James Munly - High Fives | Teton Gravity Research

Leavenworth, Washington has some of the best riding in the Northwest. But for a long time, most of the trails were illegal, and for years bikers were embroiled in legal battles with the Forest Service. They’d build a trail, and soon after its completion it would be torn down. Now—after a decade of public meetings and battles with the government and other trail users—there are legal trails to ride, and the town is promoting biking. The guy at the center of this victory is James Munly. He is the owner of a local bike shop, Das Rad Haus, as well as a dad, trail builder, and bike crusader. He told us how he became an advocate for bikers, how to be polite at public meetings, and why riding is good for communities.

How did you get involved in the Leavenworth biking community?

I came to the area to be a patroller at Stevens Pass. My wife was one, too. Seventeen years ago, I blew my knee on the hill and started riding bikes seriously. I couldn’t raft guide that summer so I got a job at Der Sportsman, the only bike shop in town at the time. For knee rehab I was on my bike everyday, and I realized the lack of real trails.

People had chips on their shoulders on both sides, and we had to work through those. I think I made it work because I’m capable of beating my head against a wall for a long time.

I opened the shop, Das Rad Haus in 2000. Rad means bike in German. The shop is in an old house. We lived in the house till nine years ago—rides would start there and people would throw things at the windows when they wanted tubes early in the morning.

Munly's shop, Das Rad Haus, in Leavenworth.

What’s so great about Leavenworth?

The terrain is here, we have all these amazing trails, but there’s also a community. This year we’re on our seventeenth Bavarian Bikes and Brews, our X-C race and beer fest. Last year we had 400 riders.

How do you effectively unite diverse stakeholders in creating a trail system?

A lot of it has been time: fighting with the Forest Service, tempering the drunk downhill guys, getting the trails built right. hand shaking, showing up at the meetings for a lot of years in a row. People had chips on their shoulders on both sides, and we had to work through those. I think I made it work because I’m capable of beating my head against a wall for a long time.

What advice would you give riders hoping to work with government agencies to build trails?

Bikers and hikers can be on the same trail, but if you’re making us skid down ridgeline trails, bikers are going to go way too fast. It’s going to take a while. I’m on my fifth ranger. Get to know the people. I had some trouble with the Washington Trails Association—the local hiking group—but I did a trail leader course with them, to work through it.

It's good to know a man who can build a corner...

What happens now?

I want to build trails for everyone. The corridor is in, the opportunity is in. We’ve started a kids bike program, and we’re starting a mountain bike team at the school. I want my kids to ride trails and my grandkids to ride trails here.