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.
The North Fork Trail offers classic central Colorado riding without the usual front range crowds After a big, geographically-diverse year in 2015 with tons of new…
on Dec 27, 2016
I remain an avid hiker and backpacker to this day, and that ethos still colors my cycling advocacy efforts, although staunch Wilderness advocated would never see it…
on Dec 20, 2016
photo: Jay Buthman In the beginning, the night was feared and forsaken... Most people have a favorite day of the year. For many, especially the young,…
on Dec 6, 2016
Hike-a-biking in the snow in Scotland, before turning around due to blizzard conditions. Photo: Ross Bell. One bright and beautiful September afternoon roughly a decade ago,…
on Nov 24, 2016
Without being willing to go it alone, I would have missed out on literally hundreds of great scenes, like this one in Montana's rarely-visited Tobacco Root Mountains.…
on Nov 17, 2016
Editor’s Note: John Fisch is an avid backcountry enthusiast who hikes, bikes and backpacks at every opportunity. The trails in this editorial are part of his big backyard. While John is a regular…
on Oct 24, 2016
When I took my freshman physics course in college, my favorite block was optics. I could get really geeked out studying light wavelengths and how they could be bent, filtered,…
on Oct 14, 2016
The eastern trailhead for the Lost Lake trail; not easy to find. For day two of my aspen weekend in Vail, the goal was to get…
on Oct 5, 2016
A Vail Haiku:Bright shimmering goldI am infinitely blessedby the autumn leaves Rediscovering Gold in my Homeland I spent almost the entirety of my adult life moving…
on Oct 4, 2016
Not all Moab mountain bike rides required legs of steel to ascend steep grades, beginner mountain bikers can enjoy the scenery and variety that Moab has to offer.
on Sep 12, 2016
Quintessential Colorado on the Colorado Trail. At nearly 500 miles, few will ride it all, but all should ride at least some of it. (photo: Bob Ward)…
on Aug 29, 2016
Ants Basin in Idaho, one of many great cycling losses due to recent Wilderness designation (photo: Dauw) Editor’s Note: John Fisch is an avid backcountry enthusiast who hikes,…
on Aug 10, 2016
The view from the high point on the Buckhorn/Captain Jack's Route. Part of Gold Camp Road (closed to motor vehicles at this point) which connects to multiple trails,…
on Jul 8, 2016
Cresting the new ridge trail at Ute Valley Park with Cheyenne Mountain in the background. Photo: Lisa Fisch While the riding in Colorado Springs justifiably revolves around Palmer Park,…
on Jul 7, 2016
With 14,115-foot Pikes Peak always either in your face or over your shoulder, you can't get truly lost at Palmer Park. Photo: Lisa Fisch. Why Colorado Springs? In…
on Jul 6, 2016
The Volt is an entire line of thinline saddles from WTB designed to combine all day rideability and applicability to diverse riding styles, with low weight.
on Jun 21, 2016
Some riders, especially those drawn to small or boutique brands, put a lot of stock in where their mountain bike originated. This is no more true than in fat bike land, where…
on Jun 10, 2016
Pearl Izumi’s Journey Mountain Bike Short is versatile in the sense that it is up to the task of hardcore riding, but is also fine as a walkabout short. If you’re looking…
on May 20, 2016
Pearl Izumi describes their new Summit Jersey as a "functional but not flashy top." In an age of marketing hyperbole and one-upsmanship, I believe PI is actually underselling this particular offering. The…
on May 20, 2016
With the Divide mountain bike short, Pearl Izumi set out to bridge the gap between the relentless gnar chaser and the heartrate-obsessed hammerhead. These mountain bike shorts have a lightweight feel and…
on May 17, 2016
A review of the Race Face Chester flat pedals for mountain biking.
on May 5, 2016
2015 was an amazing year in many ways, but especially in the world of mountain bikes. Over the course of the year, I got to put in double-digit miles on almost two…
on Mar 22, 2016
We bike for fun. We bike for fitness. We bike for meditation. We bike for solitude, or we bike for companionship. But we can also bike for charity (and still get most…
on Mar 21, 2016
"Ahhhh, the weekend approaches. Where shall I ride tomorrow?" For some people, this is not often a question of note as we have limited options next to the house, so we simply…
on Feb 23, 2016
Editor’s Note: John Fisch is an avid backcountry enthusiast who hikes, bikes and backpacks at every opportunity. While John is a regular contributor to Singletracks.com, the opinions expressed in this commentary are his alone and…
on Feb 15, 2016