It seemed natural to take the Pivot Mach 5.5 carbon X01 Eagle to the top of Burke Mountain in Vermont’s Kingdom Trails for its test run. Filled with rock gardens, gnarly roots and epic berms, these trails were made to rip and huck at speed. Is it a cross country bike, progressive trail or all mountain? Regardless of what you call it, the Mach 5.5 turned out to be the perfect tool for the job.
There is no bigger buzzkill than a sudden loss of tire pressure during a ride. Learning to remedy a flat tire on your own is absolutely the most important skill that every rider must learn in order to keep riding fun and safe. Here is everything you need to know to be prepared and confident when this situation inevitably deflates your pneumatic fun.
Mountain biking is thirsty work and it’s important to stay hydrated. Hydration packs have a number of advantages over water bottles for mountain biking:
In this article we cover what you need to know when buying a hydration pack, plus our pick of the best packs for different riders.
Have you ever wondered why climbing a hill is so tough on a bike? Before you go trading in your bike for an ultra-light model or cutting the doughnut food group from your diet, try these tips on your next ascent.
A good base layer will keep you warm in winter and cool in summer. It adds comfort, especially under bib-shorts, and can help you regulate your body temperature by wicking away sweat. Plus, it provides an extra layer of protection from road rash if you take a spill.
In this buyer’s guide we cover:
We’ve rounded up the best deals on Prime Day for cyclists, along with a few other deals worth sharing.
Bicycles have a wide variety of complex components that need tweaking from time to time. Since it is inadvisable to carry an entire toolbox with you, and Bicycle Repair Man has a limited range, it’s best to carry a compact tool.
For a basic multi-tool, go with the Park Tool I-Beam Mini, which covers the basics and slips easily into a jersey pocket. If you’d like to go full on Macgyver, we highly recommend the Blackburn Tradesman, which includes every tool needed for your cycling survival.
Your chain is the circulatory system of your bike – it transfers all the energy you put out into propelling the bike forward. Just like any other moving part, it requires lubrication of its hundreds of individual pieces.
The chain is entirely exposed to the elements, making it susceptible to contamination, corrosion, and drying out. Keeping your chain clean and lubed is a simple, but often overlooked process, so here is a quick guide to mastering chain lubrication, along with a few recommendations for the best chain lube for the job. Our top pick for lubing chains of all kinds is ProGold Prolink. It continually proves its mettle and has quickly become a workbench staple.
There’s nothing worse than having to take forced time off the bike because you’re injured. Fortunately many common cycling injuries are preventable. Spend more time in the saddle and less on the couch by following a few simple tips and guidelines.
Your reliable local bike shop will likely charge no less than $50 for a basic tune, but it can be hundreds if they need to go deep and replace parts. Learning to work on your own bike will save you the time and money involved in taking it to a bike shop, prevent fun-ending (and potentially dangerous) mechanical failures, and provide you with the satisfaction of embracing the DIY spirit.
This guide will cover the basics to get your bike rolling for spring. For detailed guides to specific parts on your bike, consult Park Tool’s Repair Help website for general instructions or the service manual for the specific component, which is often available on the manufacturer’s website. Sheldon Brown’s amazing website is a witty treasure trove of useful technical information as well.