Mixed terrain biking isn’t a discipline. It’s not a race category, a wheel size, or a hashtag. It’s a mindset. A way of riding that ignores neat definitions and embraces the messy in-between stuff: pavement, gravel, dirt, trail, back alley, floodway, goat path. All in one ride.
If you’ve ever stitched together a route using city bike lanes, a bit of gravel, and that dirt trail behind the golf course, congratulations — you’ve already done it.
As gravel races get faster and more specialized, and mountain bikes get chunkier and more trail-specific, mixed terrain sits in the quiet middle. It’s the kind of riding most people do already, not just on weekends but on commutes, lunch loops, and lazy rides to the bakery.
There are no categories here. No segment hunting. No right way to ride.
Mixed terrain isn’t just for big loops in the woods. It’s for city riders linking parks and paths, for rural riders connecting concession roads, for anyone looking to see their surroundings differently. You don’t need to live next to epic gravel to get started. You just need to be curious.
Mixed terrain riding is less about speed, more about flow. It’s about finding a line that makes you smile — even if it means hopping a curb or carrying your bike for a bit. If a ride has four surfaces, a few surprises, and no obvious category, that’s a good one.
This isn’t a gear arms race. Ride what you have. A rigid 90s mountain bike with fresh tires? Perfect. A commuter bike with fenders and a bell? Even better. Mixed terrain riding isn’t about optimizing. It’s about adapting. You can always upgrade later. You don’t have to wait.
Gravel is getting fast. Mountain biking is getting intense. Mixed terrain biking is a return to something simpler and more accessible. It reflects how most people actually ride, not just what gets podiums or likes. If you’re curious about bikes built for this kind of riding, this guide to all-terrain bikes is a great place to start.
It’s slower, sometimes weirder, and way more fun.
This site exists to give mixed terrain biking a proper home. Expect:
Whether you ride fast, slow, alone, or with friends — if you ride everything, you’re one of us.