The Rant: Thru with it
In the beginning, there were axle nuts. They were simple and crude and required a tool to remove. They still exist today on many bikes, from cheapie department store numbers to the finest BMX bikes money can buy. They work and work well. Then came wing nuts. Racers needed a way to get wheels off ...
The Rant: Millimeters Matter
Hang on, hang on Yes, it’s the little things Yes, it’s the little things That do us harm I’m not a stranger Ain’t a mystery When we both get it wrong -“Hang On,” Dr. Dog The longer I ride bikes, the more it seems that tiny changes can make a big difference in my enjoyment ...
The Rant: Deferred Maintenence
Wheel sizes, tire sizes, suspension travel, frame material, suspension design, so many damn choices. And that is just from a single company. Add in everyone else making kick-ass bikes these days and it gets hard to think. How did we end up here? I’ve been thinking it is a case of deferred maintenance. Let me ...
The Rant: R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Originally published in Issue #192 “Respect was invented to cover the empty place where love should be.” — Leo Tolstoy, “Anna Karenina” Repairing bikes isn’t a great way to make a living. On average, bike mechanics are paid less than the average high school dropout. Pretty sad state of affairs for an industry that seems ...
The Rant: What are we hiding from, anyway?
From Issue #190 Throughout the evolution of the mountain bike, we’ve seen new technologies and ideas introduced at a very rapid rate. Just 30 years ago most of what we take for granted while riding now wasn’t even on anyone’s radar. Some of the technology has been discarded along the way, usually with good reason. Dual-control ...
The Rant: My Enduro
Illustration: Stephen Haynes My event would allow only two bikes—any two bikes the racer wanted, but only two, with just tire swaps allowed between stages. No question, the Enduro World Series is a great racing event. It’s well run, truly global in locations and is attracting some of the fastest riders on two wheels. I ...
The Rant: No longer at the kids table
Change is inevitable, and for the past decade, it has been extra inevitable in the world of mountain bikes. For a sport that is still relatively young, especially one that is so dependent on equipment, that is to be expected. Taking a step back and examining these changes, it can be easy to think ...
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