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> current issue       > search       > features       > departments       > stuff reviews       > back issues       > cover gallery       > contribute       > subscribe Features :: Editorials What about Trials? Issue #148 Observed trials, once a popular sport in the USA, has gone into hiding. A cycling event that became a UCI world championship event in 1984 (six years before mountain biking), has disappeared from the collective radar of mount by Nikolai A. Braun   Don't Know How to Rest Issue #148 Kent Peterson recalls the long solo rides in the fields of Minnesota in his youth, and talks about his plan to slay the Tour Divide race this year in this deeply introspective piece. by Kent Peterson   Wazupwidis?: Forced Underground Issue #147 Oh, how the mighty have fallen. It's a sure sign of global economic recession when a hard-working bike messenger has to turn to underground events to get his endurance racing fix. by Rich Dillen   Massive Success: the Mid-Atlantic Super Series Issue #144 The Mid-Atlantic Super Series is arguably one of the best mountain bike race series in the country. Find out how an organization made up entirely of volunteers keeps this machine running smoothly. by Karen Brooks   Twenty Years of Paul Component Engineering Issue #142 Paul Price, the man behind influential bike parts such as the WORD singlespeed hub, invites us into his California workshop to talk about his twenty years in the business of transforming good ideas into great stuff. by Adam Hunt   The Crash Issue #142 As usually happens, the crash seemed to happen in slow motion. The impact, being inverted, feeling the top of my helmet strike something strongly, thinking that this was going to be a bad accident. by Andy Unruh   Spine Owner's Manual Issue #142 The cycling position, plus the bumping and jarring of riding on rough trails, can beat up our backs pretty badly. Learn how to deal with, and hopefully avoid, back problems from an expert in the biomechanics of cycling. by David Alden-St. Pierre, MS, PA-C   $60 and Some Flip-flops Issue #141 Vacationing on a tropical island and mountain biking on seaside trails, doesn't require big spending. Who needs a guided tour and an all-inclusive resort when you can camp on the beach and eat fruit from the trees? by Ryan Worcester   Warping in a Winter Wonderland. Iditaflashbacks in Vermont's Jay Winter Challenge. Issue #140 The good Captain was cured of any desire to ride on snow after racing the Iditabike twenty years ago, but his friend Tattoo Dave convinced him to give it another try. Jay Winter Challenge, here they come. by Captain Dondo   How to Get Fast without Training Issue #140 Would you like to improve your fitness this year? Hate following a traditional training plan, with all its heart rate monitoring and interval training? Lath Carlson shows us how to get faster without geeking out. by Lath Carlson   Shoulder Owner's Manual Issue #138 Learn about potential injuries, problems, and some preventative steps for taking care of your shoulders. by David Alden-St. Pierre, MS, PA-C   Knee Owner's Manual Issue #135 Mountain bikers' knees get quite a lot of use, and sometimes abuse, as the joints that keep us spinning. Learn about the mechanics and potential problems of your knees so you don't void your warranty. by David Alden-St. Pierre, MS, PA-C   Feeling Salty Issue #135 The ancient Salar salt lakes, in the vast high plains Altiplano area of Bolivia, are about as remote and unlikely a place to tour by bicycle as one can find, but that didn't stop Eric Parsons from exploring. by Eric Parsons   2008 North American Handmade Bicycle Show Issue #134 The NAHBS is getting bigger and more impressive by the year, and once again Dirt Rag was on the scene, documenting the show's talented craftspeople as well as their fantastic works of art. by Eric McKeegan   A (Real) Bike Buyer's Guide Issue #134 Are you looking to make a new bicycle purchase this spring, or do you know someone who wants to get equipped to try the sport? Here's a guide for your journey toward bike-buying nirvana. by Justin Steiner   Becoming Un-Wimpy: One Person's Journey Toward Mountain Bike Bravery Issue #133 How can a confirmed wimp learn to get over paralyzing fear and ride the technical stuff with confidence? Karen tries out a variety of methods in an attempt to slay her demons of dirt. by Karen Brooks   Metric Bubba Issue #132 Our second-place Literature Contest story, in which a Bubba embarks on a Metric ride, trying to make the jump from fun and casual to fun and serious. The path to enlightenment is suffering. by Stephen Gleasner   Old Bat wi' Nae Gears at Aviemore Issue #132 A washed up pro's account of this summer's singlespeed pilgrimage to Scotland, served with a jigger of whiskey and broken bit of shortbread spread on a swatch of Hunting Menzies tartan. by Jacquie Phelan   Riding With Kids Issue #131 How can you keep pedaling with young ones in tow? And how do you introduce your little riders to the sport? Some advice and inspiration from those who've done it. by Karen Brooks   The Big Wheel Mountain Bike Story Issue #130 Now that 29ers are catching on in a big way, Don Cook looks back (way back) to the origins of this alternate format for mountain bike creations. by Don Cook   Rim Strips Issue #129 In a perfect world we would install rim strips and never think of them again. While this is often the case, what should be simple is often a headache to many mechanics. by Eric McKeegan   Bottom Brackets Issue #128 The bottom bracket is a fundamental, yet hidden, component on a bike. Wondering what the difference is between ISIS and square taper? Brad explains the origins and mechanics of the common types in use today. by Brad Quartuccio   Richmond Commuter Portraits Issue #128 Wes Cheney shows us a slice of the bike commuting life surrounding the Richmond Re-Cycles shop in Richmond, VA, with photos and interviews of some patrons who are dedicated to two-wheeled travel. by Wes Cheney   One Love – The Ultimate Ol' Skool/New School Shootout: Who's The Real Deal? Issue #127 The legendary Captain Dondo examines the difference between Ol' Skool and New School mountain bikers, in a unique application of the classic shoot-out format. by Captain Dondo   Making Your Own 29/26er Issue #127 Follow these simple steps to modify your existing mountain bike, and experience for yourself what the 29/26er revolution is all about. by Michael Browne & Brad Quartuccio   Do-It-Yourself Bike Touring Issue #127 Nick Lubecki tells how he pedaled around the United States and Canada using equipment most enthusiasts would balk at—scoring meals in dumpsters, and tossing other "finds" in a basket strapped to his rear rack. by Nick Lubecki   From Offshore to Your Door Issue #126 The new online economy is fueled by cheap labor, easy credit and fast distribution—but is it the place to buy your next bike? Read on to learn about online companies, and what to watch out for before clicking "buy." by Michael Browne   Builder Profile: Villin Cycle Works Issue #124 In 2001, Alexi Dold bought a small bike shop and began pursuing a craftsman's dream of building custom steel frames under the title of Villin Cycle Works. by Harlan Price   That Crocodile Smile—Moots Welds Up 25 Years Issue #123 A look inside the company that is carving out a niche between the corporate behemoths producing their bikes overseas, and small boutique manufacturers producing only a few dozen frames a year. by Michael Wendell   Take The Garbage Out Issue #123 "Derg, you'd better take out the garbage before you go riding, it stinks in here from all those damn beer cans!" his girlfriend yelled out to him from the bedroom... by Rick Katz a.k.a. Ratman   Les Alpes en Eté Issue #123 Home to the Alps and the Pyrenees mountain ranges, as well as over 28,000 miles of piste (marked trails), all terrain bicycling has become pandemic in France. by Jeff Guerrero   Mental Toughness: Part 2 Issue #121 Learn how to reach your optimal performance state—a physiological state that involves being relaxed, confident, challenged and energized at the levels where you perform best. by Gene Hamilton   The Inside Line: Ibis Issue #120 Read all about the resurrection of Ibis—and the design and development of the new Ibis Mojo. This is not your father's Ibis. Well...maybe just a little. by Manuel Maqueda   Mental Toughness Issue #120 In mountain biking and other sports, the most "talented" or "gifted" athlete is rarely the most successful. To out-perform competitors, you must be tougher than them. by Gene Hamilton   Builder Profile: Bilenky Cycle Works Issue #119 Jeff Lockwood travels to Bilenky Cycle Works in Philadelphia to watch true bicycle artistry develop right before his eyes. by Jeff Lockwood   Builder Profile: Rock Lobster Issue #118 Upon waking one morning in '83, the perfect name for Paul Sadoff's new bike company came to him: Rock Lobster. by Thanita Adams   Builder Profile: Ahearne Cycles Issue #117 Thousands of shop rats and bike lovers around the country have dreams of being frame builders, but very few of them have the talent, perseverance, timing, cash and luck to make it happen. Joseph Ahearne is one who did, but it by Jonathan Maus   Down That Damned Mountain Issue #117 DJ needed a place like this a whole hell of a lot. After he found out he was sick, he started doing long slow solo rides along the old fire roads to get away from the hypocritical jerks in town. by Eric Aldinger   Bike Booze Issue #116 Cycling on steep mountain trails will beat you up and wear you down. Through a long day of such activity, there is no better medicine than water to keep the athlete’s body functioning at its optimum level. by Alastair Bland   Living the Life: Making it as a Pro Downhill Mountain Biker Issue #115 Myklak's eyes stare out over her line, focused and intent on victory. by Kyle Boelte   Endurance Racing for Complete Beginners Issue #114 Get it through your head that an endurance race is nothing more than a long bike ride. If you love to ride, and chances are you do, then completing your first 100-miler is a realistic goal. by Karl Rosengarth   Builder Profile: True North Issue #113 During the short season Canucks tend to ride hard while they can. They probably race more and in greater numbers in that laid-back Canadian way than their American counterparts do. They also may justify buying those bikes the by Martin Edwards   Goin' Back to Tucson Issue #113 This year the mercury didn't reach 60° until the race was over. Officially over, that is. For many, the race was over long, long before Sunday at noon. by Jeff Guerrero   Singletrack Hounds Issue #111 If you have a canine companion you'd like to introduce to the sport, or if you're thinking about getting a dog to join you, here is some basic advice to get you started. by Karen Brooks   Two Guys, A Bobcat and Some Roundup Issue #110 I had biking friends in Ohio who had mentioned a place called Vulture's Knob. So I got online, made some calls and found my way to "The Knob." by Hohna Cass   The Trail to Washington Issue #110 Our old friend Theo Stein is back to deliver a strong article investigating the impact the 2004 presidential election will have on our beloved sport. by Theo Stein   Deals on Wheels: How the Masses Do It Issue #109 It's safe to assume that you purchase your goods from a reliable local bike shop or online retailer. by Michael Browne, Chris Cosby and Brad Quartuccio   Confessions of a Skidder Issue #109 When I was a little kid I used to put my gum under the seat on the school bus. It was my own little way of letting people know I'd been there. by Skid Mark   Shocking Revelations Issue #108 What Those Dials & Levers On Your Shock Really Do? Chris Currie is here to tell us. by Chris Currie   Tiptoeing Through the Tundra Issue #105 A high pressure system moving into Alaska from Siberia brought gale force winds to most mountain tops last night... by Mike Curiak   Standards—Who’s Steering the Ship? Issue #104 Inevitably, what we’re talking about when we try to define the bicycle these days is division. by Chris Currie   Obsessed? I Think Not Issue #103 Is nobody else in the emergency room because they crashed on a bike? by Steve Heise   Fix and the City Issue #102 Track bikes are taken off the velodrome and chucked down city streets all over the world... by Brian Petit   Office Girl Issue #101 Hohna Cass gives us a poem about the Office Girl. by Hohna Cass   Riding Through War: A Tale of Two Soldiers Issue #100 Near a U.S. Army Hosptial in Germany, Nick Verstain meets two interesting men named Mike and they talk about bicycling in a time of war. by Nick Verstain   One-Armed Will Issue #100 Known locally as "One Armed Will," he cranks his way through, over and down about everything that Vancouver's North Shore has to offer. by Kathleen McCormick   Turning 24 Issue #99 Why is 24-hour racing so hot? It taps into a primal need. Roy Wallack explores how 24 hour racing can unite team members in a way no ordinary race can. by Roy M. Wallack   Old Dog, Old Tricks Issue #99 If you think racing is fun, as long as it isn't taken too seriously, then welcome to Karl Rosengarth's racing school. Our motto is: no pain, no pain. by Karl Rosengarth   The Grime Issue #95 I have a tattoo on my left arm, a high-flange Phil Wood singlespeed hub framed with hawk wings and crowned by a halo of a complete, radial-laced front wheel. by J.Rae Mitchell   A Rider's Refuge: Kraynick's Bike Shop Issue #94 For a moment, imagine a shop overflowing with parts of every vintage. With that image still in your head, get rid of the wide aisles, fancy display cases and bright lights. by Brad Quartuccio   Sunrise Issue #94 It is well known that the sunrise lap is the best lap to get when you're racing in a 24 hour race. Mike Curiak tells us why it's so magical. by Mike Curiak   Cannondale Team Camp Issue #93 Maurice and Thanita got to hang with Tinker and Anne-Caroline in Arizona at the Cannondale Team Camp. Fun stuff! by Maurice Tierney & Thanita Adams   The American Bicycle Group Issue #92 Michael Browne and Jeff Guerrero visit the welding shrine where Merlin and Litespeed bikes are born. by Michael Browne   True Confessions Of A Trials Competition Organizer Issue #91 Next time you go to complain about the event you are atttending, try to remember this story. by Chip Crail   This Is A Man's World Issue #90 Thanita Adams gives us a woman's perspective on the sport we all love. by Thanita Adams   The State of NORBA - Secede or Succeed? Issue #89 Recently, NORBA has been a hotbed of controversy. This past year, they fired head director Leslie Klein in an attempt to shape up their organization. Then, they revised their one-day race policy. They've also added the Super by Michael Browne   How On Earth? Issue #89 Classic Ketzer. If you liked "The Quitter," "Felony Flight" and "The Smaller Hours," you'll love this piece. Bill's experience with the neighborhood kids is intermixed with some personal history, social commentary and by Bill Ketzer   Feast in the East Issue #88 Cannondale's Homecoming shows caring customers a little customer satisfaction. by Michael Browne   Poor Man's Singlespeed Issue #88 Dave shares his great idea for converting your bike to a singlespeed. by Dave Alden   RockShox 2002 Product Introduction Issue #88 RockShox flew Dirt Rag out to test their new stuff. Read Karl's report. by Karl Rosengarth   Blessing of the Bicycles Issue #88 Their rims were high and awesome...Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, and the wheels would rise along with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. by Corvus Corvax   SSWC2K+1 Issue #88 Single-Speed bicycling is fun. The Single-Speed World Championships are....more fun. This article really makes you wish you would have jumped the pond to attend. by Wakeman Massie   Disc Brake Tech Feature Issue #87 We ask the experts, as well as the Dirt Rag staff about disc brakes—cable or hydraulic? are they worth the weight? Find out more about this revolutionary new technology by Several Industry Insiders   Getting Paid to Ride Issue #86 Buck the system by following Uncle Timmy's advice on commuting. by Tim Kenkel   The Right Stuff -- 24 Hours How-To Issue #86 What you need to participate in a 24-Hour race. by Roy Wallack   24 Hours of Brutality a.k.a. 24 Hours of Canaan Issue #86 Follow rider/reader Rich Katz to see what 24-Hour racing was like ten years ago! by Rich Katz   You Gotta Fight for Your Right... Issue #84 I can see the future. I'm not omniscient, but I sometimes see things in my mind, before they actually happen. by Karl Rosengarth   The Poop on Gunnar Issue #84 The history of Waterford Precision Cycles, and their Gunnar brand, is intimately linked to the history of Schwinn bicycles. The story begins with Schwinn's bankruptcy and buy-out in 1993. by Karl Rosengarth   Collegiate Cycling Issue #83 American cycling is alive and well, and a prime example is collegiate cycling, which embodies all that is good and right about cycling today. by Al Kruger   29 Inch Mountain Bike Tech Feature Issue #82 After extensive product testing on Vicious Cycles' 29" Motivator mountain bike, I decided that I wanted to know more. I wanted to know what was up with this whole 29" mountain bike thang. Time to round up the people behind by Karl Rosengarth   Rhythm and Melody Issue #82 I can't really remember the name of the song that sampled those words into its structure back in the early '90s. But it gets stuck in my head sometimes. by Richard Chittick   Materialistic Mike Issue #81 Old rivalries manifested in a new face leads Michael Browne to question priorities and life. by Michael Browne   Weight A Minute - The Gospel According to Grouch Issue #81 Most mountain bikers may not be speed riders, but they all seem to be speed readers. Microseconds is all it takes for experts to scan through advertising copy to find the only data that matters - the weight. How much does the by Karl Rosengarth   Microbytes (81) Issue #81 Always keeping you on the edge of industry knowledge, here is another installment of Microbytes. by Chris Cosby   UCI High Issue #81 The International Olympic Committee gets tough on drugs...meanwhile back at the ranch, cycling's governing body is spending some island-time with a bud. by Ben Boney M.   Burning Man Issue #79 Burning Man began in 1986, taking place on Baker Beach, San Francisco, Ca. It's rumored that founder Larry Harvey, with the help of Jerry James, began the event to rid himself of a relationship gone sour. by El Destructo   Java me Issue #79 Mmmmmm....Bean Me! We love coffee and you love coffee. Read, relax, sip and enjoy. by Dirt Rag Contributors   It's not Blasphemy Issue #78 I was out at Steamboat Springs a couple of weeks ago. I was trying to get my shit out of the car and head into the house when an acquaintance looked up at the bike on my car and belched out "Blasphemy!!" by Richard Chittick   Do the Math! Issue #78 What's that you say? We never give a bad review? Could be because bikes are an inherently beautiful thing, immune by their very nature to criticism. Ain't that right? by Karl Rosengarth   Keeping the Faith Issue #77 You always remember your first. Or so the saying goes. Whether you hold on to it forever is another question. A question these two authors have pondered themselves and are here to answer...each in his own inimitable style by Karl Rosengarth   Messengers in the Midst Issue #75 Tom Holland tells us just how crummy...and expensive...it really can be being a bicycle messenger. by Tom Holland   Unplugged Issue #75 Originally, I was going to sell Wild Rockies and walk away from special event promotions forever, but the deal fell through. After much consideration and soul searching, I decided to continue hosting events in 1999. by Ron Dillon   Just One Word...Plastics Issue #74 I journeyed to the bike industry's annual trade show extravaganza last year expecting to be underwhelmed with the latest and greatest that the bike industry could assemble. by Bob Ward   Jekyll and Hyde Riders Issue #72 Contemplation is for hikers. Bikers don't need brains. by Eric Bergthold   Cycle Babble Issue #67 Why not have readers design the project test bikes that Dirt Rag testers ride? TR tells you why not. by T.R. Maloney   One Man's Opinion Issue #65 I just got some interesting mail today. It is the information packet on a recent endeavor by NORBA and IMBA called the National Mountain Bike Patrol. by Jon Alegranti   Us vs UK Issue #64 I'll wager that the word "gnarly" did not appear in the vocabulary of the English cyclist until at least 1990. by Chipps Chippendale   Spooky Trip Issue #63 It was a cold and rainy Saturday in November as I drove up to Danbury, Connecticut, the home of Spooky Cycles. by Jeff Lockwood   Messengers in the Midst Issue #60 Compromising situations; in the 7-11, at the zoo, and ultimately in jail. You have to read this. by Tom Holland   Junior Notes Issue #59 Junior Notes covers mountain biking from a non-adult viewpoint. by Brendan Harney   The Shape of Things to Come Issue #58 Statistics show that a tiny fraction of mountain bike buyers race, and yet racing drives the design, manufacture, and marketing of everything from complete bikes to grips and inner tubes. by Theo Stein   Just Riding Along... Issue #56 A letter from a reader about his broken frame got Dirt Rag thinking...what is the definitive answer when it comes to warranty issues? by Industry Insiders   Repack Revisited Issue #55 I got the word in traditional fashion. Someone came up to me on the street and said, "Hey, I hear there's a Repack race coming up." It was news to me. by Charles Kelly   Rider of the Month Issue #54 Kathryn Grimm let's us know what bicycling really means to her. by Kathryn Grimm   Excuses, Excuses Issue #53 Anyone who has ever attended a mountain bike race knows about excuses. We can divide excuses into several categories, depending on how we slice them. For example, there are our OWN excuses, which are not really excuses but by Charles Kelly   Posing the Question and Questioning the Poser Issue #53 John's powerful words have stuck with me. My friend was insightful enough to sense that, in my naivete, the only reason I knew to pursue any sport was for the sheer joy of it. by Karl Rosengarth   Van Dyke and Me Issue #52 I have facial hair. It has become my secret handshake into the club of bicycle insiders. "He must know bikes, he's got a goatee". by Eric Ulferts   Machine Soul Issue #21 This is defined as the ethereal component of the machine, in this context a bike. by John Gurklis   Turning 24 Web Article Roy Wallack delves into the subculture of 24-Hour racing—the people that do it and the reasons they endure the pain. by Roy M. Wallack

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