To start off abruptly, are you familiar with the novel "Bari Sanko"?
Hata, a corporate employee who struggles with social interactions, joins the company's hiking club, leading him to get closer to Mega, an isolated veteran employee. Their lives are transformed when they start "Bari Sanko"—hiking off the beaten path. This is a work of literary mountaineering fiction that captures the profound sense of being alive by intertwining the mountains with life itself. (Excerpt from YAMAP MAGAZINE)
The "Bari" in the title refers to "variation routes" in mountaineering.
※Variation routes are unmaintained paths that are not considered "standard hiking trails" found on maps or in guidebooks.
I think the same can be said for trail exploration. It is quite difficult to find mountain trails that are (comfortably) rideable by bicycle, and there are no guidebooks that tell you which trails you can ride on.
While there is a joy (and comfort) in riding familiar trails without hesitation, there is a different kind of thrill—a touch of tension—when exploring a route for the first time, wondering things like, "Is this actually passable?" or "Will I be able to get back before sunset?"
I feel that exploring trails on a mountain bike is essentially "Bari Sanko." The novel describes Bari Sanko as a way to "break free from the monotony of daily life," and I think trail riding is exactly the same.
Snow Riding
A story from around the end of January.
I went to a mountain I had ridden once before, back around last November. The previous time, I rode a route that went from the base to the summit and back down to the base again.
The bike I used this time, of course, was the ”WILDE Dark Star“.
While climbing to the summit, I discovered a route leading further into the depths of the mountain that I had wanted to ride someday. I returned on a cold day in January to do just that. It didn't look like there was much snow accumulated from the base, but there was about 15cm of snow along the mountain ridge.
As far as the map showed, there seemed to be a path along the ridge, so I just kept going. Not knowing the specifics of the route, I pedaled relying only on the general direction. At times the path would end, or I'd have to push my bike along paths only wide enough for one person.
When I realized there was no path left, I changed my route by hoisting the bike and scrambling up the mountain slope. Rather than carrying it, it felt more like tossing the bike forward, climbing up to it, and tossing it again.
The fact that there were no tracks on the snow, and that no one else had passed through that day, gave me a slight sense of unease being so alone, but also a sense of peace knowing that I was the only one there at that moment.
Riding with Loi, a Pure Mountain Biker
A story from mid-February.
I revisited the snow-covered mountain with Loi. Our goal was to go even deeper than I had in January.
We went with the assumption that "if we follow the ridge, we'll eventually find a route down." As it turned out, we discovered a descent route that was an incredibly good trail, making it a major payoff.
What made it a good trail? It had a significant grade and very sharp turns. Moreover, the path was narrow. You couldn't descend smoothly without riding by sliding the rear end around corners. There weren't any flashy sections—if anything, it was understated—but there was a thrill in knowing that if you lost focus, you’d fall off the path.
During this ride, I borrowed Loi’s bike, which had a suspension fork. The way the suspension smooths out the road is addictive. Someday, I want to put a suspension fork on the Dark Star and go ride on rough terrain.
Switching to Tires Designed for Off-Road
I had been using the WTB Macro 29 x 2.4″, but I recently went to the mountains after changing the front to a WTB Vigilante (29×2.5″) and the rear to a WTB Trail Boss (29×2.4″).
The reason for the change was that when I climbed a wet trail with the Macros, they slipped and couldn't gain traction. Of course, I don't mean to say the Macros are slippery tires.
Because I ride from home to the trails, the Macros, with their lower knobs, are the perfect tires for me.
However, I became curious about how much grip a tire with taller knobs would provide, so I tried swapping them out for the Vigilante and Trail Boss.
I also combined different tires front and rear to balance grip and rolling efficiency.
- Vigilante: Installed on the front to handle rougher terrain compared to the Trail Boss.
- Trail Boss: Installed on the rear because it has finer knobs and uses a compound that prioritizes rolling efficiency compared to the Vigilante.
It’s the same idea as setting up ULTRADYNAMICO's "Mars" on the front and "Cava" on the rear. Different tires front and back—it’s like a drift car, which I think is pretty cool.
I rode from home to the trails again that day. On asphalt, of course, the Macros roll better. Honestly, the Vigilante & Trail Boss setup felt heavy. On the way, I couldn't really feel a difference compared to the Macros when passing over the gravel of a riverbank, but the place I went that day had rough trails with rocky sections.
(I was so focused on riding that I forgot to take pictures…😭)
The ground was quite sandy, but thanks to the substantial knobs, I didn't feel any slippage and was able to ride with great stability. Honestly, I think you could manage most trails on the Macros, but tires specialized for off-road like the Vigilante & Trail Boss have such strong grip that they make you want to push even harder on the trails.
In addition to the tires, I’m also testing the differences between chain grades, having switched from a SHIMANO CN-M8100 to a CN-M7100.
What I love about the Dark Star is that I can head down any route that catches my eye without hesitation. It’s the perfect bike for rides where you step away from the everyday and go searching for your own path.
The WILDE Dark Star is still available as both a complete bike and as a frameset. You can see the complete bike in person at the shop, so if you're interested, please come by and take a look.
Also, if you have any information about trails that were great, please let me know!⛰️
Let’s go for a ride together!
