Ryan Leech

Mountain biking & purpose. Dad, Integral Master Coach™, former pro rider. Founder of RLC Hub MTB Skills Coachinng and SCEND.

[Ryan Leech @ryankleech]

https://t.co/I9qHvjvb2G

[Ryan Leech @ryankleech]

https://t.co/ZV6JYzJ0lg

[Ryan Leech @ryankleech]

How do you know you’ve regulated your nervous system in a cold BC ocean skinny dip?
You can float while peeing.

[Ryan Leech @ryankleech]

I’m feeling into the Winter Equinox arrival on December 21st, our longest night, where darkness overwhelms the light. In our surface-shiny world of endless upgrades, Strava crowns, and IG sends, it's tempting to chase only the glow: the quick highs, the visible victories. My SCEND MTB work takes a different fork - true transcendence in mountain biking isn't about escaping the dark; it's about riding into it.

Think of the shadows we carry, the unspoken fears, the unmet longings, the intuitions pushed down just to fit in, to avoid “ruffling feathers”. Jung called this the shadow self, shaping our rides whether we acknowledge it or not.

Rudolf Steiner wrote:

“With joy I can perceive Autumn’s spirit-awakening: Winter will wake in me The summer of my soul.“

In integral shadow work, we (speaking as an Integral Master™) integrate these parts (if we’re brave enough to look), not as enemies, but as allies, revealing the wholeness beneath our segmented lives, and rides.

On the trail, this mirrors life: the forest at dawn, pitch-black, feels spooky, and recently turned me around despite plenty of lumens. Yet I’m drawn to it, on and off bike, more than ever at this phase of my life. I realize that in making the unseen familiar, presence blooms. Hiding from the dark? That's the real risk, missing the depth that turns riding into revelation, community into communion.

My local Scenders group ride in Gibsons, BC begins soon after the equinox, with weekly 6 AM rides through the dark forest, likely in cold pouring rain. Digital-free, presence-full, we'll face the shadows together, emerging renewed and stronger as the light returns.

[Ryan Leech @ryankleech]

New essay ‘A Rampage Thought Experiment’ is up. In response to my essay ‘Bleeding-Red Bull Rampage,’ it was pointed out numerous times that riders ultimately make their own risk-reward decisions, and they’d ride this way even without incentives. I agree, up to a point. They possess genuine autonomy, yet their line choices emerge within a mountain biking culture of shared ideals we’ve collectively built over decades. Attention economies, financial stakes, judging rubrics, sponsorship dynamics, media narratives, and event frameworks all contribute to the evolving mindset that riders draw upon for their performance in Rampage.

This simple thought experiment is designed to help you feel into these interconnected influences…

https://t.co/if4s7k6Cix

[Ryan Leech @ryankleech]

I hear ya, I’m feel it too. Though at a collective well-being level, the more people we can get out into nature the better. Even if they go just for the social media picture, at least there is a chance they’re going to experience a deeper connection to Mother Earth. They may not have the skills or the respect at first, but they need to start somewhere, and this is a good challenge for our culture to deal with.

[Ryan Leech @ryankleech]

Years ago I stopped watching Red Bull Rampage.
Not out of protest — out of honesty. It felt unsettling.
The reports from this year’s injuries remind me why.
My reflection ↓
🔗 https://t.co/xUkJlVcjqg

[Ryan Leech @ryankleech]

It is our fearless leader/head coach/RLC founder's birthday today! And a big one at that....40! 🎉 So we are throwing it back with some real gems (thanks for the help, Ryan's Dad!). From sanding his first bike to be... https://t.co/MyaS6bKdpH

[Ryan Leech @ryankleech]

Wheelie Gene or Practice? This article on https://t.co/aJAh3RKdqG from 30 year MTB vet Cam McRae helps shed some light - thanks for the reference and interview for this Cam 🙌 https://t.co/WMxEiOyaav

[Ryan Leech @ryankleech]

@japey Woohoo, so glad to read this!! 💪🙌

[Ryan Leech @ryankleech]

You know you have a great wheelie when you need a car to film ya - this submitted by a recent graduate of the 30 Day Wheelie Challenge - high fives MH! #ryanleechconnection
#30daywheeliechallenge... https://t.co/ChopGB22Yy

[Ryan Leech @ryankleech]

Almost ready - electrical system prepped - 2x 90amp house batteries 2x 100watt solar plus an external 80w flexible panel, powers the fridge, water pump, lights, sockets and hot water heater. Yay adventures! @earthcruiser_hq #gzl400 @ Bend, Oregon

[Ryan Leech @ryankleech]

Inspiring practice ethic by Tess aka Dusty Betty. She runs an awesome Youtube channel.

I met up with her at the Sedona MTB Festival earlier this year, she was a subscriber to my skills coaching site and so we... https://t.co/Guq3Y7xk9r

[Ryan Leech @ryankleech]

Camper progress: 💦 85L water tank, 10L hot water tank, 35L grey water tank, filtration system, indoor/outdoor shower system - thanks to the talented team @earthcruiser_hq 👏👌

[Ryan Leech @ryankleech]

The videos submitted by students for critique are flowing in from my new Tight Switchbacks & Front Wheel PIvots course. This student was requesting advice from our coach team about rotating in the direction of his... https://t.co/nzssa2YiXx

[Ryan Leech @ryankleech]

I'm a last minute speaker for the @flagmountainfilm festival talking about action sport psychology @dark_sky_brewing tonight at 5:30pm, if you live in the Flagstaff Arizona area, come on by!

[Ryan Leech @ryankleech]

@asyongromualdez Rad man!!

[Ryan Leech @ryankleech]

@jaserodley Let us know how it goes!

[Ryan Leech @ryankleech]

How many different skills/techniques do you see us use to make this line possible? Duet with @Tom_Oehler in Barcelona #ryanleechconnection