How to Make Strava Work for You!

Trail ettiquete according to AMB, Strava extensions, and more in today's show.

Thanks to our sponsor: Nova Cycleworks, a mobile bike repair service in Northern Virginia! Book online or call 703-239-3293 now!  Mention AngryMountainBiker for 10% off labor on your first appointment.

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Mobile Mechanic? Yes! Nova Cycleworks Owner Dan Donohue in Studio

Guest Dan Donohue, owner of Nova Cycleworks, visits the world headquarters of AMB to talk about life as a mobile bike mechanic, and why I should wash my bike more often. Enjoy!

Nova Cycleworks

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Race Director Kyle Bondo in Studio

Kyle Bondo visits AMB Show world headquarters to talk about organizing a popular mountain bike race series and more.

Wednesdays at Wakefield Information!

Merchants of Dirt Podcast

Podfader Podcast

Trails for Youth

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Repost! Backcountry Riding Tips and Techy Rides

Today I'm reposting an old episode, meanwhile I'm working on a new, more highly produced show based on my trip to the Pisgah Stage Race last week.  Just takes longer to edit than my normal rambling, so stay tuned!

 

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Mountainbiking Phoenix, Bike Review, Fred Becky Doc, Taco Addiction

In which I talk about my trip to Phoenix, review the long travel 29er from Santa Cruz, and talk about Fred Beckey, a legendary alpine climber and subject of Patagonia's  recent documentary, Dirtbag.

Dirtbag, the movie.

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Tips for Faster Downhill Riding, ALZ Benefit Ride

In today's shorter than usual show, I make some important announcements and give some tips for getting faster going down hills!

Alzheimer's Benefit Ride in Farmville VA!

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Olympic Climbing Breakdown and an excerpt of my FrontLines MTB Interview

In today's show I break down Olympic rock climbing and why it presents challenges to US competitors.  And, I tease you with a bit of my appearance on Front Lines MTB, a great show out Canada. 

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Front Lines MTB Podcast

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Mountain Biking at Stokesville for First Time Visitors!

Regular listeners know I love riding in the George Washington National Forest west of Harrisonburg, Virginia.  I get a lot of requests for suggestions for first time visitors to the area.  Over time I'll add to this list with more recommendations!  Enjoy.

Lodging:  Stokesville Campground and Lodge
Map: NatGeo topographic map 791
Bike shop:  SBC

GW National Forest is backcountry riding, with all the hazards and risks such riding entails.  Be prepared with lots of water, spare tubes, tools, food, first aid, and a map.  For a discussion of what to bring in the backcountry, check out this episode of my podcast!

Narrowback Mountain Loop: You can easily ride from the Stokesville Campground, the trail head is about 3 miles of mostly flat gravel/pavement to the singletrack loop described below, which itself is about 13 miles and is simply fantastic. It has a something for everyone:  Narrow, old school cobbly ridge riding, long flowy descents, a fire road that's fun and a welcome respite in the middle, enough rock gardens to keep it interesting, but not a body basher.  A real classic.  This map starts the ride from a parking pullout on Tillman Road. For a great shorter route, at mile 2.5 from that pullout, you can turn right onto Tower Trail in the below loop and just do the last half of the route, a great option for an evening ride or newer riders.


https://www.mtbproject.com/trail/3771756/narrowback-mountain-loop

Lookout Mountain: The other classic loop right out of Stokesville Campground goes directly west from the upper campsites, and first tackles a short but very steep climb, to a fire road for a mile or so, then another hard climb called Schaeffer Hollow, then the famous Lookout Mountain descent.  With its fast downhill rock gardens, beautiful views, fast chundery chutes, this is a must do. 

https://www.mtbproject.com/trail/7031092/lookout-mountain-from-stokesville

Reddish Knob: The summit of Reddish, when not shrouded in clouds, reveals one of the greatest views in the Shendandoah, with the wrinkles and folds of the range spun out all around you.  There are probably two Reddish Mountain loops to consider on your first GW weekend:  For a bigger ride you can climb the long road to the summit, it is actually a nice road to ride up, but if you aren't in good solid shape it can exhaust you for the singletrack, which is mostly downhill with a few steep short climbs.  The upper ridge, Timber, is rough, narrow, old school trail with a long rock garden up high, fast chutes, and relatively technical terrain. The lower ridge, Wolf, is amazing "rocky flow" with fast whippy turns and cool downhill rock gardens.  Less rocky than Lookout Mtn descent, as a reference.  

People often shuttle to the summit of Reddish to do Timber/Wolf and avoid the road climb. There are trail climbs too, but they are pretty epic and maybe not the best choice for your first visit.

https://www.mtbproject.com/trail/7001381/reddish-knob-timber-ridge-to-wolf-ridge

If you would rather ride than shuttle, but the big road climb seems to daunting, consider the the loop mapped below.  It exits the road climb early, and climbs a very steep singletrack called Lynn Trail, then descends the lower half of the Reddish loop, Wolf Ridge.  Some people even ride up Wolf, just to descend it, but I like doing loops so Lynn is a good option for that:

https://www.mtbproject.com/trail/4296723/wolf-ridge-loop

Stokesville 60/40 Breakdown, and What's Your Thing?

The Stokesville 60/40 ride (it's NOT a race, lol) was a fantastic day out riding bikes with friends and I more or less met my goals and expectations.  Hear about that, and a discussion of how to overcome a lack of self awareness in today's show!

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The Dumbing Down of Trails? Plus, Bottom Bracket Smack Talk

Today I talk about bottom bracket replacement, Bentonville AR, and the dumbing down of trails.  Here's a picture of my old threaded bottom bracket, the BBT-9 Park tool, and the insert for it that came with the new bottom bracket. 

Here's my favorite DIY bearing press tool video

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