Year 5: The Year of 1-Gear
Four years ago, I started this Substack as an outlet for writing and communicating about mountain biking. The idea was to create a community of people interested in all things mountain biking, minus reviews of bikes and gear because there is plenty of that already out there in the webs of internets. It was to be about lifestyle, mostly, which included p…
About James Murren:
Winner of the 2023 Society of American Travel Writers-Western Chapter Gold Award in the Adventure/Health category for his Pines to Palms article in Mountain Flyer: The Mountain Bike Journal. Said the judges:
Even if you aren’t a mountain biker, this article makes you feel the exhilaration as you race from the mountaintop down to the desert near Palm Springs. An amazing journey.
Winner of the 2022 Society of American Travel Writers-Western Chapter Bronze Award in the Adventure/Health category for his article on Purple Lizard Maps/The Art of the Mapmaker in Mountain Flyer: The Mountain Bike Journal, with judging by The Missouri School of Journalism, University of Missouri. Said the judges:
In a world where GPS only gives you the next turn, this story makes you reconsider the true adventure of charting your own course — with a map. The writer journeys to Michaux State Forest in Pennsylvania to meet a mapmaker with deep insight into how following a contour map will push you toward your ultimate journey.
Winner of the 2020 Gold Award in the Column category for Earn Your Beer in Adventure Sports Journal, handed out by the Society of American Travel Writers–Western Chapter, with judging by The Missouri School of Journalism, University of Missouri. Said the judges:
Okay, so the premise is a little off-kilter – teaming up exhausting adventure sports with craft beer. These well-written columns are fast-paced, fun and really will get you off and exploring natural areas, with a cold brew as your reward.
James Murren is an award-winning independent writer, with numerous pieces having appeared in outdoor sports and recreation media outlets, adventure and travel magazines, newspapers, practitioners’ journals and newsletters, including:
L.A. Times, The Surfer’s Journal, Adventure Sports Journal, Mountain Flyer, Roads & Kingdoms, Backpacker Magazine, Cranked (UK), Snowshoe Magazine, Sub-Saharan Magazine, San Diego Union-Tribune, Spoke Magazine (NZ), Dirt Rag Magazine, Bike Magazine, Bicyclist Magazine, Strung Magazine, Bicycle Times, Switchback, and XXC Mag.
Writer’s website:
