Mike Broderick and Jorge Negrete, owners of Pedal Forward Bikes & Adventure, built their bike shop in Oakhurst, California nestled in the Yosemite Valley on a shared passion for mountain biking and community. More than just a bike shop, Pedal Forward brings adventure, connection, and a love for the trails—values that extend to their own relationships. This Valentine’s Day, they share how riding together strengthens bonds, builds confidence, and keeps couples thriving on and off the bike.
Mountain biking isn’t just a sport—it’s a way of life, a journey, and for some, a love story. In the heart of Yosemite Valley, couples are proving that riding together strengthens not only their skills on the trail but also their relationships. We sat down with two mountain biking power couples—Jorge and Andrea, and Mike and Lynn—to talk about how their shared passion for biking keeps them connected, how they help others find the same joy, and what advice they have for couples looking to ride together.
From Different Paths to the Same Trail
For Jorge and Andrea, mountain biking wasn’t always a shared passion. Originally from Peru, Jorge was an avid surfer before moving to California, where he picked up biking during a drought that kept him away from the waves. Andrea, an accomplished wakeboarder and snowboarder, was more hesitant to get on two wheels.
“I got her a bike—a hardtail with big tires,” Jorge recalls. “At first, it was just casual family rides. She wasn’t into singletrack at all. But once I put a dropper post on her bike, everything changed. She said, ‘How dare you keep me without this for so long?’”
Mike and Lynn had a similar story. When they lived in Bend, Oregon, Mike tried to introduce Lynn to mountain biking, but fear held her back.
