Dirtscrolls

Most of us are aware that when you purchase items online, you are sometimes gambling at what you are getting. I have never been the victim of buying an item and it being utterly off-base from the online description. But I’ve known plenty of friends who have had this happen to them. Or bike shop ...

Sklar Bikes has gained notoriety in the custom bike world for pushing the envelope with progressively designed Titanium and steel mountain bikes and all-road bikes. This summer Sklar is taking their award-winning mountain bike geometry mainstream with a stock build,trail-focused mountain bike. The Sweet Spot – it can be a lot of things. for example, ...

Editor’s Note: This feature first appeared in issue 210 of our print edition of Dirt Rag Magazine. Like what you see? Subscribe today to catch issue 212, in production now and soon to set sail. Ibis Mojo HD4 Price: $6,999 Sizes: S, M, L (tested), XL Online: ibiscycles.com Tester: Brett Rothmeyer Age: 41 Weight: 170 ...

The Adirondack mountain resort town of Wilmington is showcasing its rapidly growing web of mountain biking trails by hosting the third Wilmington MTB Festival Aug. 30- Sept. 1, 2019 The three-day event capitalizes on Wilmington as a hub for over 25 miles of locally-built and rider-maintained single track. The town was recently named one of America’s 20 Best Mountain Biking Towns by National Geographic. ...

Editor’s Note: This review originally appeared in issue 210 of Dirt Rag Magazine. Like what you see? Subscribe now to catch issue 212, flying into mailboxes soon. by Zach White 2019 Trek Slash 8 review Price: $3680 Sizes 15.5, 17.5, 18.5, 19.5, 21.5 (tested) Online: trekbikes.com Tester: Zach White Age: 45 Weight: 195 lbs. Height: ...

Big Bear Trail Center is a special place for riding. The trails are an equal part of challenging and extremely fun. Located in a Jurassic like setting, the site of a human on a bike is almost more out of place then it would be to see an actual dinosaur move through the landscape. Massive ...

Last month, we headed over to Buena Vista to check out a new Maverick just released by Juliana. While we had plenty to say about the bike and how dreamy it was to ride out there, the town of Buena Vista was newsworthy unto itself. It’s a bit of a haul from the Denver airport ...

Editor’s Note: This feature first appeared in issue 210 of our print edition of Dirt Rag Magazine. Like what you see? Subscribe today to catch issue 212, in production now and soon to set sail. By Carolyne Whelan, illustrations by Stephen Haynes Anissa Lamare may be the only female downhill mountain biker in India. She ...

From Our Advertiser: Pocahontas Trails Slatyfork Enduro Join us August 10-11th for our 5th annual Pocahontas Trails Slatyfork Enduro, part of the West Virginia Mountain Bike Association Enduro Series. The Enduro is full-on. Race length is 22 miles, 6 miles of timed stages, over 3,400 feet descent in the stages, entry includes two shuttles, food, ...

by Karl Rosengarth Northwave Clan Shoes — $150 Northwave has jumped into the flat shoe market with both feet. The company recently introduced two shoes specifically designed for flat pedals. The flagship Clan aims to satisfy schralp-y shredders. My Northwave contact told me that the Clan is designed for “downhill, slopestyle and aggressive trail riding,”  ...

Editor’s note: A Tale of Two Bicis (part one) was published in the current issue of Dirt Rag Magazine, #211. Like what you see? To keep up with our print content, be sure to subscribe today so you don’t miss an issue. Can a sudden injection of modern bike technology make you a better rider? ...

When it comes to choosing helmets, I have a few requirements before I am willing to enter the public eye while wearing one. First and foremost, it has to fit my head correctly; I can’t stand a helmet that sits too high or too low, making an already awkward accessory that much more so. Second, ...

Editor’s note: This story originally ran in issue 210 of Dirt Rag Magazine for our Fast and Loose segment. Like what you see? Subscribe today to catch issue 212 before it flies off the shelves. By Zach White Tucked away in an unassuming, moderately industrial cul-de-sac in Loveland, Colorado, sits the purpose-built, 7,300-square-foot headquarters of ...

The sun blasted its way through the large plate glass window of Java on Fourth and straight into my face. I shoveled an omelet down as quickly as I could between intervals of coffee and water. I searched for any excuse I could think of, “I haven’t packed my bags quite yet.” “I have to ...

By Scott Williams Photography by Devon Balet It’s been two years since I had the pleasure of doing my first multi-day mountain bike race at the Trans-Sylvania Epic (TSE). The first half of the initial day started like any other race I’ve done. Smiles on the outside but inside was strictly business as I tried ...

by Melonee Hurt If you haven’t experienced East Tennessee’s newest mountain bike park, Tannery Knobs, you need to. But this fun new skills park isn’t the only biking hotspot in the area. We kicked around this fun mountain town for a weekend and can whole-heartedly recommend several good biking spots, great biker-friendly places to stay, ...

A few weeks ago Dirt Rag was lucky enough to check out the new Maverick from Juliana. You can read all about it here. Santa Cruz, Juliana’s parent (or maybe big brother) company, also released a new bike: the 2nd generation Hightower. Both bikes are made for that grey space between cross country and gravity ...

Juliana Maverick $43oo-$8300 depending on build A few weeks ago, Dirt Rag had the opportunity to check out the new Maverick from Juliana on the trails of Buena Vista, Colorado (a post about the town and trails is coming soon). It had been a while since I rode out West, with those long, steep rock ...

Tester: Stephen Haynes Age: 41 Height: 5’11” Weight: 200 lbs. Inseam: 30” Price: $4,200 Sizes: XS, S, M, L (tested), XL Online: gtbicycles.com >Reach: Low 18.3” Stack: Low 23.8” Top Tube: Low 24.4” Head Angle: Low 65° BB Height: Low 11.6” Chainstays: Low 17.1” Weight: 32 lbs w/o pedals, specs based on size tested in ...

Last weekend OuterBike in a partnership with Western Spirit Cycling added a new date to its ever-expanding traveling expo in Sun Valley, Idaho. The ski town is also home to miles and miles of healthy trail systems, scenic views, and ample nightlife to accommodate the invasion of the bike industry. Located at the base of ...

In issue #210 of Dirt Rag Magazine, we spoke with people of varying backgrounds about their experiences learning to mountain bike, build community among riders and use bikes as a tool of self-discovery and self-reliance. Bikes and wilderness both have proven positive effects on our psyche, from destressing after a hard day at work to ...

Steadyrack Mountain Bike Rack $80 Figuring out how to store your bikes can be a real hassle, especially in smaller spaces. And if you have a small space, you probably also don’t have any spare space to turn into a makeshift warehouse of ugly hooks. I had been putting off getting a bike rack for ...

By Brett Rothmeyer The sun is just cracking over the Uintas in Park City, Utah. Main Street is starting to chatter as the doors to cafés open; the wisp of a broom on the sidewalk is overtaken only by the occasional slow-moving vehicle headed up the hill. I had long daydreamed about riding Park City ...

Today, Pivot Cycles introduces the new Vault – a bike where massive tire clearance, pro-caliber power transfer, and ride-tuned frame compliance come together for the fastest thing to ever hit backcountry roads. Gravel, road, or cross, the all-new Vault checks all the boxes with clearance for 700x45c and 650bX47c tires, tight 420mm seatstays, compatibility with ...

By Melonee Hurt The newly-opened Tannery Knobs mountain bike park in Johnson City, Tennessee, is small at just shy of four miles of trails on 40 acres of land. But what it lacks in size, it more than makes up for in impact for this burgeoning mountain town. Although Johnson City has always been surrounded ...

Welcome to the first installment of the Weekly Dirt, where we take a look at what’s happening in mountain biking and beyond. This weekend we will be kicking around Sun Valley Idaho for this year’s Outer Bike event as well as spending some time with the good people of Crank Tank as their Impact event ...

A couple weeks back, we posted a teaser timelapse video of A Chilcotin Hogyssey. Here is the full report, below, care of Devinci. 4 guys, 4 bikes, 9 days, 225 km The ultimate Canadian mountain bike adventure; Presented by Cycles Devinci Words by Chester Bush and photography by Margus Riga Chapter One: Waving Good-Bye Chasing ...

by James Murren Southwestern Utah, with St. George and Hurricane, is a true mountain bike destination. Add in Gooseberry Mesa, and you easily have an extra-long weekend of riding available to you. Throw in Little Creek Mesa, and you now have a week of riding red dirt and slick rock in your purse of riches. ...

VeloSport Wellness CBD has partnered with us to give away a prize package including their gel capsules, tinctures, warming balm, and roll-on gel. Designed by athletes for athletes, VeloSport Wellness products use only the finest natural ingredients. Approved by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), our holistic technologies contain no tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), only healing cannabidiol (CBD). ...

We only have about 6 days of sun per year here in Pittsburgh, so when it does come out our pupils don’t really know what’s happening. Even without the sun, lots of crap flies up off the trails. Having a good pair of “sunnies” really makes a difference, whether it’s always bright out of the ...

Specialized has redesigned the Fuse for 2019. The hardtail is up to date with all-new aggressive lines. Think of the Fuse as a younger sibling to the Stumpjumper, equally capable of attacking the trail without rear suspension and arguably a more versatile machine. The Fuse will be offered in three models, The Expert (seen here) ...

Editors Note: This story originally appeared in issue 210. Now that the riding season is fully upon us we would like to share our experience from the Windrock Bikepark located in Oliver Springs, TN. Consider becoming a subscriber and keeping independent mountain bike journalism like this alive and well.  Words and photos by Brett Rothmeyer ...

Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in issue 206 of Dirt Rag Magazine in our Stuff section. Like what you see? Subscribe now at dirtragmag.com/subscribe Santa Cruz Reserve Wheelset – $1,600 santacruzbicycles.com By Scott Williams “We (Santa Cruz) believe in building quality bicycles and components (hence the tagline ‘Quality Bicycles Since 1994’), and quality, to ...

A few years back a good friend and I took a trip down Highway 1. Our trip started in the Bay Area, and we beelined it for the coast on our first proper morning of the journey. With our backpacks and camping gear stuffed in the back of a cherry red Chevy Cruze (RIP) we ...

Words and Photos by Bruce Buckley Memorial Day weekend serves as an unofficial start to summer in the mid-Atlantic states—as temperatures finally hit a point where we are no longer reaching for long-sleeve tops or extra layers before we head out to ride. Since 2010, the start of the season in western Pennsylvania has kicked ...

Dirt Rag contributor Zach White spent three days with Eric Porter riding their Diamondback Haanjo gravel bikes on a big loop starting and finishing in Salida Colorado on pavement, gravel and singletrack. They rode sections of the Continental Divide Trail and Colorado Trail, through a ghost town, and finished by floating the Arkansas River back ...

Editor’s Note: This story first appeared in issue 209 of Dirt Rag Magazine. Like what you see? Subscribe now to catch issue 212, currently in the works. The original run of this story neglected to mention some very helpful heroes who made this trip happen. They were mentioned in essence — the ferry was mentioned, ...

ABUS Mobile Security has partnered with us to give THREE lucky winners a new Abus Montrailer Mountain Bike Helmet! The ABUS Montrailer Mountain Bike Helmet is packed full of features perfect for all types of shredding. Features include: a ratcheting semi-transparent visor with GoggFit, ActiCage structural reinforcement, ZoomAce retention system and additional coverage along the ...

Photos by John Watson Courtesy of Echos Communications For the second year in a row, our friends at ECHOS Communications is shepherding the Builders for Builders giveaway, benefitting the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship and funding the amazing work they do. Last year we raised more than $40k for the SBTS. Their work is instrumental in ...

“It was day four. We arrived at a massive alpine valley lined with creeks and marshes, certain to be filled with mosquitos and shoe-soaking water crossings. Margus led the way, monster trucking through the creeks. We hoped that after the crossing, a ridge would connect us to the top of another mountain; from there, we ...

A beautiful story about the power of two wheels and a community built through bicycling. After a devastating breakup, Rafael finds solitude and restoration on the open road, pedaling his way to emotional health from Mexico City to northern Colorado. With just $500 to his name, he spearheads a revolution to help the underprivileged members of ...

If you’ve ever broken a bone, and perhaps even moreso if you haven’t, you likely understand the apprehension of getting back on the bike once it’s healed. Colin Strickland broke his pelvis just this past October, and merely hearing that puts a chill in me when I see footage of him riding the Dirty Kanza ...

  The season opener for the Big Mountain Enduro series took place last weekend outside Santa Fe, New Mexico. Glorieta Camps in Glorieta, New Mexico, has pristine trails located on a Christian-run, adventure-focused campground. The trails here range from beginner/intermediate to advanced, and the race course is no joke with serious drops and lots of ...

Everything is turning up gravel these days, and GT Bicycles has revamped their Grade model which they introduced in 2015. From afar, the changes to the Grade may look subtle but move closer, and you will see some unique updates. The triple triangle has long been synonymous with GT bicycles, and the Grade integrates that ...

1989 was a big year for a lot of folks. I think Taylor Swift has a whole album about it, or maybe Ryan Adams has a whole album about Taylor Swift’s album about it. Some kid pulled out one of my loose teeth on a school bus on the way to the Science Museum. Nirvana ...

Photography by Paris Gore and Sterling Lorence The long-awaited updates to Shimano‘s Deore XT and SLX groups have finally arrived. Last year the top of the line XTR group took it to 12-speed with a lot of significant updates and upgrades to the componentry. As of today, XT and SLX enter the 12-speed arena with ...

If you want to up your stoke for a season of bikepacking, check out this new show streaming on Amazon and Vimeo. Season One of Ride To Extraordinary (R2E) features the 2017 Trans North Georgia Adventure (TNGA). In doing so, R2E blazes uncharted territory by being the first of its kind — an on-demand series ...

It’s the 1990s and in the backwoods of British Columbia and three crews of adventure seekers are quietly changing the course of a sport and carving their paths in history – It’s all happening unbeknown to each other, the cycling world and themselves. The film features the likes of Bret Tippie, Wade Simmons, Richie Schley, ...

For the past ten years, the Gunnison Growler has helped kick off the riding and racing season in Western Colorado. The race takes place in the Hartman Rocks Recreational Area, high desert terrain offering technical rock features and ripping fast descents. On Saturday the weekend’s events got kicked off with the Half Growler, a 32-mile ...

Lots of cities have recycle-a-bicycle program, from Bikes Not Bombs in Boston to Free Ride in Pittsburgh, from Chainbreaker Collective in Santa Fe to Bike Works in Seattle. These are places you can go to learn about bikes and bike maintenance, and to work towards owning your own bike through volunteer hours and work put ...