Category: Mountain Biking

Prolific Action Sports Photographer, John Ker, In Recovery Mode

jimmymac

Hall of Fame member (both Mountain Bike and BMX) and all-round great guy, John Ker, is in the hospital following hip-replacement surgery (following a cycling get off). John’s recovery has not gone smoothly and he is in a lot of pain. Rehab is going at a snail’s pace. John can use some encouragement so take the time to drop him a get-well email. His email address is johnk@hi-torque.com. I know he would love hearing for friends, old and new.

Bicyclist Sustains Serious Injuries From Landing On Alligator – UPDATED

jimmymac

I hate falling off my mountain bike, road bike or motorcycles. After reading of the rider who fell on top of a female alligator, I have even more reasons to stay “on two wheels.” You can read the gruesome account of the crash and attack from the TCPalm website. Here’s wishing for a full recovery to the rider. Slippery when wet: Wooden bridges used on many mountain bike trails can have slick surfaces due to weather and foliage conditions. It is a great idea to use extra caution and stay…

Sophisticated Scam Courtesy Of Facebook Marketplace

jimmymac

A ‘Sponsored” link on Facebook Marketplace directs unsuspecting people to the most sophisticated scam I’ve seen so far. The link delivers you to a legit-looking website where Trek is holding a “Flash Sale.” This is where the scammers blew it. I’m not going to point out how they screwed up because it might help them improve their scam in the future and I certainly won’t link you to the scam. Facebook is complicit in this crime. The posting is “sponsored content” meaning Facebook accepted money from the scammers and in…

Park & Diamond Invents A Helmet Standard And Hopes Backers Fall For It (UPDATED)

jimmymac

July 1, 2021: A new update from Park & Diamond posted on July 1st starts off with “Sorry to say, we are not ready to ship helmets just yet.” It goes on to explain how investors can change their mailing address but offers no information on possible shipping dates. The hosting platform that enabled this fiasco, Indiegogo, needs to pressure Park & Diamond to deliver more forthright information or assist in securing refunds for customers who have waited long enough for their helmets. May 28, 2021: Jimmy Mac On Two…

Bicycle Race In France Starts Today

jimmymac

Have you heard? There is some big bike race that kicks off today in and around France. I guess it is a big deal. Capture the spirit: Messy Nessy posted a story about it a few years ago that is still my favorite. Grandparents ashamed: The first crash of the 2021 Tour de France was caused by a spectator holding a sign that struck a rider, knocking him down and causing a domino effect. What was the important message? The sign uses both French and German language. “Allez” means “go”…

The Simple E-Bike Hack For Beating Glacier National Park’s Tourism Hoards

jimmymac

Ashley Harrell of the SFGATE penned an awesome article explaining a simple hack for dodging the reservation system and escaping the crowds at Glacier National Park. The hack? Rent an e-bike. The article goes into great detail on how she pulled it off so you can do the same.  My story on riding the Utah BDR suggests that a motorcycle is the best was to experience America’s National Parks. After reading Ashley’s story, I’d have to say motorcycles are second-best at many National Parks. Riding an e-bike (or a non-motorized bicycle…

How I Killed Mountain Biking And How You Can Save It – UPDATED

jimmymac

Forgive me, for I knew not what I’d done. I thought I was helping friends and strangers find great places to ride mountain bikes. How was I to know I was killing the sport at the same time? A little back story to explain my guilt and hopefully earn your forgiveness. Back in my magazine days I came up with a reoccurring featured called “Destinations.” It became a popular feature in the magazine and it was pretty obvious why. “Destinations” focused on must-ride mountain biking locations and the stories were…

The Invisible Bike – Not Seeing Is Believing

jimmymac

It requires a lot of imagination to take a traditional bicycle design and turn it on its head. Austin, Texas, artist Jimmy Kueknle did just that with his invisible bike. It may not be practical, comfortable or easy to ride but it sure is fun to look at. Or, try to look at. Check out Jimmy’s artist page. He is a true prankster who knows how to shake people out of their every-day lives. Well done.