From tech desk to forest trails and bike parks. David Polesný, aka Trail Hunter, proves that anyone can ride a bike – and most importantly, that it can be insanely fun. In this interview, he shares why it makes sense for him to ride this journey together with us at Horsefeathers, how his very first bike apparel collection came to life, and what he’s got planned for the community this season. You’ll also find a tip on where you can meet him in person and join him for a ride. Check out the full interview and get hyped for a heavy dose of inspiration!
Horsefeathers team headed to Brno to meet up with our new crew member – David aka Trail Hunter – for their first ride together. How did this chill session go down, what trails did they hit, and how did it all look from David’s perspective? Check out the vlog straight from his camera!
David, you've been a synonym for honest bike exploration and trail adventures for years now. How would you introduce Trail Hunter to someone who’s never heard of you?
He’s a dude who rides a bike with a camera and never stops talking. And even though he’s not the fastest and can’t pull off tricks, people still enjoy watching his videos. Maybe it’s because they can relate to him – he rides pretty much like most hobby riders out there. He shows where to have a good time on a bike or how to take care of it. And on top of that, he’s created a full map of all the trail centers and bike parks in Czechia. That’s basically what the Trail Hunter project is all about. The main goal? To show people how awesome biking is – and that it can hook absolutely anyone.
Your journey took you from the tech journalism world (Živě.cz) all the way to the bike, where thousands of people follow you today. What was the turning point when you said – I’m going all-in on biking?
When you’ve got commitments, two kids, and need 40 candles on your birthday cake, that kind of decision isn’t easy to make. Plus, I actually enjoyed my previous job. Trail Hunter was just a fun side project for me, a way to stay motivated to explore new trails. I never aimed to become a bike YouTuber. But then it just kinda grew. I crunched the numbers and realized it might actually be possible to make a living out of it. And when some light burnout hit—both at work and in my personal life—I went for it. It was a big change, but no regrets whatsoever.
You’ve got over 128,000 subscribers on your YouTube channel – what do you think people love most about your videos? And how do you manage to keep the community so active?
I try to make my content useful. I’m not out there trying to show off or feed my ego – I make the videos for the people. And that’s probably the key.
This year we finally made it happen together! What made you jump into the crew with us at Horsefeathers? What is it about our brand that fits your style?
For about two years, I’d been going around to different apparel companies because I wanted to create my own bike clothing line. But finding the right partner was tough – quality was often lacking, there was no real experience in the bike scene, or the price just shot through the roof. Then I randomly ran into Jakub Říha from Horsefeathers, we started chatting, and boom – the opportunity popped up to make it all happen together. I was stoked, because I already knew the brand and I knew you guys make seriously high-quality stuff. I tried out some samples from your bike line and was instantly hooked – so we started working on a new collection together. Somewhere along the way, I realized I’d honestly want to ride in that gear myself, so I ended my previous clothing sponsorship and officially became part of the Horsefeathers family.
"Don’t stress about the numbers – ride for the experience. There’s no point in constantly comparing yourself to others. Just enjoy the bike and your crew – that’s what it’s all about. And this goes for both riding and making videos. If you genuinely love it, your viewers will start loving it too." — David Polesný
Have you already taken the new HF bike collection for a proper spin? Which pieces impressed you the most and why those in particular?
Absolutely – I’ve been riding and testing it since last year. My top favorite is the Spike jersey – it’s got an awesome material and a great design. Paired with the Stoker pants, it’s a perfect combo for spring rides. And for summer, both are available in short-sleeve and short-leg versions, so you’re totally covered. I also always keep the tough Peyton jacket ready to go – because I’ve got a bit of a rep: wherever I show up, it usually starts raining.
Big news – your very own Trail Hunter collection! What inspired you during the process, and what can we find in it?
I wanted to create a line of functional bike clothing for riders who feel overwhelmed by the massive selection on the market and aren’t sure what to pick. The Trail Hunter collection brings proven, high-quality, and functional bike jerseys and shorts that just work – and still come at a fair price. On top of that, the design is clean and neutral, so you can easily mix and match it with other pieces from the Horsefeathers bike line. In short – it’s gear that you can’t go wrong with.
Was this your first time designing clothing? What was it like going through the whole process – from the first idea to a finished piece ready for the public?
Up until now, I’d only done basic fan merch – you know, t-shirts and hoodies for everyday wear. But a proper bike collection? That’s a whole different beast. You need the right materials and, most importantly, experience with product development. And that’s something I didn’t have – but Horsefeathers definitely does! I looked at all the samples purely from a rider’s perspective, gave my feedback, and based on that, we built the foundation of the Trail Hunter collection. In the end, we based it around the Spike jersey and Venture shorts – and it all came together from there.
Where can the bike community get their hands on the collection? And is there a piece you think is a total must-try?
The Trail Hunter collection will be available exclusively in my Trail Hunter online shop, where it’ll be joined by a few other pieces from the standard Horsefeathers bike line. And the "must-have"? Honestly… pretty much everything! Okay, maybe I’m joking a little, but I genuinely believe there’s something in there that’ll catch everyone’s eye.
Trail Hunter doesn’t slow down – what’s lined up for this season? Got anything special planned for your YouTube channel?
Last year, I spent a lot of time traveling abroad, so this season I want to focus mainly on trails and bike parks here in Czechia. There are tons of new spots popping up, so there’ll be plenty to film. Besides the usual outdoor content, I also kicked off a new interview series called Bike Check, where I dive into cool bikes and the people who ride or build them – and yep, that’s definitely continuing too!
Will we see you live anywhere this season? Where can the bike crew catch you – at events, spots, or trails – for a chat or a group ride?
The closest chance will be on Saturday, May 3rd in Jedovnice at Trail Hunter Day – it’s all about riding together and having a chill chat with the crew. As for the rest of the summer, I’m still working out the plan – but no worries, you’ll definitely see me out there somewhere!
Is there a place or specific trail you dream of riding one day?
I had a dream like that for a long time – but I actually made it come true last September. I got to ride in Canada, in Whistler and the surrounding area. Right now, I’m most drawn to Norway – I’ve heard they’ve got some seriously interesting trails there. And of course, the nature around them looks absolutely stunning.
Do you have any message or advice for young riders just jumping into the world of biking? And what would you say to those who dream of filming and starting their own YouTube channel?
Don’t worry about the numbers – ride for the experience. There’s no point in constantly comparing yourself to others. Enjoy your bike, your friends, and the moments you share together – that’s what it’s all about. And the same goes for creating videos. If you’re genuinely having fun, your audience will feel it too – and that’s what makes it click.
