Tag: MTB

Cape Epic MTB Stage Race Best Kept Secret To American Mountain Bikers

jimmymac

Another Cape Epic Mountain Bike Stage Race is in the history books even if few America riders crack open that book. The Cape Epic remains a relatively obscure event to America’s top endurance mountain bike racers and that fact is puzzling. Sure, the event is held in South Africa and the entry fee alone requires more than $5000 of a racer’s budget, so the travel and logistical costs may put off more than a few American challengers. That’s too bad because the Cape Epic is a challenge that any self-respecting…

Chance To Win A Steve Peat Replica Helmet From Troy Lee Designs

jimmymac

I met plenty of great athletes while working for Troy Lee Designs and Steve Peat will always be one of my favorites. Even years later while I was working for Mountain Bike Action, Steve was one of the few athletes who would go out of his way to show appreciation for any coverage he got (and he deserved every word and photo). No surprise this guy has a legion of dedicated fans. Troy Lee Designs, the official helmet painter of Peaty’s lids for 21 years, is replicating Steve’s favorite paint…

Gooseberry Mesa Rescue Is Lesson For Every Rider

jimmymac

Gooseberry Mesa rests to the east of Hurricane, Utah, and it is one of my favorite mountain biking destinations. What makes the place so appealing (aside from the awesome trails) is its remote location. This is not a place that riders just happen upon. No, a Goose rider has to commit to driving on miles of rutted, rocky dirt roads crossing cattle grates to get to the camping and trail head. This remote location is also Gooseberry’s achilles’ heel. Two riders were recently injured on the Goose so EMTs and…

Mountain Bike Hall of Fame Opens 2018 Nominee Submissions

jimmymac

Do you know a person or group who has made a substantial contribution to the sport of mountain biking and deserves recognition? Being named to The Mountain Bike Hall of Fame (MBHOF) is a true honor and your suggested submission is the first step in making it happen for a qualified person. The Mountain Bike Hall of Fame’s nomination submissions are open from now until April 15, 2018. Submitting a proposed nominee is a simple process. The MBHOF asks that you visit their website (click here) for complete nomination submission…

Mountain Bikers Need To Tread Lightly And Avoid Thomas Fire Burn Zone

jimmymac

There is a strong temptation right now for mountain bikers (and hikers and equestrians) to suit up and head out to survey the devastation of the recent Thomas Fire. There are a number of reasons why it is best to fight the urge and limit your riding (now that the air quality is good again) to areas that did not burn. The Forest Is Closed The first reason to stay off the burned trails is that the forest is closed. I think. The Los Padres National Forest website is so…

IMBA Declares War On Class-2 E-Bikes

jimmymac

A new battle has emerged pitting the e-bike industry against itself. Gear Junkie’s article detailing the International Mountain Bicycling Association’s (IMBA) softening stance on e-bike use is nothing new. IMBA has been encouraging, and I feel “promoting” e-bike use on non-motorized, multi-user recreational trails for years. What the Gear Junkie article reveals for the first time is a civil war started by IMBA between pedal-actuated e-bikes and throttle-actuated e-bikes. Class warfare The Gear Junkie article states that IMBA now supports “Class-1” electric-motorized bike access to non-motorized trails. What the article incorrectly…

How I Killed Mountain Biking And How You Can Save It

jimmymac

October 29, 2017: 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…

Todd Wells Racing Memories and Future Hopes

jimmymac

Todd Wells recently announced his retirement from professional mountain bike racing. While I’m not going to fact check this statement, I don’t know of any professional mountain bike racer who has enjoyed a longer or more successful career than Todd except for Ned Overend and Tinker Juarez. He has been at the top of cross-country mountain bike racing in the U.S. so long that it is hard to remember a time when he wasn’t there. Mammoth mash-down I saw a Todd Wells performance at Mammoth Mountain that still brings a…