Features

Do you remember when your seventh grade teacher told you about your "permanent record"? I remember it well... 

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The start of a new trail is the ultimate unknown. A map, a friend who's been on the trail and a website like yourmtb.com will help you, but it is the first pedal stroke that really counts. Your journey on to the trail and in to the unknown is all that we really have. Preparing for a big-long-epic ride is similar to business strategy and your personal life - it is all about the journey AND YOU NEVER "get there". 

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Well here is my unoffical review of the 2007 Trek 6000. I was riding a 2006 Schwinn Mesa because I was not sure I was going to actually pick up this sport. After my first ride and crash I was hooked. I ne I needed some better euipment but money was an issue. Finally I decided to buy a new car (05 Xterra)and sell my old POS car. The money I got for the POS was what I could spend on a bike. I made enough to buy a Trek 6000 with disc brakes. First off I love this bike. The disc brakes alone make it a smoother ride especially when the terrain is a little wet.

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I am pretty new to the sport of MTB. I am looking for a good starter bike. The trails around dayton ohio are fairly technical. I was considering a trek or possibly a Gary Fisher. Any thoughts on this would be great. I am riding a 2006 Schwinn Mesa I got at the beginning of last year. I wasn't sure if I was going to really get into this but now I really want to. Any advice for newbies would be great.

Thanks all

Whether it is in the workplace, at home or with one of your friends, you'll always have to deal with difficult people. And, everyone has their secret to getting past the situation.

Do you ignore the situation (stand-offish)? What about fight it head-on (headstrong-ish)? Do you blame (blamer)? Are you passive-aggressive (freak)? I imagine that most people go through a variety of responses when dealing with situations with difficult people. It all depends on the type of day it is. If you're day has been happy; you might be the most wonderful person to deal with. If your day has been crap; then WATCH OUT!

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I got on the horn for part 3 of my series of interviews with Douglas Stoddard MD, inventor of eLoad. Today the discussion centered around blood flow, body temperature, carbohydrates, sugars and the tiny ingredients in sports drinks you don't know about, and how all of those can combine to make you blow chunks. Listen as Dr. Stoddard drops the science on YourMTB.com...

MP3 File

This weekend I got to get out and get a good ride in with Sarge and his daughter. We had a great ride up at Ashland up and around the park. Just about everybody we ran into were very friendly and for the most part, the dogs off their leashes stayed away from us. It was Sarge’s daughter’s first ride after a couple of months as well as her first ride up Ashland. It was clear, beautiful and about 70 degrees.

I heard a lot of squeaking, grinding and dragging of various components on my bike. Unlike Sarge, who is very meticulous / anal about bike cleanliness, I tend to wipe it off and throw the bike in the garage during the winter months. I just really don’t feel like washing during the cold. Well, I put the Prophet on the bike stand and went to town on it. I took a brass brush to the chain to clean off some spot rust that developed. I ran a brush around the rear derailleur and through all of the different cogs and grooves. My ride seemed to breathe a fresh sigh of relief.

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Do you have the bike shops of the towns you travel to most on your speed dial? Do you call them all the time to ask about the weather? Have they become so accustomed to your voice that they start talking about the weather before acknowledging the name of their shop? Have you become a bug in their ear?

I bet the guys at Over The Edge sports, in Fruita, CO could tell you plenty about my calls to them. I think they probably even have my number posted near the phone with a weather report right next to it. They might also have my number with a picture of my lovely face with a inscription that says: A WEATHER BUG! But, this information is important, if one is headed 4-6 hours away. It is even more important if you're a working Joe like me.

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Imagine: you have your wish list of bikes for the 2007 season (short list for me now); you're excited about one in particular. You kind of have the money. You could really make this happen TOMORROW! It is all a matter of will power!

Reality: your accountant is telling you what a bad idea a $5000 bike purchase is. Your Fiance asks, "What, another bike? Doesn't that make 8?" No one is supporting you except that one co-worker who has no idea - but he's sooo right!

I don't know if you're like me, or not, but I buy a new bike every year. I try to sell one from the year before, to help me float the cost of the new one. There is something about a new bike. At Mountain Bike Specialists, where I spent my lunch hour yesterday, they tried to coax me into buying the 2007 Stumpjumper Carbon. I'm not sold on the carbon, but I am sold on the 5-inches of travel. That's right, I want something with more "hit" power! So, here I am. I'm up early and I'm looking at the Stumpjumper picture. I'm thinking one thing: HOW CAN I CONVINCE MYSELF TO BUY THIS BIKE THIS WEEK!

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