Who We Are MCBC Welcomes Matt Farber To Staff

We are delighted to have Matt Farber join our Education team as Outreach Coordinator for MCBC and Lead Instructor for Safe Routes to Schools Marin. Matt joins us with a wealth of youth and adult programming experience, most notably with Backroads where he led an array of biking and other recreational activities for individuals and families in North and South America, Europe and Asia. Included in his 10+ years of professional experience, Matt led youth development programming to serve at-risk youth.

Matt is adept at developing and implementing programs serving the needs of diverse abilities, ages, and cultures, and he enjoys spending his time helping families succeed and appreciate the great outdoors. Matt will be a natural and wonderful addition to our MCBC/SR2S team, bringing passion, positivity, and sensitivity to inspire a wide range of cycling enthusiasts. We asked Matt to tell us a little more about himself and why he rides!

What kind of bicycle(s) do you ride?

Road – Cannondale CAAD 10
Gravel – Cannondale Topstone 105.

What do you like best about riding?

There’s so much that I love about riding… I appreciate the distance you can cover in a day and all the things you get to see along the way. There’s nothing better than a mid-ride coffee stop or that post-ride beer when you’re feeling tired and accomplished. For me, cycling is the most fun form of exercise and keeps me engaged with my surroundings. I also do my best thinking in the saddle.

What do you like best about the benefits of riding your bike?

Aside from the obvious physical, mental, and emotional health benefits, I just feel that you can see and explore so much more on a bike. I’ve been lucky enough to ride on every continent except Antarctica, and, in my opinion, there’s no better way to really discover a new place. The sights, the smells, the sounds… a lot of that is missed when you’re in a vehicle. In a place as wonderful as Marin County, there’s a lot to experience and cycling allows you to fully take it in.

What would you have liked someone to tell you when you started?

That if you ride a lot, you can eat pretty much anything you want afterwards. I probably would have started doing bigger and harder rides much sooner.

Where is your favorite place to ride your bike?

Domestically, I truly believe that Marin has the best riding in the country. Not to mention some of the best weather for it. Internationally, I absolutely love riding in Europe. The Dalmatian Coast of Croatia and the Pyrenees of Spain are among my favorite places. I’ve gotten to ride in both of those locations quite a bit during my time as a cycling guide. Open roads, jaw-dropping vistas, and charming cafes galore… it’s pretty hard to top.

What is your favorite ride/route in Marin County?

For a quick ride, I love doing Hawk Hill at sunrise or sunset. For a bigger ride, Alpine Dam and Seven Sisters is a world class ride.

What part of riding would you most like to improve?

I would like to see more separated bike lanes, multi-use paths, and car-free riding options. I know that’s not possible everywhere, so I would also like to see rider/driver relations improve and for a mutual respect/understanding between bikes and cars to continue to grow.

What is your vision of bicycling in the future?

I envision a future where more and more people are bicycling and where there is a greater appreciation of its benefits. I look forward to working with the youth and adults of Marin County to help make that happen!