Carlos Langelaan discusses racing, trail riding, and social media as he puts his season in perspective.

Honestly, I had no expectations for this year, and it turned out to be the best yet. It started with the opportunity of being a part of the new Giro Tyrant helmet campaign alongside the 50to01 guys and Veronique Sandler. I really enjoyed those days, riding and shooting with them here in Barcelona.

Then I raced at a few European DH World Cups, and although I didn’t qualify, I am just happy to be there riding the same track as the pros. There is nothing like the feeling you get when standing at the start gate, and adrenaline kicks in as soon as you drop in.

I have also participated in many more Enduro races compared to previous years. I finished 5th at National Champs and won a few other local races, but rather than looking for results, I looked for more time on the bike at different tracks. Ultimately, that is what you get with that racing format, which I think is really fun.

Another highlight of the season was the trip to England in July to ride at the 50to01 bowl jam invitational at Revolution bike park. I can’t thank those guys enough for letting me be a part of the event and helping me make the trip happen.

Aggressive trail riding is growing fast. Dirt jumpers, BMXers, and even trial riders are getting into that kind of riding style, and to me, that is awesome because it means that, eventually, we will have more places to ride and more people to ride with.

On the other hand, I think social media is destroying what real mountain biking is. In my opinion, many riders are too concerned about getting exposure and likes, going out for a ride to get clips in the hope of becoming viral. It is sad to say, but it seems that nowadays, you are not a good rider if you don’t have 1k likes per post.

In my spare time, between working hours at the local bike shop, I have been training and riding as much as possible to pursue my dream of doing well in racing. For the first time next year, I want to try the European EWS races and keep trying to qualify at the DH World Cups. It will be challenging, but I will do my best to keep it fun.