It is true. Every now and then, I actually get in a bike that is mine. Not only is it a bike I will never sell, but it is also a bike that I did not purchase…my wife did. This candy red beauty is a wedding present from my wife! Jenn went behind my back in 2007 with the plans of replacing a custom green Curtlo SS that I sold to help fund her engagement ring. She replaced...

There was a point in time that Mountain Biking by 198 was going to be a source for intense, in-depth trail reviews. After a short amount of time, I realized that a blog would better suit my needs because as a beginning website in those days…getting user submitted quality content without traffic was a difficult task to achieve. We still provide some trail reviews...

There comes a time in every mountain bikers life that they want to upgrade their current sled or get rid of unused parts. This is a normal progression as tastes, riding styles and parts change over time. Some of us fortunate riders carry a huge monkey on our back known as UGI. UGI…or in the medical world known as upgradeitis…is the constant need to have the latest and...

After weeks of closed-door meetings, dozens of skype calls, and death threats if the word leaks out, Evil Bikes and MS-Racing jointly announce the formation of an all-new UCI Trade Team for 2009. The new Evil Bikes/MS-Racing Team combines the upstart Evil brand with the World Cup winning success of MS-Racing’s management. The team roster is a mix of young talent and...

For 2009, RockShox completely revamped the Reba lineup. As a previous owner of several RockShox Reba’s, I was excited to see the changes and get this new fork out on the trail for some real testing. Additional articles on the RockShox Reba Team Update: 2009 RockShox Reba Team Intro: 2009 RockShox Reba Team 20mm TA Axle Weigh Off What’s new on the Reba for...

I thought it was about time that I just came out and said it. Road riding has improved my mountain biking. This past weekend, I got to see how much my recent road riding has really improved my mountain biking. Over the past couple of road rides, I have really concentrated on smooth circular pedal strokes under load. During these constant spins…I make sure that I...

I’ve only ridden it twice, but the Olleros trail near Lima, Peru has to rank as one of the best downhills in the world. With spectacular views of the Andes, 3,000 metres/10,500 vertical feet of downhill (that’s not a misprint!), and some of the flowiest, most beautiful riding on the planet, I can’t think of any downhill I’ve ever had more fun on. The...

Before I decided to commute to the office on my bike, I was often asked about why I didn’t. I live within 6 miles from the facility in which I office out of and the weather is typically bike-friendly. I seemed to always have a handful of excuses ready to throw at my questioner as to why I decided against the commute on anything other than my politically incorrect...