I originally took up mountain biking in 2000 at the age of 35 because I spent all summer whining that I couldn't ski. However, the addiction soon took over and I now ride knobbies much more than I ride sticks. I'm a classic short attention span kind of guy and would generally ride an average trail for the first time than a great trail for the second time, and I will take every opportunity I can, short of ignoring the commitments of my family and day job, to seek out new trails, which is why my trails ridden list is so long.
photo: Bob Allen (BobAllenImages.com) Montana has a bit of an identity crisis. Most people know it by its unofficial nickname, "Big Sky Country." However, its official…
on Jun 1, 2017
photo: Bob Ward Although I don't actually live in New Mexico, I spend a great deal of time there and it has become like a second home. Thanks to a…
on May 16, 2017
Hitting some singletrack as part of the daily commute Time. It is the ultimate non-renewable resource. If we break something, we can buy a replacement. If…
on May 9, 2017
Wilderness areas don't allow bikes, but they do allow spouses, so they give a good nudge to leave the bike in the garage once in a while.…
on May 2, 2017
Aaaahhh, the endless prairie of North Dakota. How could anyone possibly get hurt while biking here? (photo: stumpyfsr) We’ve all heard it before: “It’s okay to…
on Apr 27, 2017
A gorgeous rimrock ride awaits those who venture into remote NW New Mexico to ride the Alien Run trail (photo: Fatbike1) Early in my career as an…
on Apr 11, 2017
Just as you get into the groove of dancing over the challenging lava, Oregon's McKenzie River trail gets... paved? (photo: Skoofer) In the many thousands of…
on Apr 10, 2017
It's impossible to start the workday cranky when you got to work by cranking on this. I consider myself lucky, having been able to bike commute…
on Apr 4, 2017
No matter how devoted we are to our sport of mountain biking, there are times when the enthusiasm wanes. I'm not just talking about the odd "I really don't feel like…
on Apr 3, 2017
Not wanting to put a lot of money into an old bike that wasn't my primary singletrack slayer, I chose to put on an entry level fork…
on Mar 27, 2017
Hawaii! Surfing, sun, snorkeling, luaus, pineapple, volcanoes, and... mountain biking? Yep. Despite being small in area and isolated from pretty much anywhere else on the planet, sitting smack dab in the middle…
on Mar 14, 2017
If new legislation finds its way to law, Mountain Bikers may once again be able to enjoy amazing vistas like this one in the Idaho's Boulder White…
on Mar 3, 2017
Among the 200+ miles of mountain biking access that stand to be lost in the proposed Crater Lake Wilderness is a 15.6-mile stretch of the IMBA Epic…
on Mar 3, 2017
The falls that give Great Falls National Park its name (photo: novaoutdoors.com) Just as relocating from Wyoming to North Dakota proved to be a real challenge…
on Mar 2, 2017
Sometimes a climb is worth it just for the climb, like the Ape Canyon to Plains of Abraham route on Mt. St. Helens (photo: JWanamaker) We…
on Feb 21, 2017
Medicine Bow National Forest. Photo: djvass via Flickr Creative Commons: https://www.flickr.com/photos/djvass While the area between Cheyenne and Laramie is an island of terrain in the midst…
on Feb 16, 2017
Some of Curt Gowdy's trails are not for the faint of heart (photo: RoadWarrior) Between Cheyenne and Laramie, Wyoming, there is a mountain bikers playground of land that…
on Feb 15, 2017
As the child of a lifetime airline employee, my eventual wife had the benefit of free travel, and her family made regular trips to Hawaii. Then she grew up, married…
on Feb 10, 2017
Miniskibum begins the 7,600 vertical ft descent from the 14,115 ft summit of Pikes Peak. Right away, you can tell some dismounts will be necessary. Whoever…
on Feb 6, 2017
Raleigh Bikes and the Tokul 4130 Founded way back in 1885 and having survived countless changes in the market, boom and bust cycles, and shifts in consumer preferences, Raleigh is one of…
on Feb 3, 2017
Lands within what is now the Bears Ears National Monument in Southeast Utah may be up for sale if House Bill 621 passes. Photo: Bureau of Land…
on Feb 2, 2017
A day of skiing actually includes a lot of time just sitting Those who have followed my articles know I originally published under the pseudonym “Skibum.”…
on Jan 26, 2017
Chuckwagon Trail, Sedona, Arizona. Photo: Michael Paul Usually the most famous trails deserve their renown and respect, as they provide those features most mountain bikers seek for maximum entertainment value. However, for a…
on Jan 16, 2017
Just one small part of what stands to be lost to cyclists (photo: Bitterroot Backcountry Cyclists) Editor’s Note: John Fisch is an avid backcountry enthusiast who hikes, bikes…
on Dec 31, 2016
An early shot of skibum’s ol’ 26er, here at home in the high country above Butte, Montana Author's Note: From Interbike and Outerbike through the holidays, we…
on Dec 30, 2016