Dirtscrolls

“What the proverbial fuck?” That’s pretty much what I thought the moment I was told that Fat City Cycles would be shuttering its Somerville, Massachusetts, doors and, in the process, laying everyone off. I had just spent the better part of a year of my life trying to get a job in the bike industry. ...

To get to the north we decided to go by train rather than automobile or plane, relying on our previous travel experience to “wing it.” How hard could it be anyway? Most of the time it can be as simple as getting on the train, buying a ticket and figuring the rest out as you ...

The brainchild of Japanese fashion designer Hideto Suzuki, PedalEd was one man’s answer to a deficiency in cycling apparel that serviced both the rider and lifestyle. Searching for a way to offset the stress of living in bustling Tokyo, Suzuki was turned on to cycling as a way to manage that stress and bring balance ...

Mountain bikers may be forgiven for overlooking Seattle’s smaller east-side sibling; the second most populous city in Washington and the largest city between Seattle and Minneapolis, Spokane (pronounced Spo-CAN) has managed to stay off the radar of ride destinations. But over the last two decades, the riding community has quietly built an enviable trail network, ...

The Hurricane Mountain Bike Festival has partnered with us to give away an event and DEITY components prize pack. Festival VIP Pass Includes: -Early access to venue -1 Demo shuttle to the Mesa -Access to the industry’s best demo bikes for 3 days -3 days of continuous shuttles to JEM & Quail Lake areas -Western ...

I had been in the town of Quincy, California, for no longer than an hour before I was perched atop Mount Hough, beer in hand, peering down at the deep-blue waters of Crystal Lake alongside Mason Werner and Garen Becker. Werner, a resident, and Becker, a native of Santa Cruz, were here to guide me ...

Everyone from apparel designers to component manufacturers have been on a Sisyphean quest to get the gear we carry off our backs.  The OneUp EDC (Everyday Carry) Tool System was introduced in 2017. In order to use the system, riders had to cut threads inside the fork’s steerer tube using the company’s tap. Earlier this ...

With nearly 200 miles of pedaling in our legs, we were happy to start the second week in Portugal with a day of shuttling trails. With eucalyptus smells blasting our faces, we had traded frame bags for fanny packs, well on our way up to a fun week of trail riding.   Based just north of ...

Light and Motion brings us a video to get you motivated to pack up the bike and head out into the wild. Join a crew from Santa Cruz as they ring in the New Year properly on two wheels. Enjoy “Sand and Snow”

I had never seen much of society outside of the metro-suburban areas in and around New York City, where I lived most of my young life, and now as a seventh-grade kid in upstate New York, I was in a whole new world. The fringe was filled with rednecks, hippies, young punks and more rednecks. ...

This is a fun one from Kona to get the word out on the Libre. Kona Adventure Team riders Barry Wicks and Erik Tonkin have been riding together for what seems like forever. Their relationship was built around mentorship and racing, but over the years has evolved into a unique kinship. On this trip, they conquered ...

Named for a fire road and peak in Marin County, the 2020 Pine Mountain 1 from venerable bicycle manufacturer Marin has been in and out of the company’s lineup since its inception in 1986. The no-nonsense, steel hardtail has traversed the history of mountain biking, morphing to maintain relevance along the way.  THE BIKE The ...

Salsa Cycles has just released updated build specs and colorways to their Warbird models. While the frame specs will remain the same as the 2019 models there are lots of great builds to get the gravel fanatics wound up for the springtime. The Warbird is the perfect machine for tackling epic gravel events like the ...

As terrain and riding styles have gotten rowdier and rowdier, and bikes have gotten more and more capable, the need for bomber suspension that feels buttery and bottomless has never been greater. The industry has fondly embraced recent trends towards coil-sprung rear shocks yet none of the major players have stepped forth with a complete ...

In 1973 a dirtbag climber named Yvonne Chouinard founded Patagonia, Inc. The company has had some ups and downs since it opened, but its growth and popularity with the outdoor community, fashionistas, teens and soccer moms are undeniable. Patagonia also takes pride in its sustainability and being a voice in the outdoor industry for environmental ...

From Setúbal, we took days two and three to get our legs under us and our systems dialed. A simple as bikepacking looks, it takes a bit of organizing, re-organizing, and long hours pedaling to feel balanced and in order. Still, on the pavement, we used the predictable surface to our advantage. It was great ...

My friend and her husband were planning a trip to visit his mama in Russia, and they were considering a stop in Switzerland for a five-day mountain biking tour to break up the trip. “Would you all want to go, too?” she asked her girl posse on a ride. “Um, let me think about it. ...

The colder days are here in western Pennsylvania. Although it may not be snowing today, it is cold and a bit rainy out. The trails are frozen in the early morning, so it’s best to get out to ride before the afternoon sun raises temperatures enough to soften the dirt into mud. We often ride ...

The oldest continuously operating mountain bike race series in America (or at least on the East Coast) is a low-budget, unsanctioned, volunteer-run event that you’ve probably never heard of. Sure, Leadville 100 has been running longer, but that’s just one race. Pearl Pass Tour and Downieville also predate this Pittsburgh-area institution, but they aren’t series ...

YT Industries is kicking the new year off with all new builds and colors. Each bike category will be available in Titan Silver, Ghostship Green, Dune Grey, Twotone Blue, and Black Magic depending on the spec. On top of the new skins, the 27 and 29 builds have been updated with the latest gear. Both ...

One of my riding companions has a shit-eating grin—quite literally. We’re descending Mill Creek, just outside Grand Targhee Bike Park on the west side of the Tetons. This is very much cattle country; reports on Trail Forks reference dung rather than dust (“no cow shit today”). But when the riding is this good—the flipbook-fast flash ...

In 1989, Camelbak founder Michael Eidson was competing in a 100-mile road race in the summer heat of Texas. Eidson, an emergency medical technician, decided to fill an IV bag with water and slip it into a tube sock. Then he stuffed it into the back of his jersey and secured it with a clothespin. ...

DJ Brandt brings his freeriding wizardry to this latest Commencal edit. Filmed by Tory Powers, DJ Brandt is back in the desert living his best life in Freedom 35.

“Just don’t look them in the eyes.” This was the most memorable moment from my last trip to Portugal in 2008. My husband Chris was staring at a plate of sardines that had just landed in front of him. His vision redirected quickly to anything else on the table once the waitperson gave his advice. ...

Whisky has just released a new fork that should make the minimalist mountain biker and weight-conscious bikepacker quite happy. Sticking with their number system, Whisky has assigned this model as the No. 9 Boost LT. Coming in at 660g, it is quite lite for a mountain bike fork.  I mounted this sleek beast on my ...

Road-Trip Objective: Explore the northern Canadian territory known as Yukon. See, bike and experience its rarely spoken-of bike culture. Hosting more trails than the total population of riders, this remote location supports a thriving bike world thanks to an abundantly passionate community and a supportive history. We were positive that the people and the trails ...

It’s been a wild and fast-paced year here at Dirt Rag, and we have put in some serious miles and have experienced a lot of changes. New website, new editors, new events, new trails, new contributors, and most importantly new friends. As we close out the year we’d like to take a look back at ...

As of today, Chris King will be ramping up their production of Shimano Micro Spline freehub options to make them available for purchase on January 31st. Chris King Micro Spline driveshell uses a new bearing and axle design making them their lightest ever ISO hubs! Micro Spline conversion kits will fit all ISO B Boost ...

When I was a small child, I was completely fixated with a magazine called CARtoons. Essentially it was a black-and-white comic book featuring artists like George Trosley and his feature, “Krass and Bernie.” And then there was my other favorite, Shawn Kerri. If you’re not familiar with her, head to the internet and get up ...

I’m not sure what you were doing when you were twelve but I know for myself I certainly wasn’t piloting a bike with this much grace and style. A little motivation and inspiration for your weekend riding courtesy of Steven Lloyd and Weston Lloyd. Enjoy “The Dance”

It was the summer of 2000, and I had yet to discover the magic of bicycles. It was the same summer that I met my friend Darren, who was an obsessed mountain biker. We worked together at a greenhouse and nursery, planting and mulching our way through the heat of the summer. On most days, ...

Happy Holidays everyone! Enjoy this fun little edit from Mark Mathews and Scott Bell and then get out there and ride! Photography by Brett Kroeker 

It is fitting that while I am escaping the cold and blustery weather of Pennsylvania down here in Florida that resident Alafia State Park Trails shredder Ryan McGary has dropped a smoking new edit. Ryan exudes the style and ease of a kid who spent all of his spare time on two wheels. Florida’s mountain ...

Chumba’s lineup offers two hardtails: the Stella and Sendero. As the Stella collects its accolades on the cross-country and endurance race scene, the Sendero is off-course looking for anything and everything to pop off. Downcountry, a fun cross-country bike or simply modern hardtail geometry, whatever you want to call it, the Sendero is titillating. THE ...

Earlier this year when Pivot Cycles revamped the company’s flagship cross-country race bike, the LES SL was no longer sporting the company’s signature Swinger II dropout system. Many A select few (including myself) speculated where to turn for a high-end carbon singlespeed that offered sliding-dropouts, modern hardtail geometry and the ability to run a proper ...

Settlers first moved into the northeastern reaches of New York’s Catskill Mountains in the 1780s, and the town of Windham was formed along the banks of the Batavia Kill in 1798. Tanneries, sawmills and gristmills eventually sprouted along the watercourse. By 1851, the original expanse of Windham was divided to create six additional towns: Ashland, ...

The Commencal media team has been hard at work this season. Hopefully, they get a little break for the holidays. Enjoy DJ Brandt shredding the infamous Dirt Merchant trail in Whistler.

Calling all women! Are you ready to get rad on mountain bikes in a welcoming and encouraging environment? Whether you’re interested in getting into mountain biking or already ride or race and want to take your riding to the next level, join the Ladies AllRide crew this summer to play on bikes in awesome locations ...

Arkansas barbecue varies from place to place, but my Gramps taught me to love pig. (He grew up in Piggott, Arkansas.) Most Arkansans love pig. I mean, the state’s football team is the Razorbacks. But residents now have a love/hate relationship with these animals. Free-roaming wild hogs cause nearly $1 billion in crop damage across ...

Jones has made titanium versions of his Plus SWB Spaceframe and Diamond Frame as well as titanium Truss forks. Geometry on both frames will remain the same as their steel counterparts so if you have been waiting for that Spaceframe that will carry you through a post-apocalyptic landscape, fear not dear two-wheeled warriors your time ...

Renthal was founded in 1969, with 50 years associated with the World’s fastest riders. To celebrate this anniversary, we have made a short film, taking a look back at the company, from the early days, through to the present day. Jeremy McGrath, Mitch Payton, and Rachel and Dan Atherton all feature, to give their experience ...

Commencal is at it again with another well-done video edit. “Breath” takes us to France on Elliot Laporte’s home track. Sit back enjoy the seamless shredding on these flowing trails within the French forest.

Did you know you can place an order with Taco Bell using the restaurant chains’ mobile app? Simply choose the items you desire via push-button selection, whether it’s a Party Pack of tacos, or a six-pack of Burrito Supremes (hold the guac), select your local franchise, pay using the register built right into the app, ...

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, or at least that is what I have heard. Does that mean the machine that is mountain biking world at large takes a break from all the technological advances of tire compounds and mullet bikes? Do shralpers stop shralping to hang up stockings by the fire? Most ...

Music is good. Mountain biking is good. Listening to music while mountain biking? Good, good, good. Yes, one should monitor the level at which the music is played so as to be aware of one’s surroundings and to be respectful of other trail users. Outside of that, have fun starring in your own fantasy video ...

Osprey packs has partnered with us to give away a Seral Lumbar Pack and Trail Kit Duffel. Stay hydrated and organized with the Seral lumbar pack and the TrailKit Duffel. The Seral lumbar pack is designed to carry an included 1.5-liter lumbar reservoir with a magnetic bite valve that attaches to the hipbelt for easy ...

The Ibis Ripmo AF landed on our doorstep almost immediately after returning the latest version of the Ripley back to Ibis. After spending the bulk of the summer on the Ibis Ripley and having heard so many good things about the Ripmo, I was eager to see how the first aluminum bike from Ibis in ...

The 2019 Jamis Portal A1+ is a 130 mm trail bike whose versatility is limited only by the rider’s imagination. One part cross-country lover, two parts enduro thrillist, the Portal will take a rider wherever they wish to go without the slightest indication of a complaint. Built around the innovative 3VO suspension system designed by ...

This lightweight Chinook 2 pullover windbreaker from Sombrio has a rear pocket that the jacket easily tucks into to transform it into a fanny pack. Weighing about as much as four slices of American cheese (talk about breaking wind, eh?), I’ve found this jacket to be a solid outer layer for chilly days that require ...

The whiskey bottle was in the air before I could even register what was happening. A long, beautiful arc across the artificial daylight of too many streetlights, the only witnesses being the hidden stars … and literally everyone at the party. There was a cacophonous silence of anticipation as the bottle hit its apex and ...