Dirtscrolls

France isn’t just home to good cheese and great wine. It’s got its share of amazing riding too. Follow Kona riders Jordan Regnier and Alexander Kangas on a journey to the Tignes and Val D’ Isere bike parks in the French Alps this past September.

Tester: Scott Williams 5’10 and 175 lbs. Shirt Size: Medium Short Size: Medium (30-32”) Let’s face it, we all can’t be as good looking as Jeff Gordon rocking Roy G. Biv with more brand logos than the Dow Jones. Many of us Jills and Freds certainly aren’t getting endorsement deals so why do we need ...

  Traveling around the world is one of the greatest pursuits mountain biking can afford. Many riders often crunch numbers in order to make the most of their limited free time, utilizing the precious vacation days for a trip in some far off land, where the loam can smack you in the back of the ...

Plus tires aren’t just for mountain bikes any more. With the success of oversized tires firmly established in the dirt, the originator of the plus tire movement is moving to road bikes as the next likely target. Yes, Road Plus is a thing, and in a lot of ways, it might be an even better ...

By Brian Fox, United States Geological Survey  Mapping is important these days. Maps are critical to helping people discover the closest coffee shop, navigate to a new place or, in our case, discover and experience new trails. Maps, to me, mean anything from the latest app on your phone (like MTB Project) to that folded ...

This Contest has ended congratulations to the winner Derek Sisson of San Francisco, CA! Framed Bikes has teamed up with us to give one lucky winner a FRAMED Minnesota 1.2 Fat Bike! Enter below to win!     If you are looking to bust into the Fat Bike scene, there is no better bike to do ...

Gravel Cycling by Nick Legan is a comprehensive guide to many aspects of the latest up-and-coming niche in cycling – gravel riding and bikepacking. The 300-page book is packed with photos and covers gravel races and events and adventure touring routes, as well as tips for race prep, choosing a bike and outfitting your bike ...

By Carmen Freeman-Rey Chances are that in the past, if you had heard of Tasmania, it was for one or maybe all of the following reasons: It’s a decent-sized island 150 miles off the big island of Australia; there is a tough little creature that lives only there called the Tasmanian devil, immortalized by the Looney ...

Tester: Eric McKeegan/Oona McKeegan  Kids today. Back when I was knee-high to a grasshopper, kids’ bikes had 20 inch wheels, steel frames and no gears. Also, no helmets. But things change, and in this case, for the better. This is a full-fledged, 24 inch-wheeled, adventure-ready fat bike for kids and short-statured adults, not a bike-shaped-object ...

Change is inevitable, and for the past decade, it has been extra inevitable in the world of mountain bikes.  For a sport that is still relatively young, especially one that is so dependent on equipment, that is to be expected.   Taking a step back and examining these changes, it can be easy to think ...

Rotating Mass Media is proud to announce that Pivot Cycles will once again be joining us as title sponsor of both Dirt Rag Dirt Fest Pennsylvania and West Virginia in 2018. Dirt Fest will return to the Allegrippis Trails at Raystown Lake, Pennsylvania for its ninth year, and after a successful inaugural event at Big ...

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. ...

Tester: Adam Newman Age: 36 Height: 6’ 1” Weight: Gaining Inseam: 33” It’s steel. It has wheels. It rides like a bike. To be honest, I’m not really sure what I’m supposed to say? I mean, a rigid singlespeed is about as bare bones as you can get, and you’ve probably already decided if riding ...

If you follow the lineage of New England frame-builders back to its roots you will find Witcomb USA and Serotta. Both companies, which established themselves in 1972, would go on to become the breeding ground for the current state of custom frame building in the New England area. In 1977, after Witcomb closed its doors, ...

Ibis recently announced a brand new bike in its Hakkalügi line of cyclocross bikes, the Hakka MX. More oriented towards gravel and dirt road riding as well as bikepacking, the Hakka MX’s claim to fame is its versatility. The carbon frame has the ability to run up to 700c x 40 or 27.5 x 2.1 tires, ...

Regardless of the time of year and riding conditions, every bike needs a good cleaning every now and then. We reached out to some experts for their advice on what to do, and what not to do. People give all kinds of advice about what kind of products you can use—dish soap, automobile soap, etc. ...

That’s right, 20% off everything, right now through November 27! Head on over to the Dirt Rag online store to check out our selection of t-shirts, event merchandise, mugs, socks, hats, and more! Just use the promo code RIDEBIKES to save! Now is your chance to grab some gifts for your favorite mountain biker and Dirt ...

Words by Stevil Kinevil For the sake of full disclosure, the last couple of years of riding mountain bikes just hasn’t stoked the same sort of internal flame that it had over the course of my existence aboard knobby tires. This is due in large part to a fairly catastrophic knee injury I experienced back in ...

It’s that time of year again. With each passing day, the sun sinks in the sky a little earlier. For those of us with 9-5 jobs, getting out and riding after work without encountering darkness is impossible with the recent time change. But as we mourn the loss of evening light, we can also celebrate ...

Tester: Jon Pratt Age: 46 Height: 5’10.5” Weight: 190 lbs. Inseam: 31” The Fuji Rakan moves deeper into trail bike territory for 2017. It shares the same frame as the 2016 model, but beefs up with sturdier wheels, tires and suspension. This tacks on a bit of weight but creates a bike designed to tackle ...

This Contest has ended congratulations to the winner Barbara Johnson of Hamden, NY! Knog has partnered with us to give one lucky winner a PWR Trail and Blinder Road R70. Enter to win below! PWR Trail is a modular bike light. But it’s not JUST another bike light. Not only is it a high power headlight, ...

The only thing better than a big day of riding is a big day of riding on new trails. My husband and I, and our friend Ryan, marinated on this thought as we left in the pre-dawn cold to drive an hour and a half southeast, towards unexplored (by us) territory. We sipped coffee as ...

Dirt Rag 202 is about to shelves and mailboxes all over the world. Here’s a glimpse of what is inside: Columns and Readings Watts Dixon ponders parking prejudices, Stevil eulogies a good friend, and Rebecca Rusch bids us farewell. Our former web editor, Katherine Fuller updates the rules of the trail from her new desk ...

At the Philly Bike Expo this past weekend the Pennsylvania Convention Center was filled with custom frame makers, component manufacturers, food trucks and yes, even e-bikes. Over the years the Expo has morphed into a sort of mini NAHBS attracting builders from all over the country to bringing some of their latest creations to show ...

By Nick Legan When traveling to a big city there’s no reason to leave your mountain bike at home. If you find yourself near any of these places, know that your mountain bike tribe has laid the groundwork for some of the best riding you’ve never heard of. From full-blown bike parks to hidden singletrack, ...

North of Nightfall follows freeride mountain bikers Darren Berrecloth and Cam Zink as they ride alongside up-and-comers Carson Storch and Tom van Steenbergen on an expedition to the top of the world. The full film is presented by Red Bull Media House and will be released in Spring 2018. From Red Bull Media House: Tucked within ...

Tester: Scott Williams Age: 31 Height: 5’10” Weight: 170 lbs. Inseam: 32” Trek upped the ante once more for the current Fuel EX lineup, looking to fulfill the one bike to rule them all prophecy. Deciding to step back from the prior generation’s long-legged cross-country-esque geometry, the new Fuel EX became more trail aggressive and ...

Words and photos by Myke McNoldy  “Koan ˈkōän/ noun a paradoxical anecdote or riddle, used in Zen Buddhism to demonstrate the inadequacy of logical reasoning and to provoke enlightenment.” A sandy recollection of images, craggy peaks and rocky singletrack. Jeep roads. Horse flies. The sound of rushing water. Tires crunching against ageless sediment. The trail ...

Contest ended. Congrats to Winner: Alan Long of Painesville, OH We’re sorry The promotion you are trying to access has ended.   Terrene Tires has teamed up with Dirt Rag to give one lucky winner any pair of Terrene Tires including tubeless rim tape and tubeless valves! Enter to Win below. It’s all about the ride—it ...

This contest has ended, congratulations to the winner Robert Thomas of Boulder, CO. It’s that time of year again… for our annual reader survey sweepstakes! Tell us what you think and help us better serve you with great content. Your answers will remain anonymous and simply by filling out the survey, you are entered to ...

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. ...

We’re headed to the Philly Bike Expo this coming weekend! The 2017 Philly Bike Expo is taking place November 4-5 at the PA Convention Center in Philadelphia, PA. Come by the show and check out over 150 exhibitors, including Dirt Rag! We’ll have swag and merchandise for sale at our booth, including a selection of ...

By Nick Legan When traveling to a big city there’s no reason to leave your mountain bike at home. If you find yourself near any of these places, know that your mountain bike tribe has laid the groundwork for some of the best riding you’ve never heard of. From full-blown bike parks to hidden singletrack, ...

“A bike ride fixes everything;” that is a statement that is pretty much completely true. Look, I know if you have a broken leg or a blown out knee and you are reading this you’ll quickly disagree, and I don’t blame you. First, you are right; bike riding will not miraculously mend your broken bones ...

Tester: Stephen Haynes Age: 39 Height: 5’11” Weight: 210 lbs Inseam: 30” If acceptance into our popular culture is predicated on a product or brands’ appearance in a Wal-Mart store, then 27plus as a wheel size has arrived. I noted this arrival on a recent trip to the purveyor of all things cheap and excessive ...

Carver’s Ti All-Road is a mountain biker’s road bike. It’s more than ready for rough road rambles, gravel grinds and singletrack shortcuts. Built from 3/2.5 titanium alloy, the All-Road comes with a lifetime warranty and crash replacement discount. Stock frames come in 2 cm size increments (from 44-62 cm) and retail for $1,400. For $200 ...

Trail Boss is a video series produced by Jeff Lenosky and documents his attempts to ride some of the most technical trails he can find. A veteran rider with a 20-year professional career and three Observed Trials U.S. National Championships to his name, Lenosky uses his skills to ride the unrideable. Check out all the ...

By Montana Miller “We’re going to San Felipe. On a bike tour,” I say to the Mexican border guard, nodding toward my dusty bike. We’re going a lot farther than that, but I’m hoping our first stop sounds more believable. “San Felipe? On bicycle? No.” He looks at me like I’d just told him I ...

Contest ended. Congrats Russell Williams! We’re sorry the promotion you are trying to access has ended. Park Tool has teamed up with Dirt Rag to give one lucky winner a Happy Hour prize package! Enter to Win below!         The Park Tool Prize Pack consists of the HH-1 Happy Hour Set, which includes ...

LE RIDE follows Phil Keoghan and his friend Ben Cornell as they attempt to recreate the original route of the 1928 Tour de France. Averaging 240 kilometers a day for 26 days, Phil and Ben traverse the unforgiving mountains of the Pyrenees and the Alps, on original vintage steel 1928 racing bikes with no gears ...

By Jeffrey Stern Shaded, lush redwood forests with endless singletrack connecting open spaces to mountain tops and beyond, Santa Cruz, California is somewhat of a mountain biking mecca. At least in California it is. With multiple mountain bike and cycling related companies based in and around the Santa Cruz mountains, only ninety minutes south of ...

By Nick Legan  When traveling to a big city there’s no reason to leave your mountain bike at home. If you find yourself near any of these places, know that your mountain bike tribe has laid the groundwork for some of the best riding you’ve never heard of. From full-blown bike parks to hidden singletrack, ...

Tester: Karl Rosengarth Age: 59 Height: 5’10” Weight: 150 lbs. Inseam: 32” The 27.5 Hawk Hill is an entry-level bike that passes muster. The frame is built from 6061 butted and hydroformed aluminum alloy. Judicious use of house-branded components saves money without cutting corners on important bits such as the Shimano Deore Shadow Plus derailleur, ...

By Jeffrey Stern When I think of growing up, one of the biggest factors in my freedom and enjoyment of being a kid was riding bikes around my hometown. There were no limitations to where and when I could go explore places, besides my curfew of course. Aboard my Gary Fisher mountain bike or Powerlite ...

One of my favorite parts of mountain bike road trips is discovering those “along the way” trail systems that aren’t your destination but are a nice break from sitting in the car. We all have backyard haunts, and by stopping at small, little-known trails on a trip, you get a glimpse into someone else’s. On ...

Contest ended. Congrats to Todd Hoge of Christiansburg, VA! We’re sorry the promotion you are trying to access has ended. ! Trans Rockies Stage Race has teamed up with Dirt Rag to give away an entry and transportation prize package for the Single Track 6 Stage Race. Enter to win below Born from the desire ...

Words by Mike Cushionbury, photos by Eric McKeegan  When Shimano introduced its XTR Di2 electronic shifting system two years ago it was obvious that this technology would trickle down to the more affordable, second tier Deore XT. As in the past, trickle-down tech from XTR gets tweaked and improved when it reaches XT. In this ...

By Jeffrey Stern Traveling at high, but comfortable speeds while watching the world move by in that absorb-it-all slow motion kind of feel, and holding a conversation with a group of your best friends sounds like a my daily cycling dream. It’s a dream that us enthusiasts live out everyday, or at least try too. ...

Confessions of a World Bicycle Relief Cynic Words by Joe Parkin, photos courtesy of World Bicycle Relief  The year was 1986 and I was back from my maiden voyage to Belgium, where I had been attempting to become a professional road bike racer. I’d spent a spring and summer ingesting pig shit sprayed from the ...

Back in the mid-2000s, the Pike was a nondescript 32 mm chassis fork. It developed a bit of a cult following but didn’t really separate itself from its field of competitors. It wasn’t until 2013 that RockShox put the rest of the suspension world on notice with the 35 mm chassis Pike. Not only was ...