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Life

Everyone has that song. That song that makes you pick up and go. Move your body and start singing with the car windows down. Lyrics may be catchy, they might strike a chord, but whatever they are, they paint the backdrop for finding yourself in your own set. Where you’re the hero and this is your anthem.

When asked what would be his song, any song, Ryan Howard smiled and said, “Run Horse Run”.

R-Dog railing his Trek Fuel EXe on an undisclosed trail in Northern California.
Portrait of Ryan Howard.
Road tripping vibes.

Driving across the Golden Gate State Bridge and seven hours north, Ryan Howard put on his newly downloaded Charley Crockett album on repeat—“Run Horse Run” was the second song. “Halfway through the trip, we were like, ‘This is the song.’”

Point of view driving across the Golden Gate Bridge.
R-Dog road tripping in his Tacoma and filling up for gas.
View of the coastline from HWY 1.

I think that’s something a rider and filmer look for in a song—lots of cuts, fast sections, slow sections—where it can complement the riding.

R-Dog doing a trick off of a jump.
R-Dog talking with filmers Nic Genovese and Isaac Wallen.
A pan shot of R-Dog.

R-Dog uses the lyrics and the vibe to articulate the ride. When it’s time to “Giddyup” and go, his Trek Fuel EXe gets him back up to the top for another run down.

Close up view of Trek FuelEXe dashboard.
Front on view of R-Dog leaning against his Fuel EXe with a Heavy Meadow Green Lyrik  in the foreground.
Pan shot of R-Dog climbing uphill on a Fuel EXe.
From trail builder to trail boss.

R-Dog may be a legend but knows the unspoken rules of taking care of your friends’ trails. “It’s a nice trade. You learn different techniques of building and appreciate their hard work and vision. I would have never seen the same lines.”

R-Dog and Isaac Wallenn packing out a jump.
R-Dog looking at a jump with his Trek Fuel EXe.
Black and white front review of R-Dog hitting a jump.

There is everything you could ask for in on top-to-bottom trail—there's rough sections, steep sections, there’s jumps. It’s the perfect trail for Lyrik. It showcases how playful the bike is, but you can ride over rough stuff.

Front view of R-Dog's Heavy Meadow Green Lyrik riding over roots.
Back view of R-Dog riding a long berm.
Back view of R-Dog hitting a jump in the forest.

When you’re shooting for the golden hour, weather can quickly put a damper on things. But with the right crew and attitude, a day off the bike becomes the place where the best ideas are hatched.

Ryan Howard and Nic Genovese riding and walking away in the foggy mist.
Backlit black and white image of Nic Genovese, Isaac Wallenn and Ryan Howard figuring out what to do on a rainy day.
Photographer Ian Collins and R-Dog shooting goofy photos in the rive.r
Is it a mountain bike? Is it an E-MTB?

The Trek Fuel EXe quietly assists you when you want it and disappears under you when you don’t.

The Trek Fuel EXe in front of an Electric Motor Service Center.

“I've been running a coil rear shock for the last handful of years. It’s heavier but to me, it feels more responsive and I know exactly what my bike's going to feel like every time. With an air shock, it takes more dialing in to get the right pressure and compression. With this new Super Deluxe Ultimate, it felt ‘coily’ — very responsive, especially on a smaller 140mm travel bike. I felt right at home and don’t plan on changing it any time soon.”

Close up shot of non-driveside view of Super Deluxe Ultimate on Trek Fuel EXe.
(Left) Close up of ButterCups logo on lower leg. (Right) Close up of Charger 3 damper.
You’ve heard all the rage on ButterCups and Charger 3. What does R-Dog have to say?

“I enjoy the suppleness off the top of Charger 3. It helps keep my speed, it’s not too stiff and I’m not bottoming out in bigger compressions. I also enjoy the suppleness off the top of ButterCups. It doesn’t feel too stagey.”

Front and back view of R-Dog shredding on a Heavy Meadow Green Lyrik and Trek Fuel EXe.
Having confidence is everything.

“When it comes to riding and filming on new trails, having confidence is everything. Every jump is going to ride different, but when you trust your bike and know exactly what it is going to do, you can do anything. When you put in the work, your confidence grows and with trust in your filmers, you can go for tricks that you would only want to pull off once or twice.”

Related Image

When it comes to riding and filming on new trails, having confidence is everything.

Close up of bright green lichen on an old growth tree.

Photos by Ian Collins. Words by Sarah Rawley.