Dirtscrolls

Photos by A.E. Landes photography,

Expectations that the final day of competition in the week-long 2012 NoTubes Trans-Sylvania Epic presented by Dirt Rag would be uneventful proved to be fanciful dreams of those at the top of the leader boards. The Men’s Open category saw aggressive racing from the gun while several in the Women’s field saw opportunities to attack the pace eased between the two front runners.

Tussey Mountain Trail. The crown jewel of the NoTubes Trans-Sylvania Epic presented by Dirt Rag. Stage 6 through Rothrock State Forest was intense. Thirty seven miles of beautiful trails surrounded in emerald green hues from the sea of ferns and the brilliant white of blossoming mountain laurel were the playground for the racers left in the TSEpic.

A four-mile neutral rollout added mileage to the stage, but warmed up the legs and it was all guns blazing off the start as the final men’s podium is far from decided.

Raw Pennyslvania trails built by 19th century loggers and CCC workers in times long past were the theme for day five of the NoTubes Trans-Sylvania Epic. RB Winter which played host for the race is one of PA’s beautiful State Parks – a spring-fed lake surrounded by lush green foliage and dark pine forest in an elevated valley and served as the start location for a 25 mile course of "old school" mountain biking.

By Vicki Barclay,

May – a beautiful month for bike racing and bike riding. People are signing up for events left, right and center. Me? I’m starting to think of May as my bike-crashing month.

By Tim Ek, Photos by Imaginegnat.com,

The phrase, “Dirty Kanza 200” causes an involuntary physiological response within me. I wish I could control the butterflies’ fluttering wings in my belly, but I can’t. I even call on race experience in an effort to quell the quiet storm that’s gathering deep inside me, but it’s quickly trumped by memories.

"Nuclear."

That’s the word Jeremiah Bishop (Cannondale) used to describe the pace during the Raystown stage, Stage 4 of the NoTubes Trans-Sylvania Epic presented by Dirt Rag. Only 25 seconds separated Bishop from Barry Wicks (Kona Bikes) at the start of the day. By the end that lead had ballooned to more than six and a half minutes.

By Emily Brock,

Kansas is stranger country than most of us are willing to admit. In 1541 the Spanish conquistador Coronado marched a small army across its scorching midsummer plains, searching for gold in the Land of Quivira. He found nothing. On the dusty plains of central Kansas, Coronado finally lost hope of ever discovering cities of gold. He turned his men around and trudged back again, retreating across that dry indifferent landscape.

Forty seven miles and more than 5,000 feet of elevation gain on wide open gravel, paved and dirt roads made for a fast and attack-fueled Stage 3 at the NoTubes Trans-Sylvania Epic. The attacks came early and often and left the men’s field strewn across the Pennsylvania countryside.

By Karen Brooks,

We are having a great time here at the Trans-Sylvania Epic. Once again, Mike Kuhn and Ray Adams have put on a quality event, and I’m stoked to be here.

Eric is stoked about his high-viz glasses that ensure he stands out in photographs. 

By Jon Pratt,

This past week I found myself in familiar territory for Magura’s press camp; the Red Agave Resort in Sedona, Arizona, where Dirt Rag had spent Spring Break earlier this year. A world-class trail system literally starts in the resort’s backyard. Trails like Llama, Highline, Templeton/Baldwin, and Slim Shady, show you all that desert riding has to offer.

By Stephen Haynes, 

The steel framed Jamis Dragon 650b is an understated beast ready to take you on any quest you may have in store for it. Saddle up and sharpen your broad sword, this bike is ready for adventure.

By Keith Bontrager,

Barry Wicks of Team Kona trails Bishop by one minute after the first day of racing.

Photos by AELandes

By Keith Bontrager,

By Eric McKeegan

Prep Time For Trans-Sylvania Epic is almost over. I’m still debating clothing choices, getting nutrition squared away and deciding on using bottles versus a hydration pack. I’ve been fortunate not to worry too much about bike choice though: Scott was kind enough to send me a Spark 29 RC to ride and race.

Just in time to give us something to talk about over the weekend, SRAM sent out a notice that they will be releasing a new drivetrain this summer dubbed XX1, designed around a single front chainring and an 11-speed cassette. 

By Josh Patterson

The dust has settled from the third annual Dirt Fest. The demo crews have packed their bikes and headed to the next town; music no longer echoes through the woods; and the local ground squirrel population is breathing a collective sigh of relief; as are we at the office, as we do our best to recover from the weekend’s festivities.

Epic Teams are the fastest growing category at this year’s NoTubes Trans-Sylvania Epic Presented by Dirt Rag and for good reason. The fun, team approach and the complete customization of the week afforded by this choice has numbers tripling in this category in just one year.

The 2012 North American Enduro Tour (N.A.E.T.) is back and going bigger in its second year to gather athletes at many of the continent’s best race venues for the rapidly growing mountain bike discipline of Enduro racing.

By Adam Newman

By Adam Newman

Let me start by saying this: if you’re going to ride this bike, you better have nice teeth and a strong neck, because you’re going to be doing a lot of smiling and nodding when your riding buddies start asking you where the cable is.

The time has come: we’re setting up shop at Dirt Fest, our annual mountain bike festival at Raystown Lake, Pa. 

The vendors are setting up, demo bikes are being prepped and the beer is on ice. 

If we’re not around much in the next few days, now you know why. 

By Josh Patterson, photo Justin Steiner

Ongoing refinements in air spring technology have made coil springs an increasingly rare commodity these day. For Fox Racing Shox, the long-travel realm is the last bastion of the coil-sprung fork. The Van series comes in 160mm (tested) and 180mm flavors and is designed for all-mountain and park riding.

By Karl Rosengarth, photo by Justin Steiner

Photos by A.E.Landes photography

Editor’s note: From time to time we get submissions from readers about their bikes, their rides, or any other type of cycling-related stories. Some we chose to share with other readers online or in the magazine. Got a story you’d like to share? Send it to [email protected].

By Robert Lewis, photos by Ian McAlexander / ITMexposures.com,

No matter which end of the political spectrum you fall on, you have to respect former President George W. Bush’s ability to tear up a trail. It’s quite possible he was the most physically fit president we’ve ever had. 

Issue #163 has left the printer and is on its way to subscribers and newsstands now.

In this issue

2012 North American Handmade Bicycle Show, By Marie Autrey

There’s more to NAHBS than just eye-candy. The show is also about pushing the limits of design and fabrication. This year we chose to highlight the bikes that we most wanted to ride.

Access Action – Back to the Wild, By Frank Maguire

Join in as the creators of "Ride the Divide" take you on an adventure that will leave you with an eager desire to chart your own course to far away lands or simply to discover with eyes wide open what’s right around the bend.

by Karen Brooks

The Trans-Sylvania Epic stage race was so much fun last year—in that wonderful suffering kind of way—that I couldn’t wait to sign up again for 2012. Fortunately, Dirt Rag is now a presenting sponsor, so this event counts as “work.” Both Eric and I will be racing the Solo category, and various other staff may also drop by to check things out, particularly on Monday for the Ride for the Trails happening during Stage Two.

In recent days pro men from across the United States have finalized their commitments to this year’s NoTubes Trans-Sylvania Epic and once again it will host the strongest field to assemble in North America for a mountain bike stage race.

By Maurice Tierney

Editor’s note: We love to hear from readers who want to share their story with others. Got something you think Dirt Rag readers would be into? Send it to [email protected].

By John Frachella

Words by Frank Maguire, photos and illustrations by Jon Pratt and Shea Ferrell of Flowline Trail Design

By Adam Newman

I didn’t have much warning when I found out the Moots demo truck was going to be in our neck of the woods this week, but luckily for me, riding bikes is kinda part of my job. So on Tuesday I rolled over to Pittsburgh’s popular North Park to find the big, blue and white Moots Sprinter van ready and waiting.

By Justin Steiner

Turner Bicycles lays claim to offering the world’s first production downhill bike, so it’s no surprise David Turner continues to push the limits of production race bikes. After all, the downhill market has evolved substantially since 1996 when Turner’s Afterburner delivered a whopping 3.6” of rear wheel travel.

Mark your calendars and cancel your other plans, Dirt Rag’s Dirt Fest is coming up quick. Join us May 18-20 at Raystown Lake, Pa., for three days of bikes, beers, and bigtime fun.

By Josh Patterson

The 2012 US Grand Prix of Mountain Biking is set to make its official debut Friday in the picturesque town of Port Angeles, Washington. From April 26-29, the Grand Prix in conjunction with the NW Cup, is set to host one of this year’s most highly anticipated races on US soil.

By Josh Patterson

Sea Otter’s downhill course is tame by World Cup standards; it’s short on elevation, devoid of large drops, and lacks technical terrain. One racer described the course as “a single-slalom course on steroids.” This is not a dig at Sea Otter’s DH course, far from it. It’s oddball courses such as this one that challenge racers and team mechanics to re-evaluate their set-ups. For many gravity racers, both professional and amateur, the biggest challenge at Sea Otter is choosing the right bike.

By Eric McKeegan

Covering the Sea Otter classic can be a lot of work, but sometimes we’re able to slip away and get some riding… I mean, "product testing", done. I rode this setup in the Gran Fondo mountian bike ride.

Spot Brand Rocker Ti

By Eric McKeegan

Norco was showing off three new mountain bikes at Sea Otter this year; a new 29er platform, a 2012 Aurum DH bike, and the 160mm-travel 650b prototype.

By Josh Patterson

By Josh Patterson

By the Dirt Rag staff

Easton Havoc 35

Wider is better! That’s the trend in gravity-oriented handlebars. That’s all well and good, but wider bars put even more stress on bars and stems. Easton found that the stresses produced by 800mm-wide bars were pushing the durability limits of the existing bars and stems. Easton’s all-new Havoc 35 addresses the issue by upping the handlebar/stem diameter from 31.8 to 35mm.