ENFREE YOUR MIND FEAT. BRAYDON BRINGHURST
CLIMBING 10K, BRAYDON’S WAY
Braydon Bringhurst is no stranger to big rides, big goals, or big challenges. Climbing 10,000 feet in a day isn’t out of the realm of possibility for many, but it was something Braydon had never done before. Most of his rides focus on refining a specific skill or chasing a particular goal. Braydon rarely gets the chance to combine everything—endurance, bike handling, tricks, technical descents, and big jumps—into a single day.
Hood River, Oregon, became the perfect testing ground for Braydon’s personal challenge. A day trip from home in Boise, Idaho, Post Canyon offers everything he loves and at this stage in life, multi-day trips are harder to pull off, so making the most of a single day becomes even more meaningful.
So when Braydon set the goal to climb 10k, he knew it had to reflect every part of his riding style. Not just grinding uphill for the sake of numbers but blending everything he loves about riding into one epic day. That was a challenge he wanted to take on—riding 10k, his way.
Mountain biking frees my mind for other things in life.
–Braydon Bringhurst
Braydon mapped out a plan: start with a jump jam, climb through flowy singletrack, hit some tech trails, connect with friends, session the FMX jumps. It wasn’t just about the numbers—it was about riding in a way that felt true to him.
The day starts promptly at 6:30 a.m. meeting photographer Anthony Smith and cinematographer Justin Olsen at the trailhead. His Canyon Spectral specced with a Flight Attendant Lyrik and Super Deluxe glows at dawn, lighting up the artwork drawn by his three girls, a reminder of what matters most.
“Mountain biking frees my mind for other things in life. Being a better husband and father, being more present with my girls, being a better community contributor. But when I can hone in on my craft, I get to focus on just the ride and get into that flow where I can feel everything.”
15 hours, 13 minutes, 40 seconds – 54.95 miles and climb 10,018 feet
Braydon did not set any records out there, but in his own words, “that was such an enjoyable day.”
His ride wasn’t just physically demanding; it was a culmination of everything he’s learned from past experiences, including his monumental Whole Enchilada ascent. His approach to nutrition, his bike, pacing, and mindset all came into play, and as the day unfolded, the excitement of progression fueled him just as much as getting closer to his 10k goal.
When I'm out doing these rides and want to get into the experience of riding, big soul riding, Flight Attendant helps conserve energy.
–Braydon Bringhurst
“I can set bike is most efficient on the way up, and it's max dialed on the way down. I’m not compromising on setup. Climbing 10k is a lot, but I was able to ride until the sun went down with my explosive muscles staying relatively fresh. I was still holding manuals, compressing, and popping corners.”
Braydon draws inspiration from all corners of the mountain bike world. Inspired by films like Motive, Braydon wants to capture the essence of trail riding, not just the biggest tricks or most technical descents, but the moments that make mountain biking special for everyone. His style and tricks are influenced by Ryan "R-Dog" Howard, while his slalom skills come from watching Mitch Ropelato. When it comes to reading the terrain and flowing with the natural landscape, he looks to riders like Moab local legend, Kyle Mears. And then there are the endurance athletes—people like Payson McElveen and Ben Hildred—who push the limits of what’s possible on a bike, day after day, season after season. Their massive efforts remind him that there’s always room to grow, new strategies to learn, and fresh challenges to take on.
“I think about why I'm inspired to mountain bike. I dream about the trail bike. I dream about riding singletrack. I dream about riding jumps and working on my craft. And passionately sharing that with people and inspiring them to chase their own dreams.”
At the core of it all, Braydon rides for the love of it. There was a time when he thought he had to be a "grown-up" and leave behind the things that brought him the most joy. Now, he understands that riding his bike keeps him grounded and present in a way nothing else does. Whether or not mountain biking was his career, he’d still be out there, riding for his own progression and to be fully present.
BRAYDON'S BIKE
Frame: Canyon Spectral size Small
Fork: Rockshox Lyrik Flight Attendant 150mm/44mm off-set
Rear Shock: Rockshox Super Deluxe Ultimate Flight Attendant 210x55
Seatpost: Rockshox AXS Reverb 150mm
Crankset: SRAM XX Eagle AXS Transmission 165mm
Chain: SRAM XX Eagle Transmission
Cassette: SRAM 10-52T XX Eagle Transmission
Derailleur: SRAM XX Eagle Transmission Derailleur
Pedals: TIME Speciale 10 Large
Brakes: SRAM Code Ultimate Stealth
Handlebars: Deity Zink Bar 760mm
Stem: Deity Copperhead 35mm
Grips: Sensus Lites
Wheels: ZIPP 3ZERO MOTO 29F/27.5R
Tires: Maxxis DHR 2 2.4” - MaxxTerra Compound / EXO+ Front, DD Rear
#soulride2025
For Braydon, climbing 10,000 feet wasn’t about proving anything to anyone else—it was a personal endeavor, a way to test his limits and connect on a subliminal level with the ride. For YOU, it may come in a completely different form. Whether it’s tackling a personal best or just going out and enjoying a day on the bike, exploring someplace new, or simply getting on your bike when life gets in the way. It’s about the ride that lights up our soul and frees our mind to be alive.
Ready to take on the challenge? Share your story by submitting to [email protected] and include:
- What you set out to accomplish.
- Why you love mountain biking.
- What you got out of your epic soul ride.
You can also tag your photos #soulride2025 to be shared by @braydonbringhurst and @rockshox.
Video by Burst Media Creative. Photos by Anthony Smith. Words by Sarah Rawley.