Trail Tales

"Our order doesn’t have a secret handshake, a gang sign or even common colours..."

Little things can make a big difference - and the internet is the perfect place for shortcuts and counter-intuitive tricks to ease your life...

"It floats up huge climbs like it’s pumped full of steam - I think it’s pulled right from Ned Overend’s dreams..."

When one flat tire turns into four, preparation has to be spot on. If not get to walk out - or at least have a 10 spot handy...

If you don't get your big rocks in the jar - the important ones - you'll be left kicking pebbles and sand...

"Over time Dirt ‘matured’ into something that was irreverent, always on point and professionally unprofessional..."

I began to think of it as my own personal trail – even though I didn't build - but it was never mine at all…

When you drop into an online discussion that seems like Republicans vs. Democrats and discover it's mountain bikers vs. mountain bikers…

"It's like a Michelin starred chef decided to whet your appetite with scraps from his compost bucket..."

"Of course if there is an opportunity to pass we leap at it and the ‘so long sucker’ rule applies..."

"Matt Hunter is no stranger to flow, of course, but the trails Hylly and his brother-in-law, Fanie Kok, share with him in Karkloof catch him off guard..."

“…let’s just dispense with the comparison between a good ol’ muddy shred fest and 9 or 18 holes. It isn’t the same, by far.”

You ride secret trails? How dare you! It’s a renegade world with few apparent rules, but even renegades have a code of conduct...

Oakridge isn't a cute town, it lacks great restaurants and has only one brewpub - so the dirt and the trails had better be good....

"Not like a major gun shot. But a minor gunshot. Like a really large pellet gun, or a really small cannon."

Splitting borders while chasing Alpine singletrack, stone huts, and good food.

Not just Miranda Miller - that's World Champion Miranda Miller! Miranda riding and talking about her journey to the circuit...

" Are we guiding the sport? Or are we just another arm that can be used to sell people shit that they don't really need..."

"These are the reasons for you. You'll need different reasons for your spouse..."

Around here a Triple Crown involves climbing to the top of Seymour, Fromme and Cypress in that order - but Andrew Major had other ideas...

Why do we itch for a new bike when our current ride works flawlessly - whether we are racing or not?

I have this hope that identifying crash mechanisms and codifying them might keep me safe - but I have no idea if this is true...

A slideshow of Dave Smith's selects from the past year

Jesse had his first EWS victory within his grasp but luck wasn't on his side just yet...