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Last week I headed over to the JensonUSA headquarters in Riverside, Ca. for 2 reasons. 1) was to try out the Rocky Mountain Altitude 770. 2) to meet with my buddy Wilt K.
Rocky Mountain was onsite allowing people to demo their high end 29ers and 650b mountain bikes.

The first thing Wilt and I did was hit Sycamore Canyon, which is right behind their massive building. This was my weapon of choice, the Altitude 770. This thing is super sweet with a carbon frame, all the highest level components.

Equipped with a seat dropper, and rear lock out. This 6″ travel All Mountain bike would be a great Super D or Mini-DH bike.

2×10 drive train by Shimano.

As I mentioned earlier, this bike would make for a great Mini-DH. What do I mean by that? In places where you need more travel, but a big downhill bike is overkill, this is where the Rocky Mountain Altitude 770 would come in. 6″ of travel, a slack headtube angle of 66.6, this thing has a near enough geometry of my downhill bike. So how did it handle? Exceptionally well! Climbs much like my 5″ travel 26er AM bike, but bombs like my 7″ Free Ride bike.

So here’s what’s great about the whole 650b thing. I had the sensation of riding a 29er because of the speed I was able to achieve with it. However, it handles much like a 26er. Ya, it’s really weird. One thing I don’t really like about 29ers is that they’re slow at switch backs and the handling, in my opinion, isn’t as swift and crisp as in a 26er. The Rocky Mountain Altitude, with it’s 650b platform is pretty much the closest thing you can get to PERFECT BIKE. But then again, everyone has their own definition of what a PERFECT BIKE would be. For me, this bike was it. If I had the $5400 in my pocket to spend, I would have bought that bike that same day.

Ok now let’s move on to my buddy Wilt. He’s the handsome one of the group at JensonUSA. After our ride, he showed me around, introduced me to some super cool folks who love bikes and have tattoos. This photo shows Wilt leaving me behind as he’s out pedaling on his Rocky Mountain carbon 29er, I forgot the model name. But Wilt kept saying how much he LOVES this bike.

Yours truly on that awesome Altitude.

So back to JensonUSA. As I was saying, Wilt showed me around. WOW! JensonUSA is ginormous!!! It’s like a Costco building! Here’s a cool little area that they have designated for their employees.

Bike parts all over the place! It’s as if this is heaven for bike lovers.

When you order from the JensonUSA website, the guys in the warehouse are assigned your order. Then they go all over the place and pick the parts to be shipped.

One thing that surprised me, JensonUSA takes all their own photos.They hardly use the stock photos the manufactures provide. This is their photo studio. They actually have at least 3 different photographers there.

That’s about it for my photos from my visit. JensonUSA is a great place to shop bike parts from. I’ve been known to shop there myself! I’d like to thank Wilt K and JensonUSA for their hospitality as well as Rocky Mountain for letting me demo their sweet bike! By the way, if the carbon version of the Altitude is a bit spendy for you, they do have the aluminum version of the Rocky Mountain Altitude 650b at JensonUSA

A few weeks ago my family and I all jumped in our van and drove up to New England to visit family in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Since I’d only gotten my Niner EMD9 a couple weeks previously, I had to take it along. I got to ride some of the trails I grew up riding in Massachusetts, then went up to New Hampshire (where my parents now live). Since I haven’t done much riding there, I hit up Google to see what was in the area, and discovered Fort Rock.

Fort Rock is actually two different town forests in Exeter, NH connected by a trail tunnel under route 101 – Henderson-Swasey and Oaklands (check the link for some good maps). They’ve been given some good attention by the New England Mountain Biking Association (NEMBA)- there are multiple areas with nicely-laid planks over swampy (and just plain pond-y) areas, which is great because otherwise the trails wouldn’t be rideable (or would just get torn up). There are also some less-noticed touches in certain areas to help with drainage and prevent erosion – but mostly the trails are left pretty natural – which is a very good thing!

Overall the entire system is both a blast and a challenge – and like many New England trails rocks and roots are more common than, well… dirt. Some suspension is pretty much required here unless you’re just begging for a beating. These trails were a little rockier than most though… not many New England trails get a branch named “Kill-Zilla” (according to some forum research, it’s also known as the “Demoralizer”). The name is fitting… I’m sure with some practice I could clean it, but the two times I rode it (once from either direction, once on purpose and once by accident!) I definitely had several foot dabs and a couple walks up hills when I couldn’t get going again on the slope. The rocks aren’t just around the trail – in many places the best way to go is OVER a bunch of rocks (and I’m not talking small ones), and there are lots of ways to kill your momentum – especially going up the steep hills that make up pretty much the entire trail. I spent much more time in my granny gear than I think I ever have before (boy was I glad I wasn’t on my singlespeed!).

My one gripe with the trail system is that I’d read it was signed, and that was true – but only barely. It has blazes – but one of the major trail sections runs in a circle, and actually branches a couple times – so even with the blazes it’s not always that easy to figure out where you are. I’m sure after a couple rides it becomes easier (I was starting to figure it out by the time I left), but for a first time rider bringing the maps along would be a good idea. I figured that out after my 1 1/2 hour ride turned into a 3 hour ride… I kept finding myself looping back around to where I didn’t want to be anymore! I was on my bike and having fun though, so it was all good (well, up until the point my water ran out!).

I didn’t get to ride anything like all the trails in this system despite the time I spent in it, so I’ll definitely be back there next time I’m in the area. I do want to thank the town of Exeter for letting mountain bikers use the trails in this way though – and NEMBA for helping make it into a more sustainable (and fun!) system. My introduction was exhausting and challenging, but incredibly satisfying.

For the past year or so, I’ve been saving my nickels, quarters, and the occasional folding currency for a new mountain bike – specifically, a geared 29er hardtail. After a lot of waffling and agonizing, I ended up ordering a custom Niner EMD9 build through Speedgoat Cycles. I initially wanted just a couple modifications off of a stock build they had, but ended up being able to work out several component changes for exactly the right price (thanks Michael C.!).

For everyone wanting to know the specs, here you go (the rest of you, skip down to the pretty pictures).

2012 Niner E.M.D.9 aluminum frame with tapered headtube
Fox 32 FLOAT 29 100 RLC FIT 15QR Tapered Fork
SRAM 2×10 X7 drivetrain (derailleurs, shifters, cranks)
Shimano XT Ice Tech brakes
Stan’s Notubes Arch EX 29er wheelset
Continental Race King 2.0 tires
Easton EA50 stem, bars, and seatpost
WTB Silverado Pro saddle
Weight: 25.22 lbs

I now have about 6 hours on the bike (3 rides in 3 states, thanks to a recent family trip!) and I have to say I’m having a blast. It’s a solid ride – could be lighter I suppose, but I have no complaints since it’s lighter than my Monocog! I’m also really enjoying the Fox fork (no surprise there), the 2×10 drivetrain, and the XT brakes.

For the frame itself, I have to say it’s a really nice balance – very maneuverable, I can loft the front end easily, which is a nice change from the stable but ground-loving Monocog. I’ve also found it to be a capable climber – the last ride I went on (which I’ll be devoting a separate post to later!) involved some pretty crazy rocky and rooty climbs, and the bike handled them all – I made a few mistakes in picking my lines on unfamiliar trails, but it’s not fair to blame the bike for human error!

I’m still making adjustments and shaking things down, but I’ve been really happy with my purchase so far. A couple changes may be in order – for one, I still have to get the tubes out of my tubeless-ready setup, and I also want to take some weight out of the seat post (it’s 400mm and I could probably do fine with 300mm). Overall though, I’ve got a sweet and fun ride that can handle a wide range of terrain with ease. If you’re in the market for a new hardtail 29er that doesn’t totally break the bank, I definitely recommend checking out the EMD9.

Just in time for Father’s Day, Adam Spik talks about a Manatee, a spineless creature and manipulation/mind-control. He also encourages our readers to procreate. It’s a real good read and makes you grateful to be a dad. Great job Adam!

Father’s Day is this Sunday. I know many who read this are fathers to little princesses like RL and I are (we have our own daughters with our own respective spouses. This ain’t My Two Dads).

Becoming the proud father to a daddy’s girl happened without me knowing it and certainly with me intending for it to happen. This parasitic creature that turned my wife into an emotional, cheesecake craving, manatee would turn me into a spineless pushover. Relax, my wife knows she was a manatee. The word to focus on here is was, not manatee. I think it was my daughter’s 2nd birthday when my spine ceased to exist and I became wrapped around her finger.

Long before we had kids my wife and I discussed what kind of parents we would be. We knew we wanted two. We knew we wanted to expose them to as much as we could and provide them with all we could while still keeping them grounded, respectful, and honorable. Like many men I had hoped our first would be a boy. I imagined him growing up as I would teach him to ride a bike, throw a spiral, explore nature, and fix anything. You can imagine my pleasure when we were told our 1st born would be a boy. Then along our 2nd — a girl. I was pleased. I had my boy and I figured my wife would now have a girl to buy pretty dresses, braid her hair, and paint her nails.

From the start my son and I bonded. Our daughter; not so much. One of my favorite things when our son was a baby was to have him sleep on my chest. Every time I put our daughter on my chest she would squirm and fight to get back to mommy. I was convinced that for her first 2 years of life the umbilical cord was still attached. After her 2nd birthday she came to me more and more. We always said we would not spoil our kids. However, I think it is ingrained in the female psyche to butter-up men to get what they want. She would preface her requests with, “Daddy, I love you. . .” For example, “Daddy, I love you. Can I have a string cheese?” Of course she would pair her question with the cutest face she could make. She is currently 4 so she is not yet in school. When I get home from work in the morning and walk through the door she runs full bore and jumps into my arms. No matter how bad or tiring work was I instantly feel like it is now the best day ever. I want to hold her forever. I am certainly not going to let her date. At the very least she can’t date before she turns 25.

Dad Against Daughter Dating.

Just as we put our son in soccer, and baseball, and tae-kwon-do, and everything else under the sun; we keep ourselves busy (and broke) driving our daughter around to various activities too. Currently she is ballet and hula dance lessons. I think it is just and excuse for my wife to buy her more clothes. She has a recital coming up next week. Part of the recital is a Daddy-Daughter Dance. We went to our practice last Friday. The dance instructor was carrying on about how it is a crowd favorite. She said we were going to walk through the steps first before we learned the music as the music makes hers cry. C’mon I thought. It is a short little number danced to Steven Curtis Chapman’s Cinderella. Well, after practicing it several times, looking into my daughter’s sweet face I felt my lip quiver and my eyes water slightly. I thought to myself, “When my princess here grows up and is ready to get married I am going to lose it.” We left the studio excited to go home and show mom what we had learned. I told my wife how the instructor always cries when watching this dance. I said I thought that was ridiculous until we started dancing and I nearly cried. My wife grabs the video camera, I cue up the music, and my precious angel and I dance for mom and brother. Of course, being the 7 year old boy he is, my son starts to laugh and rolls around on the sofa. Then I notice my wife is crying. She says it is her allergies. My ass it is. Becoming a daddy’s girl just happened. I love my family more than anything on earth. That love will make you do a wide spectrum of things. It will make you do things you never thought you were capable of — like dancing with little ballerinas and crying and sharing it on world renowned bike site. Hug your kids this Father Day. If you don’t have kids then go out and make some. Part of the fun of being a dad is the legwork in becoming a dad.

Recently my daughter and I were out for a ride and I noticed that she has completely out grown her 24″ Giant MTX 250. So that led me to start searching for a new bike for her. At first I thought about buying her a frame then building it up with parts that I had laying around. But I came across this bike, it’s a Giant Boulder, with a 12.5″ frame. 21 Speed, and weighed like a tank at 34lbs! The great thing about this bike was the price, $90.

Once I got it, I started stripping off the parts and swapping them for the lighter groupo that I have in my garage. One of my first things to tackle was the drive train and wheels. I went with Shimano Deore 9 speed and Vuelta XRP wheelset as well as WTB Weirwolves and Kenda Karma tires.

Pink grips, Jagwire Ripcord derailluer and brake cables/housing.

I’m waiting on a Fox RL fork from a friend and once I get it, the old Spinner will be gone. Oh, did you notice the pink bottle cage? Nice…

Not sure if you can tell, I even went with anodized pink cable cap ends.

Total investment for the bike and parts that I didn’t have was $130. But if you factor in the amount of money I made by selling her old bike, then all I really spent was $60! Oh and if you consider the money I made by fixing bikes in order to afford this endeavor, I actually made $40! So ya…I made $40 on her new bike! Not a bad deal!

Here’s Boo with her new ride. She likes it! But she did mention that shifting was a bit confusing since she’s going from twistgrip to triggers. I’m sure she’ll catch on fast. For Father’s Day I told her that all I want is to go mountain biking with her.

Do you guys remember Spoke Beads? For the most part kids would be the ones sporting these beads on their bikes. But it got me thinking, this might be a great idea in helping people hear you on the trail. Just think about it, when you are on the trail, and you come up behind another rider, usually you’ll say “on your left” or ring your bell right? What if you installed beads on your bike to help generate noise while riding? Not only will this allow people to hear you, but shoot, it could even scare away some big animals that may be lurking near by.

Another thing to consider with beads is that you can customize the colors to match your bike. For example, if you have a red and black bike with black wheels, then adding red beads would put some flare to it. You can even string the beads onto your saddle or zippers to ad that extra customized look.

Check out this photo below of the “Bead Bike.” I can’t even imagine how many beads he used. My favorite part about this bike is the detail he put into it. Just look at the center, “The Bead Bike.” Heck I’m not even sure how he did all that and how long it must have taken him. All I know is, beads can certainly make your bike look unique. I know it’s not for everyone, but it sure is different, and if being different is your thing…then try beads!

A couple months ago, we got an offer from BTB Sunglasses to test out a pair of their sport-oriented glasses. BTB stands for “Be The Ball” – personally, I don’t WANT to be the ball since usually the goal is to HIT the ball, but I agreed to try the glasses anyway!

I chose the BTB 500 glasses, which have a 3/4 black frame with smoked lenses and according to BTB fit “medium to large” faces – a guess on my part, but one that turned out to be accurate.

When they arrived I wasn’t terribly impressed – the packaging was a bit rough and they just came in a soft liner, not even a box. However, they looked good and fit, so I started wearing them. As time went on, I found myself not only reaching for them when I went mountain biking (where I thought they functioned well), but also commuting, walking, running, and even driving (even though they’re not polarized!). They’ve quickly become my favorite sunglasses I’ve ever had, despite the modest $39.99 price tag – and actually, given my history with sunglasses (I’ve lost sunglasses in multiple states), that price tag is a big point in their favor, as I can actually afford to replace them. I liked them so much that I even returned the last pair of (more expensive) sunglasses I bought.

So what makes these so good? Well, the fit is good – but obviously that’s going to be different for every person, so I can’t count it as a plus for everyone. I will say though that they stay put really well – no movement on my face whatsoever, even over rough stuff. I like the light weight – yes they’re plastic, but it’s sturdy plastic. I also like the lenses – they’re dark enough in bright sun, but not so dark that going in and out of shade or biking early or late in the day throws me off. The lenses are also supposed to be ballistic grade – I haven’t tested that personally, but I haven’t damaged them yet! The frame design allows for a small amount of airflow across the back of the lens to ward off condensation – there was a small amount of fogging a couple of really warm, humid days when I wasn’t moving, but even walking-speed air movement is sufficient to clear them. I’ve also worn them for multiple hours at a time and still been pretty comfortable.

In sum: I can’t claim to speak for every pair of glasses BTB offers, but this model does everything it’s supposed to do. These were provided for test at no charge, but I would buy them again if anything happens to this pair (probability: moderate to high). For those of you unsure of buying glasses online, BTB offers a 10-day exchange/refund guarantee, so check out what they’ve got to offer next time you need sunglasses!

FTC Disclaimer

As you may have read before, we’ve asked Adam Spik to join the ranks of Global Internet Stardom of the MtnBikeRiders.com crew. But I know what you’re wondering, “Who is this fella named ADAM SPIK and why is he so good looking?” You’ll get a chance to read all about him below. I do have to mention that one of our requirements to be on the Staff of MtnBikeRiders.com is that you have to be very handsome and you’re not allowed to have an ugly wife and or kids.

Hello from out east in southwest Riverside county; specifically Sun City, north of Temecula. Now that I have covered the entire compass let me tell you about myself.

I started on the back of my dad’s bike buzzing through the neighborhood. From there it was a 20″ BMX bike while doing my best Cru Jones impression. I then moved on to jockdom in H.S. It was my freshman year in college that I had my awakening. I don’t mean a drug-induced-sexual-experimentation phase. No, that is when I bought my first mountain bike. I railed the singletrack with all 1.5″ of elastomer suspended fury. Soon I was faster than all my friends. I fancied myself a Ned Overend/Shaun Palmer hybrid.

I started racing and my career of mediocrity began. I first did a few XC races and had my butt handed to me. I bought a road bike, trained a little and won a few beginner races. Now’s the perfect time to break into DH. Again, my race resume ran the gamut of firsts, lasts, and everything in between. Racing takes money so. . . as any young punk living off parents’ “sponsorship” thinks, “What better way to support my habit than by working at a shop?”

An old family friend who happened to be a former state champion road racer and shop owner hired me. I became a sponge of bike culture, racing lore, and wrenching know-how. I soon became a pro-level mechanic. If only Park made a tool to adjust my waistband as now I was getting too big for my britches (or was was it my head too big for my hat?). I left to become manager of another bike shop. I expanded the shop’s business, made a bunch of money, maintained my mediocre racing status, got married, and on the eve of owning my own shop, decided to change direction and help people in a more emergent fashion.

I race off-and-on, everything from XC, to SS, to endurance, to triathlons, to the toilet after too much tequila. I keep saying next year will be the year I get serious about training and racing. In the meantime I ride as much as possible, do all my own work as I don’t trust anyone to meet my standards, spoil my wife and my kids more, shoot sickies full of normal saline and drugs, and occasionally slay the fiery beast. R.L. has threatened with letting me contribute my opinions on a regular basis. They will always be right, maybe not entertaining, but right. Or is it the other way around?

Ibex has been a company I’ve been watching for a while. I love their clean style and handsome clothing. Over the past few months I’ve put to the test their Indie Full Zip Short Sleeve Jersey, Giro Short Sleeve Mountain Jersey, Giro Neo Long Sleeve Jersey and the Duo Short. Riding them around all of Southern California, I’ve discovered the pros and cons of each item. Read on to find my thoughts of each item of clothing.

There are some general comments that apply to all of the clothing that I would first like to mention. I wanted to highlight this in each review but that would have been very repetitive. So here they are in summary:
The Ibex clothing have all the advantages of wool namely: breath-ability, wicking and odor resistance. I have not had to spray any of the clothing (except for the pad on the Duo Short) with my Isopropyl/Water mixture like I do with all of my synthetic clothing blends. I love that even when I’m sweating, I don’t stink. Because good wool clothing will exhibit these traits, I will not mention these attributes in the article.

I am extremely impressed with the construction of Ibex’s cycling gear. I have found the seams to be impressive and the material has been of very high quality. After months of riding, I thoroughly examined each article of clothing and I have not found a loose thread or any issues with the durability of the clothing at all. This is definitely high quality stuff.

Indie Full Zip SS Jersey

Indie Full Zip Short Sleeve Jersey: lightweight jersey

The Indie Full Zip Short Sleeve Jersey is a very good light weight jersey. I wore this jersey throughout most of the summer and into the early fall. It is comfortable and the wool material is very breathable. The Indie is definitely on the lightweight side. This is not described in the website material but it is akin to riding a normal lightweight jersey.

Pros: the Indie is lightweight material is great for the hotter days. I’ve worn this jersey in 90+ degree weather and I am quite comfortable in it. The full zip front was useful on those warmer days. I liked that the jersey never looked worn even after many washes. The 3 rear pockets are useful for very light items such as keys, gels a couple of granola bars.

lack of elastic waistband made it difficult to carry heavier objects comfortably

Cons: no elastic waistband. This missing ingredient renders the Indie useless to hold water bottles in the rear pockets which is a necessity in a jersey of this design. The times I did put a water bottle in the rear pocket, I could only put it in the center pocket and after a short time, without the elastic waist, the weight of the water bottle would drag the rear of my shirt down rendering it both saggy and uncomfortable. Not exactly a good look for me, or anyone else for that matter. I ended up never being comfortable with a water bottle in the back of the Indie.

The Indie’s lightweight material and good looks made this jersey great for warm weather riding. The lack of elastic in the waist area made it difficult and uncomfortable to carry a full water bottle. When I finished my water bottle and stuffed an empty bottle in the back pocket, the lack of elastic in the waist area was a non-factor.

Giro SS Mountain Jersey

Giro Short Sleeve Mountain jersey, half zip, very comfortable

The Giro Short Sleeve Mountain jersey is a heavier weight short sleeve half zip jersey. It does not rock the deep pockets found on the Indie, but instead has a small pocket in the rear offset from the center for keys, although my wallet fit comfortably as well.

Pros: Without deep rear pockets, I used this jersey on longer rides when I would carry a hydration pack. As you can see in the picture below, the rear pocket was not in the way of my hydration pack. I also used it on shorter rides when I could carry enough hydration on the bike. The Giro shines with or without a hydration pack. The breathability of the jersey is key for this and the wool material does a great job feeling comfortable even with a full hydration pack on. The lack of pockets does not really bother me, rather it helps me define when to go with the Giro jersey: when I want to wear a hydration pack. I did get to crash test this jersey and it held up fine during a mild tumbler.

One small offset pocket in the rear made wearing hydration bags very comfortable

Cons: The offset rear pocket is only useful for very light items. Heavier items will be felt and since it is offset from the center (back right), you shirt will definitely feel a little off-balance. I originally stuck my wallet in the back pocket. My wallet is always heavy with at least a few dozen Benjamin’s and about the same number of credit/id cards. This immediately felt awkward and unbalanced. It pulled on the jersey a tad bit which, after a few miles, became annoying. I found a better spot for the wallet, the side of the trail (j/k!), and tossed just my car keys – which I always trim down to just the key + keyring for rides – into the rear pocket for the remainder of the ride. This worked out a lot better and I kept that in mind for rides in the Giro sans hydration pack.

The soft but heavier wool of the Giro made for a versatile jersey that could be worn in a larger temperature range than the Indie. The high quality material was resistant to my fall and the design made it easy to know when to choose this jersey to wear: when I need a hydration pack. The lone offset pocket made for a comfortable hydration pack to back interface but when in use, the offset pocket could really only hold VERY light objects.

Giro Neo Full Zip LS Jersey

Giro Neo Full Zip Long Sleeve Jersey. Easily, my favorite wool jersey

The Giro Neo Full Zip Long Sleeve Jersey is a looker. In fact the first thing I asked my wife when I got the clothing from Ibex was: can I wear this instead of my jacket out to dinner tonight? She promptly said “no” and probably mumbled under her breath about my lunacy. Understandable response but the Giro Neo was and is a handsome jersey.

Pros: sharing the same thickness of wool as the Giro Short Sleeve Mountain jersey, the Giro Neo’s long sleeves meant that I was riding with this into much colder weather (down to the upper 40’s) without issue. On a day that started in the thirties and hit the upper 60’s, I started off with the Giro Neo and a jacket, then switched to the Giro Neo solo and was able to stuff my cycling jacket into one of the generous back pockets. With the full zipper down the front I was really able to stretch the usefulness of this jersey into the upper 60’s before the long sleeves became too warm. The Giro Neo does have a well functioning elastic waistband so I was able to stick water bottles in the rear pocket.

A little bit of pilling action due to sending it through the dryer. Ibex clearly states not to send it through the dryer… doh.

Cons: not suitable for the dryer. OK, I’ll admit it: I don’t wash my own clothes. For the most part, the wifie does it for me and for that I am very grateful. However, because she washes my clothes for me, she does tend to forget that certain clothing should not go in the dryer, namely my wool. What happens, it tends to pill a little and not look as smooth. Does it affect the functionality of the clothing? No but the pilling detracts from the finish. I admit it, I am vain. I still rock the Giro Neo and will continue to do so because it is an awesome jersey otherwise.

The Giro Neo has been my favorite item of clothing from Ibex. It is versatile and the rear pockets are much more useful than the Indie Full Zip SS jersey. The pilling is really my fault but I still like the Giro Neo anyway.

DUO SHORT

Duo Short: comfortable and versatile, can be warn in hot or cold weather

The Duo Short is not all wool. It has some lycra in certain panels to give it some stretch which was surprising but welcome. As a mountain biker I tended to wear these Duo Shorts with a shell.

Pro: I was admittedly apprehensive wearing these shorts when the weather was warm. I should not have been. This short works well in both cold and warm weather. Over the past few months I’ve ridden them in 80 degree+ weather as well as down to the mid-30’s. They work great in all situations in between. I really liked the pad too. The pad is extremely comfortable and has held its shape/design well after many uses and many washes.

Its not all wool: left side of picture is lycra, right side is wool. This allows for a certain amount of stretch in the right places

Cons: I would make the leg elastic slightly more grippy. I don’t even know if this is a worthy con since I never felt it to lack in grippiness. When wearing knee or leg warmers, the leg elastic held my warmers in place. I only noticed this when I pull on the shorts and make a mental comment that the grip around my muscular thighs is not as tight as found on my other shorts.

The Duo Short has moved to the top of my list of shorts I wear. I still haven’t tested it in 90degree + weather yet but I will do so this summer and I have no doubt that the Duo Short will perform with flying colors. I always feel good in these shorts, never muggy, no matter the late summer/fall/winter So. Cal temps we have had. The pad is excellent, comfortable and not showing any wear from my riding. The mixture of wool and lycra panels works perfectly and save for a slightly less grippy leg elastic, which has not detracted from my riding, it is pretty much perfect.

Thanks to Ibex for allowing me to review their clothing. For more information on Ibex Outdoor Clothing, click here.

FTC Disclaimer

Unfortunately we’re not talking about balancing on your bike, you should already be good at that by now. But the balancing I’m talking about in this article has to do with 2 of the most important things in your life, family and riding. We all know that making those two work together is essential to having a happier life. Just think about it, a mountain bike who cannot ride will be miserable.

Before we start, let me say that I’m not here to talk as if I’m on a high horse. I’m simply sharing some things that have worked for my family and I. Between wife, kids, career and all the other responsibilities I have, I’ve had to become pretty creative in making sure that no one gets neglected. Below are some guidelines that could help you, so here we go!

1. Schedule: Make plans for the rides you want to do. If you plan on going after work, run it by the Mrs. and make sure that it doesn’t conflict with Jr’s baseball game or Susy’s Soccer practice. For my wife and I, we keep a calendar of all our events and activities. We sit down regularly and go over our calendar to make sure all of our bases are covered. I typically schedule my races months in advance so she knows that I won’t be available that weekend. But if there’s something MORE important than riding or racing, then I’m flexible.

2. Be Flexible: Just because you put it on the calendar doesn’t mean you HAVE to do it. I’ll give you an example, this coming Saturday is the Marzocchi Night Race in Fontana, but it’s also the same night as my daughter’s arrival from her Washington DC trip. So with that in mind, I’m foregoing the race to make sure I’m there to pick up my off-spring.

3. Don’t Neglect your Kids: We all know that riding can take up to a few hours at a time. Heck some rides are an all day event. So if you’re going out for a few hours, make sure someone is there to watch them. If the Mrs, isn’t a mountain biker, then ask if she can watch them while you ride. It also helps if you set them up with donuts or breakfast before you leave. Another thing you can try is to let your kids know that once you get back from your ride, you’ll spend time with them by going to the park, lunch, movies and etc. But you gotta make sure you’re not too tired to do any of those afterward. Redbull and Monster Energy drinks help with this.

4. Get the Family involved: I wish I could say that all my kids are into mountain biking as much as Priscilla and I are. Well that’s not the case, but lucky for me, my youngest daughter took up tandem mountain biking with me. One of the ways I convinced her to start going with me was with food. I had told her that we typically will go out to eat after each ride. So now on our week night rides, she knows she’ll be having Cheese Enchiladas from Wahoo’s Fish Tacos. Though my older daughters aren’t into the sport, they know enough about it to cheer on their mom at races. They each have beach cruiser type of bikes that they’ll ride with their own friends. But there might be some hope for one of them because my middle off-spring took an interest in road biking. We’ve taken her out a few times and found that she enjoys it. My oldest, being a hormonal teen, says she doesn’t want anything to do with bikes, but will often ride downtown with her best friend. She’ll even take our dog for rides in the basket and when she does, I try not to make a big deal about it or draw any attention to what she’s doing, because if I do, then she’ll rebel and not want to ride at all…ugh teens, still trying to figure them out.

5.Happy Wife=Happy Life: If your wife isn’t a mountain biker, then make sure that you’re spending the same amount of time with her as your are for your hobby. It helps if you barter, for example, if I were to say I wanted to go for a ride with some of my buddies, I better follow that sentence with, “when I get back, we can go out for lunch, go shopping or just do what ever you want.” Or you can say, “when I get back, I can watch the kids while you go out.” Basically make sure the wife has her husband-needs taken care off so she won’t resent mountain biking. Jewelry helps too.

6.Do your chores before you ride: If you have a Honey-Do List, make sure you are finished with those before you hit the trail. If you neglect that list, then your wife will have ammo for a huge argument. It will basically sound like this, “Oh I see how it is, you have time to go riding, but you can’t (insert chore HERE)!!!” So don’t be lazy and take care of your household duties.

Look mang, we all know that mountain biking is important to us, I understand the need to get out there and ride. Something about it makes you happy, healthy and it helps get all your angst out. But make sure you find the right balance that works for you and your family. The last thing you need is your family resenting you because you spend way too much time riding with your buddies. Remember its a HOBBY, its not something you do that makes you money.

If you have other suggestions on what has worked for you, please leave a comment below.