Reviews
Bontrager Foray Jacket
With the colder months seemly taking up half the year north of the 49 parallel, getting some better riding gear for the fall and spring seemed very necessary this year.
Feb 16, 2017
Reviews
Bontrager OMW Softshell Pant.
Full disclosure – I don’t own a fat bike. But I was recently provided a pair of Bontrager OMW Softshell pants to review. But I do live in Whistler, BC and we do have some wintery weather here that’s still great for riding before we become buried in snow.
Jan 27, 2017
Reviews
Reviewed: Leatt DBX Shorts & Jersey.
Toward the end of the 2016 bike park season, I got myself a set of the new Leatt DBX shorts & jersey.
Dec 14, 2016
Reviews
Bontrager Flare R Tail Light
Over the summer on the way home from Loonie races I threw a Bontrager Flare R Tail Light onto my bag for the ride home.
Nov 14, 2016
Reviews
Reviewed: Bontrager Evoke Gloves
Gloves are like socks. You should have lots of pairs of them and change them often.
Aug 22, 2016
Reviews
Leatt DBX 6.0 Carbon Helmet
Leatt isn't a company that buys open molds and slaps their name on it. They take pride in designing products that carry a name associated with quality and technology. For the last several months we have been testing the Leatt DBX 6.0 Carbon helmet, and it just might be my favourite helmet to date.
Jul 27, 2016
Reviews
Bontrager Foray shorts & Jersey.
Spring in Whistler usually starts off with a bang. Right to the nice weather, suns out, guns out type of stuff. In fact the my were swimming in a lake on May 1st this year. But when the end of May draws near, the weather always seems to change to a cold June-uary, but late in June mother nature seems to remember to turn the heat back on and it picks right back up where it left off.
Jun 29, 2016
Reviews
Pearl Izumi Summit Short / Launch Jersey
Men’s Summit Short Review The Pearl Izumi Summit Short is a noticeably light piece with more technical features than I’d anticipated. Featuring DWR water resistant treatment, 4 way stretch rip-stop fabric, snap and Velcro closure and two simple mesh lined pockets (note: pockets do not allow room for storage).
Jun 3, 2016
Reviews
Pearl Izumi Bib Short.
Unlike any bib short I have worn, the Pearl Izumi Bib Short Liner is a no-nonsense easy rider. Coming from an MTB background, I scoffed at bibs but slowly warmed to their comfort as a sometimes road rider. Its true, nothing beats a bib for fit and comfort for long hours in the saddle.
Apr 11, 2016
Reviews
Reviewed: Bontrager Lithos Stormshell
In the Northwest there are 2 seasons, Raining & sunny with a chance of showers.When you drive further up into the mountains we end up with three season: snow, wet snow & sunny with a chance of showers. Those conditions lead most people I know to have a closet full of jackets. Winter jackets for playing in the snow, running jackets, softshells and the most important of them all, the waterproof jacket.
Mar 24, 2016
Reviews
Pearl Izumi X-Alp Launch II
I can't say I know much about Pearl Izumi shoes, other than they have been making them for a while and Lopes wears them. After my Vans died a horrible sole failure death, I thought I would give the X-Alp Launch II a go.
Mar 10, 2016
Reviews
Leatt DBX 4.0 Lite Gloves
The first thing that I noticed when I put on the Airflex DBX Lite gloves from Leatt was how thin they are. The difference in thickness between these and other gloves I have tried is instantly noticeable. In fact I have actually typed this out while wearing them.
Mar 1, 2016
Reviews
Bontrager Stormshell Gloves
Winter riding can be a nasty thing. Wet, cold, uncomfortable. Or it can be warm, wet and comfortable. The Stormshell gloves help keep your days more like the latter than the former.
Feb 22, 2016
Reviews
Bontrager Lithos Softshell Jacket
At the start of winter I picked up a Bontrager Lithos softshell jacket. It's not the first time I have had a softshell and it won't be the last. They are just a great addition in the closet. On their own, layered with another jacket on cold days. The Lithos jacket has been my daily go to jacket for cruising around town. The semi fitted cut of the jacket is wearable with a sweatshirt underneath without making you feel like a stuffed sausage, and down right roomy for riding in.
Jan 29, 2016
Reviews
Reviewed: Leatt 3DF Body Vest
Leatt is well known for designing the first commercial neck brace outside of auto racing, and over the last few years they have been slowly expanding their products in all directions of protection. Helmets, gloves, hydration systems are but just a few of the areas they have moved into. Another is body protection. Makes sense right? We got ourselves one of Leatt's 3DF Airfit Body Vest. Now I'm not one too wear a crap ton of protection when out riding, but i do believe in covering your chest...
Jan 20, 2016
Reviews
Bontrager Evoke Fall Riding Gear.
The fall can be a dismal time for riding, especially in the Pacific North West. Grey, relentlessly wet, mucky trails and the feeling that you might never get warm again. Then the clouds part, the snowcovered peaks sneak into view and it warms up ever so slightly, all signs that we still can sneak in one more ride.
Nov 13, 2015
Reviews
Bontrager Foray Kit
When I buy riding gear, i tend to move towards the freeride section of the store. Durability & function are the starting blocks that I use to search for new gear. It hasn't always been that way though. But back before kids, I had a pair of shorts that leaned more towards the xc end of the spectrum, but a lack of judgement of my ability caused those shorts to end up as shreds of fabric on the trailside on Captain Safety in the Garbonzo zone. Nothing like riding down to the village with your...
Sep 21, 2015
Reviews
Reviewed: Bontrager Lithos Short & Rhythm Shirt
Frankly I hadn't come across Bontrager clothing before a couple months ago. I had no idea that they were producing anything other than bits for bikes and have been doing it for over five years. So not being something that had been on my radar it was a sweet surprise to meet the Lithos short & Rhythm shirt.
Jul 17, 2015
Reviews
Reviewed: Specialized Demo Pro Short & Jersey
For the last couple of weeks we have been trying out the new Specialized Demo riding gear. Click through the jump to read our thoughts on them.
Jun 11, 2015
Reviews
2FO Shoes: reviewed.
I'm a bit skeptical when bike companies stray outside of frames and dabble in soft goods. Sometimes it feels like they are just trying to make an extra sale to someone that doesn't really know what they are buying and want something that matches their bike. Not to mention that there have been many companies that have tried to make the the transition and have failed. If you haven't noticed, Specialized has their hands in almost aspect of biking, and in all honesty, they aren't too shabby at...
May 25, 2015
Reviews
Reviewed: Specialized Boomslang Pedals.
The Boomslang pedals are a completely new pedal designed by Jason Chamberland at Specialized head office in Morgan Hill, CA. Immediately you can see that they are thinner than the average pedal and feature a unique design. At their thinest point they come in at 10mm, which makes it one of, if not the thinest flat pedal on the market.
Feb 17, 2015
Reviews
Reviewed: Norco Fluid 7.2
Neatly stashed away in the Norco line up is the Fluid series. With 120mm of travel, the Fluid falls right in the trail riding segment. Available in either 29" (9 series) or 27.5" (7 series) with geometry specific to each wheel size, the Fluid is meant to be ridden hard and put away wet.
Aug 20, 2014
Reviews
Reviewed: Axiom Annihilateair G200LE
Years ago I got my first floor pump. I hadn't gone into the store looking for one. But it was one of those things that I had been thinking about, but hadn't pulled the trigger on yet. It sat in my garage, squirrelled away in the corner cabinet, used occasionally, but more forgotten than used. In the age of tubeless tires, i had found it was way easier to seat the bead using a compressor and just blasting it with air.
Jun 6, 2014
Reviews
Bell Super Helmet
What weights 390 grams, has 25 vents and carries two certifications? The Super was designed to be a helmet that was cool and light enough to be worn on long XC rides, but tough enough to handle crashes at higher speeds. The design of the helmet has really been aimed at the Enduro crowd: extra vents, removable visor and the ability to fit goggles on the helmet. All of which are really pulling in that direction.
May 8, 2014
Reviews
Mio Alpha Heart Rate Monitor Watch
If you are serious about training, you already have a heart rate montior. Even if you aren't training for some event, chances are that you have at least heard about a heart rate monitor.
Jan 13, 2014
Reviews
Five Ten. Freerider Vxi Elements
Well now that we are in a fresh new year it might be time to shed some light on what was under the tree in the Armstrong household this year.
Jan 9, 2014
Reviews
Sun Ringlé Charger Pro SL wheelset.
Towards the end of the summer I got my hands on one of Sun Ringlé's newest wheel sets, the Charger Pro SL. Previously I have had the Charger Expert wheels and they lasted me a good length of time, so I was looking forward to the new Pro SL.
Oct 18, 2013
Reviews
Giro Chamber Shoes.
One look at the Giro website and you can see that they have had their hands full designing shoes for cyclists. With over 20 models just in road shoes, it seems that Giro has been busy building up the line over the last few years.
Sep 12, 2013
Reviews
Easton Havoc 35mm carbon bar & direct mount stem.
Last year Easton launched a new bar size, 35mm, that was designed as a wider bar that wouldn't fail due to the extreme forces downhill riders put on them.
Sep 5, 2013
Reviews
Reviewed: Specialized Dissident Helmet.
The Specialized Dissident helmet has a strong pedigree. The design was lead by Bob Lakes, who's work you have seen in previous designs for Easton Bell Sports (Giro) as the Bell Star & the Bell Moto 9. With over twenty years of experience in helmet design, you know that he put all of those years of experience into this new design for Specialized.
Jul 14, 2013
Reviews
Specialized Tactic 2 helmet.
Specialized released an updated Tactic helmet, fittingly called The Tactic 2 earlier this year. I wasn't familiar with the previous model, but the Tactic 2 has become my favourite open face helmet.
May 22, 2013
Competitions
New Mexico singletrack Stage 1.
Los Alamos delivered a quintessential New Mexico race day, with cool morning temperatures, abundant sunshine, and blue skies stretching across the Pajarito Plateau.
Sep 22, 2026
Competitions
Red Bull Rampage returns to original venue for 25th anniversary.
Red Bull Rampage will return to its original Southern Utah competition zone in October 2026, bringing the world’s leading freeride mountain bikers back to the terrain where the event began. One month before the return of Red Bull Rampage, the event is heading back to where it all started. For its 25th anniversary, the sport’s toughest action sports event will once again be staged at the original 2001 competition zone in Southern Utah. The world’s top 12 female freeriders will take on the...
Sep 14, 2026
Competitions
Mille Johnset & Tegan Cruz top downhill podiuma t the first Crankworx Mont-Sainte-Anne
The legendary 2.2km Downhill track dried out today, turning in a completely different race than yesterday's slower, wetter Seeding.
Sep 6, 2026
Competitions
Honeycomb 226ers win Stage 2 of the Swiss Epic on 32-inch Wheels
Thursday, 20 August, presented significant challenges to the Swiss Epic race organisers and the 2026 participants.
Aug 27, 2026
Competitions
Redemption for Engadin La Punt Locals on Stage 1 of the 2026 Swiss Epic
Stage 1 of the 2026 Swiss Epic saw three Swiss riders atop the podium, as Fadri Barandun and Andrin Beeli won in the Elite Men’s category, before Anna Weinbeer and the Italian Marathon Champion Claudia Peretti claimed victory in the Elite Women’s.
Aug 26, 2026
Competitions
A Day of Drama Shakes Up the UCI Enduro World Cup
A dramatic opening day at the UCI Enduro World Cup finale in Morillon, Haute-Savoie (France) turned the Elite Men’s overall standings on their head, setting up a thrilling final-day showdown between Lief Rodgers and Adrien Dailly (Speed Project) in the battle for the title.
Aug 19, 2026
Competitions
David Godziek and Johanna Nussbaumer Top Rhapsody at Crankworx Whistler 2026
New course, higher stakes, and a Boneyard packed for the last big show of the festival: David Godziek and Johanna Nussbaumer topped the podium at Rhapsody, closing out the Slopestyle Super League (SSL) Regular Season on the final day of Crankworx Whistler 2026.
Aug 3, 2026
Competitions
Tegan Cruz and Kailey Skelton Take Dual Slalom Gold on an All-New Boneyard Course
Riders battled tight berms, sequence jumps, and mud all day, but it couldn’t stop Tegan Cruz and Kailey Skelton, who both topped the podium at the Crankworx Whistler Dual Slalom.
Aug 3, 2026
Competitions
Troy Brosnan wins the Canadian Open DH (og version) for the seventh time. Matching my record for getting off the couch this week.
After days of rain soaked training sessions and racing action the previous days, the skies over Whistler finally cleared just in time for elite finals on the OG CDN OPN DH.
Jul 29, 2026
Competitions
EVERYTHING STILL TO PLAY FOR AT PENULTIMATE UCI ENDURO WORLD CUP OF THE SEASON
After a thrilling UCI Cross-country and UCI Downhill World Cup double header in Pal Arinsal - Andorra, the enduro action resumes to conclude six weekends of back-to-back WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series action.
Jul 18, 2026
Competitions
Andorra Epic 2026: Stage 4
Davide Foccoli and Stefano Gori claimed the overall win in the men's category, while Colombian rider Monica Calderon and her Italian teammate Costanza Fasolis took the women's overall title.
Jul 10, 2026
Competitions
Leaders Slip Up and Lose Time on Stage 3 of the Andorra Epic
The penultimate stage of the 2026 Andorra Epic saw both the elite men’s and elite women’s race leaders conceding time but not losing the leaders’ jerseys.
Jul 8, 2026
Competitions
Andorra Epic 2026: Scott Racing Dig Deep to Win Andorra Epic Queen State
The Queen Stage of the 2026 Andorra Epic saw the lead atop the virtual general classification change hands before bovine traffic and a rear wheel mechanical cost Klimatiza Orbea valuable time in the battle for yellow with Scott Racing.
Jul 5, 2026
Competitions
2026 Andorra Epic: Stage 1
Stage 1 of the 2026 Andorra Epic showcased just how exceptional the mountain biking will be over the next four days, while also proving who the contenders for general classification victory are.
Jul 2, 2026
Competitions
Saitta and Steinburg crowned champions of Appenninica 2026
History is made as an Italian wins the Elite men's race at Appenninica for the first time.
Jun 26, 2026
Competitions
Finn Iles makes it two weeks in a row; Ana Newkirk takes her debut win at Lenzerheide!
Finn Iles (Specialized Gravity) only had to wait seven days to claim his third Men Elite UCI Downhill World Cup race victory,
Jun 22, 2026
Competitions
BC Bike Race 2026: Stage 6 Nanaimo – Presented by Mosaic
Nanaimo ends with a bang, sprint finishes and podium shake-ups
Jun 5, 2026
Competitions
BC Bike Race Day 5: Tzouhalem reignites rivalries
After a day of the unknown at Hammerfest, BC Bike Race returned to familiar trails, mixing flow and gnar, on Mount Tzouhalem.
Jun 2, 2026
Competitions
BC Bike Race Day 4: Hammerfest
After three hard days of racing, the 20th BC Bike Race ventured into the unknown.
May 29, 2026
Competitions
BC Bike Race 2026: Stage 3 Cumberland
Cumberland brings classic B.C. weather and close racing
May 27, 2026
Competitions
BC Bike Race 2026: Stage 2 Campbell River
Campbell River delivers tight racing deep in the green room
May 27, 2026
Competitions
BC Bike Race 2026: Day 1.. Sprint Finish!
Cumberland opens the final original BC Bike Race
May 24, 2026
Competitions
Fastest XC guy ever turns up at BC Bike Race 2026.
Twenty years ago, BC Bike Race set out to build something different. Not just a race, but a journey.
May 23, 2026
Competitions
Vermette and Holl make history in barnstorming curtain raiser at Mona Youngpyong.
A historic opener to the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in South Korea saw Asa Vermette (Frameworks Racing / TRP) claim a sensational Elite debut victory while Vali Höll (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) triumphed despite a flat tyre.
May 4, 2026