Bring you’re A-game, no ifs, ands or buts. This is advanced intermediate – expert riding only. When you roll out to Exeter, you’re going to experience first hand all that stuff they taught you in grade school such as: Why is New Hampshire called the granite state? Why are there so many rock walls in the forests in New England? Can we ride on top of them? And you’ll understand why farmers fled New England for the great frontier known as the Midwest for farming – because they weren’t mountain bikers. Let Iowa grow the corn, and leave us with the most mouth-watering, technical, flowing singletrack completely enshrouded in dense New Hampshire old-growth forest. This trail system is at least 14 miles of flowing singletrack up, over, around, through and screaming down some highly technical rock gardens, some flowing dirt track, and features natural rock drops ranging from 2’ to 4’+, amazing man-made free ride obstacles (gapped ramps, planks…) sponsored by local riders and NEMBA – www.nemba.org and www.snemba.org , some dirt jumps with step-ups… (Side note: we still farm here in New Hampshire, and Exeter is home to fantastic local seacoast farms, apple orchards, pumpkin patches, and cornfields, so bring the family, let them do the apple picking/petting zoo dance, and get your ass to the rodeo at Fort Rock.)

Getting There:

From Route 101, take Exit 10 to Rte 85 south, park at the trestle parking lot, about .25 – .5 mile south from the exit – when you see the giant granite trestle, turn right up the hill. Begin your ride by heading up the dirt road past the auto entrance that is blocked off to autos. Continue up the hill a couple hundred yards, and prepare to duck in to either the first or second trail head on the right. It doesn’t matter because you’ll end up riding a loop that is equally fun both ways, and I think it’s best if you discover the loops on the South side both ways to see the drops and down hills available to you. One thing becomes apparent within seconds: this trail network is going to make you work. There are long sections of large stones and boulders on the entrance to the trails, requiring you to muscle through and around the rocks. You’ll hit a little of everything on this side of the network. As you push through the trails – and consult the trail map at www.snemba.org , you’ll find that you can cross under Route 101 and into another section of trails. This section, the North Side offers more of the same, and really helps stretch out the ride.

Review:

What you’ll really enjoy about riding out here is that the trails are nice and stretched out with gentle elevation gains, so you’re not going to be twisted-up on a bunch of switchbacks that coil around on themselves, and you are able to really push the pedals and gain some speed to take advantage of the drops and rock-rolls that you encounter. It makes the trail that much more fun because you can relax without stressing over the next tight corner every 100 feet or the long slog up. You can ride a good 14 miles of rolling terrain with a few spurts of ups and downs. The other bonus is that drops tend to lead into flowing turns and built up rock rolls, the down hills are fast and offer lots of options for people who prefer to stay planted on mostly dirt and rock slabs to people who prefer to float over lots of stones and boulders and spend a little time in the air.

[Show as slideshow]

Packing List/Hot Tips:

• You are going to be riding a lot of rock. Expect to pop a tube in a pinch flat, or even worse gash a tire – I saw both the last two times I was there. Bring tubes, a small roll of duct tape, a dollar bill, and your pump. If needed, there’s a great shop a couple miles from the trail head called Wheel Power the guys who run this shop are riders, and stock their store accordingly. Meaning you won’t find cheesy 2.0 tires only for your 6” bike. These guys get it, and are down to earth. Find a trail map on their website as well.
• Bring a lot of water and a snack. You are going to be riding in a dense forest. It’s like a jungle, so if on hot days it’s 80% humidity (normal in New Hampshire) in the open parking lot, sure enough it’ll be worse in the forest.
• A lite-first aid kit. If the rocks are slick, there’s a good chance you or someone you know will dump. Be ready to help out.
• This is dog friendly, but you will encounter other bikers and dogs, and occasionally a race, plus you will be passing through some private land (read neighborhood) on the North Side. So, be aware of the privilege of riding with your little buddy, and make sure he/she will stay close by.
• Bring you’re A-game. You want to stay on the ball the entire time you’re riding here.
• Bring a sense of adventure and time. Don’t make this a ride where you’re limited on time if it’s your first few rides here. There’s a lot of stuff to explore, and it’s not worth doing if you’re pressed for time.
• Youtube videos of Fort Rock Exeter. Exeter Woods Mountain Biking is one of a 2 part series, but you’ll get the itch after watching these.

Random Posts

• September 16, 2008 -- Mountain Bike Brakes Explained: Braking the Confusion
• March 16, 2009 -- All Harlot and No STD’s
• August 21, 2008 -- Girls – Seven Reasons You Should Start Mountain Biking
• July 26, 2008 -- Recover from a Crumpled Collarbone Quicker
• January 8, 2009 -- Help Create New Singletrack at Charleston Park
• September 30, 2008 -- Angles and Sizes, and How They Affect Your Bike
• October 1, 2008 -- Beginner’s Guide to Clipless Pedals
• August 7, 2008 -- Tire Pressure: Something to Pay Attention To
• August 25, 2008 -- Giro Xen Mountain Bike Helmet Review
• September 19, 2008 -- TAG Wheels to Introdue New Carbon Fiber and Composite Wheels at Interbike

How to get to Klondike Bluffs is head north out of Moab, pass Arches National Park and there will be a sign on the east side of the highway about 15 miles out of town. There is a parking lot right there, but do yourself a favor and drive in on the dirt road. This road is not fun, it is mostly gravel and sand. Eventually you will come to another parking lot, this is the spot to park. The trail head is right there you can’t miss it. There are actually two trail shortly after the start, look for the higher one that is the one you want to take, you will bypass a HUGE sand trap by doing so. Once the trails merge there will be a small sand trap that you can navigate through. One of the best parts of the ride is to sit there and watch people ride through the sand and eat it. I was following my wife and she didn’t carry her momentum into the sand well, and she was still getting used to the clipless pedals, when she hit the sand it stopped her flat, paused her straight up, then just fell straight over on her side. I will probably be sleeping on the couch for the next two weeks for this, but once I realized she was okay, I laughed so hard that I almost did the same thing. So be sure to stop by the sand trap to get a few laughs. 

Immediately after the sand trap you will see a sign for Baby Steps Loop. Do not be fooled by its cute name, that trail is brutal, and you most defiantly do not want to climb up it, more on that one later. So continue up the trail and you will come to some fun dirt/rock sections that are bit technical, but really fun to maneuver over. Once you pass that section you have about a 3-3.5 mile straight climb up slick rock. One time on this trail we passed a 4-generation biking family. The grandma had to be at least 70, then I believe it was her son and his wife, their adult child, with their six year old. So don’t be a wuss, I saw a seventy-year-old woman on this trail, what was embarrassing is she had a nicer bike than me at the time (she had a pretty nice Trek Fuel if I remember correctly). If you are more of an advanced rider and in good shape this is an awesome slick rock play ground. You don’t have a narrow trail to follow; there are a lot of obstacles right off the beaten path to play on. So have fun with it and create your own line, it is really easy to see where you are going and to see when you need to get back on the trail, but for sure more than one road leads to Rome on this section.

Once you get up on top of the slick rock portion of the trail there is a double track dirt trail that is mellow, which is a welcome change because the slick rock climb is pretty long, and in some cases steep, your lungs will be due for a rest. Continue on the dirt trail until you come to a brutal looking climb. This is a great place to stop and rest for your party to re-group there are some trees even to sit in the shade. Once the party is rallied and rested if you feel man enough you can attempt the brutal climb up for the last 100 yards or so. I pride myself on being manly, but I will be the first to admit that I am not that manly, so I leave my bike the in shade of the tree and hike up the last 100 yards for the real treat of the trail. After the last 100 yards you cross over into Arches National Park. Bikes are not allowed into the park so if you are more manly than me you park your ride there at the gate. If you have never been Mars then you know exactly what Arches National Park looks like. Seriously it is the strangest looking place on the planet, but that strangeness is what made it a national park. Honestly going to Arches National Park is something that MUST be on everyone’s bucket list, words and photos cannot describe the beauty of the place. Arches’ has some of the strangest landscapes that are on the face of the Earth. There are no arches in this spot, however it is a really remote part of the park that not many people will ever see and defiantly unique. It is worth every minute of the ride to get up there.

Typically Klondike Bluffs is ridden as an out-n-back. Which is the way I recommend doing it. You can seriously bomb down the slick rock portion faster than most steep descents on a bike. Again you can also pick your own line to make it as technical as you wish. Also if you ride slower you can see some dinosaur foot prints that are in the slick rock portion of the trail. I have never ridden slow enough to find them, but my buddy had a flat coming down and he spotted a few.

However you can take an alternate route back, this is the Baby Steps Loop. On your way back to the slick rock portion you will see a sign that says Baby Steps Loop and you take that. Baby Steps has some steep, gnarly, technical descents. These are super cool, but in order to get to these you have to ride through tons of gravel and sand. Literally miles of it, so unless you are Super Man or you get to Moab after a rainstorm Baby Steps is so hard. It adds probably 6-7 miles to the ride. Another bad thing about Baby Steps, is I found it really hard to navigate, some sections of the trail where easy, and others I was wondering if I was riding in the right direction. When I ran out of water and I couldn’t tell where the end was going to be I started having hallucinations that I was going to be buzzard food. Baby Steps was not an enjoyable ride for most of it. So stick to the Klondike Bluffs portion of the trail and have a great time.

• November 3, 2008 -- Waterbury, Vermont & the SMBC
• July 10, 2008 -- Hawkes Creek Farm (Winterville, GA)
• June 30, 2008 -- Big Drop Brian Head Mountain Bike Trail (Parowan, Utah)
• June 18, 2008 -- 441 Mountain Bike Trail (Athens, GA)
• June 18, 2008 -- Cochran Shoals Mountain Bike Trail (Atlanta, GA)
• June 11, 2008 -- Chase Street Mountain Bike Trail (Athens, GA)

The San Juan Trail, and the Candy Store Trail are just about 35 minutes from my house, and I never even knew they existed 3 months ago. But they have become two of my favorite trails. Now I am not a hard core XC rider, that said, we shuttle these two trails, they do have some pedaling mixed in with the downhill and it’s a pretty good workout (for me). Usually we go in a group and park one car at the bottom to bring the driver of the other car back to the top to get his truck. You need a forest Adventure pass to park there; the rangers do patrol the area periodically to check for them. A year pass is only 35 bucks, well worth it.

I ride with my 2 sons mostly and some of their friends, yeah, I know, my two sons! Yep, well I am 50, and have been doing the 2 wheel thing since I was old enough to push a pedal or twist a throttle. My 2 rides on the San Juan Trail, and 2 on the Candy Store section, have been in the best conditions, winter, cool temperature and 3 of the rides were after rain or during, making the sandstone like trails the perfect texture for some great riding.

This is single track riding, mostly between bushes and manzanita. That Manzanita will rip you right off your bike, shred your jersey, poke your arm, maybe draw a little blood, and then not even look like you touched it. There are some awesome switchbacks, fast narrow sections and some sections that weave under a canopy of trees, it is almost too beautiful of a scene to just bomb past. 

I ride with a helmet cam, let me clarify that, I ride with a mini dv camcorder attached to the side of my helmet, I have gotten some awesome video of both of my sons doing some great riding, over some really cool obstacles, AND, I have gotten some great crash footage of them.

Over the bars, riding off the trail into the bushes, some high speed cross rutted crashes that look pretty spectacular, Oh yeah, and I have gotten some first hand views of myself going down on several occasions, funny thing about the ones where I crash. They just don’t look as bad from the cameras view, as it seemed from my view.

Both of the trails are similar BUT! The Candy Store cut off has some sections with a lot of rock drops; these are really a blast if you’re up to it. We did a ride with a group of 13 riders, when we came to one of the sections with a set of three rocky sections in a row to navigate over; only 3 of us did it, the rest walked down it. Lenny bombed it first on his Foes, then Anthony my son made it look easy on his Intense, finally, and a bit nervously, I did it on my trusty Kona, and it was awesome! Have done it twice now!

A lot of fun downhill after those sections, some narrow mountain side traversing ducking under branches, and some perfect placed rocks to either ride up and over, or around, and since it was the winter when I was there, there was even some water crossings. Make sure you check your bike out before you ride here, and have tubes, patches, pump, multi tool, and a camelback.

My son’s derailleur came apart on a downhill section last time we went. By the time we stopped he had no idea where it came apart at. We still had too far to go to just give up and coast and push back. So we walked back up the trail, looking for small screws, the little geared cog and bushing and washers, believe it or not, we found all five pieces, spread across about a 25 foot section, Yahoo! Lucky for us.

About a half mile climb is at the end of the ride that gets you back to the parking lot across the street from the Candy Store (hence the name Candy Store trail) and its only 4 miles to the turn off that takes you back to the top, heck, you could do it a couple times is one day if you wanted.

Maybe next time I am there, I will see you there, I will be the old guy, behind you, and that you can’t seem to pull away from. Happy Riding,

Mike Solesbee

• May 26, 2009 -- Support Historic Opportunity for NEW Mountain Bike Access in Marin County, California

Road Bikes

Madone 5.5 Performance Fit 50,52,54×2, 56×2, 58×2, 60,62)
Madone 6.9 Pro Fit (54, 56)

Mountain Bikes

Trek EX 9.9 (15.5, 17.5, 18.5, 19.5, 21)
Trek Remedy 9 (small, med , large)
Trek 69er SS (15.5, 19.5)

Fisher Roscoe (med and 2 Large)
Fisher Pro Caliber (17, 19)
Fisher SuperFly (15.5,17.5, 19, 21)
Fisher HiFi Pro 29er (16, 19, 21)
Fisher HiFi Pro 26in Wheel (15.5,17.5, 19)

Trek Top Fuel 9.8 (17.5,18.5, 19.5)
Trek Top Fuel 9.9 (21.5)

Please Bring…

1) Helmet
2) shoes/pedals
3) photo ID

Random Posts

• October 17, 2008 -- Old Man Mountain Biker: Why I Ride
• October 19, 2008 -- Get More Power Go Faster: Some Quick Tips
• January 14, 2009 -- Innerleithen Apartments Cater To Mountain Bikers
• September 11, 2008 -- What You Should Have in Your First Aid Kit
• July 31, 2008 -- My Singlespeed Friend
• November 15, 2008 -- V.I.O. POV.1 – Helmet Cameras for a Better Point of View
• September 2, 2008 -- Safety in Mountain Biking
• August 13, 2008 -- 2008 Olympic Mountain Biking in Beijing
• January 12, 2009 -- France’s Julien Absalon’s Olympic Gold Mountain Bike
• September 9, 2008 -- CLIX is the Fix for the Common Quick Release Skewer Blues

The Optimum Performance Pyramid (OPP) was first introduced to me by Gray Cook, a highly influential figure in strength training circles. It is probably the best explanation that I have come across describing how performance training should be viewed. Gray uses the OPP to explain the 3 distinct levels of performance training, their prioritization and how to best integrate them.

The first, and broadest, level is Functional Movement. Contrary to the current fitness trends, this does not mean standing on a wobbly doo-hicky, looking like you are trying out for the circus. Functional Movement simply refers to developing adequate mobility, body control and movement awareness in order to safely handle higher level movements.

Examples of exercises in this level would include single leg box squats, pistol squats, Bulgarian split squats, single leg deadlift, push ups and their variations, inverted rows and alternating DB shoulder press. Bodyweight and unilateral exercises make up the bulk of this type of training. However, bodyweight exercises are extremely humbling when challenging variations are used. Do not underestimate the power of this type of training.

The Functional Movement level should also address any imbalances in the body, both mobility and strength wise, as they are a huge red flag for a potential injury. An athlete without a strong base built in this level of training will be far more prone to injuries, have a harder time mastering new skills and techniques and generally find that their training efforts yield few and inconsistent results.

The second level of the pyramid is Functional Strength. This level focuses on improving your raw strength and power. As I have touched on many times, increasing these areas will effectively add to your raw potential. Riders without adequate time spent on this level will also find that they have a harder time mastering new skills and will probably feel as if they have hit a plateau with their progression.

Examples of exercises in this level would include deadlift, front squat, bench press, military press, weighted pull ups/ chin ups, and DB rows. Compound, core exercises for the main movement patterns make up the bulk of this level.

The last, and smallest, level is Functional Skill. Unfortunately, this is where most training that MTB riders undertake would fall. This includes trail riding, DH runs, dirt jumping, 4X track time, gate starts, sprints, intervals and high level strength training methods such as plyometrics and Olympic Lifts. These methods will only yield the biggest “MTB specific” gains if they are used by someone who has spent time developing the base levels of the performance training pyramid. Believe it or not, over use of training methods in this level can actually slow down and stagnate skill development and fitness progression. 

In fact, if you talked with any of the originators of a specialized training method I will guarantee you that they would tell you that they intended that method to be used by someone who had progressed into it. Every good strength coach understands the importance of laying a solid foundation and building on it in a progressive manner, but that approach is rarely reported on in the media or used by less skilled fitness professionals.

What you find in the magazines and training boards is someone who reports on the specialized method independent of the progression intended to lead into it. Everyone wants to report on, learn and/ or use the “special” and “secret” training method of the champs, but failure to understand the progression into that method does a great disservice to the pioneers that gave us those methods.

Plyometrics have to be one of the best examples of this. Developed and refined by the old Soviet Union, plyometrics have developed an almost mystical status here in the United States. Almost every training conversation that I have with a rider eventually comes around to “what about plyometrics”, as if they hold the key to all riding goals. Riders who can barely pull off a bodyweight squat are jumping around cones and off of boxes in the quest for a MTB specific workout. However, the pioneers of the plyometric method would be greatly disturbed by this approach.

Some of the old Soviet training texts suggest that an athlete should have progressed (there’s that word again) to a double bodyweight squat before they were ready for depth jumps and other high level plyometrics. While I may not agree with that specific suggestion (more recent suggestions are around 1-1.5 times your bodyweight), it does underscore the fact that no one came into their training program and started off with plyometrics. In fact, it could be years before they would allow an athlete to use those higher level training methods if they felt adequate functional movement and strength had not been established.

So, as you can see from this point of view, most riders spend far too much time and focus on the Functional Skill level of the OPP. A lot of them may not have spent any time working on Functional Movement and/ or Functional Strength. This makes them over skilled, as their MTB specific skill and fitness progression is maxed out compared to the base that they have built. This means that a long term approach with an eye on safely progressing through the 3 levels of the OPP is needed for sustainable results.

Without it, you are simply guessing at what will help you and hoping that it will. I don’t know about you, but that approach leaves too much to chance. If I’m going to invest time into training I want to be sure that it is going to pay off.

Lastly, do not confuse “over skilled” from a performance training point of view with having “adequate skill” from a pure performance point of view. Most of us will never be satisfied with our skill and fitness levels in every aspect of riding so we will always be looking to get a little better in some aspect on the bike. What I am saying is that at a certain point you must re-solidify the base of your OPP in order to continue to realize the gains offered by the higher level strategies.

Random Posts

• August 13, 2008 -- 2008 Olympic Mountain Biking in Beijing
• October 27, 2008 -- Raging Red Green Chile Salsa Review
• January 13, 2009 -- Interview with Mountain Bike Photographer Seb Rogers
• July 24, 2008 -- Interview with Mountain Bike Artist Chris Bourke
• January 26, 2009 -- Sacred Rides – Mountain Bike Tours
• May 26, 2009 -- Support Historic Opportunity for NEW Mountain Bike Access in Marin County, California
• April 6, 2009 -- Hoss Technical Gear’s Stallion Shorts Review
• June 5, 2008 -- Thanks
• August 1, 2008 -- The Great Debate: Gatorade or Water
• September 4, 2008 -- Commencal Furious Freeride Mountain Bike Review – Crankworx Colorado 2008

The below was an email received on December 18, 2008 from IMBA
For Immediate Release
12-18-08
Contact: Drew Vankat, Policy Analyst
303-545-9011
drew@imba.com

Join IMBA and an expected 600 bicycle advocates at the 2009 National Bike Summit, March 10-12, in Washington, D.C. Hosted by the League of American Bicyclists, the Summit provides a unique opportunity for mountain bikers to interact with cyclists of all stripes, attend diverse informational sessions and lobby the halls of Congress. IMBA supporters who attend receive discounted registration, a private banquet dinner and tons of great swag.

An Extremely Important Year for the National Bike Summit

The sweeping administrative and congressional changes in D.C. make 2009 an extremely important year. “With so many new members of congress, it’s more important than ever to show them the human face of mountain biking and introduce yourself to their staff and your issues,” says IMBA Government Affairs Director Jenn Dice. “Mountain bikers have a golden opportunity to protect more land, influence public lands bills, increase funding for trails and lay the foundation for productive working relationships.”

Attendees will be treated to presentations and panel discussions on many important topics. IMBA is currently finalizing an exceptional line-up of speakers and sessions to cover the following topics: urban trails and jump parks, integrating trails and neighborhoods, small-group land protection training, funding for the National Park Service and integrating singletrack into the Bicycle Friendly Community program.

Sign up online to attend the National Bike Summit. Early bird registration is now open and available through Feb. 5.

Bolster Your Trails by Attending the National Bike Summit

The Summit is the perfect way to build a relationship with your member of congress. U.S. representatives and senators can be very powerful allies when the time comes to develop singletrack destinations. Just ask the Minnesota Off-Road Cyclists (MORC), who garnered $800,000 for new singletrack north of Minneapolis. “Your congressional office can help you find the right way to go after money for trails. The funding opportunities are there, but you have to go out and get it,” says MORC’s Tim Wegner.

Mike Dulin, of the Kentucky Mountain Biking Association, says, “Last year’s Summit was amazing. The combined knowledge of so many fellow cycling advocates is truly inspiring and the meetings on Capitol Hill are a fantastic way to get the ball rolling on new trails projects.”

Advocates looking to influence public lands protection also benefit from coming to D.C. “We’ve sent Virginians to the National Bike Summit the past few years and it’s undoubtedly helped us become better advocates for mountain biking and protected landscapes in the Jefferson and George Washington national forests,” says IMBA Trail Solutions Director Rich Edwards.

Resources to Get the Most Out of the National Bike Summit

IMBA pulls out the stops to make sure mountain bikers make the most of this event. Attendees are encouraged to register early so they can join pre-Summit conference calls and take advantage of IMBA’s online resources for comprehensive guidance on a variety of topics, including how to raise money to attend and finding lodging options. Limited scholarship money is available to help offset costs.

If you’re serious about taking your local singletrack to the next level, make sure the National Bike Summit is on your schedule.

Random Posts

• December 18, 2008 -- Entry-Level Hardtail Shootout
• December 30, 2008 -- Are You “Over Skilled”?
• October 24, 2008 -- Mountain Bike Cable Tension
• August 7, 2008 -- Mechanic Tips: Replacing Wheel Bearings
• June 17, 2008 -- TAG Wheels Mountain Bike Wheelsets Are Indestructible
• January 31, 2009 -- Four Bar Linkage
• June 10, 2008 -- Mammoth Mountain Bike Park
• February 17, 2009 -- Last Day to Support Bikes in National Parks
• April 2, 2009 -- Klondike Bluffs Mountain Bike Trail Review
• February 18, 2009 -- The San Juan and Candy Store Mountain Bike Trail

2008 GT Avalanche 2.0 MSRP $629

Good value. Triple triangle frame is very tough but a little bit on the heavy side. This one is great for more aggressive or heavier riders.

GT Avalanche 2.0 Product Page

2009 Trek 4500 MSRP $689

This is a great entry-level cross-country bike. It is light compared to others in it’s class but not built for anything overly aggressive. Perfect for fast singletrack.

Trek 4500 Product Page

2009 Specialized Rockhopper Comp Disc MSRP $770

Usually I find Specialized to be overpriced, but this model is a pretty good value. It costs a bit more than the competition, but you get paid back with some better components. This will definitely outlast the competition by a bit. If you want a solid all-around performer with a longer life, this is it.

Specialized Rockhopper Comp Disc Product Page

2009 Mongoose Tyax Super MSRP $649

Not a bad combo. Uses a lot of off brand components like Promax and SR Suntour which means a decrease in quality but for $649 you get a decent hardtail with hydraulic disc brakes (they make a world of difference) and a remote lockout for your front fork (cool feature for riding on hardpack or streets).

Mongoose Tyax Super Product Page

2009 Kona Blast MSRP $699

Solid setup overall. Not much else to say.

Kona Blast Product Page

2009 Gary Fisher Wahoo Disc MSRP $659

I’m very impressed with this setup. Solid drive train including, nice mechanical disc brakes, and a decent wheelset. If you are looking for the best bang for your buck this is it!

Gary Fisher Wahoo Disc Product Page

Buying tips

Avoid buying online or used, I’m not saying don’t consider it, but be very wary.  Check out our MTOBikes article on buying used bikes for more details.

Look for last years models in bike shops, you can often get a great deal.

Ride before you buy. Different manufacturers use slightly different geometries and sometimes this is the most accurate measure of a good bike. Think of it this way are you buying a bike or are you buying fitness, a new hobby, thrill, etc.?

You will need a lot more than just a bike, plan a hundred or more extra and see if you can get a deal on some of your accessories (this is where bike shops usually have the most margin).

• September 21, 2008 -- Hardtail VS. Full-Suspension: Which is Right for You?
• July 13, 2008 -- First Ride On My Fully Rigid Singular Swift SS Mountain Bike

The below is a press release from Ay UP

Above image shows the Gecko Lightset Mount …

Using very flexible plastic mountings that can be contorted and twisted into any shape along with Industrial Strength 3M velcro dots you can now mount your helmet and light mount in seconds.

Above image showing the naked Gecko Battery Holder, note the slots in the sides to allow cable ties through for permanent mounting. (featured on both the mounts)

Both mounts can be removed completely extremely quickly leaving behind 8 velcro dots on your helmet. Battery swap over is super fast for those ever shorter pit stops during epic races.

Daytime use helmet below…

With both Gecko’s attached less the Lightset which snaps into place …

Complete Gecko System, installed in seconds

The added benefit of the mounts being super flexible is you can mount these anywhere on any type of surface.

Below head on image shows the slim but strong profile of the Gecko Lightset Mount…

Round poles, walls, glass, skate lids, caving, hard hats and helmets with no vents whatsoever, no problem.

The mount weight is under 5 grams but these little guys are as tough and as strong as our current mounts. The plastic composite we use super flexible and UV protective. They will attach to any profile and shape, no worries …

• October 29, 2008 -- AY-UP Light System Review: The Light System You Have Always Wanted – No Joke!

I promised myself this fall and winter would be different; I’d stop thinking of excuses to not ride and just start riding. So I piled up on winterwear: under-helmet beanie, tights, long-fingered gloves, and of course, warm socks.

As a winter sports enthusiast, I own plenty of wool socks of differing thicknesses. The problem is, when I slip my wool-covered feet into my Sidi Dominators, my feet feel restricted and confined by the lack of flexibility of most wool socks. This, coupled with the cold weather, numbs rather than warms my little piggies.

Enter Smart Wool Womens PhD Cycling Light Mini socks. These socks breathe, flex, and feel like cotton. They lack the mild abrasiveness of most wool socks. They kept my feet warm through biting forty-degree weather and twenty-mile-an-hour winds. I wore them biking on my home turf, Denver’s Front Range, and even took them on vacation to two of mountain biking Meccas, Moab and nearby Fruita, where they performed beautifully.

One caveat: I wore these socks trail running and because trail runners are bigger than regular sneakers, the socks had room to bunch up. Wear them for cycling or everyday use, but break out thicker socks for hiking or trail running.

Smart Wool: one less excuse to not ride.

Random Posts

• June 12, 2008 -- Top of the Mountain, Bottom of the Valley
• June 20, 2008 -- Magura Mountain Bike Brakes and Suspension
• February 25, 2009 -- North American Handmade Bicycle Show (NAHBS) Descends on Indianapolis this Weekend (February 27 through March 1)
• December 18, 2008 -- Entry-Level Hardtail Shootout
• June 8, 2008 -- How to Create an Ultralight Chainstay Guard
• August 8, 2008 -- Duct Tape: It Holds the Universe Together…and Inner Tubes Too!
• August 15, 2008 -- HammerSchmidt Who? We’ll All Know Real Soon
• February 5, 2009 -- Mountain Bike Frame Geometry
• July 24, 2008 -- Interview with Mountain Bike Artist Chris Bourke
• October 27, 2008 -- Raging Red Green Chile Salsa Review

The Small Stuff: Make them a Kit

Pedro’s Tire Levers
Ok these aren’t a one gift item, but trust me, these tire levers will change the frequent tire changers life! In my shop time I changed A LOT of tires and the thin but extra-wide design made even the tubeless tires on Bontrager rims easy. A good idea with this is to combine it with a bunch of other smaller items to make a kit. So keep reading for more ideas.

Finish Line Citrus Degreaser (Spray)
Another piece of the kit. This is an amazing degreaser and it smells like oranges. This is a gift for the bike freak who is constantly doing overhauls and degreasing and regreasing everything. Pedro’s is pretty good too. Enough said.

Chain Cleaner and Degreaser
If they don’t have a chain cleaner yet they need one. A clean chain means a happy chain, and less drive train wear, longer chain life, less resistance, and quieter operation. They are very easy to use and you don’t have to take the chain off of the bike to clean it! Don’t forget to buy the liquid degreaser with it.

A GOOD Multi Tool
There is a big difference between a multi tool and a good multi tool. I prefer Crank Brothers or Topeak. They both have a few different models based on how many tools the rider wants. If they are very weight conscious or don’t ride extremely often go for the simpler models, but for the extreme riders the more expensive versions will have a lot of great extra tools to help with trail fixes.

Cleaning Brush Kit
It doesn’t matter much who makes it (Park, Spin Doctor, Pedro’s and Other do) but a cleaning brush kit makes cleaning the drive train MUCH easier. A great addition to a cleaning kit with orange degreaser and a chain cleaner with degreaser.

Floor Pump, Mini Pump or CO2
Everyone likes a good air pump. A good mini pump is a must for any mountain biker; CO2 pumps makes inflation a snap for the rider who craves simplicity; and having a dependable floor pump is always a good thing.

Nutrition Sampler
One cool gift is a nutrition sampler. Find a good bike shop or nutrition store and buy a variety of bars and gels to try. Put them in a basket or something and it is a great way for a mountain biker to figure out what they like and don’t like.

One Item Gifts

Camelbak
If they have one they probably won’t mind having another one. I have four and I still want a couple more. Camelbak’s are one of the coolest ways to stay hydrated and carry all of your stuff. Stick to the Camelbak brand hydration packs. The knock offs always lack some quality and cannot even begin to compare in comfort or features.

Nokon Cable Housing
This is the perfect gift for the rider that spends as much time buying stuff for their bike as they do riding it. Nokon housing has a very cool bling factor, not to mention it shaves weight and reduces cable friction. It is made of a bunch of small anodized aluminum segments. There are a variety of color options out there so do some background prodding first.

Fox Shorts or Jerseys
A nice jersey or a pair of great shorts always makes a great gift. For mountain bikers Fox is one of the best manufacturers out there. Search for the articles about them on MTO Bikes to get the details.

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