Category: Mountain Biking

The 1x Drivetrain Hits A Kink In The Chain

jimmymac

I’m not a fan of 1-by drivetrains for mountain bikes (1-by, also called 1x, use a drivetrain with a single chainring matched to a multiple-cog cassette). I understand why the bike companies forced the technology on riders as the best thing since, well, the derailleur. The 1x system eliminates the pesky performance and design issues of a front derailleur (always the drivetrain’s weak link) and the derailleur elimination increases the profit margin (do you remember getting a discount on 1x bikes because a $400 part was removed?). Another benefit (for…

Citi E-Bike Safety Concern Is Most Likely A Rider Problem, Not A Mechanical Issue

jimmymac

The New York Times is reporting that Citi Bikes has pulled its e-bikes off the streets of New York, San Fransisco and Washington D.C. due to safety concerns of a front brake issue. The company issued a statement saying “we recently received a small number of reports from riders who experienced stronger than expected braking force on the front wheel. Out of an abundance of caution, we are proactively removing the pedal-assist bikes from service for the time being.” While a mechanical issue should not be ruled out, it is…

Steve Tilford’s Favorite Place On Earth (Updated)

jimmymac

On this second anniversary of the accident that claimed Steve Tilford’s life, it is time to visit a beautiful and peaceful place to ease our collective sense of loss and to honor Steve’s memory. Steve would approve (as long as I don’t give too many details). The place is a lake located on private property outside of Cable, Wisconsin. The trail to the lake’s edge is not marked and most visitors would not even identify it as a trail. It is more of a faint path through thick, old-growth forest.…

Marin Museum Of Bicycling Auction Benefits Charlie Cunningham

jimmymac

On Saturday, March 23rd, Marin Museum of Bicycling raised over $5000 to help support fallen comrade Charlie Cunningham. In 2015 Cunningham crashed his bicycle and remains in treatment for severe complications suffered during his recovery. The evening got going with a silent auction of items donated by Charlie’s cohorts, creators of the sport of mountain biking. Live auctions were preceded by the closing of the week-long eBay auction of a specially built Cunningham Homage Bike, which the 14 attending Mountain Bike Hall of Fame members dutifully signed. The winning bid…

Charlie Cunningham Benefit Auction Saturday, March 23rd

jimmymac

On Saturday, March 23rd, from 5-7 PM, the Marin Museum of Bicycling, home of the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame, will host a benefit to support fallen comrade Charlie Cunningham. The evening will include a silent auction, and the final call of a week-long eBay auction of a specially built Cunningham Homage Bike. Click here to see the auction listing. Proceeds from the bike sale will go to the Cunningham Relief Fund. Silent auction proceeds will be split evenly between the Cunningham Relief Fund and host Marin Museum of Bicycling,…

Pope Francis Sermons Pro Cyclists To Ride Clean

jimmymac

The San Francisco Chronicle posted a story with quotes from Pope Francis regarding the virtues of clean bicycle racing. Bill Johnson, a close friend and legal advisor to Jimmy Mac On Two Wheels sent us a note that sums up the Pope’s comments succinctly: “You should be blessed by the knowledge that Pope Francis has praised cycling as morally virtuous, so long as it is not tainted by doping. That is to say, with PEDs (not to be confused with pedals). I do not know whether he also noted the…

SixSixOne Donates 900 Bicycle Helmets to Deserving High School Students

jimmymac

SixSixOne, a company that offers mountain bike and cycling protection products, recently donated over 900 helmets to the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA), a non-profit organization dedicated to developing an interscholastic and community-based cycling programs for student-athletes and coaches across the United States. Helmets were donated directly to NICA’s 25 leagues and teams across the country. With SixSixOne’s goal of getting more kids on bikes, the partnership with NICA is helping the company support teens who have embraced the sport of mountain biking by making sure that riders also have…

UPDATE: The Wild One: Riding The Underground Revival 27.5+ Hardtail Mountain Bike

jimmymac

Update January 30, 2019: The passing of Underground Bike Works’ main investor has left the company unable to continue. The sad news was reported by Bicycle Retailer and Industry News. The article states there are still some bikes available but the Durango, Colorado, offices have been shut. Win’s Wheels was the delivery hub for Underground so if you are interested in purchasing a very rare bike, contacting Win’s is your best bet. I was fortunate enough to get my hands on an Underground Bike Works Revival 27.5+ hardtail mountain bike for…

Christian Bagg Designs An Off-Road Electric-Motorized Trike Par Excellence

jimmymac

“Necessity is the mother of invention” is an English proverb that Christian Bagg proved correct. Christian was an avid outdoorsman when a 1996 accident left him paralyzed from the waist down. His desire to get back into the outdoors and his talent as a machinist/fabricator/mad scientist lead him (after more than one failed prototype) to a three-wheeled, electric-motorized all-terrain vehicle that accomplished his dreams. PBS Newshour Weekend has an in-depth report on the amazing Mr. Bagg. You can watch it by clicking here. The website Engineering.com also has a story…