Hate Racing? Get Motivated by Setting a Summer Challenge Instead
Spice Up Your Mountain Biking Life this Summer Sadly, it is a fact of life that not all of us are destined to be the next Aaron Gwin or Rachel Atherton. The vast majority of us just don’t have the killer instinct. We don’t have that razor sharp focus, that burning need for glory, that …
0 SHARES | 0 COMMENTS | Continue reading »How (and Why) To Mountain Bike in the Heat
Last week, the temperature in Phoenix hit 108 degrees Fahrenheit. Yikes… summer has arrived. Fortunately, some of us are “used to it” and can harness the impending gradual increase in heat to acclimate. But, what if you’re not? How do you prepare for the physical stresses? And furthermore, are there benefits to mountain biking in the heat? Training in …
15 SHARES | 4 COMMENTS | Continue reading »How to Overcome Arm Pump: Get Out of Your Head!
Between 20 to 25% of mountain bikers suffer from chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS), the medical term for a common, performance-related issue: arm pump. But, it’s not a just a physical problem. Stress, anxiousness, distraction – all of these brain drainers lead to a tighter grip and an exacerbation of somatic symptoms. Thankfully, there are plenty …
351 SHARES | 4 COMMENTS | Continue reading »How to Prevent Leg Cramps When Mountain Biking // Tips to Avoid Cramping
As temperatures start to rise, many mountain bikers–myself included–are dealing with a sore point: muscle cramps. While muscle cramps are fairly common and mostly benign, they can be painful and annoying to deal with during a mountain bike ride. This article will briefly discuss common causes of leg cramps, and will offer tips for preventing and dealing …
2,053 SHARES | 15 COMMENTS | Continue reading »Top 5 Tips for Your First Downhill Race
Every mountain biker remembers their first race vividly. For myself, it was in May of 2013 on a cold, Canadian, snowy weekend. As it was my first downhill event, I had little experience and was a loner on the hill who wound up dead last. It was a good reminder at the time, being a cocky …
235 SHARES | 0 COMMENTS | Continue reading »How to Make More Time for Mountain Biking
Time. It is the ultimate non-renewable resource. If we break something, we can buy a replacement. If we lose some money, we can make some more. Some things grow, some things shrink, and some things stay the same. But time? It just… disappears. We get one shot, and one shot only, at each and every …
154 SHARES | 4 COMMENTS | Continue reading »Cross Train Your Way to a Summer of Success: 11 Sports to Try
As the days lengthen, temperatures start to creep up and the first few brave flowers begin to add a splash of color to our usually gray and muddy rides, our thoughts turn to what epic adventures this summer will bring. For the racers amongst us this changing of the seasons can mean only one thing: the start …
270 SHARES | 1 COMMENTS | Continue reading »Mountain Biking Desire Dropping Off? Here Are 12 Ways to Get Motivated Again
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 riding today” feeling–that will pass by the time we get a good night’s sleep and the sun rises again, but rather the more extended …
0 SHARES | 0 COMMENTS | Continue reading »You’re Never Too Old to Get Better. Here Are 7 Ways to Keep Improving
I accept a certain level of humility by riding a mountain bike in my 50s. I’m probably not going to keep up with young guns, and I fear crashing and injuries more than I did in my younger days. Even if you’re not in your 50s, those things may apply to you as well. Depressing? Not really, just …
2,977 SHARES | 12 COMMENTS | Continue reading »Turn It Up! How Music Enhances Your Shred
Flow: that sought-after, heightened state of mind, perfectly tuned into vibrational balance with the elements. How do you reach that space where time ceases, where your body, mind, and tread are gripping the dirt in synchronous harmony? And what about mental and physical motivation – the intrinsic will to do, to get out and seize a …
0 SHARES | 0 COMMENTS | Continue reading »First Ride Blues: The Beginning of the Season Doesn’t Always Go as Planned
It was two month since I had been on my bike, and it felt foreign. My muscle memory was more tuned to the exercise bike in my den than one that actually propelled me forward with every pedal stroke. I was less than a half mile from home, but I wavered twice wondering whether I …
0 SHARES | 0 COMMENTS | Continue reading »How To: Mountain Bike Stream Crossing Tips and Techniques
Mountain bikers encounter all kinds of obstacles on the trail, and each one requires a slightly different technique to address. Today I want to share some tips for making it across a stream crossing without taking a bath in the drink. Momentum Is Your Friend Honestly I could just end the article with that heading because momentum is …
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