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Contest ended. Congrats to Winner: Yancy Bodenstein of Gaithersburg, MD We’re sorry The promotion you are trying to access has ended. Sena has partnered with us to giveaway a X1 Pro Cycling Helmet. Enter to win below.   The X1 Pro is the first-ever Bluetooth integrated cycling helmet with a built in QHD action camera. The X1 allows for ...

Contest ended. Congrats to Winner: Michael Ambrocik of Somerset, PA We’re sorry The promotion you are trying to access has ended. Syndicate Cycling and their top sponsors have partnered with Dirt Rag to give away over $1000 of swag.  Sign up below! Combined Prizes worth over $1,000!  Schwalbe Tires, Wolf Tooth Components, Highland Training, Pro Bike & Run, Specialized, ...

Ed. Note: It Sounded Like A Good Idea is a new semi-regular column by Olympic track racer Bobby Lea and endurance mountain bike racer Ian ‘Big DiRtY’ Mullins who have teamed up with plans to race Cape Epic, Breck Epic and the Leadville Trail 100 next year. But, this isn’t just another story about some ...

Arriving at Paul Camp in Chico, California (Back in May), I was immediately drawn to one particular bike-to-rule-them-all, Travis T’s “Krusty Diamond,” built by Cameron Falconer over in Quincy, California, painted by Russ Picket of Mountain Goat fame, and built with as many California and U.S. made parts as humanly possible. I thought I should find out ...

Contest ended. Congrats to Philip Seaton of Heber Springs, AR! We’re sorry the promotion you are trying to access has ended. XPEDO has partnered with us to give one winner a pair of ZED flat pedals. Enter to win below. The ZED flat pedal is a low-profile, extra large platform pedal designed for all-mountain, downhill or dirt ...

Contest ended. Congrats to Donna Fulton of Chalmette, LA.! We’re sorry the promotion you are trying to access has ended. Framed Bikes has partnered with us to give one winner a Framed Marquette Alloy Bike. Enter to win below!  The Framed Marquette aluminum alloy frame with a 148 x 12 thru axle is held sturdy ...

Contest ended. Congrats to Robby Bennett of Calera, AL! We’re sorry the promotion you are trying to access has ended. SR SUNTOUR has partnered with us to give one winner a Auron 35 or 34 RC2 PCS Fork. Enter to win below. The Auron is our multitool trail fork. We designed it to perform to task ...

Contest ended. Congrats to Joel Hauschild of Council Bluffs, IA! We’re sorry the promotion you are trying to access has ended. Osprey has partnered with us to give one winner a Raptor 10 Hydration backpack. Enter to win below. You’ll love the way Osprey’s Raptor 10 carries when you’re riding rough, technical terrain thanks to the BioStretch- harness ...

Contest ended. Congrats to Sarah Holland of Moody, AL ! We’re sorry the promotion you are trying to access has ended. Ryders Eyewear has partnered with us to give one winner a RYDERS FYRE- Lens. Enter to win below. The five most innovative advancements in sports optics, packed into one lens. Developed in partnership with Essilor® ...

Contest ended. Congrats to Braxton Francom of Lehi, UT! We’re sorry the promotion you are trying to access has ended. Kryptonite has partnered with us to give one winner a Stronghold Anchor & New York Fahgettaboudit Chain 1415 & New Your Disc Lock. Enter to win below. The Ultimate Mountain Bike Security Package! Whether bolted to the cement ...

The hardtail renaissance continues with Niner’s all new SIR 9. Niner bills it as a “do it most” bike, and that sums it up pretty well if you ask me. And if you are reading this, it is easy to assume you are asking me. Some highlights from Niner: Reynolds 853 steel provides the supple, comfortable ...

Ed. Note: The following takes place between stage 7 and stage 10 of the Punk Bike Enduro in 2004. This story originally appeared in Dirt Rag 105.  Words by Joe Whitehair We leave the beer van behind and begin the uphill slog on a rough and gritty road, wet with snow dissolved from sparse traffic and salt, ...

The Float X was feeling a bit off the back these days. With the DH-worthy Float X2 holding down the gravity racing side of the spectrum, and the newish Float DPS supporting the XC side, the Float X was never a terrible shock, but it felt and looked outdated. It’s large size and barely-accessible rebound ...

The appeal of a 500% gear range with a single derailleur is undeniable for most riders. It was also undeniable that affording either XO1 or XX1 Eagle was out of reach for a large swath of riders. At a complete group cost of approximately $525 (crank, chain, cassette, shifter, derailleur) GX Eagle flys much closer to earth ...

Contest ended. Congrats to Tony Dlouhy of Niles, MI! We’re sorry the promotion you are trying to access has ended. Ergon has partnered with us to give one winner a SMA3 saddle and a pair of GA2 grips! Enter to win below. Two products. One goal. Elevating your all-mountain experience by enhancing your ergonomic needs. The GA2 ...

    NOMAD! Those who pay attention to such things had figured the Nomad was next up for a revamp, as it was looking a little dated in the very competitive all-mountain/enduro category. Drawing from the V10 downhill bike, the new Nomad actuates the shock with the lower link. The rest of the Santa Cruz ...

I have a warm place in my heart for Paul. Just look at that happy camper. Paul Components and Dirt Rag Magazine both started in 1989 and we’re both pushing 30 years as companies. We met at Interbike before either of us were big enough to even have a booth. And we’ve grown together over the years ...

Contest ended. Congrats to Kat Elton of Durango, CO! We’re sorry The promotion you are trying to access has ended. Wha?! Trek has partnered with us to give one winner a Trek Remedy 8 or Remedy 8 Womens bike. Enter to win below. Remedy is your full-suspension ride to the next level with 150mm of ...

Contest ended. Congrats to Winner: Adam Mittleider of Boise, ID! We’re sorry The promotion you are trying to access has ended. Feedback Sports has partnered with us to give one winner a Team Edition Toolkit. Enter to win below. Elevate your bike maintenance with this professional level tool kit to take you and your bike anywhere. • ...

Contest ended. Congrats to Winner: Lou Stanley of Vancouver WA We’re sorry The promotion you are trying to access has ended. Pearl Izumi has partnered with us to give one winner a pair of X-Project ELITE shoes. Enter to win below.   Riding your mountain bike occasionally involves something none of us love talking about: walking your mountain bike. Which is ...

For 2017, Bontrager has added new Trail and XC wheelset options at an affordable price point. Line Pro 30 TLR Line Elite 30 TLR Line Comp 30 TLR Kovee Elite 23 TLR $1,200 $600 $300 $700 27.5” – 1539g 29” – 1608g 27.5” – 1708g 29” – 1794g 27.5” – 1978g 29” – 2080g 27.5” ...

Contest ended. Congrats to Eric Lanning of S. Mebane, NC! We’re sorry The promotion you are trying to access has ended. Industry Nine has partnered with us to give one lucky person an EnduroS Wheelset. Winners will be able to choose between 27.5 or 29 wheelset. Enter to win below. The ready for anything wheelset that’ll leave ...

There have been rumors about major teams and fast riders showing up for a World Cup downhill race on 29ers this year, but Santa Cruz is the first major team to confirm it with news of a 29-inch V10. I can already hear the comments; “but XXXX did it first!”. Yes, there have been a ...

Marin promised something truly new when the invite went out to attend a pre-Sea Otter media camp. The Wolf Ridge delivers on that. Using the NAILED R3ACT-2 PLAY suspension design, Marin claims to have created a 160 mm-travel 29er that pedals and handles well enough to be the “one bike” to ride anywhere and everywhere. ...

The Sea Otter Classic is more than just a mecca for bikes. Going out and finding those non-bike items is one of my personal goals. DRINKTANKS offers two sizes of growlers; a 64oz and a 128oz. They are double wall insulated, come in multiple color choices and they offer a Keg Cap Accessory Kit. The kit comes with a ...

Contest ended. Congrats to Jan Faust of S. Williamsport, PA! We’re sorry The promotion you are trying to access has ended. Schwalbe has partnered with us to give one winner a set of ADDIX tires. Enter to win below. Addix Compound. Push yourself to your limits and demand the most from your tire. When the pressure ...

Both FOX and RockShox have been moving to larger negative spring in rear shocks, and now we see them moving to forks as well. The 2018 36 has a new EVOL air spring that promises “plushness off the top, extra midstroke support, and more tunable bottom-out progression.” I’ve been riding a new 36 the past few ...

Kona knocked it out of the park with the Honzo CR Trail DL. Featuring a stealth matte black finish, aggressive all-mountain geometry and a reasonably lightweight package, this Honzo is a grand slam. It took all but five minutes on my initial ride to develop an attachment, which quickly led to confirming with our Tech Editor ...

Contest ended. Congrats to Jim Iannazzi of Indiana, PA! We’re sorry The promotion you are trying to access has ended. Win a Zoic Empire Jersey, Gloves and Water Bottle. Enter to win below. Dominate spring riding with The Empire Prize Package from ZOIC! Stake your claim as the master of your domain in the Empire Jersey ($65 ...

Contest ended. Congrats to Christopher Worrell of Yellow Springs, OH! We’re sorry The promotion you are trying to access has ended. Win a pair of Five Ten Hellcat shoes! Enter to win below. The 2017 Hellcat is a lighter and lower-profile version of our classic Hellcat. Its upper is a combination of leather and synthetic for durability and breathability. ...

Get your copy now! Cover Illustration: #vanlife by John Ritter Columns and Readings Our columnist Rebecca Rusch muses on cycling storytelling with former Secretary of State John Kerry and his unwavering love of riding his bike beginning as a kid and continuing to this day. In Dog’s Bollix new columnist Simon Stewart tells a tale ...

Words and photos by Zach White Michelin’s mountain bike program has been busy in the last few years creating and fine-tuning four new tire models that multiply to a total model count of sixteen new products when the various wheel sizes and widths are thrown into the count. While the Jet XCR, Force XC, Force ...

Contest ended. Congrats to Dan Chen of Santa Cruz, CA ! We’re sorry The promotion you are trying to access has ended. Make your bike glow and enter to win a Ergon GA2 Laser Lemon Grips and SMA3 Laser Lemon Saddle. Glow with the Flow! The times when black and white defined your life were yesterday. If ...

New Stuff for your approval, early March edition. The springtime release of new products has begun and things got hot and heavy the last few weeks. Here is a digest of a few noteworthy new product releases. Shimano Deore group and SLX 11-46 cassette In a somewhat surprising move, Shimano released a new Deore group. ...

Contest ended. Congrats to Ryan Ivie of Phoenix, AZ ! We’re sorry The promotion you are trying to access has ended. Pearl Izumi has partnered with us to give one winner a pair of X-Project ELITE mountain bike shoes. Enter to win below. Riding your mountain bike occasionally involves something none of us love talking ...

Contest ended. Congrats to Vladimir Capka of Arlington, MA! We’re sorry The promotion you are trying to access has ended. Win a Sunrace CSMX8 11-46 11 speed cassette and a DLMX30 11 speed rear trigger shifter. Shift it like you mean it, enter to win below.   The Sunrace CSMX8 11-46 11 speed cassette will fit on a ...

Cover illustration: Riding the primordial soup by Stephen Haynes This issue is all about daring and adventure! Get it right here right now! Columns and Readings Watts Dixon tells about making a gorilla adjustment in Hangdown In The Wheelstrings and Stevil Kinevil makes his thoughts very clear on hikers who throw their bag of pupper’s ...

Cover photo: Ryan Creary showcases the spirit of adventure. This issue is all about searching for adventures, and we think we dug up some pretty good ones for you. Read on for the preview and make sure to snag your own copy today! Columns and Readings This month we go to church with Stevil Kinevil and ...

By Stephen Haynes, Dirt Rag Art Director While the wicked winds of winter were still whipping through west Pennsylvania (bringing with them a bounty of alliteration apparently), Dirt Rag editor-in-chief Mike Cushionbury and I were hatching plans for our latest issue. Mike floated the idea of having blogger, artist and cycling personality Stevil Kinevil sit ...

It was with some excitement that we read this press release. John Parker? Missy Giove? Frank the Welder? 27plus and 29plus bikes? Yes to all those things. John Parker’s new bike company will debut at Sea Otter 2016. Here’s the press release that got us all excited: John Parker, founder of Yeti Cycles, announced his return ...

Ed’s Note: This bike is part of our annual, sub-$3,000 bike test where the Dirt Rag staff spends significant time aboard less-expensive but fully capable offerings that we’d seriously consider buying ourselves. The final review will be out early 2016 in issue #189. Subscribe today so you don’t miss it! Price: $2,425 The Torrent name is ...

Ed’s Note: This bike is part of our annual, sub-$3,000 bike test where the Dirt Rag staff spends significant time aboard less-expensive but fully capable offerings that we’d seriously consider buying ourselves. The final review will be out early 2016 in issue #189. Subscribe today so you don’t miss it! Price: $2,999 Last year, Transition Bikes ...

On the cover Andrew Whiteford does some tree splitting in Northern Thailand. Photo by Jay Goodrich. The Dirt and Readings This year history was made when the U.S. held its first ever World Cup cyclocross race. We show you in The Dirt along with a first hand account by American ‘cross racer Adam Craig in ...

Last year, I reviewed the Ibis Ripley. I liked it well enough, but my tastes in mid-travel 29er leans towards low and slack, while the Ripley is more long-travel cross-country. I also got yelled at (via email) by for being too soft on the bike. Which was a valid complaint, as I had inadvertently cut ...

Rotating Mass Media has hired Katherine Fuller to be the new online editor for Dirt Rag and Bicycle Times magazines. Fuller replaces Adam Newman, who was named editor-and-chief of Bicycle Times in July. As online editor, Fuller will oversee the care, feeding and growth of each magazine’s online presence, from the websites to social media. ...

The cover of Issue #1 featured the catchy name “Dirt Rag,” a liberal use of clip art and the immortal slogan “It’s A Big World—Ride on it!” But no official logo.   By Issue #2 we’d adopted the above logo that featured a unique, scrawling font (created by Steve Chaszeyka of wizardairbrushgraphics.com).   In October ...

Rotating Mass Media, the parent company of Dirt Rag and Bicycle Times, is currently accepting applications for the position of online editor. This individual will be responsible for operating, managing, maintaining and developing RMM’s digital properties, including the websites of Dirt Rag and Bicycle Times, as well as auxiliary sites and services. The online editor will ...

On the cover Rambling along. Photo by Mattias Fredriksson.   The Dirt and Readings Tech Editor Eric McKeegan rants in defense of spoiled bicycle-media types, check out some amazing images from the famous Duryea Downhill road gap as well as CruzFest—the first time this European-based, invite only series came to America. Plus, a thank you ...

With nearly 200 miles of pedaling in our legs, we were happy to start the second week in Portugal with a day of shuttling trails. With eucalyptus smells blasting our faces, we had traded frame bags for fanny packs, well on our way up to a fun week of trail riding.   Based just north of ...

“Just don’t look them in the eyes.” This was the most memorable moment from my last trip to Portugal in 2008. My husband Chris was staring at a plate of sardines that had just landed in front of him. His vision redirected quickly to anything else on the table once the waitperson gave his advice. ...

It’s been a wild and fast-paced year here at Dirt Rag, and we have put in some serious miles and have experienced a lot of changes. New website, new editors, new events, new trails, new contributors, and most importantly new friends. As we close out the year we’d like to take a look back at ...

When I was a small child, I was completely fixated with a magazine called CARtoons. Essentially it was a black-and-white comic book featuring artists like George Trosley and his feature, “Krass and Bernie.” And then there was my other favorite, Shawn Kerri. If you’re not familiar with her, head to the internet and get up ...

Settlers first moved into the northeastern reaches of New York’s Catskill Mountains in the 1780s, and the town of Windham was formed along the banks of the Batavia Kill in 1798. Tanneries, sawmills and gristmills eventually sprouted along the watercourse. By 1851, the original expanse of Windham was divided to create six additional towns: Ashland, ...

Did you know you can place an order with Taco Bell using the restaurant chains’ mobile app? Simply choose the items you desire via push-button selection, whether it’s a Party Pack of tacos, or a six-pack of Burrito Supremes (hold the guac), select your local franchise, pay using the register built right into the app, ...

For the better part of 20 years, I called myself a cartographer. So what nerdier thing could I do to pay homage to a career that eventually merged with my mountain bike life than to travel to the last-mapped region in the United States? Even though I knew that Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and Capitol ...

Did you miss out on our pre-order for the new Bolt™ logo T’s and Sweatshirts? Well, you are in luck! We have a limited number of long sleeve T’s in black with a Mustard yellow version of the Bolt™ design. Get yours while the getting is good, these won’t be around for long! Scoop yours ...

“So … is Marlene your partner?”   It was, in hindsight, the wrong question. But it’s what came out. My own politics and experience taking the minimal number of facts I had gleaned from the limited conversations I’d had with Darlene, applying poor multiplication and manufacturing a product.  The factors:  (She lived with a woman) x ...

A Friend Like This To throw a leg over a bike is a release. To push the pedals and make it move forward offers vast catharsis. The components of the simple act of riding a bike are many, yet all fall in lockstep when it comes to parting mental clouds that obscure and confuse. It’s ...

Nestled in the shadows of the Rocky Mountains along Highway 50 sits the city of Gunnison, Colorado. The town received its name in honor of United States Army General John W. Gunnison, who was sent to survey the land for the railroad. In the late 1800s, miners, ranchers, and mountain men settled into Gunnison once ...

The Pivot Vault has been positioned as a versatile drop-bar bike since its debut in 2013. Built for gravel, dirt, and road, its geometry has always leaned in favor of the cyclocross world more than the endurance scene. Now, with the latest geometry tweaks on the fourth-generation Vault, Pivot maintains the focus on high performance ...

Megan Dean has been welding bike frames together for quite some time now. A transient of sorts Dean spent a good chunk of time cutting her teeth on the streets of Los Angeles as a bike messenger before starting a career as a frame builder. Her work speaks for itself, beautifully designed and finished bikes ...

Philly Bike Expo is easily one of our favorite events of the year. Despite our cross-state hockey rivalry, we love to visit Philadelphia. As noted by many of the attendees, the vibe at the Philly Bike Expo is always so positive, warm and welcoming and each year there are new vendors, new builders, and always ...

Editors Note: I have to be honest, I was digging through the back catalog of Dirt Rag’s searching for a ghost story, something Halloween related when I stumbled upon Watts’ “Vanzig” story from a few years back. While not a spooky story per se, it is a story I quite enjoyed. So while we are ...

By Stephen Haynes Whether cutting the sleeves off a brand-new T-shirt or remodeling the interior of a home, the desire to tailor one’s possessions is a siren song most of us succumb to at some stage of our existence. It’s human nature to personalize artifacts to reflect whatever self-image we’ve contrived, imbuing these things with ...

Photos by Brian Lorence Well, its that time of the year again when a large portion of the mountain bike community drops everything to watch an elite few push the boundaries of what is possible on a bike. Red Bull Rampage has gone down in the deserts of Utah since 2001 and the amount of ...

On the cover Gettin’ after it in Sedona, Arizona, by Emily Walley. The Dirt and Readings This month we travel to the Sedona Mountain Bike Festival and road trip to 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo. Also, featured columnist Stevil Kinevil laments being off the bike for a bit due to a nasty crash. Plus, ...

Ryde Rims Ryde Rims showed up to our booth one morning with a new rim. Ryde was until recently known as Rigida, and is now going after a higher end part of the market. This is the Trace rim ($135), which will come in 22, 25 and 29 mm internal widths in both standard and asymmetric. ...

With all the tire size and hub width standards getting pushed around lately, it might have been easy to overlook something as simple as a dent in a handlebar. But with the industry ready and willing to throw convention out the window these days, why not rethink bike sizing as well? The PDent is Kirk ...

We’ve ridden a lot Fox 34 forks and Float CTD rear shocks and they’ve been reliable performers that just needed a few changes to really bring them to the next level. While you could send your suspension bits away for tweaking, it seems that Fox has been paying attention to what riders are after, and updated the ...

WTB was one of the first out of the gate with products in the new 27.5+ category, specifically rims and tires for a 27.5×3.0 (or so) wheel and tire combo. The new Bridger 3.0 27.5+ is aimed squarely at the aggressive trail and enduro market, and should pair up nicely with the Fox 34 released ...

The Process 111 is the shortest of travel and biggest of wheel in Kona’s lineup of enduro bikes. Focusing on a slight 111mm of rear suspension and 29-inch wheels, it’s easy to wonder how an XC bike ended up with the longer-travel 27.5 offerings, which includes the Process 134 and 153. But, taken as a ...

On the cover Seeking adventure with your best friend by Ryan Creary. The Dirt and Readings Check out exclusive stories and images of Dirt Rag’s mountain bike trip to Israel by Stephen Haynes and the Singletrack 6 stage race in British Columbia by Barry Wicks. Plus, Catching Up With Seamus Powell and a classic Bontrager trials bike ...

We’re excited to announce Pivot Cycles will join us at Dirt Fest 2015 as our Presenting Sponsor. Pivot Cycles will be on-hand with a demo truck packed full of the latest Mach 4 Carbon, Mach 429SL and Mach 6 models. Registration to Dirt Fest 2015 is open now at BikeReg. If you don’t already know, ...

The trails of Big Bear West Virginia hold a special place in the heart of Dirt Rag. Our annual mountain bike festival has taken place there during the month of July over the last three summers and we are already looking forward to the 2020 event. Besides being our partners in Dirt Fest, Big Bear ...

Sometimes an edit is so dang good you want everyone to see it. The latest from Commencal Bikes is just that and a little more. Introducing the latest version of the Furious, this video takes viewers to epic landscapes and even more epic riding. Sit back and enjoy!

Introducing the newest merchandise to hit the Dirt Rag Store. Welcome, the Dirt Rag Bolt. Act fast, this is a pre-order only and ends Wednesday, October 30th at 11:59 AM EST. We’ve got your crewneck sweatshirt. The full-zip hooded sweatshirt. And, of course, we have a T-shirt available in Black, White or Gray. Be sure ...

With some already seeing snow in the mountains and Pittsburgh receiving the first official frost warning this weekend, it’s time to enjoy the few remaining days of dust-covered trails. To help keep the good vibes going once the sun sets we’ve paired up the 30th Anniversary stainless steel flask and signature “Pedal Silent Pedal Deep” ...

For one week only get yourself a special deal on Limited Edition Dirt Rag Magazine 30th Anniversary bundles in the Dirt Rag Store. Be sure to act fast as quantities are limited and the special sale ends Sunday, October 6th. The Butts and Booze Bundle is marked down to $90 and includes a 142 mm ...

Paul Components is having a party! We’ll let them invite you themselves, just after this interview with Paul Price of Paul Components. That’s right, *the* Paul. Dirt Rag and Paul Components both turn 30 this year! Read our interview, attend their party, and subscribe to Dirt Rag so you don’t miss future rad content featuring ...

This Friday, October 13th a new show, ‘Peaking’ will premiere on the CW network featuring record-breaking Olympic mountain biker, Jenny Rissveds. The eight-episode docu-series produced by Red Bull Media House, will premiere on The CW and takes you behind the scenes each week with a different athlete. Each athlete has a unique story to share ...

There was speculation day long on how many people actually showed up for yesterday’s Downhill Finals at Snowshoe mountain. As the riders began plummeting down the mountain at warp speed the cascade of cheers, horns, cowbells, and chainsaws sounded like a tsunami barreling through the woods. Based off of intense scientific research of maximum decibel ...

Friday was an action-packed day on the mountain at Snowshoe. The early afternoon saw the Downhill qualifying runs and in the evening the stars of the World Cup XCO took to the slopes for the Short Track race. Twenty minutes of all-out racing to determine starting positions for Sunday’s main event. The women hit the ...

The stage is set for a monumental showdown tomorrow for the final of this year’s Downhill World Cup. Tracey Hannah set the fastest time for the woman during qualifying with her closest rival Marine Cabirou coming in second and newly crowned world champ Myriam Nicole finishing with the third-fastest time today. In the men’s field, ...

By Stephen Haynes When tasked with conjuring names of cities in Tennessee, one might be inclined to list Memphis and Nashville ahead of Knoxville. If this were a magazine about music, you could have an argument, but as far as mountain biking is concerned, Knoxville may just surprise you. A lot of manufacturing cities are ...

Editor’s Note: This feature first appeared in issue 205 of our print edition of Dirt Rag Magazine. Like what you see? Subscribe today so you don’t miss issue 213, the last issue of the year. Be sure to stop by your local bike shop to pick up a copy of issue 212, out now. by ...

Issue 212 of Dirt Rag Magazine has hit the doorstep of Dirt Rag Headquarters, which means it’s on its way to bookstores, bike shops, ports, rabbit holes, hobbit huts, sasquatch pits, alligator caves, marmot nests, clown fortresses and, of course, subscriber mailboxes. If you haven’t already subscribed, be sure to stop by your local bike ...

The rain and the cold that battered riders during Stage 1 moved out with the moon. The Breck Epic was greeted with sun and clear skies this morning to the relief the riders. With clean drivetrains and hopefully dry shoes, the competitors looked to get after a big day of climbing taking them far into ...

How catering to mountain bikers is helping small towns Editor’s Note: This feature first appeared in issue 205 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. Photos from this web edition taken by Brett Rothmeyer in Copper ...

Dear sweet and kind and mischievous readers: Thank you! If you’ve received issue 211 in the mail or at your newsstand, you’ve seen that this is our 30th anniversary of Dirt Rag. We couldn’t have done it without you. Since the days of handing out ‘zines at local Pittsburgh mountain bike gatherings, you’ve been there, ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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, ...

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 ...

In a recent issue of Dirt Rag, we went to some bike parks to check out what new developments are happening in the world of designated bike trails and downhill riding. Windrock in January scared the goggles off me, but I took another stab at downhill bike parks when I visited Spider Mountain outside Austin, ...

Editor’s Note: This story first appeared in issue 207 of Dirt Rag Magazine. Like what you see? Subscribe now to catch issue 211, on its way to mailboxes real soon. Downhill mountain biking on the flanks of Indonesia’s most active volcano Words and photos by Ian Lloyd Neubauer For the past 20 years, I’ve made ...

Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in issue 208 of Dirt Rag Magazine. Like what you see? Subscribe now at dirtragmag.com/subscribe to catch issue 211, coming real soon.  by Carolyne Whelan When Rim Tours invited me along for their Colorado Trail guided trip, I was warned that it was “advanced,” due largely to exposure and ...

This story first appeared in December 2016. We are gearing up for Dirt Fest PA 2019 as we speak and it always nice to look back and remember how this all got started, Planning on attending Dirt Fest? Be sure to register here and we will see you at the Lake! The first edition of ...

Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in issue 209 of Dirt Rag Magazine, as part of an ongoing column by Martin Kozaczek called Be Kind Rewind. Like what you see? Subscribe now at dirtragmag.com/subscribe to catch issue 211, coming real soon.  by Martin Kozaczek Much like Preston Tucker and the Studebaker brothers, the legacy of ...

Editor’s note: OK, so a couple of things. First, this article originally appeared in issue 209 of Dirt Rag Magazine. Like what you see? Subscribe now at dirtragmag.com/subscribe to catch issue 211, coming soon. Second, quite a few folks took issue with this story running in our print magazine. I wrote a response in issue ...

Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in issue 209 of Dirt Rag Magazine. Like what you see? Subscribe now at dirtragmag.com/subscribe to catch issue 210, coming real soon.  by Abby Cooper Single droplets fell from the heavy grey skies and temperatures threatened snow. The timing for a trip to the sought-after loamy trails of Canada’s ...

A cartoon I love told me that Today is Tomorrow’s Yesterday. Just think: last month we were working on a magazine that now exists in my hands and will soon be in yours. That’s right, issue #210 of Dirt Rag Magazine is on its way to you, and future readers have a lot to look ...

There was once a time when Maurice would back the van up to the garage, load it up with bikes, gear, and elixir, and head for the open highways in search of trails and camaraderie amongst the tribes of dirt worshippers littered around the country. The crew often would leave no trail system unridden nor ...

What would a triathlon look like if organized by a group of people who have no interest in triathlons, and very little interest in racing, and have an unignorable urge to make fools of themselves? You know, a Dirt Rag triathlon?

We just got Dirt Rag Magazine #209, the first issue of the year, in our boxes this weekend, which means subscribers are getting yours as well! If you don’t subscribe yet, never fear, you can start your subscription with #210 by subscribing today (how many times can I say “subscribe” in one sentence to get ...

Our newest design is now available in our Threadless store for you to order in a variety of flavors and style. Get Gnar with the Gnarwhal and order yours now!

Words and Photos by Kristin Winet The front entrance to the welcome center is not entirely legible, because years of snow and harsh Idaho winters have rubbed the black paint into a faint gray. The tip-off that we’ve made it here is the parking lot, which is full of cars and trucks and tourists, many—but not ...

Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in issue 207 of Dirt Rag Magazine. Like what you see? Subscribe now at dirtragmag.com/subscribe to catch issue 209, coming real soon.  Can a miniscule dose of LSD make you a better mountain biker? There’s only one way to find out. By Adam Hurlburt WARNING: This story begins with ...

Editor’s note: This review originally appeared in issue 207 of Dirt Rag Magazine. Like what you see? Subscribe now at dirtragmag.com/subscribe to catch issue 209, coming real soon.  Tester: A.J. Collins Age: 40 Height: 5’10” Weight: 165 lbs. Inseam: 31” Price: $5,800 Sizes: S, M, L (tested), XL Online: specialized.com Reach: 18.2” Stack: 24.4” Top ...

Issue 208 – Making do with what we got This is the final issue of 2018, so don’t miss out, there is a bit of a wait between now and the first of 2019. Inside you’ll find some good stuff. The inaugural Dirt Rag Asinine Triathlon. Bike. Boat. Cook. Imagine mountain biking meets D.I.Y. boat ...

Editor’s note: Dirt Rag #206 was our DIY issue, where we built a bamboo bike, a steel frame, and fixed a carbon bike. This is the carbon edition, written by Scott, our Operations Manager. Like what you see? Subscribe now to catch all of 2019 and follow along on all our hijinx. Dirt Rag #208 ...

OK, so now that I’ve gotten the Pittsburgh tragedy out in the open, let’s move on to the PHILLY BIKE EXPO! Maurice (Dirt Rag’s publisher and mastermind) and I drove into Philly with a few bikes in tow, plus some old copies of Dirt Rag to hand out, socks, pint glasses, hats, t-shirts, frame bags ...

The first bike shop job I ever had was at a place called Rob N Charlie’s in Santa Fe, New Mexico. One of my wrenching mentors there gave me good advice when I began working on an expensive bike for the first time: “Consider the Hippocratic Oath: First, do no harm.” That advice stuck with ...

Editor’s note: In excitement for our upcoming issue on Making Do, in your mailboxes and select storefronts soon, here is a story from contributing writer Bryan Chambala on his quest to finish the Green Mountain Gravel Growler. For more stories like this, subscribe now to Dirt Rag by clicking this link, to ensure speedy delivery ...

Editor’s note: This review originally appeared in issue 206 of Dirt Rag Magazine. Like what you see? Subscribe now at dirtragmag.com/subscribe to catch issue 208, coming real soon.  Name: Eric McKeegan Age: 44 Weight: 165 lbs. Height: 5’ 11” Inseam: 32” Price: $6,799, $7,999 with carbon wheels Sizes: XS, S, M, L, (tested) XL Online: ...

Editor’s note: This review was originally published in issue 206 of Dirt Rag Magazine. Want to see more? Subscribe today at dirtragmag.com/subscribe to catch issue 208, coming soon! Price: $5,999 Sizes: XS, S, M, L (tested), XL Online: www.bikes.com Tester: Brett Rothmeyer Age: 40 Weight: 165 lbs. Height: 6’1” Inseam: 32” Reach: 17.9” Stack: 24.0” Top ...

Editor’s note: This story originally ran in issue 206 of Dirt Rag Magazine. Like what you see? Issue 207 is out now on newsstands. Click here to subscribe today to ensure you never miss a story. By Martin I love a good barn find. I mean, who doesn’t love a story about an old relic ...

Some people call October the month when fall comes into bloom, the time when the maple leaves of the Adirondacks turn red and purple and the Rockies’ quivering aspens become an overwhelming gold; others think of it simply as Danzig Month and don their thickest eyeliner and devilock. Here at Dirt Rag, we choose to ...

Editor’s note: Our latest print issue of Dirt Rag Magazine, The Road Trip Issue, just dropped in the mailboxes for subscribers and newsstands. Here’s an awesome write-up of mountain biking in Denmark to accompany the print issue. Interested in subscribing? Click here! By Shawna Kenney pamphlet translated by Shawna Kenney with help from Anja Klemp ...

**Editor’s note: Sorry this Mixtape Monday is hitting on the second Monday instead of the first; we got set back by Labor Day. I met Kyle Kelley one rainy, chilly early evening in July 2016 somewhere in Canada. My two friends and I had been riding in the rain for about eight days straight on the ...

As a culture, we Americans tend to put a lot of focus on the external healing of a wound or injury. We bandage, splint, cast. Eventually, maybe, we venture into the realm of physical therapy and/or yoga. But our beautiful, complex bodies are doing so much work on the inside to heal what’s broken that ...

The new Dirt Rag is hitting shelves and showing up in mailboxes, here is a peek inside the new issue. We aren’t just keyboard jockeys. We’ve even got proof in this issue with three DIY projects: carbon frame repair, bamboo frame construction, and lugged-steel frame making. Maybe you’ll find some inspiration here for a new project. ...

Words and Photos by Andrea Wilson I hail originally from the hot, flat realm of Memphis, Tennessee. I moved to the Colorado Front Range almost three years ago, and I’ve been obsessed with finding all of the nooks and crannies of the mountains ever since. When I realized that the population density of the Denver ...

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 ...

Sometimes after a long ride, beer just isn’t the right thing, nor is more warm water from a hydration pack, gross drink mix in the bottom of your bottle, or a can of sickeningly sweet soda. Thankfully, we’ve learned to enjoy LaCroix. A blend of sparkling water and light flavoring, the LaCroix disappears from the ...

by Colleen O’Neil A recent Facebook ad read: “Ready for Adventure! 1978 Minnie Winnie Camper $4900” It was a real classy remodel: white with blue and brown stripes, a bright new coat of interior paint over the original particle board walls, some amateur woodworking, and a few tasteful decorative accents à la Target. “This Minnie ...

Shimano’s component arm moves slowly with new product development, but when it comes to its shoes, Shimano clips along at a pretty fast rate. The new AM7 is Shimano’s newest clipless all-mountain/gravity shoe, also known as the SH-AM701. The old AM700 was a platform pedal shoe. The platform pedal version of this new shoe is ...

For perhaps the first time in modern history, government officials beyond the highest-ranking are household names in the United States. People who are not very involved in politics and invested in policy-making likely had no idea who was Administrator or Acting Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prior to the recently-resigned Scott Pruitt. And ...

So many of us ride bikes past the pavement to escape into the magic of the woods, the desert, or the plains where our imaginations can still take off and our adult stresses relax. Most of us started that early exploration and adventure by reading books, whisked off to alternate realities where we could see ...

Perhaps you have heard rumblings around your local shops about what new Santa Cruz bikes were on their way. There had been rumors and guesses by many as to just what exactly was coming. Well, the day has come and both the Bronson and 5010 have gotten makeovers, as well have the Roubion and the Furtado from ...

Tester: Eric McKeegan Age: 44 Height: 5’11” Weight: 165 lbs. Inseam: 32” Canyon has made its long-awaited entry into the U.S. market. One of the biggest consumer-direct brands in Europe, the looming threat of Canyon has been touted as the best thing ever for consumers and the worst thing ever for established brands and their ...

Since Halloween, I have been fundraising for AIDS/LifeCycle to earn my spot riding with roughly 2,200 other cyclists and 500 volunteers from San Francisco to Los Angeles. The ride brings awareness to the streets of California and our internet communities; the funds bring needed financial support to organizations who provide education, community, and medical access ...

SRAM knows a hit when it sees one. Rather than mess with a good thing, SRAM continues to bring wide-range 12-speed technology to lower and lower price points. This time it is all the way at the NX level. How low? How about $375 for a complete drivetrain? That is less than the cost of an ...

Dirt Rag has been secretly devising a masterful plan for world domination digital development and it is time to unveil the team unleashed to deliver fun, visually stunning content to our online platforms. Drumroll, please: International spy Carolyne Whelan will oversee Dirt Rag Magazine’s website as its new Web Editor; meanwhile, local vigilante Brett Rothmeyer ...

by Maureen Gaffney Riding the Kokopelli, the 150-mile trail between the esteemed mountain bike destinations of Fruita, Colorado and Moab, Utah for a second time is like childbirth. Your mind neatly erases the painful bits, assembles a sparkly highlight reel, and there you are, doing it all over again. But if you’re going to endure the labor involved in 30-mile ...

While at Santa Cruz headquarters this spring for the company’s new Blur and Highball launch, a few attendees were offered a tour of the Santa Cruz factory led by Santa Cruz CEO Joe Graney. The company operates closer to a boutique brand than the powerhouse that it is. Unlike many large bike brands, Santa Cruz ...

Whenever one has committed to a weekend road trip out of town, the motivation to maximize the time away from work and chores is at an all-time high. As we pointed ourselves eastward on the Pennsylvania Turnpike towards Philadelphia on a Friday morning, we started to wonder: Where could we ride instead of sitting eyeballs-deep ...

Editor’s note: This story originally appeared in Dirt Rag Issue #85, published in April 2001. Words by Cynthia Carbone Ward. Art by Sherri Dobay. I arrived in California on Groundhog Day of 1982, a refugee from New York in high-heeled shoes and too much makeup. My home was a 1973 Buick, avocado green, of course, ...

Words and Photos by Andrea Wilson I hail originally from the hot, flat realm of Memphis, Tennessee. I moved to the Colorado Front Range almost three years ago, and I’ve been obsessed with finding all of the nooks and crannies of the mountains ever since. When I realized that the population density of the Denver ...

This past weekend we paid a visit to Drew Guldalian of Engin Cycles to find out more about the man behind the brand and the work that goes into each one of his handmade frames. Drew had his personal mountain bike on hand, and I don’t know about you but seeing what builders create for themselves ...

Or: Why I Always Carry a Map Mountain biking is a lot like the military in two ways: It’s a family and operates as an “army of one” (in most every other way it is probably the exact opposite). So it was fitting that I got completely lost riding alone in the Jemez Mountains near ...

Welcome to the first installment of the Backyard and Beyond video series. For our first effort, we visit with Purple Lizard Maps. Purple Lizard Maps was created in the mid-1990’s by Michael Herman. Herman, a longtime mountain biker began compiling trail maps in an effort to improve on the trail user experience. Join us as we ...

Words and Photos by Colleen O’neil   I’m grinding up the gravel road, sweating profusely in my rain jacket. A sudden summer shower just passed, so now it’s 80 degrees and sweltering again. Drops of water spill from the huge ferns lining the road. My husband Montana stands at the top of the hill, fiddling ...

The Regular Guy Mountain Biking Podcast recently sat down with Dirt Rag Events Coordinator Evan Gross to discuss all the things Dirt Fest. If you are planning on coming to this year’s event this is a great listen to find out what Dirt Rag Dirt Fest is all about.   If you would like to ...

When Pearl Izumi created its new Versa line, it had a few things in mind. According to the company, “It had to be comfortable. Functional. Extremely versatile”. All of which are characteristics that I personally look for. Aside from making packing for trips easier, I like to know that I can run down to the ...

Special offer! We are doing a limited run T-shirt just in time for Friday the 13th! These shirts will be pre-order only. We’ll be accepting orders now through Sunday, April 15th at 11:59 pm. $25 gets you a shirt with domestic shipping included! Order here!

Trek’s Stache 29plus hardtail has opened many eyes to the wonderful weirdness of 29plus tires. Ever since the introduction of the SE4/XR4 29×3 tire in the Fall of 2017 I’ve been wondering if there might be a bike designed around the capabilities of this tire. I stopped wondering a few weeks ago when this weird ...

  Remember Kona’s first 29er trail bike, the 130 mm Satori? Five years ago it was a solid first effort, with 68/74 head/seat angles, just over 17″ chainstays, and a long reach for the time. When the Process 111 hit the market, the Satori disappeared. Or maybe it disappeared before the 111? Does it really ...

This contest has ended, congratulations to the winners: Nittany Outdoors Hip Pack and Roll-Down pack: Chris Donabella of Denver CO Ibis Bikes wool jersey: Sean Bell of Cranberry TWP PA SRAM DESCENDANT CoLab Troy Lee Designs Carbon Bar: Julie Kieliszak of Landenberg PA Ritchey Logic pair of ZMax Evolution tires: Chris Behm of East Prospect PA Stan’s No Tubes ...

This Contest has ended congratulations to the winner Ulises Calvillo of Salinas, CA. Enter to win DEITY blacklabel handlebars, a copperhead 35mm stem and knuckleduster grips, as well as a two-weekend festival, passes and a two-night hotel stay for the 2018 Hurricane MTB Festival! Enter to win below.   Complete the survey below by 11:59 pm January 10, 2018, to ...

It’s that time of year when we all look back at the past 12 months and take stock of what we’ve accomplished and the memories we’ve made. Here in the world of Dirt Rag Web, we took a look at the analytics and what some of our most popular content this year has been. Here ...

Now that the holiday online shopping rush is just about over (or maybe for some, just beginning… good luck!), we’ve taken this opportunity to change things up a bit in our Dirt Rag Online Store. Our new store offers you, the customer, more options, more often. You’ll be able to choose from several different Dirt ...

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 ...

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, ...

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 ...

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 ...

Contest ended. Congrats to Winner: Marc Rape of Columbus, IN! We’re sorry The promotion you are trying to access has ended. Endura has partnered with us to give one winner an MT500 Waterproof II Jacket. Enter to win below. The MT500 Waterproof Jacket II is Danny MacAskill’s jacket of choice. Made from exceptionally breathable ExoShell60TM three-layer ...

Contest ended. Congrats to Winner: Fran Ruk of Natrona Heights, PA We’re sorry The promotion you are trying to access has ended. Ritchey Design has partnered with us to give one winner an awesome prize pack; WCS Speedmax 40c Tires, WCS Venturemax Bars, WCS Pave Bartape,and Bar Keeper. Enter to win below.           ...

Contest ended. Congrats to Winner: Joshua Shannon of Palm Bay, FL We’re sorry The promotion you are trying to access has ended. Effetto Mariposa has partnered with us to give one winner a Caffelatex Prize Pack; Caffelatex tubeless kit, Caffelatex injector, and 4x Caffelatex 60 ml trail pouches. Enter to win below.     Caffélatex is ...

Cycling is full of unique personalities and here at Dirt Rag, we love to embrace them all. Peek inside issue 201 and see what we have in store. Get issue 201 now Editor’s Letter Welcome to our third Personality Issue. It’s a favorite of mine for reasons beyond just the final product you’re holding right ...

Contest ended. Congrats to Winner: Kyle De Benedet  of Denver, CO We’re sorry The promotion you are trying to access has ended.   Feedback Sports has partnered with us to give one winner a Pro Elite Work Stand with tote! Enter to win below.   The Pro-Elite is the go-to bike repair stand for mechanics on the ...

The news we’ve all been waiting for: Carbon Process! OK, maybe not EVERYONE was waiting, but there is no arguing that the high-end trail and all-mountain markets are dominated by carbon-framed bikes, and the Process line, while being some sweet riding bikes, weren’t on the radar of the carbon-ravenous among us. Obviously, this isn’t just ...

Contest ended. Congrats to Winner: Bruce Burke of Eugene, OR We’re sorry The promotion you are trying to access has ended. Michelin has partnered with us to giveaway a pair of Wild AM tires. Enter to win below.     The Michelin® Wild AM is designed to handle trail or all-mountain riding in both wet and dry conditions. Built ...