Dirtscrolls

Word up from EWR Land. This is a new blog that the kind folks at Dirt Rag have asked me to write. From here forward you will see my musings and thoughts. We can sit with coffee and talk of the old days, eat Fiddle Faddle and type with sticky fingers, and wax philosophical about ...

When test bikes come in to DRHQ, our esteemed editor is usually the one making the call of who gets to test which bike. This was the case a few weeks ago when Karen came to my office and asked if I would be interested in testing a custom Lynskey Performance Pro29. The only difference ...

Yesterday, I was sort of kidding about winter riding — how it’s difficult and dangerous, and strictly for the obsessive cyclist. Today, I was reminded by several readers that riding in snow and ice can be a blast, especially if you’re a racer in a budding winter race scene. There’s the Arrowhead 135, up in ...

After an altogether enjoyable cross country train trip, I’m holed up in the Ace motel in Portland mulling over our options for the nights activities. We’ve already got the Dirt Rag booth set up and watched some finely crafted bicycles beginning to roll in the door. No pictures yet, but there looks to be some ...

Stage two of Maurice’s whirlwind tour. After cold, rainy Macon Georgia, I headed west to cold, rainy San Luis Obispo, California for a combined Rocky Mountain/WTB press camp. The agenda? Face time with WTB and Rocky staff to learn more about the latest tires from WTB and the 2008 Slayer SXC bike from Rocky Mountain. ...

Over the years, lots of people have tried to make bike riding in snow something more than a dangerous and difficult exercise for the diehard obsessive. There have been ski-bikes and snowmobile-style track extensions for your rear wheel. You could even count the Pugsley as a thoughtful — and distinctly fun — solution to riding ...

A couple of months ago, I discovered that the folks behind Clif energy bars also happen to own a winery. Yes, there are several varieties of Clif wine available, including a syrah, a cab, a merlot, and a couple of blends. Cool, huh? Now, if they make an energy wine that I can put in ...

By now, you’ve likely heard about the passing of Sheldon Brown. Sheldon was one of the coolest and unique people with so much passion and knowledge about bicycles and cycling. I’m not going to attempt to eulogize him here, but I think Bike Snob NYC had one of the best posts on the matter that ...

Dear Abby took a break last week from peddling her usual advice about insensitive husbands and nagging wives. Her topic? Bike path ettiquette, especially as regards bikes and pedestrians. The consensus, of course, is that on a shared path, bikes need to warn walkers that they are approaching with either a bell or a vocal ...

A few months ago, Chanel announced that they’re rolling out a boutique city cruiser, which looks pretty much like any other neo-Dutch knockoff. With a price-tag of $12,000, I couldn’t help wondering what type of person would drop that kind of dough on a bicycle that is the equivalent of a $100 gourmet hamburger. Now ...

We recently scored a bunch of studded tires from Schwalbe, Nokian and Kenda. Good thing, too, as we’ve just had one of our typical winter ice storms here in the Northeast: Shorty after their arrival I put on a set of Nokian Gazza Extreme 294 tires in 29er flavor and have had a couple rides ...

Drum roll please… There you have it, sneak peak of my newest test bike. Have to say I’m really looking forward to this one. The Sojourn is a really striking bicycle. The off-white (technically “sand”) with with no decals, save the top tube protector, and leather bar tape and saddle make for a sharp look. ...

Earlier this winter, I made a note of the most desired bike light available today. It’s called The Betty, and it retails for nearly $1000. That’s a lot of cabbage for a headlight! But today, over at BikeHacks, I noticed their “Five Killer DIY bike lights,” including this vaguely steampunkish setup: I think this may ...

This just in from USA Cycling: USA Cycling announced the names of 11 athletes who are eligible to represent the United States at the 2008 Olympic Games in the discipline of men’s and women’s mountain biking. Six men and five women were named to the Long Team last week. Of the six men named to ...

Ahhh, as the buzz around the Dirt Rag house changes with the completion of issue #133 from “Oh man! It’s deadline!” to talk of which of us are going to what World Tour stops one thing is for sure. Spring must be getting closer and I’m happy to cheat time and the season a little ...

One of the reasons I’ve always had a slight preference for riding in dirt is that the landing is a lot softer. When you crash on pavement, it’s going to be your flesh and bones that absorb the blow — not the road. But no matter where you are, goofing around on bikes is always ...

Last weekend in Italy, the World Championships of Cyclocross took place. A few weeks ago, I mentioned that Jonathan Page was competing — he’s probably the best cyclocross racer the US has ever produced, having won silver last year.   This year, the race was uncharacteristically warm and dry, and though Page had been racing ...

Lance Armstrong is apparently gearing up for racing in the Leadville 100. You’ll recall that he rode sections of the legendary offroad marathon last year with his trainer Chris Carmichael, but didn’t end up riding. But last weekend, the Big Texan confirmed that he’s going to take a run at it, but it looks like ...

There are 460 million bicycles in China, but that number may be at a plateau. As the country industrializes, the Chinese middle class has a big appetite for — what else? — the automobile.   But government officials are making a new push to repopularize the bicycle — especially in Beijing, in anticipation of the ...

So instead of watching one of two very good things on television right now (a PBS special with The Clash or a Penguins vs Flyers hockey game), I’m sitting here at the kitchen counter, trying to get this Brain Fart out before I go play soccer. Since I sometimes get on other staff members to ...

There have been some impressive ’round the world bike treks in recent years. One of the granddaddies of that type of expedition is Dan Buettner, who has pedaled from the Bering Strait to Tierra del Fuego, from the Mediterranean to Cape Hope, and from Europe across Russia to the Sea of Japan. You might be ...

Here’s something you don’t see everyday: A snowbike race up at Shawnee Peak in Bridgton, Maine. For a $30 entry fee, you get to race mountain-cross style, four riders per heat. And bear this in mind: the world record for speed on a mountain bike was set on a snow slope in Peru late last ...

For five years people have been coming to Macon, GA to appreciate Ronnie Thomson, and I’ve been wondering for five years what it is about Ronnie that makes peeps so appreciative. It can’t be just seatposts and stems. It was with that in mind that I planned my trip to the 5th Annual Ronnie Thomson ...

Owing to flats, or broken chains, or just sitting around and telling tall stories, my group dirt ride sometimes turns into an accidental night ride. I always envy the one or two guys with the foresight to bring a light — at least a blinky or two — for the road return. There have been ...

If you’re working today, it’s a good time to guilt your boss by asking why you don’t get this important holiday off. And I personally give you permission to take a few moments to indulge in some topical slacking. Ever heard of the Major Taylor Association? It’s named for a world-champion African American cyclist who ...

The rise and fall and rise of Floyd Landis continues. Today, the National Ultra-Endurance series announced that Mr. Landis has agreed to ride the series of eight 100-mile offroad races. Last year, he raced to podium finishes in the Leadville 100 and the Shenandoah 100. Presumably, a former Tour de France rider who’s accustomed to ...

Aquaduct: Mobile Filtration Vehicle took top prize, based on environmental impact, creativity and design.

Occasionally I see a gentleman on the local bike path who has a very large boom-box attached to his handlebars with duct tape. He’s somewhat of a bike path legend, because he pedals along at about 3 mph listening to his radio at high volume, and then he gets highly agitated if you overtake him ...

Almost every day at Instructables.com — “the world’s biggest show and tell”– there’s someone with a new hack on the bicycle, from the snow-bike to the DIY carbon frame (I mentioned this last week) to the torchless tallbike. Today, I noticed this bike built with two headtubes so that the wheels can be steered independently. ...

We already told you about Tara Llanes’ unfortunate accident. Recently, Dirt Rag Forum member downhill mike dropped a post with a great idea that the folks at Whiteface Mountain Bike Park have come up with: At Whiteface Mountain Bike Park we will once again for our 3rd consecutive year have Ladies Days on the 1st ...

is likely the best cyclocross racer the US has ever produced. Last year, he nearly won the World Championships, but still astonished the cyclocross world with a silver. That led to a high profile, high-buck contract with one of Europe’s best cyclocross teams, SunWeb-ProJob. So far this year has been a tough one for him, ...

A perennial subject at the bar is whether you can get a DUI for riding your bicycle while intoxicated. The shortcut for our purposes here: It depends on your municipality. In some areas you can get a DUI and even forfeit your automobile driver’s license. In other areas, where more enlightened heads prevail, the drunk ...

Do you ever get the feeling that you’re sort of fighting your bike — and that it might ride better without you? Here’s a Monday morning video to make you smile.

How to get your son to ride your daughter’s bike? It’s the kid’s-bike sex change! And while I’m on the record as being a rabblerouser when it comes to department store bikes, this is the best Magna joke I’ve heard in a while: The duct tape’s silver sheen began to dominate the Magna, which one ...

If you’re like me, you’re beginning to get the itch to try new events in places that are off the beaten singletrack. Call it the “Eternal Summer” impulse. It strikes after you have every inch of every local trail memorized. And after you’ve collected enough of the same race numbers to turn your garage into ...

As mountain biking has matured, it’s no longer entirely the province of dirtbags and do-nothings. Most folks would argue that it’s a good thing. That’s because professional people — y’know, doctors and lawyers and such — have become enthusiasts in the last ten years, the better to move the levers of local government to allow ...

Way out on the fringe of society, there are still a few brave souls who see an expensive, high-tech gizmo and they say to themselves, “I could build that myself!” It takes a patient, thorough person to attempt building your own carbon MTB frame, with more time than money, and more tools than Mr. Goodwrench. ...

A few weeks ago, I mentioned that BMX would be making its Olympic debut at Beijing this summer — alas, only as an exhibition event. But considering that road-racing, track racing, and even mountain biking have been medal events forever, it’s kind of surprising it took this long. This article about British BMX sensation Shanaze ...

A man in Fullerton, California has been charged with vandalizing a mountain biking trail; he allegedly dug about fifty 2-foot holes in a shared use trail at Laguna Lake Park. Why’d he do it? Reportedly as “revenge” for nearly being run down while walking his dog. Of course, if you were riding a big hit ...

Authorities in Austin, Texas are considering a law to require all cyclists to wear helmets. Not convinced by common sense, they undertook a year long study at a local hospital. Their findings? A significant number of head injuries can be prevented by wearing a helmet. Of course, this doesn’t necessarily take into account the findings ...

  Bike messengers in Cambridge, England are carrying air pollution sensors around town in a nifty bike-enabled experiment. Eiman Kanjo, a computer scientist at the University of Cambridge, is in charge of the project that uses cell phones and GPS to upload air-quality information from those roving bands of urban punks with Chrome bags and ...

Back in August, Justin called touring The Next Big Thing. Reaching further back in the archives we find a similar augury made by Brad Quartuccio. As these predictions play out, I ‘m struck with a sense of my own divination. Is Bike touring the next armchair travel fad? As I browse through blogs and bookstores ...

My obsession with old bicycle posters started with those frameable vintage photographs from the Tour de France — back when racers had to carry their own tires and forge their own forks and they had cigarettes and seltzer at the feeding zone — and came full circle with the new line of Californian wines like ...

Fox Racing has issued a gentle reminder to all you dirt riders who like to cut corners on your equipmentto save a buck or avoid a trip to the shop: On that cool 29er you’ve been piecing together for the past year, don’t use a fork that’s designed, built, tested and certified for a 26-inch ...

The fabled Hungarian Postal Service — that’s “Magyar Posta” to you, mister — has disbursed 4 million euros to buy 4800 bikes and 30 bike trailers for its mail carriers. Meanwhile, you may be wondering whatever happened to the US Postal Service’s kinda lame plan to run a bunch of Segways? That program was suspended ...

The Icicle Bicycle Ride takes place each January 1 in Pittburgh — no matter what the weather brings, and no matter what cocktails were imbibed the night before. Organizer Mark Yergin told the Pittburgh Tribune It is a social ride, not a fitness ride, and Yergin said that participants can turn around and head back ...

What do pro cyclists do after the sun sets on their racing days?  Well, some — like Brian Lopes or Tinker Juarez — continue to race against the sun. But others develop bike brands like, say, Eddie Merckx, Greg Lemond, or John Tomac. This article at Bicycle Retail News has some nice insights into what ...