Rock gardens provide an incredible rush and a challenge during a ride. There is something about blasting over a section of trail that you never thought you would be able to ride. The feel of the suspension soaking up every bump as you wonder if that next rock is going to throw you OTB or off your line is exhilarating.

2009 looks to be a big year for SRAM components. What hasn’t changed much for the the 2009 model year is the conventional shifting lines from SRAM. The X.7, X.9 and X.0 lines have stayed pretty much the same over this model year. Do they still meet the demands of 2009?

Everyone has their local trail that they have grown to love and know like the back of their hand. Here in lies the major flaw with becoming a better rider on your local trails…YOU KNOW IT LIKE THE BACK OF YOUR HAND! This is great when you are looking for a quick ride or one where you don’t have to think.

With the arrival of the Mountain Cycle Rumble, it was time to get out of my riding comfort zone. For a long time now, I have wanted a hardtail that could double as a dirtjump bike and a freeride machine. This deal hit with Mountain Cycle and I was able to get my dream. The Rumble with a Rock Shox Pike bolted up allows 95mm travel for the dj’s and 140mm for the freeride sections.

For those of us on the east coast of the United States, Asheville, NC is the capital of mountain biking. There may be other areas that have a better downhill, a better cross country race, etc., but no where on the east coast offers the diversity that Asheville and the surrounding areas provide.

Red Bull Rampage, the premier freeride mountain biking competition, held annually from 2001 to 2004, is blasting back onto the scene in 2008, bigger and badder than ever before. From October 2-5, Red Bull Rampage: The Evolution will draw the greatest riders in the world to a new venue just outside Virgin, Utah, offering the most challenging terrain mountain bike competition has ever seen.

Sharon at Honcho Designs emailed me yesterday about posting this press release regarding their new film “Break the Cycle”. I had them send along some pictures to go along with the release and as you can see…the Irish landscapes in this film are breathtaking.

It is not very often that you get to have a weekend this great. The weather was absolutely perfect for riding, so after yesterdays mountain excursion…it was time for some local fun with the “family”. Jenn is getting better by the week at riding, and this is very exciting to watch.

Yesterday, a group of us headed up the the North Georgia mountains to lead a group of riders through the Pinhoti trails in Ellijay. The morning started off cold at the cars which meant the ride temperatures would be perfect. Luckily, it had rained in the area 24 hours before, so the trail was tacky and dust free.