Following Weazel's Track - On NZ’s Old Ghost Road | Summon The Dead - And Race A Bit In Mexico | From Zero to 60 - With Guerrilla Gravity | This Land Is Your Land… Or Not | Intense Spider 275C - Parties Like A Rock Star

Welcome to Issue No. 73, where we celebrate summer riding and the freedom it brings with the type of inspiring stories and amazing photography that only we can deliver. First, we meet up with Sonthy Drellos and Caroline McCarley, two Tennessee locals who are doing their usual thing—jumping, practicing tricks, playing music, making videos and dancing trailside. We also go to Palm Springs to not only tame the rugged, sun-soaked trails of the Palm Canyon Epic but also look for elusive bighorn sheep in their natural habitat. Not familiar with old-school icon Thomas “Hurl” Everson, founder of Cars-R-Coffins? You will be now, as well as with new-school icon Liz Sampey, a dedicated pursuer of all things epic. And there’s a whole lot more in this issue that you won’t want to miss.

Mountain biking has always been the off-beat culture of cycling. In Mountain Flyer No. 72 we explore ancient cultures from Utah to Guatemala and their connections to ancient peoples who came before us. We also take a compelling and humorous journey with Kevin Franks, a mountain biker who avoided a mid-life crisis by promising to climb 500,000-feet on the dirt for his 50th year around the sun. Then, Stevil Kinevil visits Donkalope Bicycles to get an inside view of this rouge welder in Framebuilder. In our new section called Outlaws we visit Cycle Chvrch Cycles and see why owner Timmy Nicholls is the perfect candidate to introduce this column. We talk to Thomas Jenkins from Shenandoah Bicycle Company and get an insider’s look at this thing we call Red Bull Rampage.  

Mountain biking has always been about getting out and finding new challenges and horizons, farther than what’s right out the backdoor. It’s a spirit of adventure that beckons us to keep moving onward and upward. In <ITAL>Mountain Flyer No. 71 we go a little left of center in that search. Follow us on a road trip across America in search of unique destinations and exceptional trails beyond random offramps along the U.S. Interstate System. Then, a first-time bikerafter learns the ins and outs of mixing bikepacking with rafting on a journey that creates new friendships and challenges while from riding a fully loaded bike (and paddling a fully loaded raft). We also get a fatbike history lesson from the cyclists who traversed rural Alaska during the gold rush at the turn of the 19th century. And we talk to legendary trailbuilder Joey Klein about how his work has influenced trails across the world. 

Mountain biking is defined by the trails upon which we travel. And those trails are defined by the people, places and communities that build, maintain, foster and enjoy them. Mountain Flyer No. 70 celebrates all these stories. First we dig into the trails—literally—heading to Oregon, where the volunteers and stewards of the Oregon Timber Trail are reviving the four-year-old long-distance route after a devastating summer of wildfires. Then, from central Vermont’s Slate Valley, Caitrin Maloney and the Velomont Trail Collective are building and connecting a trail that will run the length of the state. Later, on the Portuguese island of Madeira, Alex Gouveia is using ancient rockwork techniques to maintain a seaside network of world-class enduro trails. Finally we hit the trail, whether that’s The Crusher, a 100-mile self-supported race in Marquette, Michigan, or the Tour Divide, the 2,745-mile race between Canada and Mexico that photographer Eddie Clark has captured for more than a decade. And on trail, we test and review the Esker Rowl, Pivot Trail 429 and Alchemy Arktos.

How does riding mountain bikes leads to progress in society, in life and on the trail? Mountain Flyer No. 69 tells the stories of the people, places, nonprofits and gear that are leading the way and exploring the limits of what’s possible on two wheels. Kathryn Bertine is one of those people, working to fix the gender pay gap in cycling while providing a wintertime training base for racers through her Tucson, Arizona-based Homestretch Foundation. So is the Silver Stallion Mobile Bike Unit, which has spent the last year traveling throughout the Navajo Nation, repairing bikes and helping the Diné people ride together and connect with the land. Progress happens on the ground, too. And in this issue, Mattias Fredriksson returns to Åre, Sweden, where he once lived for two decades, to observe a ski town that’s gone all in on mountain biking. Then Aaron Theisen visits Spokane, Washington, to explore how this former extraction community has turned the corner on cool, bringing an entrepreneurial, workmanlike spirit to its eclectic trail scene. Finally, we take a look at the progressive end of gear, with assistant editor Jason Sumner testing and experimenting with a DIY mixed-wheel bike setup to determine just how far geometry can go. And Herb Belrose profiles Boston’s Firefly Bicycles, observing how their bespoke process and experimentation are pursuing perfection.

From covering the rhododendron-lined trails of the Cherokee Nation’s Fire Mountain to dropping the giant granite slabs in British Columbia, Issue 68 of Mountain Flyer, The Mountain Bike Journal, spotlights how mountain biking and the landscapes through which we ride have a way of bringing everything back into focus. Photojournalist Eric Mulder discovers the Nepali nonprofits that are using bikes to empower its citizens in the feature “Nurturing Nepal.” In his feature “The Warmth of Fire Mountain,” Eric Wallace writes about how the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is using its land preservation values to transform the Qualla Boundary into a mountain biking destination. Colorado trail advocates and builders make way for the Palisade Plunge, its newest epic trail that drops 6,000 feet from the top of the world’s largest flattop mountain. And photographer Ryan Creary earns his wings while pedaling in “Slab Heaven” high above Powell River, British Columbia. 

If ever there was an issue that defines Mountain Flyer’s tagline “The Mountain Bike Journal,” this is it. Issue No. 67 is brimming with insightful, powerful stories, essays, reviews and interviews to sustain and inspire you through this winter’s hibernation. Beloved photographer Antonio Abreu keeps us dreaming with “The Birthplace of Pura Vida,” a photo essay spotlighting the trails, community and “pure life” philosophy of Costa Rica. In the feature “Hut to Hut in the Pine Tree State,” photojournalist Dana Allen bikepacks the Maine Huts & Trails network, proving that you don’t need to hop a flight to Europe to experience luxurious hut life. There should be no set definition of what it means to be a mountain biker, and Amos Horn’s story “Mountain Biking Adapts” shows how adaptive athletes are working with nonprofits, trailbuilders and specialized bike manufacturers to ensure trails are accessible to everyone. Finally, if you’re in need of a new domestic destination, consider Aaron Theisen’s pitch for Boise, Idaho, where trail magic in the foothills—along with residents’ support to preserve open space—has earned the area an IMBA Gold designation.

FEATURES

FIFTY SIX TWENTY
As Revelstoke’s Fifty Six Twenty trail freefalls 15 kilometers (and 5,620 vertical feet) from high-alpine tundra to the valley floor, riders lose count of optional jumps. Even the trail crew stopped tallying the berms past 230. No matter the airtime or amount of carving, the longest flow trail in North America is pure fun.

THE HEART OF THE HIMALAYA
The Buddhist Kingdom of Zanskar in northeastern India has remained nearly unchanged for millennia, but as a crew of hardy bikepackers discover as they attempt to ride the land’s ancient footpaths, even Mother Nature and the surrounding mountains cannot protect this isolated hamlet forever.

THE LEGEND OF JON BAILEY
He has raced and won numerous cross country and ultra-endurance events. He has designed posters for bike races and coached kids in Colorado’s oldest youth mountain biking program. He is multifaceted and multitalented. He is underground legend Jon Bailey, the most badass athlete, artist, sweet-talking pretty boy you’ve never heard of.

FRAMEBUILDER: SEVEN CYCLES
In the mid-’80s Rob Vandermark put his sculpting background to work in a pragmatic way by building his own BMX bike. Once he got a taste of framebuilding, he wanted more, which led to work with Merlin Metalworks and Fat City Cycles before he launched Seven Cycles, one of the oldest and largest companies in the custom community.

If ever there were a time to keep our eyes ahead, it would be now. The summer issue (No. 65) of Mountain Flyer brings much-needed escape and inspiration, with stories about places to ride and to dream of riding, from the inhospitable but captivating Big Bend area of Texas to the reimagined tin-mining landscape of Tasmania to Vermont’s Kingdom Trails, where a recent land purchase has secured mountain bike access. A deep dive into the dawn of lift-served riding in the U.S. and a profile on moto-racing-influenced Tyler Reiswig of BTCHN’ Bikes remind us that our sport is all about maximizing fun. And a feature following the Americana band Birds of Play—which books its tour stops based on the quality of nearby singletrack—gives flight to the notion that work and play can (and should) be mixed. 

The Spring 2020 issue of Mountain Flyer (No. 64) reminds us that the natural world is filled with awe-inspiring landscapes, from the broad mountains of Kyrgyzstan and the primitive forests of Interior British Columbia to the arid lands of Diné Bikéyah (Navajo Land) and the backyard trails of Knoxville, Tennessee. They are transformative places that easily show humans our place in the world. 

But more importantly, the stories in this issue reveal the best of humanity. They are a reminder that we are not alone, that someone is always out there looking out for us. Bikepackers Kurt Refsnider and Kaitlyn Boyle witnessed it in the Diné people, who welcomed them around every corner on their journey through northern Arizona. Dana Allen writes about how residents are creating a home for other mountain bikers in Slocan Valley, B.C. Independent framebuilder Julie Ann Pedalino loves building bikes, but she is driven by an over-arching mission to include marginalized artisans in the industry.

Pushing past limits. Hungry for the unknown. Caught on the trail after sundown. Running low on water and possibly lost. Sometimes a mountain bike lands us in uncomfortable positions. Sometimes we’ve even sought it out. These are the rides and moments on the trail that define us, provide a new perspective or reawaken a passion for the sport. The Winter 2020 issue of Mountain Flyer (No. 63) is packed with stories and photographs that touch on the mountain biker’s desire to seek out both adventure and misadventure. Writer Lydia Tanner finds out why ultra-endurance athlete Lael Wilcox keeps pushing boundaries. Chain of Fools columnist Whitney James shares why it’s good to feel scared every once in a while. Andrew Findlay’s overnight adventure in British Columbia’s backcountry leads him to question humanity’s place in the wild. And Chad Corbin abandons the safe path to pursue a framebuilding career. 

What is it that draws us to the trail—a love for the landscape, mountains and new terrain? Time spent with old and new friends? Facing a fear or helping others face theirs? No matter your reason, the Autumn 2019 issue of Mountain Flyer (No. 62) brings it all together, with Carl Zoch’s photo essay examining humanity’s much-needed connection to the land, Louise Lintilhac’s dive into the Mediterranean island of Corsica and Chris Chance’s story of extreme dedication to framebuilding. These stories and more are packed into the pages of issue 62.

Break new ground. Discover new lands. Spread the passion. Awaken spirituality. The stories in issue 61 of Mountain Flyer reveal how mountain biking can spur life-changing adventure. Get inspired by the women who aren’t afraid to push the boundaries of freeride, learn why Dave Weagle can’t stop innovating to improve our ride, follow Sarah Rawley’s lead in empowering women, feel emboldened by Mattias Fredriksson’s decision to settle down in a new country. These stories and more are packed into the pages of issue 61.

Issue number 60 of Mountain Flyer reminds us why we ride and explore and how our community of dedicated advocates, creative minds, and passionate riders continues to shape the sport. Discover Why Riding Rules in Alpen Villages by following Elladee Brown and photographer Leslie Kehmeier on a hut-to-hut route across southeastern Switzerland, finishing at Europe’s newest lift-assisted bike park in Sölden, Austria. In Just the Beginning photographer Stephanie Chall captures the faces of riders in  the Maryland Interscholastic Cycling League as they finish their first race.

Former pro downhiller Brad Stone tells the little-known story behind Virginia’s Vanished Shangri-La, a long-lost bike-park masterpiece he helped build in 2001 at Virginia’s Wintergreen Ski Resort.

Personality profiles in this issue include Like Magic: James Bleakley’s Love for the Torch by Marty Caivano, in which she describes Bleakley as a master designer, smart businessman, and all-around good guy, and Dirt Educated: Anthony Diaz by Dylan Stucki. In this piece, discover how a self-taught suspension tech goes from a life of racing to launching an innovative new suspension product.

BACK IN TIME ON THE 
Pearl Pass Klunker Tour
At its peak, the annual Pearl Pass klunker tour from Crested Butte to Aspen, Colo., would attract up to 400 riders. It served as both a social gathering of Marin County, Calif., mountain bike pioneers and adventurous Crested Butte cyclists. Turns out, riding old heavy Schwinns in places they were never meant to be has as much appeal today as it did back then.

THE FOODLESS ODYSSEY
What does it take to eat well in this world—to eat healthy, real food not pumped with hormones, wrapped in plastic and shipped around the globe? A hearty foursome sets out on an eight-day bicycle trip on Haida Gwaii’s Graham Island to find out what it takes to survive off only what they can hunt and gather from the earth. 

ALONG THE ARIZONA TRAIL: THE WEST’S WATER CRISIS 
Whitton Feer and Ian Catto believe that in order to fully understand the Western U.S. water crisis and public lands management, they must experience it, intimately, for themselves. 

TED WOJCIK AND THE SOUL OF A BIKE
Plaistow, New Hampshire, framebuilder Ted Wojcik cut his teeth working on the railroad, repairing jet engines and brazing motorcycles before he found his calling building bike frames. 

Over the Rainbow in Canyonlands 
113 degrees at 11 a.m., and 60 degrees four hours later. Major wind gusts, lightning, thunder, bean-sized hail, a cold downpour and no shelter. Spectacular rainbows and dramatic sunsets over the course of a four-day bikepack. Photographer Adam Klimek and friends Łukasz Piątek and Piotr Wilk can’t imagine a better way to experience the White Rim in Canyonlands National Park.

On Top of the World In Tibet
Writer Ryan Stuart discovers that the Buddha teaching of “Life is suffering” doesn’t mean that one is in constant pain. Instead, Stuart realizes firsthand while riding the challenging, high-alpine passes of the Tibetan Plateau that soul-searching physical hardship leads to equally immense pleasure.

All Ale to the Trail 
Microbrewery owners in the Upper Midwest have been sharing their success in the taproom with local trail users by funding the development of singletrack. Writer Amy Oestreich and photographer Chris Guibert set out to discover more about the communities that are benefitting from this “pedal it forward” mantra. They come home inspired to raise money for their local trails through the sale of pints.

Form Follows Function 
Quincy, Calif., framebuilder Cameron Falconer is the kind of guy who could completely smoke you in a race, come chat with you in the parking lot afterward, and end up fixing your bike or offering useful advice. And he makes one helluva no-nonsense frame that rides and fits so intuitively that it disappears beneath you.

Endless Summer in Norway
During the summer months above the Arctic Circle, the sun virtually never sets. This, in theory, gives one unlimited time to shred. 

A Bike and A Boat
With innovations in packrafts over the last 18 years, the blue squiggly lines on a map are no longer deal-breaking obstacles when bikepacking. Today’s bikepackers now seek out rivers and bodies of water as possible travel corridors when planning big adventures. 

Grit & Growth
Leaders and mentors in the Little Bellas program turn out strong, confident girls who also understand the importance of letting loose and playing when they hit the dirt. The Vermont-based nonprofit has been thoughtfully curated under the direction of Sabra Davison and now operates in 15 states with 36 programs. 

No Buff Too Tough
If you peruse the shelves at Ted’s Metal Polishing in Chico, Calif., you’ll see everything from duck calls, to Corvette valve covers, to airplane propellers...and lots of bike parts. Pretty, shiny bike parts.

Singletrack And Single Malt - From Peat To Bog In Scotland
#BEEPBEEPMOTHERFUCKER - Amanda Batty Coming Through
Filling The Gaps - Locals Pay For Trail Work
Get Over It - Adam Sklar Is That Good

Chasing Dreams on the Colorado Trail; Quebec's Sentiers Renaissance - Reinvents the Old; Sleep, Wake, Ride - Whitefish Bike Retreat; Just Edgy Enough - Oddity Cycles; Bottom Bracket Too Low - Or Cranks Too Long

Their Only Portrait - Is Worth The Weight; The Fight For Singletrack - In The Slovak Mountains, Guerrilla Gravity's Trail Pistol Shoots Straight; Never Satisfied - Aaron Stinner

Number 52 is rich with inspiring photography and tales of adventure from coastal shredding on the Island of Madeira to biking the backwoods of Bulgaria and Argentina. Read up on new rides from Ellsworth and Spot Brand, and get the details on Shimano's surprisingly affordable XT Di2. Sit down, grab a pint, and dig in.

Photo Essay: The Land of Oz - Lush Lovely Arkansas by Carl Zoch; Golden Brazil's Historic Mining Routes; On A Wing And A Pedal - Framebuilder Megan Dean; Pivot's Extra Great - Extra Small Mach 4

Mountain Flyer is a premium quality mountain bike journal based in Crested Butte, Colo. Our honest editorial and rich photography take our readers straight into the gritty, salt-stained core of the mountain bike scene; providing character instead of scale, communities instead of hype, and chronicled adventure instead of flashbulb showmanship. Our mission is to inspire our readers to ride and explore.
Mountain Flyer is renowned for its photo-driven, feature-oriented content and high-quality printing. Our writers’ passion for mountain biking and affinity for Adventure travel is evident on every page. From ruminations on fear and racing through blizzards in Alaska’s Iditabike to island hopping by boat along the coast of British Columbia while exploring new single track—We’ll take you there.

Drifting Volcanoes In Guatemala; Why Paul Price - Thinks About Bike Parts; Specialized Stumpy - Goes Fat; Rideable Real Estate - Oculus House Has Vision; Beyond The Headbadge - What Makes A Moots

NO STOPPING - #OLDMANWEST
SOUL SATISFACTION - GOOD TIMES OUT OF THE SADDLE
MAKING GOLD - THE SCIENCE BEHIND ALCHEMY BICYCLES
SPRING, SPRANG, SPRUNG - IS THERE A COIL SHOCK IN YOUR FUTURE

CARVING A NICHE - IN BC’S BACKCOUNTRY | THE LAST GREAT PLACE - BIKEPACKING MONTANA FIRE LOOKOUTS | TAHOE’S TREASURE - HEALED IN THE SIERRA NEVADA | COMING UP ROSE(S) - DOWN UNDER WITH MEGAN ROSE | WITH THE GRAIN - CHRIS CONNOR’S WOODEN BICYCLES

An Argument For Religion  - Three Days Of Worship In Southern Utah | New Friends In A Foreign Land - Expedition to Arkansas | More Than A Mountain - First Descent Of Mount Mulanje | As Authentic As It Appears - Reeb Cycles’ Chris Sulfrian



Keep The Jungle Side Down - Riding The Dominican Republic | 10,000 Turns - With Gene Hamilton | 800 Years In The Making  - Slightly Groomed In The Aragon Pyrenees |  From The Nowhere To The Noplace - In The Shop With Ahearne and Igleheart

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Mountain Flyer - Issue 48

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