Popular Mechanics magazine: How to build a pump track
A story in Popular Mechanics magazine is a sure sign the Pump Track Nation is going mainstream.
Check out the spread:
Lopes and the UCI XC Eliminator
Hey Lee,
Have you seen any of the XCE? Brian hasn’t been winning everything, but he has been making people look like fools.
Very cool to see him in action again. Such a racer. I love how calculated everything is, the way he runs people wide, covers lines and how he seems to know exactly how hard to go to secure 2nd place in a heat. I’ve never really liked dropper seat posts, but the way Brian uses his is really clever: down for starts, short straights, corners, stairs, climbs, descents, obstacles and sprint finishes and up for the odd long flat section.
The way they start these races though is a joke.
Hope you guys are all well,
Chris Q in Australia
First impressions of the 2013 Saint components
I’m running the 2012 XTR drivetrain and brakes on my new Stumpy Carbon 29 S-EVO, and they are simply incredible. The Shadow Plus rear derailleur makes everything else feel clunky, and the XTR Trail brakes with Ice Technology have set a new standard for consistent power.
Check out this Shimano video showing Santa Cruz Syndicate, Trek World Racing and Team Yeti opening their boxes of goodness.
Powerful CRE software and data as low as $20 per month
One of the things I do when I’m not doing bikes. We just launched this new product to serve smaller commercial real estate players with the same tools we rock for the big guys like Bank of America. No more spreadsheets, no more desktop software!
Check out the news release. Now maybe I can write about Sea Otter.
Lyons Bike Park Maintenance and Clean Up Day
This Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. We’re gonna clean things up and get the pump track super dialed for Worlds. The city bought 30 yards of filtered topsoil, so it’s gonna be good!
Check out the Facebook event page
Braaap!
Ryan Leech and the cons of being pro
So much wisdom in this nsmb.com story by Ryan Leech. I swear an entire essay can be written about each paragraph. Brilliant illustrations too.
Check out Ryan Leech and the Cons of Being Pro.
Even if you’re not a pro rider, you might identify with some of the struggles Leech talks about. I sure do.
Breaking 200
Thank goodness I haven’t weighed 200 pounds since I started riding bikes two decades ago.
We’re talking pedal cadence!
Pedaling drill: Tens
I just stumbled upon a new pedaling drill. It helped me drag my sore carcass up the hill to my house, and it made me more aware of my standing-sitting-standing transitions. Fun!
Tackling long essays
A little change of pace, but a useful one. Clear writing is one of the most useful — and bankable — skills you can develop.
Sea Otter Speed and Style 2012
This year we ran the second-ever Sea Otter Classic Speed and Style event. It was speedy and stylish.
Three weeks on the road
Hi all, I just got back from Sea Otter and high school coach training in Utah. Lots of big adventures. I’ll post reports as soon as I can.
Race vs DJ BMX bike?
Hey Lee,
I have your mountain biking book and it’s been really helpful. I plan on picking up a copy of the BMX skills book too.
I’d like to start incorporating some BMX pump track riding and BMX jumping to gain some skills as you recommend. There are also some skate parks around where I live and I thought that might be fun to try too for the hell of it. Right now I have no experience in BMX, but thought that getting a bike that is capable of BMX racing and dirt jumping would be good. From what i understand, BMX race frames and components aren’t designd to be jumped and take hits like the freestyle BMX bikes are designed to take. So I guess my question is do you think it’s better to start out with a BMX race bike and then pick up a separate dirt/freestyle BMX bike if I want to get into dirt jumping? Alternatively, would it be better to just get a chromoly dirt/freestyle BMX bike and use it for both dirtjumping and pump track riding?
Thanks,
Ben