From my childhood in Richmond, New Hampshire, the outdoors was my playground. Growing up as one of nine children, my days were filled with hiking, biking, and exploring the woods surrounding our home. Family vacations weren’t about resorts; they were about immersing ourselves in nature through camping trips across the Northeast. Hiking was a constant, eventually leading me to tackle long-distance trails like the Appalachian Trail in 2015 and the Arizona Trail in 2018. These early adventures instilled in me a deep appreciation for the natural world and the joys of exploration, experiences that resonate deeply with the spirit of dog biking and the companionship it offers.
My twenties took me to the Western US, where I worked for the Washington State DNR and the US Forest Service as a Wildland Firefighter. This period further solidified my love for the outdoors and adventure. Returning to New Hampshire, I discovered a new passion: cycling. Mountain biking, gravel riding, adventure riding – I explored every facet of it. The allure of venturing into the woods along forgotten dirt roads and class 6 roads became irresistible. It was during these explorations that I began to consider how amazing it would be to share these experiences with a canine companion, envisioning the joys of Dog Bike adventures.
This passion for cycling, combined with my ingrained love for adventure, naturally progressed to bikepacking. The VT Super 8 in 2021 and the Coconino Loop in northern Arizona in 2022, along with a self-created route from VTXL north back to NH, were incredible experiences. These journeys highlighted the freedom and exploration that biking offers, and sparked thoughts about the unique dynamic of dog biking – the added layer of companionship and shared adventure.
It was at a Drummer Hill trail work day in Keene, NH, that I met Matt. We quickly bonded over our shared enthusiasm for all things adventure biking. Joining Brown Dog Bike Tours felt like a natural step, an opportunity to help others discover the outdoors and explore new horizons on their bikes. This venture also opened up possibilities to explore the growing world of dog biking and to potentially incorporate dog-friendly biking experiences into the tours.
For me, the perfect bike day often involves a hardtail, good company, challenging roads, and perhaps a bit of hike-a-bike. And while I cherish those rides, the thought of adding a furry friend to the mix, exploring those same trails with a dog happily running alongside or safely secured in a dog bike trailer, adds an exciting new dimension to the adventure. The world of dog biking is opening up new avenues for exploration and companionship, and I’m eager to see where this path leads.
