Latest mountain bike news

The guys over at Blue Collar Mountain Biking always seem to come up with gnarly quick fix ideas and the latest one I read about, <a href="http://bluecollarmtb.com/2007/02/09/quick-release-tire-lever/">using quick release levers to change a bike tire</a>, seems like a great trick. They also have about a dozen uses for duct tape, definitely check out their blog if you haven't seen it already. Anyway, this got me thinking about some of the quick fixes I've had to make out on the trail and despite the fact that I don't know much about bike repair, I've always been able to make it off the trail with my bike. Here's a run down of some more memorable problems (with solutions) I've encountered on the trail: <strong>Broken spoke</strong>: This one really isn't a big deal I guess and I'm not even the one who came up with the fix. I was riding a trail (Big Woods, maybe?) and one of my rear wheel spokes snapped. I was actually more worried about damaging my rim at this point since my wheel was surely weakened but I also had the problem of a wiley spoke getting stuck each time the wheel went around. One of the guys I was riding with wrapped the spoke around the spoke beside it and that did the trick. I was super careful to avoid smacking my wheel on a root or rock on the way out but in the end, I made it with no problems (and no damage). <strong>Missing pedal</strong>: Yep, that's right - I lost a pedal (actually both pedals, read on). Leah and I were riding out at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=20">Mount Herman</a> in Colorado and we got onto a gnarly overgrown section of trail where we ended up walking out bikes for a bit. The scrub bushes brushed our bikes and our legs as we pushed the narrow trail and somehow the branches must have loosened my clipless pedals as we walked. As we got to the dirt road I noticed that BOTH of my pedals were gone. At this point the light was fading but I knew I needed at least one pedal to make it down the fast and bumpy dirt road back to the car. We walked back into the singletrack and fortunately we found one pedal (though not the other). I screwed the pedal back in and rode the whole way back with just one pedal. Riding with one pedal wasn't as difficult as I had imagined, especially since I was able to clip in. Man, I'm extreme ;) By the way - we went back to the trail the next day and in the daylight found my other pedal. Sweet. <strong>Collapsed derailleur</strong>: Another late evening ride, this time at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=674">Tsali</a> in North Carolina. Leah and I were doing the Left loop and once we were about 3 miles in I noticed that I was unable to shift my rear derailleur. Lo and behold, I had no rear derailleur - at least no derailleur pulleys. We realized if we attempted to walk out it would be dark long before we made it to the car so we began to search for parts. We quickly found the pulley cogs a few hundred yards back down the trail but we were missing the critical screws that hold the cogs in place. We searched and searched for 45 minutes, still with no luck. At this point it was getting close to 8 pm and we knew we had find those screws. Somehow we did eventually find the screws, reassembled the derailleur, and made it back to the car just in time. Not really a MacGuyver move, more like a rabbit's foot or something. Anyway, I'm interested to hear other things people have done in a pinch while out on the trails.
Mountain Bikes and Gear
MacGuyver bike tricks
Feb 20, 2007
  1
Line graph showing ride log data for speed over a period from January 27, 2007, to February 14, 2007. The vertical axis indicates speed in miles per hour, ranging from 6.8 to 8.9 mph, while the horizontal axis displays dates. A blue line represents the average speed of 7.61 mph. Data points are plotted to show fluctuations in speed throughout the given time period.
Culture
New feature roundup
Feb 19, 2007
Three mountain bikers ride on a grassy slope with wildflowers, while a chairlift runs overhead against a backdrop of mountains and a blue sky with fluffy clouds.
Mountain Bike Trails
This just in: mountain bikers more lazy than not
Feb 16, 2007
  3
A person in a red shirt performs a jump on a bicycle over a small blue vehicle in a forested area, with trees visible in the background. A dog is seen on the ground nearby.
Culture
Mountain bike country club: The Proving Ground
Feb 15, 2007
The guys over at Blue Collar Mountain Biking always seem to come up with gnarly quick fix ideas and the latest one I read about, <a href="http://bluecollarmtb.com/2007/02/09/quick-release-tire-lever/">using quick release levers to change a bike tire</a>, seems like a great trick. They also have about a dozen uses for duct tape, definitely check out their blog if you haven't seen it already. Anyway, this got me thinking about some of the quick fixes I've had to make out on the trail and despite the fact that I don't know much about bike repair, I've always been able to make it off the trail with my bike. Here's a run down of some more memorable problems (with solutions) I've encountered on the trail: <strong>Broken spoke</strong>: This one really isn't a big deal I guess and I'm not even the one who came up with the fix. I was riding a trail (Big Woods, maybe?) and one of my rear wheel spokes snapped. I was actually more worried about damaging my rim at this point since my wheel was surely weakened but I also had the problem of a wiley spoke getting stuck each time the wheel went around. One of the guys I was riding with wrapped the spoke around the spoke beside it and that did the trick. I was super careful to avoid smacking my wheel on a root or rock on the way out but in the end, I made it with no problems (and no damage). <strong>Missing pedal</strong>: Yep, that's right - I lost a pedal (actually both pedals, read on). Leah and I were riding out at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=20">Mount Herman</a> in Colorado and we got onto a gnarly overgrown section of trail where we ended up walking out bikes for a bit. The scrub bushes brushed our bikes and our legs as we pushed the narrow trail and somehow the branches must have loosened my clipless pedals as we walked. As we got to the dirt road I noticed that BOTH of my pedals were gone. At this point the light was fading but I knew I needed at least one pedal to make it down the fast and bumpy dirt road back to the car. We walked back into the singletrack and fortunately we found one pedal (though not the other). I screwed the pedal back in and rode the whole way back with just one pedal. Riding with one pedal wasn't as difficult as I had imagined, especially since I was able to clip in. Man, I'm extreme ;) By the way - we went back to the trail the next day and in the daylight found my other pedal. Sweet. <strong>Collapsed derailleur</strong>: Another late evening ride, this time at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=674">Tsali</a> in North Carolina. Leah and I were doing the Left loop and once we were about 3 miles in I noticed that I was unable to shift my rear derailleur. Lo and behold, I had no rear derailleur - at least no derailleur pulleys. We realized if we attempted to walk out it would be dark long before we made it to the car so we began to search for parts. We quickly found the pulley cogs a few hundred yards back down the trail but we were missing the critical screws that hold the cogs in place. We searched and searched for 45 minutes, still with no luck. At this point it was getting close to 8 pm and we knew we had find those screws. Somehow we did eventually find the screws, reassembled the derailleur, and made it back to the car just in time. Not really a MacGuyver move, more like a rabbit's foot or something. Anyway, I'm interested to hear other things people have done in a pinch while out on the trails.
Culture
The long tail of mountain biking
Feb 14, 2007
A screenshot of a webpage displaying mountain bike trails in Colorado, specifically listing trails near Crested Butte. The list includes names such as "Doctor Park," "Dyke," "Farris Creek," and "Reno / Flag / Bear / Deadman," along with corresponding icons for photos and trail rankings.
Culture
Redesign roundup
Feb 13, 2007
Alt tag: "Logo for Biking Gear featuring an image of a cycling shoe in black, orange, and blue."
Mountain Bikes and Gear
Our mountain bike gear coverage sucks
Feb 13, 2007
A person riding a mountain bike on a narrow, winding trail through a wooded area with bare trees and fallen leaves. The cyclist is wearing a helmet and outdoor clothing. The scene captures the natural environment of the trail, emphasizing the adventure of mountain biking.
Mountain Bike Trails
Ice bike racing
Feb 12, 2007
Cover art for the video game "Downhill Domination" for PlayStation 2, featuring a mountain biker racing downhill. The background includes rugged terrain and mountains, with the game's title prominently displayed at the top. The artwork has vibrant colors, emphasizing action and excitement.
Culture
Anyone play mountain bike video games?
Feb 11, 2007
  2
The guys over at Blue Collar Mountain Biking always seem to come up with gnarly quick fix ideas and the latest one I read about, <a href="http://bluecollarmtb.com/2007/02/09/quick-release-tire-lever/">using quick release levers to change a bike tire</a>, seems like a great trick. They also have about a dozen uses for duct tape, definitely check out their blog if you haven't seen it already. Anyway, this got me thinking about some of the quick fixes I've had to make out on the trail and despite the fact that I don't know much about bike repair, I've always been able to make it off the trail with my bike. Here's a run down of some more memorable problems (with solutions) I've encountered on the trail: <strong>Broken spoke</strong>: This one really isn't a big deal I guess and I'm not even the one who came up with the fix. I was riding a trail (Big Woods, maybe?) and one of my rear wheel spokes snapped. I was actually more worried about damaging my rim at this point since my wheel was surely weakened but I also had the problem of a wiley spoke getting stuck each time the wheel went around. One of the guys I was riding with wrapped the spoke around the spoke beside it and that did the trick. I was super careful to avoid smacking my wheel on a root or rock on the way out but in the end, I made it with no problems (and no damage). <strong>Missing pedal</strong>: Yep, that's right - I lost a pedal (actually both pedals, read on). Leah and I were riding out at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=20">Mount Herman</a> in Colorado and we got onto a gnarly overgrown section of trail where we ended up walking out bikes for a bit. The scrub bushes brushed our bikes and our legs as we pushed the narrow trail and somehow the branches must have loosened my clipless pedals as we walked. As we got to the dirt road I noticed that BOTH of my pedals were gone. At this point the light was fading but I knew I needed at least one pedal to make it down the fast and bumpy dirt road back to the car. We walked back into the singletrack and fortunately we found one pedal (though not the other). I screwed the pedal back in and rode the whole way back with just one pedal. Riding with one pedal wasn't as difficult as I had imagined, especially since I was able to clip in. Man, I'm extreme ;) By the way - we went back to the trail the next day and in the daylight found my other pedal. Sweet. <strong>Collapsed derailleur</strong>: Another late evening ride, this time at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=674">Tsali</a> in North Carolina. Leah and I were doing the Left loop and once we were about 3 miles in I noticed that I was unable to shift my rear derailleur. Lo and behold, I had no rear derailleur - at least no derailleur pulleys. We realized if we attempted to walk out it would be dark long before we made it to the car so we began to search for parts. We quickly found the pulley cogs a few hundred yards back down the trail but we were missing the critical screws that hold the cogs in place. We searched and searched for 45 minutes, still with no luck. At this point it was getting close to 8 pm and we knew we had find those screws. Somehow we did eventually find the screws, reassembled the derailleur, and made it back to the car just in time. Not really a MacGuyver move, more like a rabbit's foot or something. Anyway, I'm interested to hear other things people have done in a pinch while out on the trails.
Culture
Eco-terrorist targeted mountain bikers
Feb 9, 2007
  3
The guys over at Blue Collar Mountain Biking always seem to come up with gnarly quick fix ideas and the latest one I read about, <a href="http://bluecollarmtb.com/2007/02/09/quick-release-tire-lever/">using quick release levers to change a bike tire</a>, seems like a great trick. They also have about a dozen uses for duct tape, definitely check out their blog if you haven't seen it already. Anyway, this got me thinking about some of the quick fixes I've had to make out on the trail and despite the fact that I don't know much about bike repair, I've always been able to make it off the trail with my bike. Here's a run down of some more memorable problems (with solutions) I've encountered on the trail: <strong>Broken spoke</strong>: This one really isn't a big deal I guess and I'm not even the one who came up with the fix. I was riding a trail (Big Woods, maybe?) and one of my rear wheel spokes snapped. I was actually more worried about damaging my rim at this point since my wheel was surely weakened but I also had the problem of a wiley spoke getting stuck each time the wheel went around. One of the guys I was riding with wrapped the spoke around the spoke beside it and that did the trick. I was super careful to avoid smacking my wheel on a root or rock on the way out but in the end, I made it with no problems (and no damage). <strong>Missing pedal</strong>: Yep, that's right - I lost a pedal (actually both pedals, read on). Leah and I were riding out at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=20">Mount Herman</a> in Colorado and we got onto a gnarly overgrown section of trail where we ended up walking out bikes for a bit. The scrub bushes brushed our bikes and our legs as we pushed the narrow trail and somehow the branches must have loosened my clipless pedals as we walked. As we got to the dirt road I noticed that BOTH of my pedals were gone. At this point the light was fading but I knew I needed at least one pedal to make it down the fast and bumpy dirt road back to the car. We walked back into the singletrack and fortunately we found one pedal (though not the other). I screwed the pedal back in and rode the whole way back with just one pedal. Riding with one pedal wasn't as difficult as I had imagined, especially since I was able to clip in. Man, I'm extreme ;) By the way - we went back to the trail the next day and in the daylight found my other pedal. Sweet. <strong>Collapsed derailleur</strong>: Another late evening ride, this time at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=674">Tsali</a> in North Carolina. Leah and I were doing the Left loop and once we were about 3 miles in I noticed that I was unable to shift my rear derailleur. Lo and behold, I had no rear derailleur - at least no derailleur pulleys. We realized if we attempted to walk out it would be dark long before we made it to the car so we began to search for parts. We quickly found the pulley cogs a few hundred yards back down the trail but we were missing the critical screws that hold the cogs in place. We searched and searched for 45 minutes, still with no luck. At this point it was getting close to 8 pm and we knew we had find those screws. Somehow we did eventually find the screws, reassembled the derailleur, and made it back to the car just in time. Not really a MacGuyver move, more like a rabbit's foot or something. Anyway, I'm interested to hear other things people have done in a pinch while out on the trails.
Culture
Think you can outrun a motorcycle on your bike?
Feb 8, 2007
Mountain Bikes and Gear
Mountain bike trail video profiles
Feb 8, 2007
The guys over at Blue Collar Mountain Biking always seem to come up with gnarly quick fix ideas and the latest one I read about, <a href="http://bluecollarmtb.com/2007/02/09/quick-release-tire-lever/">using quick release levers to change a bike tire</a>, seems like a great trick. They also have about a dozen uses for duct tape, definitely check out their blog if you haven't seen it already. Anyway, this got me thinking about some of the quick fixes I've had to make out on the trail and despite the fact that I don't know much about bike repair, I've always been able to make it off the trail with my bike. Here's a run down of some more memorable problems (with solutions) I've encountered on the trail: <strong>Broken spoke</strong>: This one really isn't a big deal I guess and I'm not even the one who came up with the fix. I was riding a trail (Big Woods, maybe?) and one of my rear wheel spokes snapped. I was actually more worried about damaging my rim at this point since my wheel was surely weakened but I also had the problem of a wiley spoke getting stuck each time the wheel went around. One of the guys I was riding with wrapped the spoke around the spoke beside it and that did the trick. I was super careful to avoid smacking my wheel on a root or rock on the way out but in the end, I made it with no problems (and no damage). <strong>Missing pedal</strong>: Yep, that's right - I lost a pedal (actually both pedals, read on). Leah and I were riding out at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=20">Mount Herman</a> in Colorado and we got onto a gnarly overgrown section of trail where we ended up walking out bikes for a bit. The scrub bushes brushed our bikes and our legs as we pushed the narrow trail and somehow the branches must have loosened my clipless pedals as we walked. As we got to the dirt road I noticed that BOTH of my pedals were gone. At this point the light was fading but I knew I needed at least one pedal to make it down the fast and bumpy dirt road back to the car. We walked back into the singletrack and fortunately we found one pedal (though not the other). I screwed the pedal back in and rode the whole way back with just one pedal. Riding with one pedal wasn't as difficult as I had imagined, especially since I was able to clip in. Man, I'm extreme ;) By the way - we went back to the trail the next day and in the daylight found my other pedal. Sweet. <strong>Collapsed derailleur</strong>: Another late evening ride, this time at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=674">Tsali</a> in North Carolina. Leah and I were doing the Left loop and once we were about 3 miles in I noticed that I was unable to shift my rear derailleur. Lo and behold, I had no rear derailleur - at least no derailleur pulleys. We realized if we attempted to walk out it would be dark long before we made it to the car so we began to search for parts. We quickly found the pulley cogs a few hundred yards back down the trail but we were missing the critical screws that hold the cogs in place. We searched and searched for 45 minutes, still with no luck. At this point it was getting close to 8 pm and we knew we had find those screws. Somehow we did eventually find the screws, reassembled the derailleur, and made it back to the car just in time. Not really a MacGuyver move, more like a rabbit's foot or something. Anyway, I'm interested to hear other things people have done in a pinch while out on the trails.
Mountain Bikes and Gear
Cycling roller guy
Feb 7, 2007
A group of cyclists racing on a mountainous road, with one cyclist mid-air performing a jump above the others. The background features a clear blue sky and mountainous terrain, with onlookers observing the scene.
Community
Mountain bikers > Road cyclists
Feb 7, 2007
A vintage red bicycle with a yellow helmet rests on a stage, framed by greenery. The bike is accented by chrome details and a rear basket, and is positioned in front of a large, abstract gray star on a dimly lit background.
Mountain Bikes and Gear
i-RIDE - Why don't you?
Feb 6, 2007
The guys over at Blue Collar Mountain Biking always seem to come up with gnarly quick fix ideas and the latest one I read about, <a href="http://bluecollarmtb.com/2007/02/09/quick-release-tire-lever/">using quick release levers to change a bike tire</a>, seems like a great trick. They also have about a dozen uses for duct tape, definitely check out their blog if you haven't seen it already. Anyway, this got me thinking about some of the quick fixes I've had to make out on the trail and despite the fact that I don't know much about bike repair, I've always been able to make it off the trail with my bike. Here's a run down of some more memorable problems (with solutions) I've encountered on the trail: <strong>Broken spoke</strong>: This one really isn't a big deal I guess and I'm not even the one who came up with the fix. I was riding a trail (Big Woods, maybe?) and one of my rear wheel spokes snapped. I was actually more worried about damaging my rim at this point since my wheel was surely weakened but I also had the problem of a wiley spoke getting stuck each time the wheel went around. One of the guys I was riding with wrapped the spoke around the spoke beside it and that did the trick. I was super careful to avoid smacking my wheel on a root or rock on the way out but in the end, I made it with no problems (and no damage). <strong>Missing pedal</strong>: Yep, that's right - I lost a pedal (actually both pedals, read on). Leah and I were riding out at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=20">Mount Herman</a> in Colorado and we got onto a gnarly overgrown section of trail where we ended up walking out bikes for a bit. The scrub bushes brushed our bikes and our legs as we pushed the narrow trail and somehow the branches must have loosened my clipless pedals as we walked. As we got to the dirt road I noticed that BOTH of my pedals were gone. At this point the light was fading but I knew I needed at least one pedal to make it down the fast and bumpy dirt road back to the car. We walked back into the singletrack and fortunately we found one pedal (though not the other). I screwed the pedal back in and rode the whole way back with just one pedal. Riding with one pedal wasn't as difficult as I had imagined, especially since I was able to clip in. Man, I'm extreme ;) By the way - we went back to the trail the next day and in the daylight found my other pedal. Sweet. <strong>Collapsed derailleur</strong>: Another late evening ride, this time at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=674">Tsali</a> in North Carolina. Leah and I were doing the Left loop and once we were about 3 miles in I noticed that I was unable to shift my rear derailleur. Lo and behold, I had no rear derailleur - at least no derailleur pulleys. We realized if we attempted to walk out it would be dark long before we made it to the car so we began to search for parts. We quickly found the pulley cogs a few hundred yards back down the trail but we were missing the critical screws that hold the cogs in place. We searched and searched for 45 minutes, still with no luck. At this point it was getting close to 8 pm and we knew we had find those screws. Somehow we did eventually find the screws, reassembled the derailleur, and made it back to the car just in time. Not really a MacGuyver move, more like a rabbit's foot or something. Anyway, I'm interested to hear other things people have done in a pinch while out on the trails.
Mountain Bike Trails
Chicopee Woods expanding
Feb 5, 2007
Children in cowboy attire participate in a lively dance in a gymnasium, surrounded by an audience. Some children wear hats and bandanas, while others are dressed in casual clothing. The atmosphere is festive, with many spectators watching the performance from the sidelines.
Community
Mountain biking class
Feb 5, 2007
  1
The guys over at Blue Collar Mountain Biking always seem to come up with gnarly quick fix ideas and the latest one I read about, <a href="http://bluecollarmtb.com/2007/02/09/quick-release-tire-lever/">using quick release levers to change a bike tire</a>, seems like a great trick. They also have about a dozen uses for duct tape, definitely check out their blog if you haven't seen it already. Anyway, this got me thinking about some of the quick fixes I've had to make out on the trail and despite the fact that I don't know much about bike repair, I've always been able to make it off the trail with my bike. Here's a run down of some more memorable problems (with solutions) I've encountered on the trail: <strong>Broken spoke</strong>: This one really isn't a big deal I guess and I'm not even the one who came up with the fix. I was riding a trail (Big Woods, maybe?) and one of my rear wheel spokes snapped. I was actually more worried about damaging my rim at this point since my wheel was surely weakened but I also had the problem of a wiley spoke getting stuck each time the wheel went around. One of the guys I was riding with wrapped the spoke around the spoke beside it and that did the trick. I was super careful to avoid smacking my wheel on a root or rock on the way out but in the end, I made it with no problems (and no damage). <strong>Missing pedal</strong>: Yep, that's right - I lost a pedal (actually both pedals, read on). Leah and I were riding out at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=20">Mount Herman</a> in Colorado and we got onto a gnarly overgrown section of trail where we ended up walking out bikes for a bit. The scrub bushes brushed our bikes and our legs as we pushed the narrow trail and somehow the branches must have loosened my clipless pedals as we walked. As we got to the dirt road I noticed that BOTH of my pedals were gone. At this point the light was fading but I knew I needed at least one pedal to make it down the fast and bumpy dirt road back to the car. We walked back into the singletrack and fortunately we found one pedal (though not the other). I screwed the pedal back in and rode the whole way back with just one pedal. Riding with one pedal wasn't as difficult as I had imagined, especially since I was able to clip in. Man, I'm extreme ;) By the way - we went back to the trail the next day and in the daylight found my other pedal. Sweet. <strong>Collapsed derailleur</strong>: Another late evening ride, this time at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=674">Tsali</a> in North Carolina. Leah and I were doing the Left loop and once we were about 3 miles in I noticed that I was unable to shift my rear derailleur. Lo and behold, I had no rear derailleur - at least no derailleur pulleys. We realized if we attempted to walk out it would be dark long before we made it to the car so we began to search for parts. We quickly found the pulley cogs a few hundred yards back down the trail but we were missing the critical screws that hold the cogs in place. We searched and searched for 45 minutes, still with no luck. At this point it was getting close to 8 pm and we knew we had find those screws. Somehow we did eventually find the screws, reassembled the derailleur, and made it back to the car just in time. Not really a MacGuyver move, more like a rabbit's foot or something. Anyway, I'm interested to hear other things people have done in a pinch while out on the trails.
Mountain Bikes and Gear
Up for a freezing, dark downhill race?
Feb 2, 2007
Logo featuring the word "XTERRA" in bold, stylized text, with a graphic element resembling an "X" stamped above it. The design has a textured, distressed look, predominantly in dark text with a maroon accent.
Community
Mountain biking on TV this weekend
Feb 2, 2007
Aluminum roller rack for bicycle maintenance, featuring adjustable rollers and a sturdy frame.
Culture
New cycling rollers
Feb 2, 2007
  1
The guys over at Blue Collar Mountain Biking always seem to come up with gnarly quick fix ideas and the latest one I read about, <a href="http://bluecollarmtb.com/2007/02/09/quick-release-tire-lever/">using quick release levers to change a bike tire</a>, seems like a great trick. They also have about a dozen uses for duct tape, definitely check out their blog if you haven't seen it already. Anyway, this got me thinking about some of the quick fixes I've had to make out on the trail and despite the fact that I don't know much about bike repair, I've always been able to make it off the trail with my bike. Here's a run down of some more memorable problems (with solutions) I've encountered on the trail: <strong>Broken spoke</strong>: This one really isn't a big deal I guess and I'm not even the one who came up with the fix. I was riding a trail (Big Woods, maybe?) and one of my rear wheel spokes snapped. I was actually more worried about damaging my rim at this point since my wheel was surely weakened but I also had the problem of a wiley spoke getting stuck each time the wheel went around. One of the guys I was riding with wrapped the spoke around the spoke beside it and that did the trick. I was super careful to avoid smacking my wheel on a root or rock on the way out but in the end, I made it with no problems (and no damage). <strong>Missing pedal</strong>: Yep, that's right - I lost a pedal (actually both pedals, read on). Leah and I were riding out at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=20">Mount Herman</a> in Colorado and we got onto a gnarly overgrown section of trail where we ended up walking out bikes for a bit. The scrub bushes brushed our bikes and our legs as we pushed the narrow trail and somehow the branches must have loosened my clipless pedals as we walked. As we got to the dirt road I noticed that BOTH of my pedals were gone. At this point the light was fading but I knew I needed at least one pedal to make it down the fast and bumpy dirt road back to the car. We walked back into the singletrack and fortunately we found one pedal (though not the other). I screwed the pedal back in and rode the whole way back with just one pedal. Riding with one pedal wasn't as difficult as I had imagined, especially since I was able to clip in. Man, I'm extreme ;) By the way - we went back to the trail the next day and in the daylight found my other pedal. Sweet. <strong>Collapsed derailleur</strong>: Another late evening ride, this time at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=674">Tsali</a> in North Carolina. Leah and I were doing the Left loop and once we were about 3 miles in I noticed that I was unable to shift my rear derailleur. Lo and behold, I had no rear derailleur - at least no derailleur pulleys. We realized if we attempted to walk out it would be dark long before we made it to the car so we began to search for parts. We quickly found the pulley cogs a few hundred yards back down the trail but we were missing the critical screws that hold the cogs in place. We searched and searched for 45 minutes, still with no luck. At this point it was getting close to 8 pm and we knew we had find those screws. Somehow we did eventually find the screws, reassembled the derailleur, and made it back to the car just in time. Not really a MacGuyver move, more like a rabbit's foot or something. Anyway, I'm interested to hear other things people have done in a pinch while out on the trails.
Culture
Women's Mountain Bike Racing Petition
Feb 1, 2007
The guys over at Blue Collar Mountain Biking always seem to come up with gnarly quick fix ideas and the latest one I read about, <a href="http://bluecollarmtb.com/2007/02/09/quick-release-tire-lever/">using quick release levers to change a bike tire</a>, seems like a great trick. They also have about a dozen uses for duct tape, definitely check out their blog if you haven't seen it already. Anyway, this got me thinking about some of the quick fixes I've had to make out on the trail and despite the fact that I don't know much about bike repair, I've always been able to make it off the trail with my bike. Here's a run down of some more memorable problems (with solutions) I've encountered on the trail: <strong>Broken spoke</strong>: This one really isn't a big deal I guess and I'm not even the one who came up with the fix. I was riding a trail (Big Woods, maybe?) and one of my rear wheel spokes snapped. I was actually more worried about damaging my rim at this point since my wheel was surely weakened but I also had the problem of a wiley spoke getting stuck each time the wheel went around. One of the guys I was riding with wrapped the spoke around the spoke beside it and that did the trick. I was super careful to avoid smacking my wheel on a root or rock on the way out but in the end, I made it with no problems (and no damage). <strong>Missing pedal</strong>: Yep, that's right - I lost a pedal (actually both pedals, read on). Leah and I were riding out at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=20">Mount Herman</a> in Colorado and we got onto a gnarly overgrown section of trail where we ended up walking out bikes for a bit. The scrub bushes brushed our bikes and our legs as we pushed the narrow trail and somehow the branches must have loosened my clipless pedals as we walked. As we got to the dirt road I noticed that BOTH of my pedals were gone. At this point the light was fading but I knew I needed at least one pedal to make it down the fast and bumpy dirt road back to the car. We walked back into the singletrack and fortunately we found one pedal (though not the other). I screwed the pedal back in and rode the whole way back with just one pedal. Riding with one pedal wasn't as difficult as I had imagined, especially since I was able to clip in. Man, I'm extreme ;) By the way - we went back to the trail the next day and in the daylight found my other pedal. Sweet. <strong>Collapsed derailleur</strong>: Another late evening ride, this time at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=674">Tsali</a> in North Carolina. Leah and I were doing the Left loop and once we were about 3 miles in I noticed that I was unable to shift my rear derailleur. Lo and behold, I had no rear derailleur - at least no derailleur pulleys. We realized if we attempted to walk out it would be dark long before we made it to the car so we began to search for parts. We quickly found the pulley cogs a few hundred yards back down the trail but we were missing the critical screws that hold the cogs in place. We searched and searched for 45 minutes, still with no luck. At this point it was getting close to 8 pm and we knew we had find those screws. Somehow we did eventually find the screws, reassembled the derailleur, and made it back to the car just in time. Not really a MacGuyver move, more like a rabbit's foot or something. Anyway, I'm interested to hear other things people have done in a pinch while out on the trails.
Community
Bike maintenance classes
Feb 1, 2007
Two types of face masks designed for respiratory protection, featuring a sleek design and filters. The top mask has a textured surface and a valve, while the bottom mask is more streamlined with a circular filtration element. Both masks are shown from different angles.
Mountain Bikes and Gear
Cycling earphones for iPod
Jan 31, 2007
Logo for ActionProfiles, an action sports network, featuring the text "Check out our profile at ActionProfiles" and the tagline "The Action Sports Network" on a dark background.
Culture
Mountain bikers seeking sponsorship
Jan 30, 2007
A man wearing a black cap and a red cycling jersey stands outdoors, with trees and a road sign in the background. He has a serious expression on his face.
Mountain Bikes and Gear
Have you seen my mountain bike?
Jan 29, 2007
The guys over at Blue Collar Mountain Biking always seem to come up with gnarly quick fix ideas and the latest one I read about, <a href="http://bluecollarmtb.com/2007/02/09/quick-release-tire-lever/">using quick release levers to change a bike tire</a>, seems like a great trick. They also have about a dozen uses for duct tape, definitely check out their blog if you haven't seen it already. Anyway, this got me thinking about some of the quick fixes I've had to make out on the trail and despite the fact that I don't know much about bike repair, I've always been able to make it off the trail with my bike. Here's a run down of some more memorable problems (with solutions) I've encountered on the trail: <strong>Broken spoke</strong>: This one really isn't a big deal I guess and I'm not even the one who came up with the fix. I was riding a trail (Big Woods, maybe?) and one of my rear wheel spokes snapped. I was actually more worried about damaging my rim at this point since my wheel was surely weakened but I also had the problem of a wiley spoke getting stuck each time the wheel went around. One of the guys I was riding with wrapped the spoke around the spoke beside it and that did the trick. I was super careful to avoid smacking my wheel on a root or rock on the way out but in the end, I made it with no problems (and no damage). <strong>Missing pedal</strong>: Yep, that's right - I lost a pedal (actually both pedals, read on). Leah and I were riding out at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=20">Mount Herman</a> in Colorado and we got onto a gnarly overgrown section of trail where we ended up walking out bikes for a bit. The scrub bushes brushed our bikes and our legs as we pushed the narrow trail and somehow the branches must have loosened my clipless pedals as we walked. As we got to the dirt road I noticed that BOTH of my pedals were gone. At this point the light was fading but I knew I needed at least one pedal to make it down the fast and bumpy dirt road back to the car. We walked back into the singletrack and fortunately we found one pedal (though not the other). I screwed the pedal back in and rode the whole way back with just one pedal. Riding with one pedal wasn't as difficult as I had imagined, especially since I was able to clip in. Man, I'm extreme ;) By the way - we went back to the trail the next day and in the daylight found my other pedal. Sweet. <strong>Collapsed derailleur</strong>: Another late evening ride, this time at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=674">Tsali</a> in North Carolina. Leah and I were doing the Left loop and once we were about 3 miles in I noticed that I was unable to shift my rear derailleur. Lo and behold, I had no rear derailleur - at least no derailleur pulleys. We realized if we attempted to walk out it would be dark long before we made it to the car so we began to search for parts. We quickly found the pulley cogs a few hundred yards back down the trail but we were missing the critical screws that hold the cogs in place. We searched and searched for 45 minutes, still with no luck. At this point it was getting close to 8 pm and we knew we had find those screws. Somehow we did eventually find the screws, reassembled the derailleur, and made it back to the car just in time. Not really a MacGuyver move, more like a rabbit's foot or something. Anyway, I'm interested to hear other things people have done in a pinch while out on the trails.
Culture
Growing the sport
Jan 29, 2007
The guys over at Blue Collar Mountain Biking always seem to come up with gnarly quick fix ideas and the latest one I read about, <a href="http://bluecollarmtb.com/2007/02/09/quick-release-tire-lever/">using quick release levers to change a bike tire</a>, seems like a great trick. They also have about a dozen uses for duct tape, definitely check out their blog if you haven't seen it already. Anyway, this got me thinking about some of the quick fixes I've had to make out on the trail and despite the fact that I don't know much about bike repair, I've always been able to make it off the trail with my bike. Here's a run down of some more memorable problems (with solutions) I've encountered on the trail: <strong>Broken spoke</strong>: This one really isn't a big deal I guess and I'm not even the one who came up with the fix. I was riding a trail (Big Woods, maybe?) and one of my rear wheel spokes snapped. I was actually more worried about damaging my rim at this point since my wheel was surely weakened but I also had the problem of a wiley spoke getting stuck each time the wheel went around. One of the guys I was riding with wrapped the spoke around the spoke beside it and that did the trick. I was super careful to avoid smacking my wheel on a root or rock on the way out but in the end, I made it with no problems (and no damage). <strong>Missing pedal</strong>: Yep, that's right - I lost a pedal (actually both pedals, read on). Leah and I were riding out at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=20">Mount Herman</a> in Colorado and we got onto a gnarly overgrown section of trail where we ended up walking out bikes for a bit. The scrub bushes brushed our bikes and our legs as we pushed the narrow trail and somehow the branches must have loosened my clipless pedals as we walked. As we got to the dirt road I noticed that BOTH of my pedals were gone. At this point the light was fading but I knew I needed at least one pedal to make it down the fast and bumpy dirt road back to the car. We walked back into the singletrack and fortunately we found one pedal (though not the other). I screwed the pedal back in and rode the whole way back with just one pedal. Riding with one pedal wasn't as difficult as I had imagined, especially since I was able to clip in. Man, I'm extreme ;) By the way - we went back to the trail the next day and in the daylight found my other pedal. Sweet. <strong>Collapsed derailleur</strong>: Another late evening ride, this time at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=674">Tsali</a> in North Carolina. Leah and I were doing the Left loop and once we were about 3 miles in I noticed that I was unable to shift my rear derailleur. Lo and behold, I had no rear derailleur - at least no derailleur pulleys. We realized if we attempted to walk out it would be dark long before we made it to the car so we began to search for parts. We quickly found the pulley cogs a few hundred yards back down the trail but we were missing the critical screws that hold the cogs in place. We searched and searched for 45 minutes, still with no luck. At this point it was getting close to 8 pm and we knew we had find those screws. Somehow we did eventually find the screws, reassembled the derailleur, and made it back to the car just in time. Not really a MacGuyver move, more like a rabbit's foot or something. Anyway, I'm interested to hear other things people have done in a pinch while out on the trails.
Culture
Bike Church and other cycling non-profits
Jan 28, 2007
  2
A wooden seesaw positioned on a grassy area, surrounded by lush green foliage. The seesaw is balanced on a central pivot with one side elevated, suggesting readiness for play.
MTB Tips
How to Build a Mountain Bike Teeter Totter Feature
Jan 27, 2007
  3
A person in a pink outfit performing a trick on a bicycle, launching off a ramp over water, with mountains in the background.
Culture
Jackass Number 2: Bike stunts
Jan 26, 2007
A unique hybrid bicycle featuring a ski in place of the front wheel and a traditional rear wheel, showcasing a bright red frame. The background is simple and light, with the text "GET ONE." positioned at the top.
Mountain Bikes and Gear
Snow bike
Jan 25, 2007
A Shimano bicycle pedal featuring a silver metallic body and clip mechanism, designed for secure shoe attachment during cycling.
Mountain Bikes and Gear
The clipless pedal debate rages on
Jan 24, 2007
  1
Alt text: "Promotional poster for the film 'Klunkerz' featuring a group of people on mountain bikes. The poster includes the film's title, tagline 'They Re-Invented the Wheel,' and credits for contributions from various individuals in the mountain biking community, all set against a vintage-style background."
Culture
Klunkerz mountain bike movie
Jan 23, 2007
A close-up view of a bicycle wheel partially buried in snow, with black zip ties securing the tire to the rim. A wooden surface is visible in the background.
Mountain Bikes and Gear
Using zip ties for tire traction in snow
Jan 22, 2007
  3
The guys over at Blue Collar Mountain Biking always seem to come up with gnarly quick fix ideas and the latest one I read about, <a href="http://bluecollarmtb.com/2007/02/09/quick-release-tire-lever/">using quick release levers to change a bike tire</a>, seems like a great trick. They also have about a dozen uses for duct tape, definitely check out their blog if you haven't seen it already. Anyway, this got me thinking about some of the quick fixes I've had to make out on the trail and despite the fact that I don't know much about bike repair, I've always been able to make it off the trail with my bike. Here's a run down of some more memorable problems (with solutions) I've encountered on the trail: <strong>Broken spoke</strong>: This one really isn't a big deal I guess and I'm not even the one who came up with the fix. I was riding a trail (Big Woods, maybe?) and one of my rear wheel spokes snapped. I was actually more worried about damaging my rim at this point since my wheel was surely weakened but I also had the problem of a wiley spoke getting stuck each time the wheel went around. One of the guys I was riding with wrapped the spoke around the spoke beside it and that did the trick. I was super careful to avoid smacking my wheel on a root or rock on the way out but in the end, I made it with no problems (and no damage). <strong>Missing pedal</strong>: Yep, that's right - I lost a pedal (actually both pedals, read on). Leah and I were riding out at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=20">Mount Herman</a> in Colorado and we got onto a gnarly overgrown section of trail where we ended up walking out bikes for a bit. The scrub bushes brushed our bikes and our legs as we pushed the narrow trail and somehow the branches must have loosened my clipless pedals as we walked. As we got to the dirt road I noticed that BOTH of my pedals were gone. At this point the light was fading but I knew I needed at least one pedal to make it down the fast and bumpy dirt road back to the car. We walked back into the singletrack and fortunately we found one pedal (though not the other). I screwed the pedal back in and rode the whole way back with just one pedal. Riding with one pedal wasn't as difficult as I had imagined, especially since I was able to clip in. Man, I'm extreme ;) By the way - we went back to the trail the next day and in the daylight found my other pedal. Sweet. <strong>Collapsed derailleur</strong>: Another late evening ride, this time at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=674">Tsali</a> in North Carolina. Leah and I were doing the Left loop and once we were about 3 miles in I noticed that I was unable to shift my rear derailleur. Lo and behold, I had no rear derailleur - at least no derailleur pulleys. We realized if we attempted to walk out it would be dark long before we made it to the car so we began to search for parts. We quickly found the pulley cogs a few hundred yards back down the trail but we were missing the critical screws that hold the cogs in place. We searched and searched for 45 minutes, still with no luck. At this point it was getting close to 8 pm and we knew we had find those screws. Somehow we did eventually find the screws, reassembled the derailleur, and made it back to the car just in time. Not really a MacGuyver move, more like a rabbit's foot or something. Anyway, I'm interested to hear other things people have done in a pinch while out on the trails.
Culture
Mountain bike as weapon
Jan 22, 2007
Alt text: Interior view of the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame, featuring bicycles displayed on the walls and ceiling, with informational plaques and memorabilia in the background. The words "Mountain Bike Hall of Fame" are prominently displayed.
Culture
Mountain bike hall of fame
Jan 22, 2007
A bicycle frame with wheels is suspended against the trunk of a large tree in a dense forest, surrounded by evergreen trees and ivy-covered bark, creating an unusual and intriguing juxtaposition of nature and human-made object.
Culture
Mountain bike trail art
Jan 19, 2007
  1
The guys over at Blue Collar Mountain Biking always seem to come up with gnarly quick fix ideas and the latest one I read about, <a href="http://bluecollarmtb.com/2007/02/09/quick-release-tire-lever/">using quick release levers to change a bike tire</a>, seems like a great trick. They also have about a dozen uses for duct tape, definitely check out their blog if you haven't seen it already. Anyway, this got me thinking about some of the quick fixes I've had to make out on the trail and despite the fact that I don't know much about bike repair, I've always been able to make it off the trail with my bike. Here's a run down of some more memorable problems (with solutions) I've encountered on the trail: <strong>Broken spoke</strong>: This one really isn't a big deal I guess and I'm not even the one who came up with the fix. I was riding a trail (Big Woods, maybe?) and one of my rear wheel spokes snapped. I was actually more worried about damaging my rim at this point since my wheel was surely weakened but I also had the problem of a wiley spoke getting stuck each time the wheel went around. One of the guys I was riding with wrapped the spoke around the spoke beside it and that did the trick. I was super careful to avoid smacking my wheel on a root or rock on the way out but in the end, I made it with no problems (and no damage). <strong>Missing pedal</strong>: Yep, that's right - I lost a pedal (actually both pedals, read on). Leah and I were riding out at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=20">Mount Herman</a> in Colorado and we got onto a gnarly overgrown section of trail where we ended up walking out bikes for a bit. The scrub bushes brushed our bikes and our legs as we pushed the narrow trail and somehow the branches must have loosened my clipless pedals as we walked. As we got to the dirt road I noticed that BOTH of my pedals were gone. At this point the light was fading but I knew I needed at least one pedal to make it down the fast and bumpy dirt road back to the car. We walked back into the singletrack and fortunately we found one pedal (though not the other). I screwed the pedal back in and rode the whole way back with just one pedal. Riding with one pedal wasn't as difficult as I had imagined, especially since I was able to clip in. Man, I'm extreme ;) By the way - we went back to the trail the next day and in the daylight found my other pedal. Sweet. <strong>Collapsed derailleur</strong>: Another late evening ride, this time at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=674">Tsali</a> in North Carolina. Leah and I were doing the Left loop and once we were about 3 miles in I noticed that I was unable to shift my rear derailleur. Lo and behold, I had no rear derailleur - at least no derailleur pulleys. We realized if we attempted to walk out it would be dark long before we made it to the car so we began to search for parts. We quickly found the pulley cogs a few hundred yards back down the trail but we were missing the critical screws that hold the cogs in place. We searched and searched for 45 minutes, still with no luck. At this point it was getting close to 8 pm and we knew we had find those screws. Somehow we did eventually find the screws, reassembled the derailleur, and made it back to the car just in time. Not really a MacGuyver move, more like a rabbit's foot or something. Anyway, I'm interested to hear other things people have done in a pinch while out on the trails.
Community
USA Cycling mountain bike calendar
Jan 18, 2007
A bright orange mountain bike with blue patterned rims resting against a gray concrete wall. The bike features a sleek design with a sturdy frame and front suspension, positioned on a dark asphalt surface.
Mountain Bikes and Gear
Colorful mountain bike tires
Jan 17, 2007
A person riding a mountain bike along a dirt trail in a wooded area, surrounded by bare trees and fallen leaves. The cyclist is wearing a pink top and a helmet.
Mountain Bike Trails
Itusi Trail at Lake Norman State Park
Jan 17, 2007
The guys over at Blue Collar Mountain Biking always seem to come up with gnarly quick fix ideas and the latest one I read about, <a href="http://bluecollarmtb.com/2007/02/09/quick-release-tire-lever/">using quick release levers to change a bike tire</a>, seems like a great trick. They also have about a dozen uses for duct tape, definitely check out their blog if you haven't seen it already. Anyway, this got me thinking about some of the quick fixes I've had to make out on the trail and despite the fact that I don't know much about bike repair, I've always been able to make it off the trail with my bike. Here's a run down of some more memorable problems (with solutions) I've encountered on the trail: <strong>Broken spoke</strong>: This one really isn't a big deal I guess and I'm not even the one who came up with the fix. I was riding a trail (Big Woods, maybe?) and one of my rear wheel spokes snapped. I was actually more worried about damaging my rim at this point since my wheel was surely weakened but I also had the problem of a wiley spoke getting stuck each time the wheel went around. One of the guys I was riding with wrapped the spoke around the spoke beside it and that did the trick. I was super careful to avoid smacking my wheel on a root or rock on the way out but in the end, I made it with no problems (and no damage). <strong>Missing pedal</strong>: Yep, that's right - I lost a pedal (actually both pedals, read on). Leah and I were riding out at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=20">Mount Herman</a> in Colorado and we got onto a gnarly overgrown section of trail where we ended up walking out bikes for a bit. The scrub bushes brushed our bikes and our legs as we pushed the narrow trail and somehow the branches must have loosened my clipless pedals as we walked. As we got to the dirt road I noticed that BOTH of my pedals were gone. At this point the light was fading but I knew I needed at least one pedal to make it down the fast and bumpy dirt road back to the car. We walked back into the singletrack and fortunately we found one pedal (though not the other). I screwed the pedal back in and rode the whole way back with just one pedal. Riding with one pedal wasn't as difficult as I had imagined, especially since I was able to clip in. Man, I'm extreme ;) By the way - we went back to the trail the next day and in the daylight found my other pedal. Sweet. <strong>Collapsed derailleur</strong>: Another late evening ride, this time at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=674">Tsali</a> in North Carolina. Leah and I were doing the Left loop and once we were about 3 miles in I noticed that I was unable to shift my rear derailleur. Lo and behold, I had no rear derailleur - at least no derailleur pulleys. We realized if we attempted to walk out it would be dark long before we made it to the car so we began to search for parts. We quickly found the pulley cogs a few hundred yards back down the trail but we were missing the critical screws that hold the cogs in place. We searched and searched for 45 minutes, still with no luck. At this point it was getting close to 8 pm and we knew we had find those screws. Somehow we did eventually find the screws, reassembled the derailleur, and made it back to the car just in time. Not really a MacGuyver move, more like a rabbit's foot or something. Anyway, I'm interested to hear other things people have done in a pinch while out on the trails.
Community
IMBA lobbying for cyclists in DC
Jan 16, 2007
The guys over at Blue Collar Mountain Biking always seem to come up with gnarly quick fix ideas and the latest one I read about, <a href="http://bluecollarmtb.com/2007/02/09/quick-release-tire-lever/">using quick release levers to change a bike tire</a>, seems like a great trick. They also have about a dozen uses for duct tape, definitely check out their blog if you haven't seen it already. Anyway, this got me thinking about some of the quick fixes I've had to make out on the trail and despite the fact that I don't know much about bike repair, I've always been able to make it off the trail with my bike. Here's a run down of some more memorable problems (with solutions) I've encountered on the trail: <strong>Broken spoke</strong>: This one really isn't a big deal I guess and I'm not even the one who came up with the fix. I was riding a trail (Big Woods, maybe?) and one of my rear wheel spokes snapped. I was actually more worried about damaging my rim at this point since my wheel was surely weakened but I also had the problem of a wiley spoke getting stuck each time the wheel went around. One of the guys I was riding with wrapped the spoke around the spoke beside it and that did the trick. I was super careful to avoid smacking my wheel on a root or rock on the way out but in the end, I made it with no problems (and no damage). <strong>Missing pedal</strong>: Yep, that's right - I lost a pedal (actually both pedals, read on). Leah and I were riding out at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=20">Mount Herman</a> in Colorado and we got onto a gnarly overgrown section of trail where we ended up walking out bikes for a bit. The scrub bushes brushed our bikes and our legs as we pushed the narrow trail and somehow the branches must have loosened my clipless pedals as we walked. As we got to the dirt road I noticed that BOTH of my pedals were gone. At this point the light was fading but I knew I needed at least one pedal to make it down the fast and bumpy dirt road back to the car. We walked back into the singletrack and fortunately we found one pedal (though not the other). I screwed the pedal back in and rode the whole way back with just one pedal. Riding with one pedal wasn't as difficult as I had imagined, especially since I was able to clip in. Man, I'm extreme ;) By the way - we went back to the trail the next day and in the daylight found my other pedal. Sweet. <strong>Collapsed derailleur</strong>: Another late evening ride, this time at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=674">Tsali</a> in North Carolina. Leah and I were doing the Left loop and once we were about 3 miles in I noticed that I was unable to shift my rear derailleur. Lo and behold, I had no rear derailleur - at least no derailleur pulleys. We realized if we attempted to walk out it would be dark long before we made it to the car so we began to search for parts. We quickly found the pulley cogs a few hundred yards back down the trail but we were missing the critical screws that hold the cogs in place. We searched and searched for 45 minutes, still with no luck. At this point it was getting close to 8 pm and we knew we had find those screws. Somehow we did eventually find the screws, reassembled the derailleur, and made it back to the car just in time. Not really a MacGuyver move, more like a rabbit's foot or something. Anyway, I'm interested to hear other things people have done in a pinch while out on the trails.
Mountain Bikes and Gear
Mountain bike helmet cam
Jan 15, 2007
  1
A group of cyclists races along a rural road while spectators watch and take photos from the roadside. The cyclists are wearing blue and white jerseys, and one is leading the pack. In the background, there are two vehicles parked on the shoulder and rocky terrain alongside the road.
Culture
Armstrong with a little Landis on the side
Jan 12, 2007
Sock with a cartoon chicken design, featuring a red and white color scheme and the text "Ya Clucken" printed on the side, displayed on a wooden surface.
Mountain Bikes and Gear
What happened to Sock Guy?
Jan 11, 2007
A smiling man swimming underwater, giving a thumbs-up gesture while wearing a waterproof device on his arm. The background features a clear blue ocean with coral visible below. The text "music.gives.Joy" is overlaid on the image.
Mountain Bikes and Gear
iPod case for mountain bikes
Jan 10, 2007
The guys over at Blue Collar Mountain Biking always seem to come up with gnarly quick fix ideas and the latest one I read about, <a href="http://bluecollarmtb.com/2007/02/09/quick-release-tire-lever/">using quick release levers to change a bike tire</a>, seems like a great trick. They also have about a dozen uses for duct tape, definitely check out their blog if you haven't seen it already. Anyway, this got me thinking about some of the quick fixes I've had to make out on the trail and despite the fact that I don't know much about bike repair, I've always been able to make it off the trail with my bike. Here's a run down of some more memorable problems (with solutions) I've encountered on the trail: <strong>Broken spoke</strong>: This one really isn't a big deal I guess and I'm not even the one who came up with the fix. I was riding a trail (Big Woods, maybe?) and one of my rear wheel spokes snapped. I was actually more worried about damaging my rim at this point since my wheel was surely weakened but I also had the problem of a wiley spoke getting stuck each time the wheel went around. One of the guys I was riding with wrapped the spoke around the spoke beside it and that did the trick. I was super careful to avoid smacking my wheel on a root or rock on the way out but in the end, I made it with no problems (and no damage). <strong>Missing pedal</strong>: Yep, that's right - I lost a pedal (actually both pedals, read on). Leah and I were riding out at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=20">Mount Herman</a> in Colorado and we got onto a gnarly overgrown section of trail where we ended up walking out bikes for a bit. The scrub bushes brushed our bikes and our legs as we pushed the narrow trail and somehow the branches must have loosened my clipless pedals as we walked. As we got to the dirt road I noticed that BOTH of my pedals were gone. At this point the light was fading but I knew I needed at least one pedal to make it down the fast and bumpy dirt road back to the car. We walked back into the singletrack and fortunately we found one pedal (though not the other). I screwed the pedal back in and rode the whole way back with just one pedal. Riding with one pedal wasn't as difficult as I had imagined, especially since I was able to clip in. Man, I'm extreme ;) By the way - we went back to the trail the next day and in the daylight found my other pedal. Sweet. <strong>Collapsed derailleur</strong>: Another late evening ride, this time at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=674">Tsali</a> in North Carolina. Leah and I were doing the Left loop and once we were about 3 miles in I noticed that I was unable to shift my rear derailleur. Lo and behold, I had no rear derailleur - at least no derailleur pulleys. We realized if we attempted to walk out it would be dark long before we made it to the car so we began to search for parts. We quickly found the pulley cogs a few hundred yards back down the trail but we were missing the critical screws that hold the cogs in place. We searched and searched for 45 minutes, still with no luck. At this point it was getting close to 8 pm and we knew we had find those screws. Somehow we did eventually find the screws, reassembled the derailleur, and made it back to the car just in time. Not really a MacGuyver move, more like a rabbit's foot or something. Anyway, I'm interested to hear other things people have done in a pinch while out on the trails.
Community
Lance drops Leadville MTB race
Jan 9, 2007
The guys over at Blue Collar Mountain Biking always seem to come up with gnarly quick fix ideas and the latest one I read about, <a href="http://bluecollarmtb.com/2007/02/09/quick-release-tire-lever/">using quick release levers to change a bike tire</a>, seems like a great trick. They also have about a dozen uses for duct tape, definitely check out their blog if you haven't seen it already. Anyway, this got me thinking about some of the quick fixes I've had to make out on the trail and despite the fact that I don't know much about bike repair, I've always been able to make it off the trail with my bike. Here's a run down of some more memorable problems (with solutions) I've encountered on the trail: <strong>Broken spoke</strong>: This one really isn't a big deal I guess and I'm not even the one who came up with the fix. I was riding a trail (Big Woods, maybe?) and one of my rear wheel spokes snapped. I was actually more worried about damaging my rim at this point since my wheel was surely weakened but I also had the problem of a wiley spoke getting stuck each time the wheel went around. One of the guys I was riding with wrapped the spoke around the spoke beside it and that did the trick. I was super careful to avoid smacking my wheel on a root or rock on the way out but in the end, I made it with no problems (and no damage). <strong>Missing pedal</strong>: Yep, that's right - I lost a pedal (actually both pedals, read on). Leah and I were riding out at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=20">Mount Herman</a> in Colorado and we got onto a gnarly overgrown section of trail where we ended up walking out bikes for a bit. The scrub bushes brushed our bikes and our legs as we pushed the narrow trail and somehow the branches must have loosened my clipless pedals as we walked. As we got to the dirt road I noticed that BOTH of my pedals were gone. At this point the light was fading but I knew I needed at least one pedal to make it down the fast and bumpy dirt road back to the car. We walked back into the singletrack and fortunately we found one pedal (though not the other). I screwed the pedal back in and rode the whole way back with just one pedal. Riding with one pedal wasn't as difficult as I had imagined, especially since I was able to clip in. Man, I'm extreme ;) By the way - we went back to the trail the next day and in the daylight found my other pedal. Sweet. <strong>Collapsed derailleur</strong>: Another late evening ride, this time at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=674">Tsali</a> in North Carolina. Leah and I were doing the Left loop and once we were about 3 miles in I noticed that I was unable to shift my rear derailleur. Lo and behold, I had no rear derailleur - at least no derailleur pulleys. We realized if we attempted to walk out it would be dark long before we made it to the car so we began to search for parts. We quickly found the pulley cogs a few hundred yards back down the trail but we were missing the critical screws that hold the cogs in place. We searched and searched for 45 minutes, still with no luck. At this point it was getting close to 8 pm and we knew we had find those screws. Somehow we did eventually find the screws, reassembled the derailleur, and made it back to the car just in time. Not really a MacGuyver move, more like a rabbit's foot or something. Anyway, I'm interested to hear other things people have done in a pinch while out on the trails.
Culture
Jobs for mountain bikers
Jan 8, 2007
  2
Alt text: A Suunto watch with a digital display, accompanied by a heart rate monitor strap and a sensor. The watch features a round face and a black rubber band, while the sensor and strap are in black with the Suunto logo.
Mountain Bikes and Gear
Deal on Suunto Mountain Bike Watch
Jan 7, 2007
The guys over at Blue Collar Mountain Biking always seem to come up with gnarly quick fix ideas and the latest one I read about, <a href="http://bluecollarmtb.com/2007/02/09/quick-release-tire-lever/">using quick release levers to change a bike tire</a>, seems like a great trick. They also have about a dozen uses for duct tape, definitely check out their blog if you haven't seen it already. Anyway, this got me thinking about some of the quick fixes I've had to make out on the trail and despite the fact that I don't know much about bike repair, I've always been able to make it off the trail with my bike. Here's a run down of some more memorable problems (with solutions) I've encountered on the trail: <strong>Broken spoke</strong>: This one really isn't a big deal I guess and I'm not even the one who came up with the fix. I was riding a trail (Big Woods, maybe?) and one of my rear wheel spokes snapped. I was actually more worried about damaging my rim at this point since my wheel was surely weakened but I also had the problem of a wiley spoke getting stuck each time the wheel went around. One of the guys I was riding with wrapped the spoke around the spoke beside it and that did the trick. I was super careful to avoid smacking my wheel on a root or rock on the way out but in the end, I made it with no problems (and no damage). <strong>Missing pedal</strong>: Yep, that's right - I lost a pedal (actually both pedals, read on). Leah and I were riding out at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=20">Mount Herman</a> in Colorado and we got onto a gnarly overgrown section of trail where we ended up walking out bikes for a bit. The scrub bushes brushed our bikes and our legs as we pushed the narrow trail and somehow the branches must have loosened my clipless pedals as we walked. As we got to the dirt road I noticed that BOTH of my pedals were gone. At this point the light was fading but I knew I needed at least one pedal to make it down the fast and bumpy dirt road back to the car. We walked back into the singletrack and fortunately we found one pedal (though not the other). I screwed the pedal back in and rode the whole way back with just one pedal. Riding with one pedal wasn't as difficult as I had imagined, especially since I was able to clip in. Man, I'm extreme ;) By the way - we went back to the trail the next day and in the daylight found my other pedal. Sweet. <strong>Collapsed derailleur</strong>: Another late evening ride, this time at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=674">Tsali</a> in North Carolina. Leah and I were doing the Left loop and once we were about 3 miles in I noticed that I was unable to shift my rear derailleur. Lo and behold, I had no rear derailleur - at least no derailleur pulleys. We realized if we attempted to walk out it would be dark long before we made it to the car so we began to search for parts. We quickly found the pulley cogs a few hundred yards back down the trail but we were missing the critical screws that hold the cogs in place. We searched and searched for 45 minutes, still with no luck. At this point it was getting close to 8 pm and we knew we had find those screws. Somehow we did eventually find the screws, reassembled the derailleur, and made it back to the car just in time. Not really a MacGuyver move, more like a rabbit's foot or something. Anyway, I'm interested to hear other things people have done in a pinch while out on the trails.
Culture
Forget the skis, jump on your mountain bike
Jan 5, 2007