Why a Hitch Rack is Worth Getting a Trailer Hitch
Guest post by Matt Sklar from Evo. Ever since mountain biking was invented, people have been coming up with creative ways to get their bikes to the trailhead. Sure, the best way to get there is to just ride your bike, but we don’t all live a short pedal from the trail system. So we have to figure out how to load our bikes into or onto our cars securely, just so that we can unload them, ride for a few hours, and then repeat the whole process to get home. If you’re got a truck, it’s a little more straightforward, just throw the bike in the back, and make…
The Space Around Us Will Never Be the Same
We’re well into COVID-19 lockdown in much of the world now , and so far I’ve resisted writing too much about it as I’ve wanted to remain positive during a time that has been negative for many. But now, almost two months into lockdown, I’ve had time to think about some of the positives that have come out of being at home. For me, one of the clearest benefits has been a new relationship with space. No, not the space of astronauts, shuttle launches, and little green men. I mean the wide-open space here on earth, the distance and space I’ve taken for granted. As the space around us has…
I Love My North Shore Bike Rack —3 Reasons Why
You’ve probably seen one at a trailhead or attached to the hitch of a vehicle driving around mountain biking meccas like Moab or Squamish. And you’ve surely seen one if you’ve ever spent time at a trailhead at their namesake: Vancouver’s North Shore. Of course, I’m talking about North Shore Bike Racks. And it’s no coincidence they’re found anywhere mountain bikers gather, all over North America. The North Shore Rack is one of the most popular bike racks out there. They are efficient, well-engineered and well-built. I love mine and wouldn’t trade it for any other rack, but they do have some significant drawbacks. I love mine and wouldn’t trade…
The Trail Dog Chronicles: Puppy Training
Our trail dog in training, Roxy, recently completed puppy training and I can’t recommend it enough. She didn’t finish the course with the ability to speak on command or play a musical instrument. Nor did she learn anything directly related to being a trail dog, but the puppy training course we took her through set her up with some important foundations that every puppy could benefit from, whether on the trail or anywhere else. The training was as much about training us as dog owners as it was about training Roxy The training was as much about training us (my wife Heather and I) as dog owners as it was…
An Argument for Morning Indoor Trainer Rides
When to ride the indoor bike trainer, that is the question. Morning or evening? It’s something I’ve asked myself for years now. Mountain biking is a big part of my life and riding inside during the winter months is a priority for me. Because they’re a priority, I want to make sure I’m scheduling rides for when I have the best chance of actually doing them. “I’ve now switched over to morning rides and I’m sold!” In my early days of trainer riding, my work schedule demanded that I start early in the morning. So early that morning rides weren’t an option for me. I would come home from work,…
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…
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…
