Family on the Trails : an Interview with Mountain Biker Rich Drew
We sat down with Rich, his wife Sarah, and their son Dex to talk about them and their life together.
About Rich and Dex
If you haven’t heard of Rich Drew, you probably aren’t a fan of cycling. 45-year-old Rich Drew has been on bikes his whole life. He trained for the Ford Motor Company and eventually found his way back into mountain biking and began racing. In 6 months, he was racing with the pros.
The vision became clearer that bikes could support his family. People asked for help and assistance, and The Ride Series was created. The business grew alongside being a product trainer. They started coming to Bentonville and saw how it was growing.
“Let’s make a go of this. This is the community to support our business.”
They’ve steadily been growing the business. He says Sarah runs the show and working together can be hard but they love what they do. They love executing events and creating content locally, “We want to be ambassadors and stewards for this community and provide insight.”
7-year-old Dex has a competitive streak and loves seeking adventure with his mom and dad. He plays hard and he plays a lot. He goes to school one day a week and homeschools the rest of the week.
Their connection through cycling
They love riding trails in Bentonville and taking advantage of the bikeable city. They bike to ice cream or to bagels on the square. It’s a conduit for movement and for becoming more connected in nature.
They travel as a family and see amazing things. From the dirt roads in the middle of nowhere and the mountains and the gravel roads.
#AdventureDrewUs defines them. The whole family seeks the thrill of adventure.
A Father and Son
We asked Dex what makes his dad great, he said he gets to go places, his dad is loving and expresses it, they do fun stuff and fast stuff.
Rich is a big fan of supercross and when Dex showed interest in it, he had to make a trip happen. The trip didn’t make a lot of logistical sense, but Rich jumped through hoops to make it happen.
They travelled to Arizona and stayed with “Uncle Rob.” They went ice plunging, played in the snow, and on the last day went to the super cross.
When asked who were his fatherly inspirations, Rich had a few, “I am not positive by nature. My father taught me my work ethic and that’s why I can sit here today doing something like this, because I worked so hard.” Rich went on to describe the love of his father-in-law, “he is one of the most loving men on the planet. He exudes positivity and I soak as much of that up as I can. He can spin any situation into something positive.”
Rich also mentioned a young athlete named Ethan Storm. When Rich was racing, he knew this kid and his dad that had a cool relationship. He was 17 or 18 and his dad was his best friend. They went to races they hung out. Rich wanted to be that kind of dad and prioritizes doing things with his son. So when Dex asked if Rich could take him to the motocross race, he had to make it happen.
Dex was in Sarah’s belly at all the races. Then in the pack trekking to each watch point. They’ve been together since the start and cycling has been a part of their family. Now Dex enjoys it and watches and races, but Rich and Sarah don’t put any pressure on him to train harder or more often.
Rich and Sarah allow Dex to explore to find what he is passionate about. Their whole mindset is centered around being present for their son and being good humans, raising good humans.
What’s Next?
In May, Dex’s goal was to get his black belt in karate. For biking, he has podiumed, but he is looking to get that first place prize. He trains a little, but doesn't like to train like the other kids for race day. He has natural talent and is learning to put the work in.
For Rich, he’s working to always have as much fun as possible. It’s easier since he has accomplished so much with his racing career, and now the goal is to reach more people to educate, inspire, and entertain. He loves to help people be more confident on their bikes and have the role in their journey to get outdoors more.
As a family, they are working on building their business together. They are always looking for more opportunities to adventure, escape, and hang out.
Staying Present
Each day, they try to be nice and kind people. They prioritize morning snuggles. They take care of their health and wellness by practicing 80/20, getting outside and in the sun, getting into their garage gym, and shopping at the local farmers market.
When asked for any suggestions for fathers and sons get along as well as them, Dex suggested, “If a kid does something really bad you can yell, but it’s not always the best option.” He thinks fathers and sons should go on more trips, ride more bikes, and practice martial arts or play chess together.
“Find time to spend together. It doesn’t matter what you are doing. You can never get back the time. Just find ways to be present,” Rich added.
The Drews seek adventure in their every day lives, they are very happy people. You can follow their adventures on YouTube or Instagram @therichdrew and @richdrewtherideseries. And as always stay tuned for more from @JUNKBrands.
Family Friendly Trails in Bentonville
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