Features
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Get in Gear — Derailleur Adjustments
By Isaac Gmazel, Second Ascent Few mechanical systems on a bicycle inspire more wonder, confusion, or frustration than the derailleurs. On the other hand, these simple mechanisms allow our beautiful machines to maximize limited human power and when working smoothly, make it possible to tackle the steepest mountain slopes or simply carry us home after an exhausting workday. Making derailleur adjustments at home or during a ride requires very few tools, typically a 5mm hex wrench, a Phillips head screwdriver and a little know-how. Read More
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Presidential Tour of Turkey — Part 2
By Tom Peterson We flew from Istanbul to Izir, and the spectacular Mediterranean coastal region surrounding it, just after dinner following the 2nd stage of the Presidential Tour of Turkey. The opening stage in Istanbul was a pitiful example of what was to come over the duration of the race, as it almost felt like an amateur event; there was no reason not to think the rest of the race would be the same. What was to come would blow our minds. Read More
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Going Over Obstacles while Descending
By Sylvie Allen Descending on your bike should be a fun and thrilling experience, not a terrifying skid down the slope with you saying, “Thank god I made that!” at the bottom. After all, going downhill is the reason we did all that work to get to the top, right? Last month’s article focused on climbing up and over obstacles, this installment analyzes the really fun part of going over them while descending. Read More
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Galbraith: Will the “Good Times” Last?
By Amy Vance Hidden just off the beaten path in Northwestern Washington stands Galbraith Mountain, a mecca for mountain bike enthusiasts, a headache for one credit intermediation company, and a wake-up call for the city of Bellingham. The area provides the perfect environment for all forms of recreational excitement. The recent acquisition of Galbraith Mountain by Polygon Financial of Bow now threatens to deprive mountain-goers of this beloved spot, and the termination of the stewardship agreement that allowed public access has many outraged. Read More
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School Food Tour Strives to Change Habits
By Darren Dencklau Children in America are facing a large-scale epidemic — obesity. It is estimated that close to five million adolescents between the ages of 6 and 17, roughly 11 percent of the population, are overweight. Habits, good or bad, are often forged in the formative years, when children are learning life skills, but unfortunately many schools throughout America set a bad example by failing to serve their students nutritional meals. One young woman from Bend, Ore., is riding across the country to try to instigate change. Read More
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Climbing Up and Over Obstacles
By Sylvie Allen There’s nothing like an obstacle at the top of a technical climb to send your heart rate through the roof. Climbing is a love/hate thing ... love to make it to the top, hate it on the way up. It’s so satisfying, though, to stay on the pedals and not dab on a tough climb. The following will hopefully provide you tips to try on your local trails and avoid such blunders as uphill endos, sideways tip overs (while clipped in of course) and backwards run offs. Hilarious when your friend does it, but not much fun for you. Read More
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Your Seatpost May Be Ruining Your Ride
By Erik Moen, PT Seatposts play an important role in posture and position on the bike. A subpar post can ruin your ride, as it affects the measurements of saddle height, fore/aft and tilt. The height can impact knee health and how muscles work in the pedal stroke. Saddle fore/aft positioning can influence the relative reach to the handlebars, hip compression or decompression, and the position of the knee to the pedal spindle during the motion’s peak torque. Read More
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Jackfruit: A Bicycle Quest Through Latin America
By Rhesa Bubbel Jackfruit: A Bicycle Quest Through Latin America is a self-published story by David Nghiem, chronicling his yearlong bicycle journey that began in 2001. Over 400 pages explain his 2,000 miles of adventure — some terrifying, some humorous — as Nghiem explores a forbidden and sacred site ripe with danger in the small town of Cuzco and his own sudden and inexplicable desire to venture there in the first place. Read More
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Presidential Tour of Turkey
By Tom Peterson When I was in sixth grade I did a report on Turkey, so I know what it looks like on a map and that its capital is Ankara. I remember little else, and the truth is that that report or reports in general can do little to actually instill true semblance of what makes one culture different from another. I raced in the Tour of Turkey in May, “The Presidential Tour of Turkey.” Read More
Opinions
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The Proper Care, Feeding and Transport of Little Metal Cowboys
By Joe Kurmaskie For all the countless glories of parenthood, on certain days it makes a parent feel like a hostage negotiator with a broken bullhorn. We have three little metal cowboys — a pint-sized posse and the makings of a sports team learning the ropes around the ranch these days. Read More
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Viva Roadies!
By Maynard Hershon Classy roadies are the real thing. They have genuinely achieved, absorbed a sort of discipline that is almost military. They’ve worked at it. Roadies are known for what they are — not what they’re not. Read More
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A Cautionary Tale
By Maynard Hershon In November 2008 I participated in a 10-day meditation retreat at a kids’ summer camp for four days in the sticks near Denver, Colo. The retreat did not go well for me.... I won’t bore you further about the retreat but I’d like to talk about my ride home from the site. Read More
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Superman Winters in Costa Rica
By Joe Kurmaskie Jesus drives a 1983, midnight blue BMW through dawn’s early light at speeds that would frighten a veteran NASA test pilot. We careen for Costa Rica’s capital as though pursued by stampeding rhinos or an airborne plague. For some reason I’m not concerned; this is quite out of character.... At some point my ancestors must have given up all trust in their fellow man and taken up bicycling. Now there’s an activity where it’s all you. Read More
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Build It and They Will Come
By Joe Sales More than a few years ago, while living in the South Bay area of California, I used a multi-use pedestrian and bike path on a daily basis. There was hardly ever much traffic on the pathway — pedestrian, bike or otherwise. Even so, you really had to pay attention while riding it because of its circuitous nature. Read More
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The Ravioli Ride
By Joe Kurmaskie Everyone rides a bike in Italy; bankers in suits, bombshells in flowery dresses, old men carting baguettes and sausages back home in wire baskets. Read More
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I'm Down, Down on the Ground...
By Maynard Hershon On August 11th, a Monday, I fell off my bike and broke my left femur. I also dislocated my left middle finger and tore up the top of the knuckle where my thumb joins the rest of my hand. Read More
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The Flavor of the BC Cup of Cross
By Joe Sales Only a few years ago, British Columbia based racers wanting to pursue a season of cyclo-cross had to make the journey south across the border to Seattle and Portland for a chance to race. Read More
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Here’s an Idea Whose Time Has Truly Come
By Gordon Black If you’ve never traveled abroad, you might reasonably think that when it comes to innovation, progressive thinking and new ideas, the U.S. has the market cornered. Read More
