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RockShox Lyrik 2-Step Fork Review05.05.08 | Author: Jason Mitchell | No CommentsIt's funny how things can come full circle. When mountain bike suspension forks were first introduced, RockShox was the king of the hill. Their famous Mag21 fork was legendary and everyone drooled over the fold-flecked magnesium lowers and how plush 60 mm of travel felt. Ahh, the days. Then, Marzocchi came on the freeride scene with all the grace of a 500-lb. gorilla just squashing both RockShox and Manitou out of the market. RockShox's lone ray of hope was the Boxxer World Cup, which shined on World Cup courses and was and still is ridden by the DH man-to-beat, Steve ...
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Commencal Meta666 Bike Review - Interbike 200705.03.08 | Author: Jason Mitchell | No CommentsThe French aren't so much known for building mountain bikes, though there have been several Frenchman who have been ultra-successful at both XC and DH disciplines. When I think of France and bikes, I think of bikes of the skinny tire variety. Contrary to that stereotype, Commencal has been building a handful of downhill and freeride-type mountain bikes since 2000. I didn't really notice Commencal until freeride and DH phenom Cedric Gracia jumped from Cannondale to Commencal a couple of years ago. I haven't seen much of Gracia lately, so I'm not sure if he's settled into the European spotlight ...
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Is it Trail Running or Trail Maintenance?05.02.08 | Author: Jason Mitchell | No CommentsThere's no doubt that I love singletrack trails. There are few things that compare to that winding ribbon of dirt fading in the distance or twisting though a beautiful aspen grove. It's spring (even though it snowed at my house yesterday) and that means the waiting game is on for the really good singletrack to thaw from a long winter's slumber.Winter snowfall along the Wasatch has been above normal and spring temps have been slow to warm up, so chances are that the good stuff won't thaw for at least another couple months. Luckily, there are plenty of low-lying ...
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Pivot Cycles Mach 429: The 29er Revolution Continues04.29.08 | Author: Jason Mitchell | No CommentsI've been impressed with what I've seen thus far from Pivot Cycles. Building all their bikes on the successful DW-Link suspension design, every bike in the line is guaranteed to be plush and efficient--the holy grail of suspension design. Complementing the Pivot Mach 4 and Mach 5 is the all-new Pivot Mach 429. Why 429? Well, because it's a Mach 4 that's been re-engineered around beautiful, trail-smoothing 29-inch wheels. I'm a believer in the 29-er revolution and apparently Chris Cocalis and the crew at Pivot are also. It is currently in prototype stage, but I'm sure it will ...
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Ryders Eyewear Slipstream Sunglasses Review04.28.08 | Author: Jason Mitchell | 1 CommentSunglasses are uber-important pieces of gear for nearly every outdoor activity. Mountain and road cyclists typically have several pairs of sunglasses or at least a pair with interchangeable lenses. In my mind there are three imperatives with biking-friendly eyewear: 1) they must be lightweight and 2) they must stay put--even while sweating up a storm and 3) They've got to properly block the wind. With high-end sunglass prices typically in the $100-$150 range, it's hard to afford multiple pair or even that one do-it-all pair of sunglasses. Markup on a typical pair of sunglasses must be huge--either that or they are ...
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Yeti 303R SS Slopestyle & DH Prototypes - Sneak Peak04.27.08 | Author: Jason Mitchell | No CommentsShowing off some eye candy, Yeti Cycles is displaying two prototype bikes to the public to generate some buzz. Well, it certainly worked for me because these bikes look amazing! No, they aren't for everyday riding on the local trails, but as far as big hit, park and slopestyle riding, these new bikes look to expand on Yeti's innovative Zero Loss rail system used for several years now in the current 303 DH. Full specs are forthcoming as these are purely prototype bikes. But, they look pretty darn refined for prototypes. I'm guessing they are tweaking angles here and ...
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Wasatch Front Freeride and DH Trail Building - WAFTA04.26.08 | Author: Jason Mitchell | No CommentsWith so many mountains and trails in close proximity to Salt Lake City, it's no wonder mountain biking is so popular around here. But, as interest in DH and freeride-type trails has increased, so have scuffles with land managers and other trail users. Sometimes, our non-mountain biking brethren (equestrians and hikers), just don't understand. And well, they may never understand just how fun it is to dawn the helmet and protective padding, then hurl yourself down a trail at breakneck speed on a squishy speed machine. Adding to the mix is the desire to build stunts, ramps, and bridges ...
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The Ups and Downs of Springtime Riding04.22.08 | Author: Jason Mitchell | No CommentsThe calendar says it's spring here in Utah, but I'm not buying it. Actually, it's been the typical up and down roller coaster weather that dominates April along the Wasatch Mountains. One day, it's 75 degrees and sunny, then the next it's 30 degrees and you've got an inch of snow on the lawn. It definitely makes for a challenging time to get consistent riding days in. Still, I've gotten a few days of riding inbetween backcountry skiing sessions and am looking forward to more. It's great to have early-season trails in my backyard in Lambert Park (Alpine, UT). ...
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Carry More With a Yakima SkyBox Pro 12 or 21 Cargo Box04.18.08 | Author: Jason Mitchell | 2 CommentsAs I drive around town, I can't help but gasp when I see the current gas prices. It's $3.44 at my local Chevron and there's no sign that it's going to stop anytime soon. With gas at all-time highs, it's no wonder why small cars like the Honda Civic or hybrids like the Toyota Prius are in such high demand. But, how do outdoorsy people with lots of gear and some of us with 3+ kids haul all the bikes, backpacks, coolers, skis, food and clothes in small, gas-friendly vehicles? One option is to add extra on-demand storage with a rooftop ...
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SEASONS Mountain Bike Film Premieres in Utah04.16.08 | Author: Jason Mitchell | No CommentsWe are stoked to announce that we will once again be bringing the latest film from The Collective to Salt Lake City and Park City! This year's film, SEASONS, looks into the lives of seven top athletes from the perspective of the most renowned cinematographers and photographers of the sport. You won't want to miss this on the big screen! I watch their previous releases, ROAM and The Collective, over and over in the comfort of my own home and on my laptop. These films are by far the best outdoor sports films period... better than TGR, better than MSP, better ...
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