Video: The Precepts of Enduro Riding

I came across this video earlier today and thought that it was lovely. I know we're still a few weeks away from it officially turning to spring, but I know more than a few of us are ready to get on our bikes now. This short film follows enduro rider Jerome Clementz as he rides a beautiful single-track trail through an equally beautiful forest.

Anyone else ready to ride?


Jérôme Clementz - The Precepts of Enduro from Bluegrass Board on Vimeo.

Video: Major Mountain Bike Descent In The Alps

I came across this video over at the Adventure Journal earlier today, and thought that it was too good not to share. It follows four riders as they make an epic 10,800 foot (3292 meter) descent in the Alps. They started their ride on the Plaine Morte (Plains of Death) and ended in the Valais Alps near Mount Blanc. Along the way, they found plenty of great single-track and breathtaking views, which you can also enjoy. If this doesn't get you ready to ride this spring, nothing will!



The Seekers. from Filme von Draussen on Vimeo.

10 Great Adventure Races For 2012 From Nat Geo Adventure

Endurance athletes and adventure racers who are still considering where they'd like to compete this year will love the latest top ten list from National Geographic Adventure. This time they give us Ten Great Races in Amazing Places for 2012.

First up on their list is the Patagonian Expedition Race, which actually gets underway next week. As the name implies, this competition takes place in the wilds of Patagonia. Over the past few years, this race has held down the first spot on the adventure racing calendar and it has earned a reputation as one of the most challenging, physically demanding, events of the year. The remote location, highly unpredictable weather, and grueling route are just a few of the hurdles for the coed teams to overcome.

Other races that earn a nod on the Nat Geo list include the Race2Adventure, to be held in Guatamala in March. This competition features daily stage runs for prizes, but also mixes in some other adventurous activities, such as rafting or cliff diving after the competitions end for the day. Colorado's Iron Horse Bicycle Classic earns its place with the other races for its unique competition. Riders in the event actually race a train into Silverton. The ride is just one part of a full weekend of activities that take place in May.

Whether you're an endurance runner, triathlete, adventure racers, or just a weekend warrior looking to have some fun, you'll find some kind of competition that will appeal to you on this list. So start planning now, get into shape, and be ready to take on any one of these great events.

Winter Climb Update: Summit Push Stalled On Nanga Parbat

While all the teams in the Karakoram deal with the news of the death of Vitaly Gorelik on K2, and the subsequent end to that expedition, most are continuing to go about the work necessary to give their expeditions a chance at claiming a winter summit.

Perhaps the hardest hit by the news of Vitaly's death was Denis Urubko, who was close friends with the Russian climber. Denis posted some thoughts on his fallen comrade on his blog today, which he had time to write thanks to an aborted summit push by him and climbing partner Simone Moro. The two men had hoped to begin the final stage of their climb yesterday, but they were unable to take advantage of a current weather window on Nanga Parbat due to deep snow and high levels of avalanche danger above Camp 1. Because of those conditions, the two have now descended back to Base Camp, where they'll wait for the snow to settle and another window to open.

Over on Gasherbrum I, Alex Txikon has aslo written about the loss of Vitaly and sent his condolences and respects along to the Russian team that is still there. He also reports extremely cold weather in GI Base Camp, with temperatures dropping below -30ºC/-22ºF. Winds are also extremely high and the generally poor weather conditions are keeping him, along with teammate Carlos Suarez, in BC at the moment. Presumably, the Polish team on that mountain is there as well, as they have not posted an update since last week.

Hopefully a break in the weather will come soon so these teams can get back to work and Denis and Simone can get a real crack at their summit. Stay tuned.

Video: Mountain Biking Nepal's Mustang Valley

So you say you've already trekked the Himalaya but still find that you can't resist the siren call of those beautiful mountains? Then how about mountain biking through Nepal with adventure travel company Sacred Rides. They offer what looks like an amazing trip through the less-visited Mustang region that may be the excuse you need to return to the Himalaya (or go there for the first time!). Check out some highlights in the video below.

When do we go?!?


Mountain Biking the Mustang Valley in Nepal with Sacred Rides from Sacred Rides on Vimeo.

Gear Box: CamelBak Charge LR Hydration Pack

For active, outdoor enthusiasts, the hydration pack just might be the greatest invention ever. The ability to conveniently carry our water with us no matter where we go or what activity we're doing, has made our ability to play and work outside much easier. Over the years, the hydration pack has evolved to the point where they are now lighter, easier to use, and more ergonomically designed to fit our bodies. They've even become specialized to the point that there are now hydration packs built for specific sports. Take for example the new Charge LR from CamelBak, a pack that has been built from the ground-up for mountain bikers.

The Charge LR takes a new approach to the hydration pack design by shifting the water bladder onto the lumbar section of your back. This changes the dynamic of where the weight sits and actually results in a much more comfortable fit, particularly when wearing the pack for extended periods of time. In fact, this change is so dramatic, that I would go so far as to say that the Charge might be the most comfortable ultralight hydration pack I've ever used. The design works especially well while riding too, never impeding movement or restricting your ability to hit the trails hard.

The lumbar-based design isn't the only thing that the Charge LR brings to the table for mountain bikers however. The interior storage compartment provides designated spaces for carrying a multi-tool, spare tubes, a cell phone, keys, and other assorted items. There is even enough room for a lightweight jacket, just in case the weather shifts while you're on your ride. Zippered hip pockets on the belt are a great place to keep energy bars close at hand, while an exterior stretch pocket handles overflow gear with aplomb.

CamelBak went all out on making the Charge easy to adjust and super comfortable to wear as well. The padded belt and shoulder straps carry a full load without missing a beat and the 3D mesh suspension system means that the pack will work well for riders of a variety of sizes. In another nice touch, the pack designers included lumbar compression straps which allow riders to keep the pack snugly in place, even as the water in their hydration bladder  goes down.

With all of those features and design elements combined into this one pack, the question is, how well does it work while mountain biking? Quite honestly, the Charge LR is is even more than the sum of its part and it makes a perfect hydration option. The narrow design of the pack and lumbar based hydration bladder really are a fantastic approach for riders. CamelBak has done a great job of recognizing the needs of mountain bikers, and delivering them a product that fills those needs nicely.

Unfortunately, the Charge LR isn't available until February, when it will hit stores with an MSRP of $100. Trust me, it'll be worth the wait.

Gear For Winter Cycling

Technology and gadget site Gizmodo posted an article yesterday that featured good suggestions for gear that would take the sting out of winter cycling. For many riders, winter is a time in which they either move to a stationary bike indoors or stop cycling altogether. But as the old adage goes, "there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad gear," and with the proper equipment, you can continue to hit the road even when the snow starts flying.

Among the suggestions from Gizmodo are the inclusion of snow studs on your tires, they recommend a set from Schwalbe that run $78. They also give the thumbs up to a powerful light from Cat Eye and a hydration pack from CamelBak. Of course, the most important thing is to stay warm however, and for that they recommend starting with a pair of Snowpocolypse pants from Mountain Hardwear.

The list only contains seven items, so it is far from comprehensive, but if you're someone who loathes the end of the cycling season, and wishes you could ride all year long, it is a solid place to start. For me, it all begins and ends with the clothes you're wearing, so don't scrimp on base layers, cycling jackets, and so on. It'll make your cold weather rides much more enjoyable.

Video: Therapy On A Bike

Adventure Journal delivered up another fantastic video this morning, this time in the form of Suspension Therapy. This beautifully shot mountain bike video that will leave you longing for more days on the trail – which are becoming increasingly rarer here in the Northern Hemisphere, as the colder weather sets in. Even the music is hauntingly beautiful in this short film.

Apparently the video was shot as a promo for a new business, aptly named Suspension Therapy, which helps riders to properly tune their bikes. Not sure how the business is doing, but the video is an absolute success.


Suspension Therapy from nsmb.com on Vimeo.

Video: Man's Best Friend!

I came across this video yesterday on the Wend Blog, and thought it was just too cute not to share. It features a mountain biker headed out to the trail with his faithful companion Lily, who is an adorable little dog who simply seems to love running. Particularly after her owner on his bike. She seems to skip along beside him all the way down the trail, and has more energy than any creature ought to. After watching this, you'll want a Lily of your own to take out on the trail with you. Good stuff!

A 360º Panoramic Video Mountain Bike Ride Through Moab

Moab, Utah is considered one of the best places to go mountain biking in the U.S. – if not the world. There are an abundance of trails for a variety of skill levels and the views are simply spectacular. One of the more popular of those trails is Slickrock, a 13-mile long loop that offers a significant physical and technical challenge. In short, it isn't a trail for beginners.

For those of us who haven't had the opportunity to ride Slickrock, there is a great new panoramic interactive video that allows us to check it out for ourselves. The video was made by three men – Joergen Geerds, Dan Finkler and Mark Sevenoff– who used six Sony Xperia Android phones to capture the entire 360º view around them as they rode. The result is a very cool interactive video that allows you to switch views, pan and zoom, and generally experience the entire ride without fear of crashing.

You can check out this amazing interactive video by clicking here. I've also embedded another video below which gives you an idea of what the project was all about and how it was made, using rather simple technology. It's an interesting piece, but really only sets the stage for the interactive version, which will keep you entertained for some time. Be sure to switch between the various views. The "Little Planet" option is especially trippy.

Video: Mountain Biking Through A Forest

If the mountain biking video I posted earlier wasn't your cup of tea, perhaps you'll enjoy this one more. It comes to us from the Coastal Crew, who prefer to ride not in the wide open desert, but the lush green environments of the forest. This looks like a lovely trail to ride, although I could do without the insane jumping.

Thanks to the Adventure Journal for sharing!




Coastal Crew - Summer Time Voltage from The Coastal Crew on Vimeo.

The Descent II: Mountain Biking In Utah

While back there was a great wingsuit video making the rounds called "The Descent" that was not only extremely well done, but served as a great commercial for Casio's line of G-Shock watches, which were used prominently in the short film. Now, Casio is back with "The Descent II," which leaves the skydiving behind in favor of some great mountain biking in Utah.

This time out, riders Cameron Zink and Kyle Strait are testing out the G9300, a solar powered time piece designed to take a lot of punishment, that also features a built in thermometer and digital compass. While it looks like a fine watch for active people however, the video is all about the riding, and well worth watching for that alone. It is very nicely done.

Mountain Biker vs. African Antelope

So you think you've had some rough days on the mountain biking trails? Check out the video below in which rider Evan van der Spuy of South Africa literally gets bowled over by a red hartbeest, a type of antelope, that according to the Adventure Journal, can grow to be in excess of 300 pounds and run at 40 miles per hour.

This encounter took place near Albert Falls Dam in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. Fortunately, Evan came away with just a sore neck, but had to go to the hospital to be checked-out none the less. He did have his helmet broken in the encounter as well.

So what't the wildest thing you've come across out on the trail? I've encountered a few deer on occasion, but that's about it. They've mostly left me alone though, and fortunately didn't decided that I was a mate that they wanted to chase down.