Winter 2022-23 Ski Season Forecast It’s that time of year! Time to start dreaming about winter. And what better way to fuel your backcountry powder skiing dreams than to obsess about long range weather forecasts, La Niña vs. El Niño and the latest temperature trends in the equatorial Pacific that directly influence the big picture weather through the El Niño… Read More
Extend Your Riding Season with the Showers Pass Apex Mountain Bike Pants You might recognize Showers Pass as the brand that makes bomber rain gear for cycling, born and proven in the damp climate of Portland, Oregon. Turns out their bike-know-how extends beyond rain gear. Last spring, I tested the Showers Pass Apex Mountain Bike Shorts and loved them. Their… Read More
Ready. Set. Pack. Salsa EXP Handlebar Bag Review Choosing the best bikepacking gear is a lesson in weight, space, function and durability. Salsa Cycles strikes a nice balance in their bikepacking handlebar bag – the Salsa EXP Series Anything Cradle Handlebar Kit. The three-part set-up includes the EXP Anything Cradle, the EXP Dry Bag and an Anything Cradle Accessory Pouch. The… Read More
Waterproof. Durable. Secure. Ortlieb Handlebar Bag Review Well known for their bike panniers, Ortlieb has been making bomber-grade, waterproof bike packs since 1982. So, it’s no surprise that the Ortlieb bikepacking handlebar bag serves up secure, waterproof storage in a durable and easy-to-use design. Clean and simple describe the bag well. But it’s far from basic. It’s a minimalist dream… Read More
Rocker Ski Racks Skis have a way of cluttering your garage, hallway, closet or wherever it is that you happen to store them. We all know what happens when you simply lean your skis against the nearest available wall – if they don’t fall over right away, they will fall over eventually, often taking a few other choice items with them on… Read More
Fork Mount Bikepacking Storage – Salsa EXP Anything Cage HD Options. That’s what the Salsa Anything Cage is all about. As the name suggests, these fork-mounted bikepacking cages let you carry just about anything. They expand your carrying capacity on the bike while maintaining a low profile and secure attachment for handling rough off-road travel. The Salsa Anything Cage has… Read More
Eco-Friendly Bike Chain Lube, Maintenance and Cleaning Supplies from Mountainflow A clean, lubed bike is a happy bike. It’s a simple concept, but even basic bike maintenance takes time and the right supplies. You can clean with traditional dish soap and water, but why not do it right and use environmentally friendly cleaning supplies and bike chain lube. The innovative folks at… Read More
GoSun 10 Watt Portable Solar Panel Phone, GPS, head unit, camera gear, headlamp, the list goes on. Carrying electronics in the backcountry is the norm these days. Keeping them charged over the course of a multi-day backcountry trip, however, is a project of its own. Portable batteries are an obvious solution and are great for a single device for a… Read More
Mountain Bike Movie Trailers 2022 Get out that chain lube. Tune up those deraileurs. Air up those tires. Grab your helmet and get on your bike . . . As summer heats up, it’s full speed ahead for bike season. Here are a couple mountain bike movie trailers to motivate ya to grab that bike. Biketown: A Story of Mountain… Read More
What Makes A Great Bike Helmet? A bike helmet review is a funny thing cause we can’t actually evaluate its impact protection. It’s more about comfort and looking at what types of safety tech and features it offers. The bottom line is that a great bike helmet should be the kind of thing you don’t really notice until you need… Read More
Low Rolling Resistance. All-Around Grip For most of the gravel riding in the Pacific Northwest, traction and volume are the primary concerns when choosing tires. But you should never discount rolling resistance on a long day or when there’s a good percentage of paved road miles on deck. Our latest gravel tire review is the Kenda Alluvium Pro. It’s a… Read More
Better AeroPress Coffee with Fellow Prismo Filter For dedicated coffee drinkers, little compares to the ritual brewing of the morning cup. We all have our favorite time-tested methods for brewing coffee in the backcountry or while on the road, and one of the best portable coffee makers is the AeroPress coffee maker. This winter, I stumbled across the Fellow Prismo… Read More
Whether you set out for a ride in the rain or get caught by a surprise shower, cold, wet feet are part of winter cycling. Overboots and waterproof winter cycling shoes are a big help. Fenders are important, too, but inevitably, the rain or wet road spray is going to seep into your cycling shoes — usually as it drips… Read More
Go Tubeless or Go Home If you aren’t using tubeless tires on your adventure gravel bike (or mountain bike), you should be. Imagine bombing down gravel descents and across rough ground without concern for flats. Going tubeless is the key to reducing tire issues on adventurous rides. Tubeless lets you run lower tire pressure without fear of pinch flats and… Read More
Carve or Slarve – The Volkl Blaze 106 is Right at Home By the numbers, the Volkl Blaze 106 is an interesting ski. It has a unique blend of new school and traditional design elements. It specs out with a 146mm tip, a 106mm waist and a 128mm tail for all lengths. Its wide shovel and strong sidecut are the… Read More
