Since I mentioned that I had credentials in meeting girls that bike let me state them. I met my wife on a mountain biking trip in Moab. We had some mutual friends that invited us both on a biking trip, the sparks flew and the emotions ran high and she actually said yes when I asked her to marry me. Since then we take biking trips all summer long, she understands when my buddies and I want to go on a quick ride after work, and get this, she is actually sympathetic when I get home late because of a flat or mechanical failure of the bike. To make the story even better I actually met my wife while I was on a date with a different girl who also mountain bikes. So I do have experience meeting and courting ladies that pedal. So let me outline some simple ways to meet girls who bike, the rest is up to you. For the record many of these tips are best if you are riding alone, that way your buddy doesn’t tax your game or get butt hurt that you bailed on him for a hot piece of tail on the trail.

1. The Chairlift Approach

One of the easiest ways to meet girls who bike is to ride popular trails. I found this works best at resort areas especially ones with a chairlift. For example our local resort is about a 20 minute chair ride up to the top and that is plenty of time to meet and get to know a lady. What you do is you hang out at the bottom and when you see a girl get in the lift line get in line behind her. Then you must do your best to make small talk and tell her you are alone and hate riding up the long chair ride by yourself and ask if you can ride up with her. I have made some great friends on the lift that I met this very way. A smart tip is to have your cell phone or the very least a pen and paper to get her number to “go ride sometime.” 

2. Knight in Shinning Armor Approach

This technique is also best at popular riding spots, but it can work on any trail. When you stumble upon a damsel in distress, meaning a girl’s bike has broken down or she has crashed you stop to help the lass out. This also can give you opportunity to impress her by your mechanical skills (girls like guys who can fix stuff I am told) as well as your chivalry. This can also lead into the opportunity to ride together thus spending more time together and getting to know her more. Remember cell phones can do more than get you out a jam if you crash or your bike breaks, it can also get the number of any girls you may meet on the trail, so be a good boy scout and always be prepared. This last summer I actually stumbled upon this very situation by accident. I was up at my local resort riding by myself and I come around a bend and there is this girl standing there covered in dirt and crying. So I pull up and ask her if she is hurt, and she tells me that she is fine, but just scared. She has never ridden a resort before, and she didn’t know which way to go, and was scared to go down. I told her she was fine, and that I knew an easy way down and to follow me. She followed me the rest of the way down and when we got to the bottom her dad and her sister were waiting for her there. Her dad was so grateful and impressed that I would help out his daughter that he insisted that I ride the lift up with them again and chatted my ear off the whole time. If I was a single man I am sure I could have worked at least a dinner invitation out of him, and that could have been date 1.5.

3. Networking Approach

This is the one that helped me get married. Plan open invitation biking trips someplace and plan on spending at least one night. I have planned trips with just my buddies and we have had 3-4 guys show up and 7-10 girls. This isn’t always the case we onetime had 10 guys and my wife was the only girl with us on one trip. So be patient and plan trips as often as you can. The cool thing about biking trips are if you don’t meet a girl you still got to ride and hang out with your buddies. So it can be a win win or a win, win, win situation.

4. Cross Training Approach

One thing I have noticed about girls who mountain bike is that they also participate in other action sports. In fact almost all the girls that I have met that mountain bike either ski or snowboard. So if you do not already participate in other action sports or outdoor activities it may be a good idea to spread your wings a little bit and find something that your local area has to offer. In fact the girl I was on a date with when I met my wife I actually met up snowboarding. We stopped for lunch at the same time and through some small talk we found out that we both had the same mountain bike. She gave me her number and told me to call her to go biking sometime. That lasted relationship lasted 3 or 4 dates.

5. Go Clubbin Approach

When I say “Go Clubbin” I don’t mean get out your silk shirt and your Gucci shoes, I mean join a club. This can be a biking club or a club for your “cross training” activities. These are really popular on college campuses. The college I went to didn’t have a biking club, but it did have a biking class that filled up quick. But I was VP of the ski/snowboard club at my college and out of the 800+ members I would say 40% were girls. The cool thing was when we would do club activities more girls would show up than guys usually. A lot of the girls I met were looking for guys that were into the same stuff they were into. In fact one girl told me that she hated dating a guy that was worse at snowboarding than she was. Club trips were the best, because the girls would usually go with their girlfriends on the trip so when we arrived at the destination they didn’t want to go out without male companionship in a new strange place, so they were totally open to any guy hanging out with them, no matter how weird he may be. For those who are not currently scholastically bound a lot of local shops do weekly group rides in the summer. This is not only a great way to learn new trails, but also meet new people that are into mountain biking.

6. Work It Approach

When I worked at a snowboard shop I was constantly meeting girls there. So if you want to meet girls who bike get a job at a bike shop. When a girl comes in to buy a mountain bike or get her bike repaired you know she rides. One thing I learned is offer them a good deal after hours. When I would meet girls at the snowboard shop I would offer to go ride with them to “show them the mountain” or “teach them to ride better.” Another thing I would do was offer to wax their board for them outside of the shop that way I had to drop by their place to both pick it up and drop it off when I was finished waxing it. Then when I would refuse payment for waxing her board I would let her take me out for hot chocolate or fix me dinner, and there you have it date number one. This could just as easily be done with biking. Offer to show her some trails in the area that she would like or go pick up her bike after hours to tune it for her. Either way you are seeing her outside of work and that is moving in the right direction.

7. Sugar Mama Approach

The contrary of the previous principle is usually true as well, if a girl works at a mountain bike shop she usually mountain bikes as well. Instead of being a creep who goes in and hits on her, just become a really regular customer. That way if you get the stones to ask her out you don’t feel like a stranger to her. It is just like asking out the waitress, receptionist, or the nurse. If she sees you once a week for 3 months and you talk to her it will seem more normal than just meeting her and asking her out. The later is in some ways worse than blind dates. This is also a good idea if you can lock it down with her because she can get you great deals on gear. Get a girl and great deals, it doesn’t get any better does it?

8. Hook it up Approach

So you charm up your buddies girlfriend/wife and she wants to set you up with one of her friends because the thought of your charming self being alone in this world is far too much for her to bear. This is a golden opportunity for you, simply ask your match maker if any of her friends mountain bike. If she has friends who bike then she will want to set you up with them. It can be as easy as that. When I was single and my roommate’s girlfriend wanted to set me up with one of her friends, and she couldn’t decide which one, I would always ask to set me up with one who had the same interests as me. If you are going to go on a blind date at least go on one that you can make conversation. Even if you were done dirty by being setup with the woman who looks like she was beaten with a shovel (we have all had bad blind dates, well at least I have) and she is into biking it will make dinner more bearable than if she looks like she was beaten with a shovel and is into kittens, poetry, or something else that you care nothing about. Just remember every ugly girl has hot friends, so be on your best behavior regardless

Now fellas this does not mean that you can neglect things like personal hygiene and tact just because the girl hits the same trail you do. Always be on your best behavior, and even if you follow these tips and it doesn’t work you may still need work on your own personal game, I know there was awhile where I did. And for any ladies who read this, I am not trying to be chauvinistic, I am simply trying to help out my fellow mountain bikers find the same joy and happiness that I have by meeting a girl who mountain bikes and having her become my biking bride.

Random Posts

• June 18, 2008 — Cochran Shoals Mountain Bike Trail (Atlanta, GA)
• October 2, 2008 — Neophyte Corner: Lighting your Way
• August 27, 2008 — Nike Dunk Gyrizo Men’s BMX Shoe Review
• August 30, 2008 — Snow Summit Downhill Mountain Bike Ride in Big Bear California
• September 17, 2008 — Sherman Branch, Section Two
• September 4, 2008 — Commencal Furious Freeride Mountain Bike Review – Crankworx Colorado 2008
• August 19, 2008 — Video Footage of the 2008 Olympic Mountain Biking Course
• September 6, 2008 — Fight the Burn: How to Take on a Steep Uphill Trail and Live to Tell the Tale
• December 18, 2008 — Early Bird Registration Opens for the National Bike Summit, March 10-12
• August 16, 2008 — Mavic 29er TN 719 DISC Rim Review

This review focuses on the Co2 Tire Inflator he recommended, Genuine Innovations Powered Inflation Kit/MTB.  Innovations, Inc. headquarters is in Tucson, Arizona and their products are made in the USA.   On their website, they claim they are #1 in Co2 Inflators, while I’m not in a position to verify this claim I will make one observation, they sure seem to have the widest selection of any Co2 Inflator company that I’ve come across. 

Scott’s recommendation led me to the Powered Inflation Kit/MTB.  The kit comes with a Big Air! cartridge which is nice because it can inflate two 26″ MTB tires at 40+ psi.  This same cartridge can inflate three 27″ 700cc road tires at 75 psi.  A rubber mount with hook-and-loop strap is also included that allows easy and quick mounting to your bike. Microflate is the company’s lightest and most economical controllable mini inflator with easy to use twist-to-inflate valve. The blue nozzle of the Microflate is a “dual nozzle”, it pushes onto Presta valves and screws onto Shrader valves.

I really liked the fact that the kit comes with the Big Air! canister which is a 40g propane canister.  Most kits come with a 12 or 16g canister.  In addition the twist-to-inflate vavle is easy to use and features brass fittings which make for a longer life.  The ability to mount the cartridge and microflate to your bike’s seatpost is a nice feature.  Although I typically carry my pump, first aid, tools, etc. in a pack when I ride I decided I would mount the inflator to my seatpost as a “last resort” type solution or when inflating a tire or making adjustments to tire pressure is time senstive.

Random Posts

• December 31, 2008 — Trek and Gary Fisher Demo Day at Big Creek Mountain Bike Trail in Roswell Georgia
• June 10, 2008 — Mammoth Mountain Bike Park
• June 9, 2008 — What you Need (A Beginners Guide to Mountain Biking)
• November 21, 2008 — Strider Running Bike Review
• November 15, 2008 — V.I.O. POV.1 - Helmet Cameras for a Better Point of View
• August 27, 2008 — Nike Dunk Gyrizo Men’s BMX Shoe Review
• October 8, 2008 — Top 9 Ways To Make That Old Bike Feel New Again
• September 10, 2008 — Communing with the Animal Kingdom: Disney Moments on the Mountain Bike
• July 31, 2008 — Dehydration, the Forgotten Enemy
• December 11, 2008 — Derailleur Hanger Alignment

During our first six months our site received 32,315 visits and 67,492 page views and is now receiving between 200-300 visits per day.

Please contact us if you would like to become a contributor of articles to our site.

Below is a summary of what made 2008 such a success.

Top 10 Most Viewed Articles

1. 2008 Olympic Mountain Biking in Beijing by Carl Martens
   
2. How to Get Your Girl to Ride (Without Her Dumping You) by Tracey McCormick
3. Riding Green 10 Tips for Riding Responsibly by Kovas Lapsys
4. Video Footage of the 2008 Olympic Mountain Biking Course by Carl Martens
5. France Takes Gold and Silver in Men’s Mountain Biking at 2008 Olympic Games by Carl Martens
6. First Ride on My Fully Rigid Singular Swift SS by Janne Niini
7. Girls Seven Reasons You Should Start Mountain Biking by Tracey McCormick
8. Hardtail VS Full Suspension:  Which is Right for You? by Matt Brady
9. The Single Speed Guide by Matt Brady
10. Mavic 29er TN 719 Disc Rim Review by Kovas Lapsys

My Top 10 Reads

1. How to Get Your Girl to Ride (Without Her Dumping You) by Tracey McCormick
2. Poachers Need Not Apply by Kaitlyn Watts
3. Riding Green 10 Tips for Riding Responsibly by Kovas Lapsys
4. Solving Bicycle Noise Issues by Scott Mosko
5. Angles and Sizes and How They Affect Your Bike by Matt Brady
6. Dieting and Biking by Phil Hodsdon
7. Are 29er’s Really Faster?  The Physics Behind the Big Wheels by Matt Brady
8. Separation of Bike and State? by Jordan McCormick
9. Hardtail VS Full Suspension:  Which is Right for You? by Matt Brady

Thank you for an incredible start!  We are working at establishing partnerships with several vendors and will have some great articles and reviews in 2009.

To stay up to date on all of the mountain biking articles and reviews as they happen subscribe to our free RSS Feed or get articles delivered straight to your inbox.

Random Posts

• July 26, 2008 — Recover from a Crumpled Collarbone Quicker
• November 4, 2008 — Scott Hodge - Addictive Cycles - Support The Cause
• September 4, 2008 — Commencal Furious Freeride Mountain Bike Review – Crankworx Colorado 2008
• November 15, 2008 — V.I.O. POV.1 - Helmet Cameras for a Better Point of View
• November 3, 2008 — Waterbury, Vermont & the SMBC
• December 28, 2008 — Determining Correct Tire Pressure
• September 23, 2008 — The History of Mountain Cycle
• August 25, 2008 — Giro Xen Mountain Bike Helmet Review
• August 18, 2008 — How to Keep Your Girl Riding (and Retain Domestic Bliss)
• August 8, 2008 — Duct Tape: It Holds the Universe Together…and Inner Tubes Too!

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

• August 31, 2008 — Five Bikes This Downhiller Owns
• September 28, 2008 — Interbike 2008 Expo: Pronghorn Racing Debut of Top Mounted Suspension Mountain Bikes
• September 17, 2008 — Sherman Branch, Section Two
• August 7, 2008 — Mechanic Tips: Replacing Wheel Bearings
• September 11, 2008 — What You Should Have in Your First Aid Kit
• September 16, 2008 — Mountain Bike Brakes Explained: Braking the Confusion
• August 25, 2008 — Giro Xen Mountain Bike Helmet Review
• December 18, 2008 — Entry-Level Hardtail Shootout
• September 15, 2008 — Oasis in the Desert: Black Canyon Trail
• November 16, 2008 — Strong Cycling Skills Indoors? You Bet!

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

• September 25, 2008 — Interbike 2008 Expo - Day 1 - Pedro’s Trixie Cassette Tool
• August 19, 2008 — “Gearing Up” For Our Wheelset Reviews
• October 28, 2008 — Cuyamaca Rancho State Park Mountain Bike Trail - San Diego County, California
• December 31, 2008 — Trek and Gary Fisher Demo Day at Big Creek Mountain Bike Trail in Roswell Georgia
• August 29, 2008 — Mountain Bike Frame Materials
• October 18, 2008 — Mountain Biking Equipment
• November 4, 2008 — Scott Hodge - Addictive Cycles - Support The Cause
• September 22, 2008 — Mountain Cycle Rumble Limited Edition Frame Review
• September 3, 2008 — Are 29er’s Really Faster? The Physics Behind the Big Wheels
• November 18, 2008 — Interview with Bicycle Frame Builder Ted Wojcik

There is no standard for tire pressure as many factors must be taken in consideration when determining the proper tire pressure for a ride.  These factors include; weight and personal preference of the rider and the condition and terrain of the trail.

Most tire manufacturers will indicate a recommended tire pressure somewhere on the wall of the tire.  We suggest starting with the recommended tire pressure and then altering tire pressure based on the factors discussed above.

Start with the recommended tire pressure and take the bike for a ride to test your tire pressure setting.  A good indication of too high of tire pressure is if you notice that the bike does not grip well on turns or you find that the bike tends to bounce off of obstacles on the trail.  If you notice this happening drop tire pressure in increments of 5 psi in both tires.  Continue to do so until you find a tire pressure that is ideal.

Low tire pressure means more effort is needed and a higher tire pressure requires less effort.  This is called rolling resistance.  A tire with little rolling resistance will roll fast, but depending on conditions it could mean a loss in control and poor traction.

While determining the proper tire pressure it is important to be consistent with the tire pump and gauge used as psi readings may vary from one pump or gauge to another.

Everyone has their own opinion on tire pressure. It is important to keep in mind that proper tire pressure depends on several factors and therefore what one rider might recommend to another doesn’t mean it is the optimal tire pressure for that rider. Test your tires at various pressures and in different riding conditions and trail terrain to help get a feel for what tire pressure to use at various times.

Random Posts

• September 19, 2008 — TAG Wheels to Introdue New Carbon Fiber and Composite Wheels at Interbike
• November 16, 2008 — Strong Cycling Skills Indoors? You Bet!
• September 30, 2008 — Angles and Sizes, and How They Affect Your Bike
• October 27, 2008 — Raging Red Green Chile Salsa Review
• August 8, 2008 — Duct Tape: It Holds the Universe Together…and Inner Tubes Too!
• September 23, 2008 — The History of Mountain Cycle
• July 16, 2008 — Big Wheel Revolution: The 29er
• October 14, 2008 — Used Mountain Bike Buyer’s Checklist
• August 19, 2008 — “Gearing Up” For Our Wheelset Reviews
• September 28, 2008 — Interbike 2008 Expo: Pronghorn Racing Debut of Top Mounted Suspension Mountain Bikes

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

• August 26, 2008 — RockShox Revelation 426 Air U-Turn Mountain Bike Suspension Fork Review
• August 21, 2008 — Girls - Seven Reasons You Should Start Mountain Biking
• September 8, 2008 — Tips for Newbies Looking to Bike for Weight Loss
• September 24, 2008 — Interbike 2008 Expo Begins Today
• September 29, 2008 — The Single Speed Guide
• July 16, 2008 — Big Wheel Revolution: The 29er
• June 17, 2008 — TAG Wheels Mountain Bike Wheelsets Are Indestructible
• November 12, 2008 — Passing on Hills
• September 15, 2008 — Oasis in the Desert: Black Canyon Trail
• October 24, 2008 — Mountain Bike Cable Tension

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

Whenever I build a new bicycle, I always check the derailleur hanger for alignment. Without fail, they are slightly bent (or worse) every single time. This cannot be avoided due to the initial fabrication of most frames, transportation, etc. A common mistake made by riders is to think, “I just bought a new hanger, so I will bolt it on and it will be straight.” The logic seems correct, but this does not take into account the fact that surface of the frame where the new hanger attaches is not necessarily aligned (usually it isn’t).

The replaceable derailleur hanger is a relatively new item, but it has saved many frames from the junkyard. In a crash, if the derailleur is near the smallest cogs, the derailleur will become bent severely – causing the hanger to become bent in the process. The replaceable hanger is designed to bend easily or break off in the event of a crash. Steel frames without a replaceable hanger can usually be bent back, unless the threaded hole has become elongated from an extreme bend. Aluminum will fatigue and fail after only a few cycles of bending. In the event that a non-replaceable derailleur hanger on an aluminum frame is bent, extreme care is required when it is aligned. There is a high likelihood that it will snap. Regardless, the hanger will be weakened, and will be more likely to bend in the future.

To achieve proper hanger alignment, a derailleur hanger alignment gauge is used. Using the rear wheel of the bicycle as a reference, the gauge is used to bend the hanger so that the hanger is in the same plane as the wheel. This is not rocket science, but it does take practice to prevent breaking the hanger. Due to the cost of the tool, it is probably best to have the alignment checked by a qualified shop when there is an issue with shifting, or after a crash.

• October 8, 2008 — Top 9 Ways To Make That Old Bike Feel New Again
• September 26, 2008 — Going the Distance…The Tools and Gear to Bring With You on Your Next Long Distance Journey
• September 11, 2008 — What You Should Have in Your First Aid Kit
• August 8, 2008 — Duct Tape: It Holds the Universe Together…and Inner Tubes Too!
• August 7, 2008 — Mechanic Tips: Replacing Wheel Bearings
• August 7, 2008 — Tire Pressure: Something to Pay Attention To

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!