoned riders, let alone someone with less than a year on a mountain bike," said Cypress. "We got to build a structured plan, and supplemented it with skills coaching through the Bike Farm. The combination of fitness and foundational skills gave him the confidence to not only pull off the race but have fun while doing it.”
For Peter, the process wasn’t just about becoming better on a mountain bike. It was a total lifestyle overhaul that resonated far beyond races and to how he chooses to spend his free time enjoying and caring for the trails.
"Working with Cypress was a life-changing experience," Peter shared. "While we focused on getting me ready for the race, we also created good habits, including functional movement and lifting. I now feel stronger and more confident in my fitness at age 52 than I have since my early 20s!"
Peter didn't just finish that first race in 2024, he went back and did it again in 2026. But as his average ride mileage and skill grew, so did his perspective about trails.
“There is a special phenomenon that happens when you spend dozens of hours deep in the backcountry as the trails start to feel like home”, shared Peter. As Peter transformed from a new rider to a seasoned endurance athlete, he began to notice the labor behind the recreation (add a bit here) of it all. He realized that the memorable experiences provided by the Pisgah Stage Race and his daily training rides, were only possible because of the constant maintenance and advocacy performed by trail organizations including Pisgah Area SORBA.
This realization turned a rider into a donor. Peter joined the PAS’ Trail Builders Club, recognizing that his financial support was a critical need for any mountain biker to consider.
Peter’s story is the perfect example of how mountain biking can be life changing. It begins when an individual sets an ambitious goal, which is then supported by the expertise of local professionals like Cypress Gorry and the Bike Farm. None of this would be possible without Pisgah Area SORBA’s dedication to keeping these world-class trails sustainable. Ultimately, every group ride, coaching session, and community gathering does more than just build better riders as it helps cultivate the next generation of people who will care for these trails.
Thank you, Peter, for your support of Pisgah Area SOBRA, and kudos to Cypress Gorry for helping a new rider become a dedicated lifelong trail steward!