Buying new mountain bike parts and frames can be stressful for even the most experienced mountain biker. On one hand, it is great how many options we have today in mountain bike components and frames, but it can make choosing the right one for your trail and riding style difficult. I get asked a lot about my opinion on other riders buying decisions and while I can’t...

I’m sure you have already seen the spy pictures and specs. Shimano and SRAM are both making a push on the new 10 speed platform for 2011. So…it begs the question…do we really need 10 speed mountain bike drivetrains? First off, I completely agree with a 2x setup on the front. I have been running this setup on my 9 speed stuff for a long time with the aid...

I am assuming you are all biking junkies.  Hey, you found your way here, right?  If you are a biking junky, then you have probably managed to collect an immense amount of crap over the years.  If you are lucky and over 25, you probably even have a couple of bikes in your garage.  Maybe you got started on something you could afford a few years ago, and then got hooked. ...

Yesterday, I was out riding two new lines at the freeride/downhill area of our local trail and I actually caught myself saying this line – “My fork is not big enough to do that.” Before I could grab the words and shove them back into my mouth, they were already out there with all of their stupidity. Directly after saying that little, wonderful bit of...

For 2009, Shimano completely redesigned their Saint component group that is aimed at the downhill and freeride section of the mountain biking market. Saint is purpose built component group that is designed to take the abuse of gravity and big hit riders all around the world. Ripped from RideSaint.com: Shimano combines design and engineering prowess with current riding...

It’s official. SRAM launched their new 2×10 mountain bike component group named SRAM XX. This 10 speed mountain bike group is targeted towards the racing elite as they continue the quest for that top podium spot. With the release of this compoent group from SRAM, the question remains… Is there room in the mountain biking industry for a 10 speed setup? We...

A reader of Mountain Biking by 198 sent me an email over the weekend that had a very simple question that plagues the minds of many riders out there as they put together their first high end mountain bike build. I had a random question… i was in the market for a new bike. I have a Trek 8000. I wanted to go for FS and I was checking out the FS Santa Cruz Blur XC Carbon....

Picking the correct saddle for your mountain bike can be one of the most important decisions you make. A mountain bike saddle is one of the essential 3 contact points between you and the mountain bike. The wrong saddle choice can equal ruined rides out on your favorite singletrack. Unfortunately, many riders make due with the saddle that was included with the initial...