Rich Maines is relentless in following his pursuits both on and off the bike. As a professional mountain bike athlete and Application Development Manager for Microsoft, he shares his passions at every turn, inspiring others to follow their ambitions. In 1997, he relocated from Maryland to Arizona and discovered his passion for the outdoors, enjoying many hikes in the Grand Canyon, frequent mountain bike rides, and travels throughout the Southwest.

Since 2009, he has enjoyed endurance racing and competes as a soloist in 12 and 24 hour events on his single-speed. In 2014, he purchased an Airstream Interstate to expand new opportunities for adventure. We were able to catch up with Rich to learn more about his life and passion to provide his children an opportunity to discover and explore their surroundings!

Airstream: How did you decide to travel around in an Airstream? How were you inspired to do this?

Maines: I believe in living life to the fullest and providing my kids with opportunities to share adventures together. The Airstream Interstate is the perfect vehicle for family adventures. For me, it’s equal parts race headquarters, family adventure vehicle, and ultimate mobile office.

Airstream: Where have you traveled to so far?

Maines: I primarily travel around the Southwest, obviously around my home state of Arizona. Sedona is a favorite of ours! I frequently travel to New Mexico and Utah, as well. I have also taken the Airstream on multiple trips to Colorado, Idaho and the Pacific Northwest. Of course, what good is having an Airstream Interstate if you don’t drive it across country, which I did shortly after purchasing, traveling through New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico.

Airstream: What has been your favorite part of this journey? Do you have a favorite memory?

Maines: It’s hard to pin down a favorite memory as we’ve shared many trips together, but one that stands out in particular is a father-son trip to San Diego, California. My son was nine at the time, and, while making dinner on the beach one evening, I gave him a gift-wrapped box. It wasn’t his birthday or any other significant day, but it was something every little boy who has an interest in the outdoors should learn how to use. I presented him with his first pocket knife while he was in the lounge section of the Interstate. A very memorable moment for both of us.

Airstream: How do you Live Riveted? What makes you come alive? How do your travels help you come alive?

Maines: I believe in providing experiences for myself and my kids. We Live Riveted not only by actively seeking adventures, but by knowing when to just take a drive close to home and have a meal at a local park. Some of our best moments in the Airstream have been close to home. You can find inspiration anywhere, you just need to be open to it.

Airstream: Tell us more about your vision for your journey and adventures.

Maines: My philosophy on travel is to be flexible enough to know that sometimes you need to deviate from the plan. When your GPS is telling you to turn right at a fork in a dirt road in the middle of the wilderness, sometimes you just need to go left. Because venturing into the unknown is often the greatest adventure of all.

Airstream: Do you have any goals for your travels?

Maines: For personal travel, it’s a trip with the kids or for one of my races. My only goal when I’m with my kids is to provide them with an opportunity to discover and explore their surroundings, untethered from electronic devices.

(continued) As I frequently travel for my career at Microsoft as well, I’m opportunistic when it comes to business travel. I make a point to stick to a routine, which includes riding whenever my schedule allows. Eat clean, sleep well, and ride and experience new places. This combination also allows me to perform at my best for my day job. Make no mistake, there is a connection. Having the ability to pick up groceries and cook my own meals in the Airstream, as opposed to frequently dining out while traveling, is a HUGE benefit.

Airstream: What else should we know about you, your life, etc?

Maines: My role at Microsoft is deeply fulfilling and equally demanding. Fortunately, I have the luxury of being able to work remotely and the Airstream has been a big boost to my work-life balance, as I’ve been known to work out of the Airstream during my sons’ evening soccer practices!

Thank you to Rich Maines, for taking the time to share your adventures and passions with us! Be sure to follow along on Rich’s ever-adventurous life on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

(All photos courtesy of Rich Maines)

Originally appeared on Airstream's blog: The Greatest Adventure of All & richmaines.com