Electronic Shifting: Do I Need It?
By Tom Jow — Electronics are becoming an ever-increasing part of our lives. In our pocket, in the car and in the house. And since Shimano released their Di2 electronic shifting in 2009, electronics are...
View ArticleTubeless Tire Puncture? Repair it with Bacon
By Tom Jow — The current state of tubeless tires and wheels for mountain bike is so good that most riders rarely experience a flat anymore. That is, however, contingent on having the tires properly...
View ArticleDisc Brakes and Tubeless Tires: A Brief Introduction
By Tom Jow — Earlier this year I finally gave up my old road bike. There was nothing wrong with it; top of the line Shimano Dura Ace and a custom steel frame built 25 years ago. I just wasn’t using it....
View ArticleWhat’s In Your Cycling Travel Kit?
By Tom Jow — While on a riding trip last month a friend had a derailleur cable break near the end of that day’s ride. It was no big deal because we were at the top of the downhill back to the car, and...
View Article5 Things to Consider When Buying Your First Real Mountain Bike
By Christine Dern and Rae Sutherland — So, you’ve ridden around on an old bike that has been in the garage for 10 years. Or, you jumped on your friend’s bike that’s way too big for you and attempted to...
View ArticleTips for Storing Your Bike for Winter
By Erica Tingey — For many mountain bikers, winter has arrived. While some four-season-climate dwellers extend their riding season with frequent trips to warmer biomes, others take a break for a few...
View ArticlePut It Away Clean
By Tom Jow — By the time you read this, we will be well into the winter season. Snow came early this year and if you are like me, your summer bike gear is all but put away. But before we hang up the...
View ArticleDrivetrain Wear
By Eric Ramirez — You might think that the most representative connection you have to your bike is the saddle and handlebars. But, without forward motion that connection makes the bike more like your...
View ArticleThere is More to Grips Than Color
By Tom Jow — When shopping for a new bike, it is easy to get caught up in the excitement of the latest and greatest. What’s that new suspension system and how much travel does it have? How many gears...
View ArticleSpring Bike Maintenance Tips
By Eric Ramirez — Brushing off the Dust Living in the Intermountain West it’s common to pull your bike down from the proverbial rafters in the spring and find that it doesn’t work quite right. As the...
View ArticleClip-in Pedals or Flats? Is One Better?
By Tom Jow — If you are reading this, you probably ride a bike. Therefore, you likely already have pedals, unless you’re doing the toddler Strider thing. So, what more could I possibly tell you about...
View ArticleKeep ‘Em Ready to Ride
By Tom Jow — The summer solstice is past and riding season is in full swing. For me however, it seems like I am just getting started. What this means is that in addition to trying to find time to ride,...
View ArticleTubeless Tire Service Can Be Easy
By Tom Jow — During my career as a bicycle technician, it has been my duty to prepare the two-wheeled machine so that its rider can perform at their best. That means presenting a clean bicycle that...
View ArticleHow to Take Bicycles Apart
By Tom Jow — Build it, or take it apart, which comes first? As a kid I’m sure I had build it toys such as Lego or Lincoln Logs but what I remember is taking apart an old alarm clock. You know the type;...
View ArticleReplacing Internal Cables on your Bicycle Is Not Impossible
By Tom Jow — The modern carbon fiber frame is a work of art. With swoopy curves and smooth joints, what really makes them beautiful is the lack of cables outside the frame. What the internal cables...
View ArticleSix Things To Do Before the First Spring Ride
By Tom Jow — Finally, it’s March! If you live in the Mountain West and are not a winter sports person you know what I mean. We are all ready for our annual spring trip to Moab, St. George, Fruita, the...
View ArticleAir Springs and Bicycle Suspension
By Eric Ramirez — If you’re wondering what an air-spring is, or how it works, you’re probably not alone. Chances are that if you’re mountain biking you already have an intimate relationship with an...
View ArticleA Guide to Dropper Posts
By Tom Jow — Every few years or so there is a bicycle component that changes the way people ride. Take front suspension for example. Before that mountain biking on rough pretty much rattled your...
View ArticleMid-Season Bike Maintenance for a Smooth and Safe Ride
By Tom Jow — As we enter the month of August, the riding season is just about halfway over. Some riders started early in the year and have ridden thousands of miles. Others have waited patiently...
View ArticleRefresh Your Brakes
By Tom Jow — Last month during my trip to Oakridge, Oregon I noticed my brake performance beginning to deteriorate. Specifically, my rear brake lever was feeling soft and pulling almost to the bar. In...
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