MTB Legend: Jeremiah Bishop
Q&A with 16-time Member of the USA National Team
Jeremiah Bishop needs no introduction. If you’ve followed mountain biking and racing over the past 20 years, you’re well aware of his accolades. He’s a 2-time USA National Champion, Pan American Games Gold Medalist, and has won numerous other pro races/titles. He graciously agreed to do a Q&A with Paseando MTB, while planning the next season of The Impossible Route. He offers much inspiration in his words. Down-to-earth and honest, are apparent characteristics that come through in what he has to say. Scroll down and check it out!
1. Readers likely will know about The Impossible Route. What else are you up to? Have any races slated for 2024?
"The Impossible Route" has been a kick-ass project, and I would like to expand its scope since all things evolve or die. My hope is to help other people tell their stories, multi-sport missions for runners, mountaineers, and of course, a couple of untold bike rides too. I'll let those cats out of the bag soon!
I have a lot of projects going on, and I really enjoy working on events and trail development. The course I helped design at Snowshoe is going to be used in the UCI mountain bike marathon world championships next summer. Also working on a revamp of the cross-country national championships course at Bear Creek, so that should be neat and fun to actually ride when finished. Coaching and community are also things I want to highlight in 2024 with a pre-race clinic or social happy hour post-race hang. Should be a fun initiative!
I will race a mix of gravel and mountain with a few gran fondo road events. I'll start with Stokesville 60/40 Monster Cross, Mid-south, Sea Otter, Rockstar Trail, Shenandoah GRVLR, Unbound, a mid-summer stage race like TSE, Brek, or BC Bike Race. Late summer will be Leadville SBT week, and in the fall, my favorite will be the Shenandoah 100 and Alpine Loop Gran Fondo, closing the season with Krampus. I am sure there will be a lot more in there, but those are the ones that are front of mind.
2. Clean riding/no doping is part of your legacy. Not everyone is as outspoken as you've been. Why does it matter to you?
Cycling is my sanctuary. It was my cathedral as a kid growing up. I was surrounded by drugs and alcohol abuse; my mom had her challenges. For me, racing was an escape and so damn fun to rip trails! The simplicity and purity of training and competing for events were appealing to me. All it took was discipline, focus, self-reliance. The ability only came from the effort you put into it or so I thought... When I found out there was a shortcut, a dirty one, I was appalled. They were pissing on my church, not only that but cost me a lot of races, maybe even an Olympic spot. Several years later, I reached out and helped contribute to USADA's outreach because, in the end, you're either part of the solution or part of the problem.
3. You are one of the most successful US mountain bike racers of all time. Age happens, though. What drives you these days? (I ask that as someone turning 50 this year!)
For me, a big driver is seeing what I can do that's new, trying new places to ride. I am really just focusing on the real question. Am I the best I can be? I would say if more people focused on that, they would realize that they can be better and smile when they finally deliver on the promise of committing to do so. I wrote a nice blog about that... Last season was humbling. I will enjoy some races and just bring what I got. When it comes down to my biggest focus, it will be on some fun expeditions, storytelling, and efforts to get new people into the sport because that only gets better with experiences.
4. Tell us about Virginia (where JB lives with his family) riding/trails. Favorite ones and why?
Virginia mountain bike trails are very unique to the east. A lot of my favorites are the Ridgeline trails indicative of Shenandoah Mountain and Massanutten Mountain. We have a mix of different forests from dry pine needles trend rock gardens to mid-elevation hardwood forest of oak ash and poplar to high elevation red spruce cloud forest cloaked in fog. Bird Knob, Short Mtn on Massanutten, the west slope trails with their bike park flavor and berms and rock features found on Quarantine and Puzzler. The CCC classics like Braileys Pond trail area trails Road and Bridge Hollow's Dowels Magic Moss because of their swoopy flow. I think these trails are why modern designed trails got their blueprint from.
5. If/when you do sit back and have a beer, any local/indie VA breweries/styles you'd recommend?
Brothers Craft Brewing makes some great beer, and our friend Matt Leach does the art on the bottles and cartons Brothers Craft Brewing. Little Hellion and Resolute are off the charts; it's a barrel-aged Russian Imperial Stout. You can see your chest hair grow while you drink it. Ha ha.
6. Say what you want... parting thoughts... whatever.
Well, I'd say I am damn lucky to live the dream, ride trails, and make some neat things happen in cycling. It's neat to see more people enjoying the sport, and I hope by example, folks understand contributing is part of what keeps it great. Trail work once a month or help your local porter or start a group ride. This is how the next chapter gets written!
Thanks, Jeremiah! Looking forward to seeing/hearing what’s next.
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JB is legendary with huge training volumes and epically hard rides. So cool to see his staying power in our constantly changing sport. He retains his childlike wonder and curiosity for training and life!