Mountain biker Griz finds euphoria in the Highlands
Sean ‘Griz’ Green is a well-recognised face on the mountains of Scotland.
With an eclectic mix of tattoos, and his grizzly frame often with a bike on his back, a shrinking violet he is not.
A childhood spent drawing patterns on himself, while dreaming of the rugged peaks and esoteric endeavours the Highlands provide, left Sean with a drive to summit them all – ‘bagging’ as it has commonly become known.
While he isn’t the first – Paul Tattersal can claim this feat – to make all 282 Munro summits by bike, and being only just over half way through (145), Sean, from Dundee, is a working guy with a young family requiring a deft ability to juggle his own ambitions with the responsibilities of family life. That makes his project long, arduous and, at times, at risk of being unfulfilled.
In his own words, the dream he is chasing goes beyond the physical experiences.
‘I often get asked about my favourite descent and that’s a really hard one to answer. I reckon there are maybe six or seven that would battle it out for the top spot.
‘What makes it so hard is the romanticism of these mountains and the emotions they evoke.
‘Some of the best days on my bike haven’t necessarily been on the best trails these mountains offer but, instead, a combination of sights and feelings which filled me with nothing but ‘euphoria’ for want of a better word.
‘Standing atop the summit of Binnien Mor at 10.15pm on a summer night, watching the sunset over the mighty Ben Nevis. Not a breath of wind, clear skies for 100 miles in every direction, a feeling of true solitude and ultimately insignificance in this world. A clear mind to focus on nothing but your surroundings. All that matters is me, my bike and making it off the mountain with the biggest smile on my face.
‘Those are the days I yearn for, the slithers of golden singletrack never before ridden, are just a bonus.’
To view the latest short film featuring Sean and his Munro bagging attempt, produced by DW Agency, go to https:// vimeo.com/511680868 .
The film was shot in November 2019.