Dirtscrolls

Drawing on Scott Sports’ European sporting and racing heritage, the Evo 20 is designed to be an urban bike that is well-suited to its environment and fun to ride. In practice, I found it to be a very well-thought-out bicycle that had just about everything you’d find yourself needing to navigate through your city’s streets ...

Marin Mountain Bikes just announced a new 2017 full-suspension model, the Hawk Hill. Set to retail for $1,500, the bike is built around 27.5 wheels, 120 mm of travel front and rear and thru-axles. The bike uses’s Marin’s new MultiTrac suspension system, similar to the company’s existing IsoTrac system. Up front is a RockShox Recon Silver ...

To compliment our recent wheel size explainer (which you should check out, here), we tested four plus-size tires from MAXXIS and WTB that cover various riding conditions. MAXXIS Rekon+ Price: $130 (each) Tester: Eric McKeegan The more aggressive of the two MAXXIS tires in this review, the Rekon+ looks much like the offspring of an Ardent/High Roller ...

Photos: Justin Steiner Graphic: Stephen Haynes As of this writing, very few manufacturers offer 27.5, 27plus and 29 inch wheels within one model lineup, but Specialized has embraced wheel size options big time for 2016. The venerable Stumpjumper FSR is available in 14 complete builds and five frame-only options across all three wheel sizes. Complete ...

Offering some of the best riding in Texas, Reveille Peak Ranch is unique with its technical singletrack, gravity runs and granite outcrops, topped off with some of the best views in the Hill Country. This 13- to 20-mile ride, ranked number one in Texas on MTB Project, offers a taste of the ranch’s diverse, unique trails ...

The all-new Framed Marquette Alloy Boost Bike was born from a vigorous development process and is the end product of extensive trail testing combined with the evolution of frame technology. The Marquette Alloy features BOOST technology making this an ideal 27plus or 29er rig. Being internally routed with a front derailleur direct mount, the frame is ...

“Nobody reads anymore” goes the saying. Maybe that’s why podcasts are on the rise: one-third of Americans listened to one last year (according to the Pew Research Center). But search for cycling podcasts and you won’t find more than a handful. One of them is Roam Rydes—a women’s cycling podcast created and produced by Ash ...

Words: Matt Kasprzyk Photos: John Shafer Originally published in Issue #190 There’s a lot in Park City for the cosmopolitan, just as there is for the adventurer. We know that not everyone rolling up to its opulent resort in a Porsche is a millennial wearing sweatpants and an Affliction T-shirt—some have a roof rack on ...

What the heck is this thing? It seems completely out of left field. It’s a mountain bike with drop bars, right? Not even close. So it’s an adventuremobile gravel grinder? Wrong again. Cannondale labels the new Slate as a “new road” bike, and I’d say it leans heavily toward just that: roads. Dirt roads sure, ...

  Pivot has just announced the release of its new long-travel 29er trail bike called the Switchblade. If the name sounds familiar that’s because about 10 years ago Pivot’s founder and owner Chris Cocalis created the original Switchblade with his first bike brand, the now defunct Titus Cycles. The Switchblade fills an open gap in Pivot’s ...

Rebecca Rusch, a seven-time World Champion and longtime Dirt Rag columnist, recently completed a climb up and mountain bike descent of Mount Kilimanjaro. She and fellow rider Patrick Sweeny undertook the journey to raise funds and awareness for World Bicycle Relief, a nonprofit. Over six days, Rusch and Sweeney rode, carried and pushed their bikes ...

The Fuel EX wasn’t exactly an “old” bike, even by bike industry standards. It wouldn’t have taken much for Trek to redesign the rear end of the Fuel EX 29 to accept a 27plus tire, slap a new Fox 34 Plus fork on the front and ship it out. It would have been an above ...

Win a new-for-2016 SR Suntour Durolux R2C2 27.5 inch all-mountain fork! The R2C2 features 36 mm stanchions, adjustable air volume system, bleed ports, removable integrated fender, internally adjustable 160-180 mm of travel, 20 mm QLOC axle and—last but not least—a brand-new sealed cartridge damper. This fork was designed to be simple, reliable, durable and ready to get ...

The Trout Creek Canyon to Beartrap Gulch loop is an excellent opportunity to experience Montana backcountry riding in the Helena National Forest. The 13.6-mile ride features two scenic and fun trails connected by a moderate doubletrack climb. You’ll want to climb Trout Creek and descent Beartrap. The grade is steady with a few, short punchy ...

F-Stop Kenti Tester: Justin Steiner Price: $169 The 25-liter Kenti is a mountain-sports photographer’s best friend. This feature-heavy pack offers a large center pocket that’s fully customizable with included dividers and is accessible from both sides. There’s enough space to pack a full complement of lenses, flashes, bike tools, flat repair kit, rain shell, your ...

Words and photos: Jeff Archer Originally published in Issue #190 Most cyclists have, at one time or another, thought about building their own frame. Some, such as myself, have taken the next step and taken a general welding class, while others ramp it up a notch and attend one of the many frame-building schools. The ...

Editor’s note: This story first appeared in Dirt Rag Issue # 112, published in February 2005. Words by Michael Browne. Photos by Brad Quartuccio. Ever seen the movie “Field of Dreams”? Of course you have. If you haven’t heard of it, you’ve been holed up in a closet somewhere in Iowa. No, wait; Iowa is ...

Win a new Feedback Sports Scorpion stand! The Scorpion bike stand is a portable, lightweight functional bike storage stand that allows for convenient washing, lite maintenance and stable storage of your bike. Whether your bike is in the garage, at the trail or at the campsite, the Scorpion will hold it securely. Simply complete the ...

For 2017, Kona has updated its full-suspension, cross-country Hei Hei with two 29er models in carbon: the DL and Race DL.   Kona increased bike stiffness and dropped the weight by giving the two-bike line full carbon frames weighing 1800 grams (just under 4 pounds). Kona’s own Fuse Independent Suspension—a design that eliminates a pivot at ...

It’s Dirt Rag Dirt Fest week! So, of course, our featured ride is all of the rad rippin’ Allegrippis Trails of Raystown Lake in central Pennsylvania, which play host every year to our wild and crazy mountain bike festival. The Allegrippis Trails are mountain bike-optimized, so expect routes that contour and roll with bermed turns and lots of ...

Words: Rebecca Rusch Photo: Pat R. Notaro for Red Bull Media House Originally published in Issue #190 What is winning to you? Is it KOM/QOM victories that you celebrate alone in front of your computer? Is it a medal or trophy that you take home to show your family? Is it proudly wearing the race ...

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it ...

Tester: Adam Newman Age: 35, Height: 6’2”, Weight: 180 lbs., Inseam: 34” Price: $750 (frame). Complete bikes from $2,699 Sizes: S, M, L (tested), XL More info: Advocate Cycles The Hayduke is named for the infamous anti-hero of “The Monkey Wrench Gang,” Edward Abbey’s 1975 cult classic novel of radical environmentalism (and sabotage) in the ...

Words: Hailey Elise Photos: Mark Mackay Originally featured in Issue #190 She’s elusive. Cheeky, only showing glimpses of her true nature the farther in you find yourself. And by farther in think of an hour climb. Whistler’s trail systems are easily accessed by those who are looking for them, but outside of the bike park ...

Editor’s note: We published the following letter from Serbian mountain biker Daniel Ulijan in February 2004 in Dirt Rag issue #105. Along with the simple footnote: “Anyone want to help out Daniel?” Dear Dirt Rag, My name is Daniel Ulijan and I am mountain biker. I am 18 years old and I live in Serbia. ...

We teamed up with Thule to give you the chance to win a T2 Pro—a premium platform hitch bike carrier that delivers maximum strength, security and user friendliness. All you have to do is complete the survey below by 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, May 18. We will notify the winner the following day. Good luck! The ...

Bigger is always better, right? YUUUUGE is the name of the game this year, so why not embrace it? The latest bike from Colorado framebuilder Devin Lenz is a behemoth. Actually it’s the Behemoth, a 5-inch travel trail bike built for 29plus wheels. Lenz said he was skeptical about the plus wheels at first but ...

Every day is a good day for an adventure bike! This one comes to us by way of REI. Say hello to the steel Novara Mazama, designed for bikepacking, grinding gravel and all of your off-the-beaten-path adventures. It seems to work well on the plain-old road too, just in case you were wondering. At first ...

Via Devinci Cycles: Canadian Downhill Legend Steve Smith Dies at 26 Rider’s drive, determination and love for living will be remembered by all those whose paths he crossed World Cup sensation Steve Smith passed away Tuesday afternoon after suffering a massive brain injury resulting from an enduro motorcycle accident in his hometown of Nanaimo, British ...

If this video–with its natural sound, great trails and beautiful scenery–doesn’t make you want to go ride immediately, we don’t know what will.

Words and photo: Chris Milucky aka Bama From On the Road With Bama, a column in the print magazine Originally published in Issue #190 It’s somewhere over here—just carry your bike towards that tree. Don’t walk in a straight line, either; we don’t want anyone to find our tracks.” We holstered our hardtails and hustled ...

This is our third annual roundup of trail bikes that aren’t priced to the stratosphere. We could call them affordable, budget, real-world, blue-collar or college-fund-friendly, but someone would take offense at our assumption of disposable income level. It doesn’t really matter though. These are great bikes for the price, and we’ll leave it up to ...

Cover photo: Ryan Creary captures Hayden Genoud splitting a gap in Kicking Horse Mountain Bike Resort, Golden, B.C. “Journalist: a person without any ideas but with an ability to express them; a writer whose skill is improved by a deadline: the more time he has, the worse he writes.” — Karl Kraus Columns and Readings ...

This is our third annual roundup of trail bikes that aren’t priced to the stratosphere. We could call them affordable, budget, real-world, blue-collar or college-fund-friendly, but someone would take offense at our assumption of disposable income level. It doesn’t really matter though. These are great bikes for the price, and we’ll leave it up to ...

Editor’s note: This edition of “The Speciality Files” first appeared in Dirt Rag Issue #148, published in April 2010. Word and photos by Jeff Archer. A short trip through the early history of the bicycle shows that there are very few new ideas in the world of two-wheeled human travel. Each evolutionary step brings with ...

Escape to Steamboat Springs, Colorado, aka “Bike Town USA,” for a 3-night stay at beautiful Storm Meadows Club Condominiums by Mountain Resorts. The 2-bed, 2-bath condo includes bike-in-bike-out access to Steamboat Bike Park, two full-day lift tickets with bike rentals (including full face helmet, pads and gloves). Book your stay during Bike Week (June 13-19) ...

“Everything But Ninja Beaver” is a ride linking several trails in the Mission Creek area near Superior, Wisconsin, and Duluth, Minnesota. This 12.6-mile ride is 85 percent flowing, rolling singletrack with about 1,000 feet each of climbing and descending. It’s a great one for newer riders and kids to get out and enjoy mountain biking ...

The SID fork has been around for a long time now, and has always been RockShox’s premiere cross-country fork. It even dabbled in the early trail bike fork arena with a double-crown model that had a whopping (for the time) four inches of travel and more recently with 120 mm models for lightweight trail bikes. ...

Niner Bikes has refreshed its ultimate carbon hardtail, the AIR 9 RDO (Race Day Optimized). The frame is now 10 percent ligher and the geometry was updated specifically for racers and riders who want a “snappy whip.” Changes include a 435 mm chainstay (4 mm shorter than the previous version) that allows the wheel to tuck ...

Continental tires announced at the Sea Otter Classic that its Baron tire, commonly seen on Dan Atherton’s race bike, is in production and available. The tread pattern is an adaption of mud tire lugging meaning it has much wider knob spacing than what’s traditionally found on all-arounder gravity and enduro tires. The knobs are ramped ...

This is our third annual roundup of trail bikes that aren’t priced to the stratosphere. We could call them affordable, budget, real-world, blue-collar or college-fund-friendly, but someone would take offense at our assumption of disposable income level. It doesn’t really matter though. These are great bikes for the price, and we’ll leave it up to ...

Words and photos: Jeff Archer Pick up any early 1990s mountain-bike publication and odds are good you’ll see Greg “H-Ball” Herbold gracing its pages. It may be in the racing-results section, since he won the first UCI Downhill World Championship in 1990. He also won the NORBA Downhill National Championship in 1988, 1989 and 1993, ...

Cannondale’s current Scalpel has often been dubbed a “cross-country trail bike” by many owners. Certainly a racer at heart but it also has good trail-ish mannerisms as well. For 2017 designers undertook the gigantic task of leaning the bike out and with the recent introduction of the Habit trail bike, making the Scalpel XC race ...

From Issue #190 Throughout the evolution of the mountain bike, we’ve seen new technologies and ideas introduced at a very rapid rate. Just 30 years ago most of what we take for granted while riding now wasn’t even on anyone’s radar. Some of the technology has been discarded along the way, usually with good reason. Dual-control ...

I was stopped on the side of the bike path, topping off a slightly underinflated tire. “Hey nice bike. What’s that extra tube for? Must be heavy duty or somethin’. Is it for extra weight?” The tube in question is the twin top tube on this here Kona Humuhumu. A retro/cruiser/mountainous/classic/singlespeed/bar-hopping/klunkish/commuter. Why is the extra ...

This is our third annual roundup of trail bikes that aren’t priced to the stratosphere. We could call them affordable, budget, real-world, blue-collar or college-fund-friendly, but someone would take offense at our assumption of disposable income level. It doesn’t really matter though. These are great bikes for the price, and we’ll leave it up to ...

Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in Dirt Rag Issue #142, published in May 2009. Words by David Alden-St. Pierre, MS, PA-C. Medical illustrations by Molly Thompson of Thompson Medical Illustrations. There’s nothing like an epic day in the saddle: a few hours of riding, burning lungs, tired muscles, and for some riders, an aching ...

Lovers of life on two wheels will congregate June 23-26, 2016, for the Ride Sun Valley (Idaho) Bike Festival presented by Subaru of Twin Falls. You’re invited and can win a trip for two just by completing the survey below! The weekend features an array of activities from professional level mountain bike races, a fun ...

If you like endless singletrack through old growth forests in the Pacific Northwest, then the 72-mile North Umpqua IMBA Epic is for you. The route is a long-distance adventure best ridden in sections or over the course of multiple days with a support vehicle. For the hearty and fit, the route can be done in ...