Mountain Biking Experts

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About Us

OUR MISSION

At Mountain Biking Experts (MTBX), our mission is to empower riders to build confidence, master new skills, and contribute to the mountain biking community.

Our experienced coaches use a variety of teaching techniques to help riders develop their abilities and continue progressing. We create a supportive, challenge-by-choice environment, allowing each rider to learn at their own pace while pushing their limits in a fun and safe way. Throughout the year, MTBX offers a wide range of mountain biking programs, including Private Rides, Group Rides, Day Camps, Overnight Camps, and our Race Team, Black Diamond Racing. Whether you’re new to mountain biking or a seasoned rider, we have the perfect ride for you. So don’t just ride Ride Like An Expert with MTBX!

MTBX is a fully insured and licensed organization headquartered in the Santa Cruz Mountains, serving the greater Bay Area. Our staff are skilled professionals who undergo background checks before hire and maintain up-to-date CPR, First Aid, and Wilderness First Aid certifications. Safety is our top priority—our coaches ensure riders progress naturally in a secure environment, regularly conducting risk assessments and environmental debriefs to maintain the highest safety standards. If you or someone you know is interested in coaching, fill out our Contact Form to connect with us!

MEET THE EXPERTS!

In the office or on the trails, our dedicated staff members pedal through challenges with the same enthusiasm and determination, making every climb a triumph and every descent a celebration. Their passion for mountain biking mirrors their commitment to excellence in all they do – navigating the twists of the trail and the turns of the outdoor education with unwavering skill and joy!

 

Executive Director & Coach

Lukas Swidler

I love mountain biking for the same reason I love life the ups and the downs. The challenges are what reveal who you are and how you respond. On the bike, I’m fully present. Nothing else matters. It’s just the ride, the trail, and the moment. That clarity is what first drew me to the sport and what continues to motivate me every day.

Expertise:

XC & Enduro

Stance:

Goofy

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Regional Director & Coach

Vincent Brickey

Mountain biking is an incredibly immersive way to experience the world and its terrain. I love that it offers freedom, challenge, and connection all at once. It gets us outside, builds confidence, and gives purpose to different places and landscapes. For the community, mountain biking is a way to bring people together across ages and backgrounds. For kids especially, it is a powerful outlet that builds resilience, creativity, respect, and a sense of belonging.

 

Expertise:

Enduro & Downhill

Stance:

Regular

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Coach

Max Turner

I love mountain biking because it combines time outdoors, physical challenge, and connection with others. It’s more than a sport it brings people together, encourages stewardship of our parks, and creates a positive outlet for the community. For kids especially, mountain biking offers a way to get outside, build confidence, and use their imagination while discovering what they’re capable of beyond screens.

Expertise:

XC & Enduro

Stance:

Goofy

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Coach

Erik Werner

Mountain biking has always been more than just riding for me it’s about freedom, progression, and community. Being on the trail is where I feel most present, challenged, and connected to the people around me. I love how mountain biking brings together riders of all backgrounds, pushes personal limits, and creates shared experiences that build confidence and camaraderie. Giving back to the community that shaped me is important, and coaching allows me to help others discover that same sense of excitement and belonging on a bike.

Expertise:

Enduro & Downhill

Stance:

Regular

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Join the Experience

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What We Offer

Private Rides

Private and family rides tailored for intermediate and advanced riders.

Overnight Camps

An unforgettable adventure camps in Santa Cruz and Lake Tahoe CA.

Group Rides

Ongoing small-group rides lasting three hours, designed to improve skills in a supportive environment.

Day Camps

Various camps are offered year-round, with summer camps running from June through August.

Black Diamond Racing

Weekly team practices and participation in regional California races for riders looking to compete.

Testimonials

Contact

I was nervous about mountain biking, mainly due to fear of injury. Coach Vince focused on the basics and helped me build confidence step by step. Now, I can confidently ride trails and finally enjoy biking with my son.

Palo Alto Male 45

I was terrified of falling and embarrassing myself in front of my son, who's a great rider. Coach Vince made me feel comfortable, guiding me through each step without judgment. Thanks to him, I now ride confidently and enjoy biking with my son.

Woodside Female 37

I felt embarrassed at first about my skills... Coach Vince’s patience and safety-first approach helped me gain confidence. I'm now tackling new trails and riding with young friends from work Thank You Vince!

Santa Cruz Male 40

I love the idea that our child can ride the trails with a Coach who has such a great personality and teaching skills. It's more than just the ride - it's the whole experience that counts and we really see how much our son looks forward to each session!

Palo Alto CA Male 35

I absolutely love having my son come home every day with a huge smile on his face. He always spends the whole day talking about his adventures at MTBX. Lukas is a VERY fun coach, making everything very enjoyable for the kids while still growing their skills.

Los Gatos CA Male 45

We struggled to find a skilled mountain biking Instructor for our teen daughter. She loves the sport and wants to improve, so we were thrilled to find MTBX! We appreciate that they drop off and pick up as well - it saves us so much time in our busy working day.

San Jose CA Male 30

Why MTBX?

Amazing Staff

Our Director and staff are experienced mountain biking experts with hundreds of miles of rugged trail experience. They are First Aid Certified and/or Wilderness First Aid Certified, ensuring a safe and professional environment. MTBX is a fully insured business operating with the necessary permits.

Awesome Adventures

MTBX riders have an incredible time exploring the outdoors! Check out our testimonials to hear firsthand about their amazing experiences.



Best Bay Area Camps!

Our small-group camps, designed for riders ages 10 to 17 with prior trail experience, offer a fun, skill-building environment where campers make new friends and improve their riding.


Expert Coaching & Supervision

We provide the highest level of professional supervision for riders in Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and San Mateo counties, ensuring safety while maximizing fun.

Small Group Rides

Our small-group format allows us to focus on each rider’s individual progress, ensuring they develop their skills on the best trails in the Bay Area.

Meet Lukas

Growing up in the Bay Area, I always searched for a strong sense of community. Now living in Soquel, I’ve found that connection through mountain biking.I’m deeply invested in the local trails and enjoy contributing through trail maintenance, community projects, and supporting the places that make riding here so special. I’ve coached mountain biking at multiple levels through programs such as Avid4 Adventure and Kids Dojo, experiences that have helped shape my approach as both a rider and a coach. I understand that every rider is different, and I believe effective coaching starts with adapting teaching styles to meet individual needs. By blending my background in teaching and coaching philosophy, I strive to create a thoughtful, engaging, and effective learning environment that sets riders up for long-term success. Santa Cruz is where I feel most at home on a bike, though I also love riding in Whistler, where the terrain and world-class trails push riders of all levels and build confidence fast. Outside of mountain biking, I enjoy traveling with friends and family and staying active through skiing, spearfishing, surfing, and motorcycling. As an outdoor enthusiast, I’m always eager for the next adventure.

Meet Vince

Through my friendship with Lukas, I was introduced to mountain biking and i was immediately hooked. I have been riding, coaching, trail building, and running youth programs for several years. A passion of mine is working closely with new riders to help them progress and gain confidence both on and off the bike. I am lucky to ride in a wide range of places around the world, but California will always be special to me. To me, there is nothing better than riding a trail that my friends and I built or fixed up. In my experience, it is less about where or what I am riding and much more about who I am riding with. Outside of mountain biking, I enjoy spending time skateboarding, rock climbing, and trail building. Time off the bike, while it is not much time, is important and feeds back into how I show up on the bike.

Meet Max

I’ve been involved in the cycling industry through a combination of hands-on work and community engagement. I regularly volunteer on local trails in Oakland and Marin, helping maintain and improve access for riders. I’ve worked in college bike shops and spent time teaching kids how to ride, which gave me a strong foundation in both technical skills and mentorship. I’ve also been with this company for the past three years, staying actively connected to the industry and the riding community beyond MTBX.  I’ve been fortunate to ride in a wide range of locations, from the trails around Amherst during college to extensive riding up and down both the East and West Coasts. I’ve spent a lot of time riding in Colorado and Squamish, British Columbia, which stand out as the best places I’ve experienced. Colorado’s trails are raw, rugged, and largely untouched, offering technical, chunky riding that feels truly wild, while Squamish is unmatched for its iconic rock rolls and unique terrain that challenge both skill and confidence. I’ve spent the past two years living on a boat, sailing and spearfishing along the coast of Mexico. I now spend most of the year exploring the Sea of Cortez and traveling as far south as Barra de Navidad. Life on the water brings the same sense of freedom, self-reliance, and connection to nature that I find on the trail, and it’s where I feel most grounded and inspired.

Meet Erik

I’ve spent several years deeply involved in the mountain bike industry and community. I worked for three years at Summit Bicycles, gaining hands-on experience with bikes, riders, and the culture that surrounds the sport. I also spent one year at Kids Dojo, expanding my coaching and mentorship skills, and I’m proud to be the first-ever MTBX coach. Outside of MTBX, I stay involved by riding regularly, supporting local trails, and continuing to learn and grow as both a rider and coach. Some of my favorite places to ride are UCSC and Empire Grade, where the mix of technical terrain, flow, and towering redwoods never gets old. Northstar and the greater Tahoe area are also standout destinations for me the variety of trails, elevation, and big-mountain feel make every ride memorable. Each of these places offers something unique, whether it’s fast flow, technical challenge, or simply being immersed in incredible scenery. When I’m not on a bike, I’m a big skier and golfer, both of which give me the same sense of focus, challenge, and enjoyment I get from riding. I also work in tech sales, which keeps me driven, goal-oriented, and constantly learning. Balancing work, sports, and time outdoors is what keeps me motivated and happy.