Is it worth the money? I’ll tell ya.

“Downgrading” to a rigid single speed?


Hi Lee,

I’m only asking because I highly value your opinion!

As an adult sometimes I have to make adult decisions. In the next few months we are looking to move and bit a bigger house, so I’m thinking of freeing up some cash by selling my current ride. It’s not imperative that I do it, but it would help a bit.

I would still want something to ride in the meantime, and I don’t want an entry level bike necessarily. Looking at some options and the Crave SL single speed looks interesting and a good price. It might be fun and a new realm to try something like this for my FL XC trails.

What do you think, is having a single speed as an only bike for a few months a good idea? Is it possible to still pursue some off season structured training and continue pump up the base and later PTPI?

Thank you!

Greg

Read more

Dialing in the 2014 Specialized Stumpjumper Expert Carbon HT World Cup


Specialized aims its 2014 Specialized Stumpjumper Expert Carbon HT World Cup straight at hardcore XC racing on smoother tracks.

I have other ideas for mine.

Read more

First ride: 2014 Specialized S-Works Enduro 29


We know this bike is made for serious DH shredding, but Ride #1 was all about climbing.

Not bad, not bad …

Read more

First rides: 2014 Specialized Stumpjumper Expert Carbon HT World Cup


I have been blessed with the ultimate tool for an aspiring MTB ninja:

2014 Specialized Stumpjumper Expert Carbon HT World Cup
• FACT IS 10m carbon frame
• Chisel carbon fork
• Roval Control Carbon 29 142+ carbon wheels
• Less than 20 pounds

This is surely a serious tool for XC racing on smoother trails, but how does it shred?

Read more

Riding with Dorcy Lights

Check out these affordable lights for riding, camping and trailside repairs.

Read more

LaPierre Zesty AM 427 with E:i shock


The new LaPierre/Rockshox E:i suspension system adjusts rear damping on the fly based on pedaling and bumps. I’ve been dreaming of such a system — and I tried it yesterday at Valmont Bike Park.

Read more

Movie: Shaun Palmer, The Miserable Champion


Promo copy: Shaun Palmer, the Miserable Champion is a shocking portrait of one of the most notorious athletes of all time. Action sports hero Shaun Palmer: 5 sports, 7 times world champion, 6 X-Games gold, 38 elite victories, 117 tour podiums, ESPY 2001 “Action Sports Athlete of the Year.” USA Today asks the question “Is this the world’s greatest athlete?”

It’s taken time and struggle to get this movie made. As soon as the DVD appeared at The Fix Bike Shop, I bought it. Full retail. Gotta support such endeavors.

Thoughts:

Read more

So close in Utah


After the Saturday coaching session in Utah (see Radness in Salt Lake City, UT), I was exhausted but we had to rock a trail ride. Chris is a seasoned XC racer. Judd is a new-school ripper. The three of us made a perfect platoon of braaap!

Read more

Radness in Salt Lake City, UT


Last weekend I trained a bunch of high school mountain bike coaches, tried some Cannondales and rode a sick trail.

Read more

Fail: Rockshox Reverb

It’s time to tell the story of my Rockshox Reverb experiment.

UPDATED MARCH 21 with a resolution.

Read more

Purgatory vs. Ground Control on Stumpy 29?

Hola, instructor to the Stars,

I am replacing my tires on the trusty Stumpy 29. Currently running a Purgatory 2.2 in the front and Ground Control 2.1 in the back. The back tire needs replacing, so, I bought another Purgatory, thinking I would try that on the back also. I like the Ground Control just fine. I do notice sometimes I lose the rear end on corners but never thought it was a problem or related to tire selection. My concern (not a big concern) is that running the Purgatory front and back will bring slower rolling resistance.

Thoughts?

Chris

Read more

My P.3 rips the lower Valmont pump track

Watch world champion 15X BMX racer Collin Hudson tear up the lower Valmont pump track on my P.3. I handed him the bike, he took 0.1 seconds to adjust to the suspension and wheels, then he rocked these amazing laps.

Read more