Dirtscrolls

The new Master Link Combo Pliers from Wolf Tooth Components pick up where most multi-tools leave off, incorporating master link pliers, storage for two spare link pairs, a valve core remover/installer, pliers to hold valve locknuts and a tire lever into one compact tool. The Master Link Combo Pliers are compatible with 9-, 10-, 11-, ...

Club Ride Apparel specializes in bike-centric, functional clothing that is also fashionable and comfortable for everyday living. As the brand’s website pronounces, “Life doesn’t stop after your ride, and neither should your clothes.” While a change of clothes after a wet, muddy, sweaty mountain bike ride is more than welcome, there are plenty of instances ...

WTF Bikexplorers are pleased to announce the first-ever WTF Bikexplorers Summit and Ride Series to be held in 2018, with events scheduled in Arizona, Oregon, California, Vermont, and Montana. The Summit and Ride Series aims to support, celebrate and connect women, transgender, femme and non-binary people who also identify as gravel grinders, mountain bikers, bikepackers, ...

Jones Bikes has announced the new Jones Titanium Spaceframe Plus LWB! Back in the early 2000’s, Oregon-based framebuilder Jeff Jones came out with the Titanium 3D Spaceframe, featuring short rear ends and titanium tubing designed to maximize vertical compliance and lateral stiffness. Originally built around 26 inch wheels, he made the switch to 29ers as ...

Today, Industry Nine launched its Trail270 wheelset, which will replace the Trail245. These aluminum rims borrowed elements from the burlier Enduro305 and Grade300 downhill rims to create what I-9 claims to be its “most impact resistant Trail rim to date.” The Trail270 is available in both 27.5 inch and 29 inch configurations with 32 hole and ...

This contest has ended, congratulations to the winners: Nittany Outdoors Hip Pack and Roll-Down pack: Chris Donabella of Denver CO Ibis Bikes wool jersey: Sean Bell of Cranberry TWP PA SRAM DESCENDANT CoLab Troy Lee Designs Carbon Bar: Julie Kieliszak of Landenberg PA Ritchey Logic pair of ZMax Evolution tires: Chris Behm of East Prospect PA Stan’s No Tubes ...

Tester: Evan Gross Age: 30 Weight: 185 lbs. Height: 6’ 2” Inseam: 36.5” A different Trigger by the same name … again. While the last several generations of Trigger have been fussy to set up, largely misunderstood and plagued by swingarm cracks, the 2018 hopes to solve many of these issues by reverting to a ...

Yesterday SRAM launched a slightly more budget-friendly model in its Guide line of hydraulic brakes. At $105 per wheel (sans rotors), the Guide T provides 4-piston hydraulic stopping power and modulation at the same or even lower price point than BB7 mechanical disc brakes. The Guide T includes many of the same features as the rest ...

This coming February, the East Bay area of California is about to get its first public bike park. Called Dirt World, this 2.1-acre area will host a pump track, BMX track, jumps and other obstacles. The park will also include a garden, gathering areas and storage for bikes and equipment that will be used for ...

This Contest has ended congratulations to the winner Ulises Calvillo of Salinas, CA. Enter to win DEITY blacklabel handlebars, a copperhead 35mm stem and knuckleduster grips, as well as a two-weekend festival, passes and a two-night hotel stay for the 2018 Hurricane MTB Festival! Enter to win below.   Complete the survey below by 11:59 pm January 10, 2018, to ...

By Jon Marsden The rain had flashed on and off like a yellow amber in a midnight town since about two-thirty that afternoon and the subject matter in my middle school science classroom was a perfect match for the melancholy weather. This had been a day filled with bloodletting and bone saws and I often ...

Quality Bicycle Products (QBP), a host and distributor of many bicycle-related brands, launched an Equity and Diversity Internship in December to help contribute to “a larger culture shift in the bike and outdoor industries — a shift toward inclusivity, embracing new and different ideas, and amplifying diverse perspectives.” QBP is no stranger to promoting inclusivity – ...

The MonoRail may be the RockyMounts lower-tiered platform hitch rack, but the way I see it, why pay for a bunch of extra functionality if you don’t need it. This rack is perfect for that user who prefers a lightweight, simple platform rack and won’t be carrying the entire neighborhood’s bikes to the park and ...

Mountain Bike Trailer Park is a regular column written by Uncle Dan that appears monthly on the Dirt Rag Interwebs. He dabbles in a variety of topics including racing, training, trails he loves and not taking himself too seriously, all with a big dash of humor. If you missed his previous columns, check them out here. ...

Words by Kurt Refsnider, photos by Kurt Refsnider and Kaitlyn Boyle I stood chatting with my friend and trail advocate Tom Riggenbach on the sidewalk in front of a plaza in the Navajo community of Cameron, Arizona. This town, built upon a treeless landscape of colorful rock between the Painted Desert and the Grand Canyon, ...

It’s that time of year when we all look back at the past 12 months and take stock of what we’ve accomplished and the memories we’ve made. Here in the world of Dirt Rag Web, we took a look at the analytics and what some of our most popular content this year has been. Here ...

Tester: Jon Pratt Age: 46 Height: 5’10.5” Weight: 190 lbs. Inseam: 31” We’re all used to seeing hybrid bikes out around town or on the local rails-to-trails paths, but the Farley EX 9.8 is a whole new style of hybrid. With the Farley EX, Trek is establishing a platform that combines the high-performance characteristics of ...

Some may argue that the Kona Honzo was the first of its kind, taking the standard XC hardtail and turning it into an all-mountain machine by mimicking the geometry of popular full-suspension bikes. In 2012, Kona released the first version of the Honzo, and since then the idea of a trail-geometry hardtail has flourished in ...

Bear with me here for a moment. Ever think much about your mailbox, how simple its functionality is yet how significant it has been in a daily routine? Before work, you drop the rent check in the mailbox, flip the flag and with hope, it will arrive at its destination on time. After work, grab ...

If you want my opinion, and maybe you do if you’re reading this, Transition’s new 27.5-inch carbon hardtail has relegated all other bikes in this hardtail round-up. Hands down, I won the review bike lottery. Since arriving at the Dirt Rag Headquarters, the Transition Throttle passed through various staff members hands for a quick rip here ...

Now that the holiday online shopping rush is just about over (or maybe for some, just beginning… good luck!), we’ve taken this opportunity to change things up a bit in our Dirt Rag Online Store. Our new store offers you, the customer, more options, more often. You’ll be able to choose from several different Dirt ...

This Contest has ended congratulations to the winner John Lernihan of Cooperstown, NY! Park Tool has teamed up with us to give one lucky winner one of their PCS-10 Home Mechanic Stands and one of their SA-3 Shop Aprons   This repair stand and shop apron set will be a great update to your home workshop! ...

The Surly Karate Monkey is an iconic hardtail that helped popularize 29er wheels back in the early 2000s. It remained unchanged for 14 years, until 2016, when Surly launched an update to the frame that brought it into modern times. With longer, lower, slacker geometry, 27plus compatibility, internal dropper post routing and a frame that’s designed ...

The trail hardtail is the cockroach of bicycle kingdom: tough to kill. Just when I thought full-suspension was set to crush the venerable beasties, plus tires and modern trail geometry came along and breathed new life into the hardtail category. In fact, Trek offers two trail hardtails: the 29-plus Stache at the high end and ...

Salsa’s Timberjack has been a great quality starter bike for those who are fairly new to mountain biking, or those looking for a plus hardtail as a second or third bike. Salsa has taken its entry-level plus bike to the next level by introducing two versions for kids, one with 20-inch wheels and one with ...

Ride of the Dead takes us into the world of the Mexican mountain bike culture during the famous annual celebration known as Dia De Los Muertos. This film follows Oaxacan-born-and-raised rider and trail builder Yefra Ram through some of Mexico’s best mountain bike trails as he honors the passing of loved ones and competes in ...

All-City has added the Electric Queen, a 27plus hardtail, to its small lineup of mountain bikes.   The Electric Queen is a steel-framed 27plus trail hardtail with a 120 mm suspension fork and stealth routing for a dropper post. It fits 27.5 x 3.0 or 29 x 2.25 tires and features modern trail geometry and a short wheelbase. The ...

Tester: Scott Williams Age: 31 Height: 5’10” Weight: 175 lbs. Inseam: 32” When the Pivot LES first stormed bike shop floors in 2012, it was obvious Chris Cocalis of Pivot Cycles was ahead of the curve offering a hardtail with a short chainstay and slack, for cross-country standards, 69.5 degree head angle with a 100mm ...

The International Mountain Biking Association has announced its 2017 class of IMBA EPICS, consisting of nine trails and trail systems in the United States and beyond. IMBA EPICS are defined as “demanding, mostly (at least 80%) singletrack trail experiences in a natural setting that are technically and physically challenging, at least 20 miles in length, ...

Mountain Bike Trailer Park is a regular column written by Uncle Dan that appears monthly on the Dirt Rag Interwebs. He dabbles in a variety of topics including racing, training, trails he loves and not taking himself too seriously, all with a big dash of humor. If you missed his previous columns, check them out here. ...

Wade Simmons has been in the freeride game since the beginning. He’s left his mark on our sport through an extensive catalogue of images and video segments, showcasing his creative ability to conquer any line with unmistakable style. Simply put, Wade’s career has been driven by his desire to do something different. While watching the ...

Casey Brown finds her passion living in Revelstoke, British Columbia – where the drastic season changes from winter to summer keep her life grounded as a professional mountain biker who has an appetite for the snow. Casey loves the town for its community and proximity to the mountains. “The thing that’s kept me here is ...

By Jeffrey Stern Climbing the steep pitches, he’s faster than me. Four-wheel (er, leg) drive naturally makes it easier. When the trail flattens and turns into flowy singletrack, we’re about dead even; it’s as if I’m riding with someone who has the same climbing skills as me. When it comes to the technical, ripping downhills, ...

Bryan Rowe, an avid cyclist and craftsman from the Salt Lake City area, has recently been diagnosed with ALS/Lou Gerhig’s disease. His friend Tony Pereira of Breadwinner Cycles is raffling off a custom frame in order to help raise funds for Bryan’s medical expenses as well as an ADA compliant home. Bryan and Tony met ...

By Stephen Haynes Do you know a cycling artist? These six items easily fit in a frame bag and allow for artistic adventures on the go. Moleskine Large Watercolor Notebook – $20 At 8 ½ x 5 ½ inches, the Moleskine Watercolor Notebook is big enough to capture just about any scene, both real or ...

This Contest has ended congratulations to the winner Jorge Sanchez of Fords, NJ! Ryders Eyewear has teamed up with us to give one lucky winner an eyewear prize package! The Ryders Eyewear prize package includes one pair of goggles, one pair of performance wear glasses and one pair of casual glasses. Complete the survey below ...

This is Gerry Creighton’s story of losing his wife Susan after a 19-year battle with late-stage breast cancer and how mountain bike friends stepped up to support him in his time of need. Gerry says, “In the weeks and months after Susan passed, I learned how special the mountain biking community really is. It’s the silver ...

By Trina Haynes Four great gifts for the outdoorsy parent. Marin Hawk Hill – $1,500 The full-suspension Hawk Hill does a great job of keeping the price down while not sacrificing all the positive things needed for a real mountain bike. The Hawk Hill comes equipped with competent componentry; the Shimano Deore drivetrain and hydraulic ...

By Helena Kotala  Four gifts that current or aspiring bikepackers – or any cyclist who likes to camp or do long rides – will love. Platypus SoftBottle – $9 Bikepackers have to get creative to save space wherever they can. One of the biggest wastes of space is the air in a bottle after the water ...

There’s a common saying that life is like a wave and our existence is essentially surfing whatever kind of water comes our way. Metaphorically, there may not be a better way to justify the ebbs and flows of good and bad that everyone undoubtedly experiences. What sets certain people apart though, is their ability to ...

By Evan Gross Know someone who regularly gives back by doing trail work? Here are some gift ideas they’ll love and use. Stihl KM 111 R KombiMotor – $350 The Stihl KombiSystem is a motorized head with multiple quick-release attachments to sweep, cut, blow or trim. Attachments vary in price and function but with thirteen ...

By Eric McKeegan Everybody has a bag addict in their life. Here are five gift options for yours. Porcelain Rocket Albert – $225 Are you addicted to bags? Addicted to dropper posts? Addicted to bikepacking? Yes? To all three? Then Albert is the salve to slake your desires. A minimal metal frame is bolted to ...

Ed. Note: The full version of this piece appears in Dirt Rag 202. Grab your copy today to read the full story and much more.  In some ways, it seems that plus tires have always been with us. It was the summer of 2012 when Surly released the Krampus and the Instigator, the first production ...

Tester: Helena Kotala Age: 27 Weight: 127 lbs. Height: 5’3” Inseam: 29” I’ve never ridden a bike that has elicited more stares, compliments and questions than the Proudfoot Primed, a steel full-suspension trail rig from a small made-to-order bike building operation in Golden, Colorado. Aside from the eye-catching purple powdercoat (the official color is penstemon, ...

Dirt Rag is excited to announce that SRAM will once again be sponsoring the women’s skills clinics at Dirt Rag Dirt Fest Pennsylvania in 2018. This will be the third year in a row that the company has pledged support for women’s events at Dirt Fest, helping to keep them free for participants. “Part of ...

The Drift 6 from Gregory Packs is your standard everyday go-to pack. At 5 liters, it’s large enough to pack your camera, a few snacks and an extra pair of gloves, but can’t quite stuff them all in your pockets. The bag features three internal zippered compartments—the hydration compartment, the main compartment with three mesh ...

This Contest has ended congratulations to the winner Malisa Bal of Mayville, NY! Michelin has teamed up with us to give one lucky winner a set of Wild AM tires! Enter below to win! The Michelin® Wild AM is designed to handle trail or all-mountain riding in both wet and dry conditions. Built with a ...

Global Fat Bike Day (GFBD) was started in 2012 as a grassroots movement in the UK. As fat bikes gained in popularity, a couple of dudes dreamed of getting a bunch of like-minded fat enthusiasts together for a big group ride. But said enthusiasts were scattered all over the globe, brought together by forums like ...

Words by Simon Stewart I rounded a corner and fired right into a shit show: The bike was upside down, the racer was frantic and, from what I could initially see, the drivetrain was properly banjaxed. “Hey there, patrol here, need some help, buddy?” He described some sort of derailleur trauma that I couldn’t quite ...

Remember that feeling of freedom when you were a kid on your bike? Your little world expanded from your driveway to your street to your entire neighborhood. If you were curious enough to explore off-road you probably had adventures skidding through the fallen leaves, smashing through puddles, and jumping whatever was in your path. Follow ...