Adventure and Self-Discovery Take Centre Stage in “Chasing the Yeti”
What’s the most exotic location on earth to shoot a mountain bike film? This question has a lot of answers and can mean many different things to different people. But if you were to put this question to a group, it’s unlikely you would hear anyone utter the name Bhutan. Not because Bhutan isn’t exotic — it certainly is. But it is because the country is relatively unknown to most people. It has only recently, in 1974, opened its borders to tourists. More and more people visit the country every year. But in Bhutan’s mountain ranges, there are still places where no outsider has ever set foot. The country is…
AdventureMom Insurance: Doing Things Differently
It’s become pretty commonplace for people to groan or roll their eyes when they hear the word insurance. But like it or not, it’s part of almost everyone’s lives. We all pay for it, but wish we didn’t need it. Just the mention of it conjures up thoughts of dense, monotonous stacks of paperwork that no one can understand. And then there’s the perception that when you really need to make a claim, it’ll take a team of lawyers on your side to collect any money. As mountain bikers, we lead a high-risk life and that makes having the right insurance coverage important. But that can be hard to find.…
Red Bull Freezride: A Look Back In Time!
Back in 2002 I was in journalism school. Even then, I was obsessed with mountain biking. I tried to make it to as many events as I could. One of those events was the Red Bull Freezride, and at the time it was so new and exciting I decided I wanted to write an article about it for one of my classes. It was being held at the Whitefish Mountain Resort in Montana. As luck would have it, Red Bull was accommodating and gave me a media pass to the to 2002 edition of the event. I wrote the article and it ended up in my school or class paper…
Who Needs Studded Fat Bike Tires Anyway?!
So, you just dropped a bunch of money on a new fat bike and you’re feeling great about the upcoming winter riding season. You excitedly tell a few friends who already have fat bikes all about the new rig. They’re in awe of the high-end components, light weight and flashy paint job. Everyone is excited and things are going great. But then it happens — one of your friends asks you what kind of studded fat bike tires you’re going to buy. All of sudden your excitement begins to fade. Until now, studded tires were just a passing thought — something you would look into down the road. Plus, they’re…
The Seven Summits Trail – An In-Depth Guide to a Truly Epic Experience!
I had ridden this trail twice before. Once in 2009 and again in 2016. The circumstances were very different each time and yet I didn’t feel fully satisfied by either experience. Both outings were good in their own right but I wasn’t, in either case, able to give the Seven Summits Trail the attention it deserved. Something was missing, so in 2019 I returned to better acquaint myself with this beautifully scenic and historic ride. The result is this Seven Summits Trail Guide—a guide that will give you enough practical and historical insight to enhance your appreciation of this truly epic trail! “The 360-degree alpine views are spectacular, and the…
3 Not-So-Obvious Reasons to Volunteer Your Time to Building a Local Trail
How many times have you started the mountain bike season with a promise to yourself that this will be the year you do some volunteer trail building? I’ve promised myself that very same thing too many times to count. I start out with big plans to boost my trail karma with some good old-fashioned hard work only to come upon the end of the season without having lifted a finger. It’s at this point that my guilt generally takes over and I donate some money to a trail organization or two who’s trails I use regularly. This season was different for me. I went out and did some trailwork! Not…
Rossland Lions Community Campground Review – There’s Riding Everywhere You Look!
High up in the mountains of southern British Columbia, near the United States border, you’ll find the town of Rossland. The town has a rich history in gold mining dating back to the 19th century and walking through the streets, you get a sense of it — from the old architectural style of the buildings, to the museum that houses artifacts from Rossland’s heyday as a boomtown. This review covers everything you need to know about the only campground in historic Rossland. “It is the only campground in the area and it serves as a basecamp for riders visiting from all over North America and the world.” Today, Rossland’s mining…
Climbduro: Bringing Cyclists of All Disciplines Together
Climbduro creator hopes to expand its offerings to riding hubs across North America and beyond They’re popping up on trees, at the beginning of climbs, along mountain bike trails around southern Alberta—small orange signs that say START. Do they indicate the start of your suffering? The start of a challenge? The start of something special? In a way, they’re an indication of all three. These signs mark the beginning of a Climbduro segment—a stretch of trail, asphalt, or gravel that tilts upward and where, depending on your climbing prowess, you may find suffering. You will definitely find a challenge, whether you are challenging yourself or someone else. And best of all,…
Beowulf Trail – RideSphere’s Definitive Guide to This Epic Loop
Have you thought about riding the International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA) epic trail Beowulf, but aren’t sure if it’s right for you? Or maybe you know it’s right for you and just need more information? Well, look no further. This in-depth review will provide you with all the information you’ll need to be a hero and conquer every challenge that awaits you on this epic ride. This review goes into a lot of detail. An epic ride such as Beowulf deserves this kind of trail review. It is a ride you need to be well prepared for, but the rewards are certainly worth the effort. Beowulf is full of challenges.…
Want to Support Local Mountain Biking and Have Fun? Watch some races!
Support the next generation of local mountain bikers! By watching local races we support local mountain biking and racers early in their careers, and that support can go a long way. That day at SilverStar a friend and I began watching the race as many others did, by riding the gondola to the top of the course and hiking down. As we made our way down the hill, we stopped at exciting viewing areas along the way and over the course of the day we were able to watch riders of all ages and skill levels descend. I hadn’t watched a local mountain bike race in a while, and I…
