Mountain Biking

©Mammoth Mountain Bike Park

The Mammoth Bike Park in Mammoth Lakes, CA, is coming out of its winter hibernation this weekend--in the earliest opening the Park has ever experienced.

Over the last three summers, Mammoth's bike crew has expanded the Bike Park to offer 80 miles of singletrack, including seven new free-ride trails. Just last fall, the dedicated team of trail workers worked up until the first snowfall on Pipeline, a run that has been touted as "the future of free-ride" and features metal, wood and dirt ramps, platforms and wall rides.

Pipeline will make its official debut this season. What are you waiting for? Pack away those skis and start turning those pedals!

© Beth Puliti

I spent a week in the town of Hurricane, Utah, recently for the sole purpose of mountain biking. The area boasts some of the best slickrock and singletrack in the United States. We didn't stop pedaling a single day and didn't come close to riding every trail.

I highly recommend that you plan your own mountain bike getaway in Southwest Utah and use this guide to find out where to ride, rent bikes, rest your bones at night, and more.

• Gooseberry Mesa
• Hurricane Cliffs
• Easy Rides in Moab

© PresleyJesus via Flickr

This year, there are nine inductees into the National BMX Hall Of Fame. The "Class of 2012" consists of the following people:

• John Palfreyman, Jr., Pioneer BMX Racer
• Eric Carter, BMX Racer
• Mat Hoffman, BMX Freestyler
• Steve Johnson, BMX Industry
• Windy Osborn, BMX Woman
• Special Recognition - The 2008 Olympic BMX Team (Mike Day, Donny Robinson, Kyle Bennett and Jill Kintner)

The 2012 National BMX Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony and Dinner will take place on June 16 in Chula Vista, California. For the first time, a new category honors the women who have significantly contributed to the sport of BMX.

Want to learn more about BMX racing? Brush up on the many different styles of mountain bike racing here!

© Beth Puliti

Located at 5,200 feet, Gooseberry Mesa is an ideal spot to mountain bike in any season. The technical trail keeps riders of every ability on their toes with its mix of easy, intermediate and difficult trails.

I recently spent some time riding the Mesa and have nothing but praise for the trail system. Whether or not you are local to the area, this first-class ride should be on every mountain biker's short list.

Read my full review here--and then make plans to ride it for yourself.

© Beth Puliti

I spent a week in Southwest Utah recently. A mecca for mountain bikers, I didn't abandon my saddle a single day I was in town.

During my visit, I had the pleasure of riding an International Mountain Bicycling Association designated "Epic" trail: the Hurricane Cliffs Trail Network. Fast and flowy, this was a ride I never wanted to end. And at 21 miles long, it almost didn't! Yep, it's a long one, but well worth the time in the scorching desert sun for quality time on your saddle.

Check out the full review here. And read more reviews on IMBA Epic Trails.

Eric Fischer via Flickr

Looking for some sweet singletrack in a specific region?

Look no further. We've gathered up all the trail reviews into one spot so you can spend less time searching and more time in your saddle.

You're welcome.

Of course, there are only so many trails a girl can ride before other obligations get in the way. You can help me add to the list! Don't see your favorite trail here? Submit your own personal review and we'll publish it!

© Henrik Moltke via Flickr

Crack open up any mountain biking magazine and you'll no doubt find a feature story about wheel size. Why all the recent press?

Say "hello" to 650B. Not exactly new - just ignored for a while - 27.5-inch wheels have been garnering a lot of attention these days.

Find out what all the fuss is about--and while you're at it, learn a bit more about 26-inch and 29-inch wheels. There are a lot of options out there, and it's important to know the difference between them before you commit to one.

• POLL: What Wheel Size Do You Ride?

©Pearl Izumi

Spring and I have a love-hate relationship. I love it when April delivers a warm and sunny day. I hate it when the same month presents a chilly, rainy slopfest the very next day.

This time of year, I never know what to wear when I go out for a mountain bike ride. So, I make sure to layer my clothing. If I start sweating, I can easily remove something. Likewise, if the temps cool down, I have extra clothes in my hydration pack.

One piece of clothing I've been wearing almost every ride this season is the Pearl Izumi W ELITE Barrier Vest. It warms up my core and blocks wind without making me overheat. It even packs down small enough to fit in a jersey pocket.

©&somegeekintn via Flickr

April 22 is coming up quick. Wondering how you can show your planet some love this Earth Day?

I thought so.

As a group, we mountain bikers love our trails. But sometimes we don't take care of them as much as we should. I know I could certainly do more. If you're looking to show your trails some love, here are some ideas to get you started.

If you think of more, please share them here!

©Kevin Tisue

Here's an interesting concept: on-the-fly adjustable tire pressure. Why, you ask, would one want to inflate or deflate their tires while they are riding?

Good question.

Trail conditions, which can vary from mile to mile, should determine your tire pressure. But, because one section might be smooth, and another rocky, you typically end up compromising on said pressure.

The prototype ADAPTRAC system removes compromise from the equation--by letting you add or remove air from your front or rear tires via handlebar-, stem- or down tube-mounted toggle switches.

Who would use such a system? Again, good question.

While we won't know the price until after the prototype is unveiled this week at the Sea Otter Classic Expo in Monterey, California, I can see cross country racers finding this concept attractive. What are your thoughts?