It’s easy to forget why. Consider this a thorough reminder.
When your passion is part of your job, you’re one of the lucky ones. It brings you into contact with wonderful, like-minded people. It lets you explore new directions, take on new adventures, and live moments that wouldn’t be possible if work and passion sat on opposite sides of the fence. But it’s easy to get lost in the day-to-day, to focus on the how and forget the why.
The Space That Riding Creates
“It’s been my life since I was first washing motorbikes at fourteen,” shares REV’IT! UK rep Paul Dobb. “It’s taken me to some of the most beautiful corners of the UK and beyond, built lifelong friendships, and it gave me my purpose. Yet more than anything, for me motorcycling is a space – a space in your head, a space in the world, and a space in your own sense of reality.
It’s the connection between throttle and trail, between what you control and what you feel. It’s the cliché of passion and perhaps more so it’s about clarity and peace of mind. Getting away from the noise of every day; that’s when the why starts to come back into focus.”
No separation between life and motorbikes
Paul and a few of his buddies have traveled to North Wales. Wales’ mountainous Snowdonia region to be precise. And to be even more precise, they had come over for a weekend at OnlyStans Off-Road Experience, run by Lee Edmonson – main spanner man for hard enduro ace Billy Bolt. Lee grew up in the enduro world and is the owner of this piece of paradise.
Lee’s family, his friends, and his entire environment revolved around off-road riding. For him, there was no separation between life and motorbikes – they were one and the same. When Paul and his crew arrived at Lee’s compound, they were in for two days of dirty bikes and muddy smiles – onset by the kind of riding that clears your head like a cold mountain stream.
The choice of machinery for the weekend come compliments of OnlyStans fleet of Husqvarna TE250s and 300s, lined up and ready. Paul couldn’t help but bring along his old GasGas. As for the gear, the choice was simple: the REV’IT! DIRT Series. Modular and built for adjusting and layering. Ideal for unpredictable terrain, ideal for changing weather conditions. In short, ideal for what was to come next.
Riding the Mist: Day One in the Hills Above Barmouth
The air is thick with mist as the group is led out from the old stone barn, down a playful single track and into the steep, rugged hills above the town of Barmouth. Unpredictable, soft, and rutted terrain opens up towards rocky climbs. Though the fog hides the views, grey haze does add a sense of presence, of atmosphere. “It makes the world feel small – it makes you feel small,” Paul comments. “Because we barely see past our front fenders, it’s really, physically, about the here and now.”
After that mindful little moment, laughter kicks in quickly – and often. You can always tell when people are having fun on bikes. They pop off small rocks, weave through single track, and watch out for each other at every stop. There’s camaraderie in facing the same challenge, one rider at a time, everyone wanting the others to succeed.
Bruises are a reminder that it’s real
Then comes that moment. A steep section, a bit too much throttle, a mistimed shift in weight – and suddenly Paul’s bike gets aways from him while he clatters into the ground. Helmet to the wall. Adrenaline spikes. But before the obvious onset of jokes, there’s support. No-one’s pointing fingers, just a group making sure he’s alright. Bruises are part of it. They’re reminders that it’s real.
As the day goes on, the mist begins to lift. The sun cuts through and Wales reveals herself. Rolling hills, stone walls, and grazing sheep stretch out all around them. They find a ridge high above Barmouth Bay and ride a short loop again and again, chasing lines until they’re out of breath and grinning.
By evening, they’re bouncing back down through boggy ground and rocky outcrops, headed toward dinner – tired and muddy, but already looking forward to do it all again tomorrow.
Across the Bridge: Day Two onto the Trails and into the Flow
As dawn breaks on day two, conditions haven’t changed much since yesterday. Still a little damp, a little misty, but incredibly atmospheric. But this time, there’s something extra in the air. The shared stories and laughter from the night before deepened the sense of connection between what were strangers just two days ago.
The crew kits up and heads out once more. Soon wheels roll across the wooden planks of Barmouth Bridge. It feels surreal to ride over a bridge that looks like it should be carrying trains – not bikes. And yet they are perfectly allowed to do it, with pedestrians smiling as they pass. “Isn’t this how it should be?” Paul muses. “Everyone sharing the world, respectfully, in their own way.”
Friends ahead, familiar riders behind
Once they’re back in the hills, the group finds its rhythm quickly. This time, it’s still playful, still fun, but tinged with something softer – a quiet awareness that it’s nearly over. The riding feels more polished now; everyone has found their groove – trusted friends ahead, familiar riders behind.
Tackling some of the hardest terrain of the trip: steep rocky descents, twisting climbs, and those wide, sweeping farm tracks, letting the bikes stretch their legs across the Welsh hillsides. Jokes and laughs still come thick and fast. There are small victories and occasional spills, but everyone rides high on a sense of progress and shared achievement.
Later in the day, Paul returns to a familiar switchback – tight, technical, carved into the hillside. It gave him trouble the last time he tried it. But today it is different, Paul is different. “Throttle pinned, clutch slipped, the bike leaps forward, bouncing and scrabbling for grip,” Paul recalls. “But this time it was different. I’ve learned from last time. The climb isn’t so difficult now. Instead, it’s fun.”
No one’s hurt, everyone’s grinning
Once back down, Paul is met by hollering and cheering. Fellow rider Andy looks slightly dazed – his bike’s nowhere in sight. Turns out a little too much throttle and too much clutch sent his machine somersaulting end over end up the hill and into the scenery. You might expect the owner to be horrified at the sight of one of his bikes cartwheeling into the air. He’s not, though. He’s laughing, whooping, thrilled that everyone’s pushing themselves and having fun.
No one’s hurt, everyone’s grinning, and somehow the moment feels like the perfect ending. Another day of adventure, shared stories; small bruises and big smiles.
Even the Same Trail is Never the Same Twice
This was a weekend that reminds you that the best journeys aren’t about distance; they’re about the people and the places that make you feel alive. That’s the magic of off-road riding. Because no matter how long or short the trip is, it always takes you somewhere new. Even the same trail is never the same twice.
It was also a trip about friendship. About the constant need to remind ourselves why the things we love do matter and why, when we share an experience, we share a part of us.
Because at the end of the day, the throttle, the trail, and the people you share it with – that’s the real connection. That’s the clarity. That’s the why.
OnlyStans Off-Road Experience
Adventures like Paul and the guys’ are guaranteed when you tag onto Lee and the OnlyStans’ crews rear wheels and head out into the Welsh countryside – if only because Wales never disappoints when it comes to adventure rides. Discover more about the OnlyStans Off-Road Experience and join in the thrill and the fun.
