10 Tips to Better Mountain Biking

I originally wrote this article about 15 years ago. Apparently it's been circulating on the Interwebs ever since because I recently got an email inquiry about it from a content developer in Australia. As I had a chance to review it, I realized that all of this still holds true today so I've dusted it off and made sure that it works with the latest iOS while also being ANT+ and Bluetooth compatible. Additionally, the tips below work with ALL hub spacing standards, all BB standards and all MTB wheel sizes, 26, 27.5, 27.5+, 29, 29+ although, if you want the fat bike tips, you'll need to send in $20 for the retrofit kit.

10 Tips to Better Mountain Biking  

Fat Bike FakeNews

I’m not going to lie, I’m not a fan of fat bikes.

I had one but I just couldn't drink the Kool-Aid...

Read just about any fat bike propaganda and you’ll see statements like, "and you can ride them everywhere” or “any trail, any time of year.”

You’ll also read that the wider tires “float on surfaces where other tires would sink.”

Bicycling Magazine (which is pure drivel), even boasted that "staying fit in the winter is hard, but fat bikes make outdoor exercise possible."

Beverly Commons Trail Report

GPS WTF

I've been using a number of different mapping systems to record my rides and runs, but to also try to collect tracks to create a library of trail maps.

I've been using Strava, Wahoo Fitness, Trail Forks (all on my iPhone), and Garmin Connect through a Edge 520 head unit. It's somewhat surprising how different the stats are between these various services on the same short loop...

Kingdom Trails with Some of the Racer-X Crew

Kingdom Trails with some of the Racer-X crew, October 2017 from David Alden on Vimeo.

Braintree 357 Gravel Enduro

Braintree 357 Gravel Enduro from David Alden on Vimeo.

Multiple Multi-Tools

I remember being a care-free kid spending long days on my bike in the woods, miles from home. It's kind of interesting to think about what I and my friends used to do through today's perspective of helicopter parents and the fact that kids rarely venture out into the world on their own.

My friends and I would be out in the woods, again, miles from home; no cell phones, no spare tubes, no bike tools, no helmets, and our parents really had no idea where we were.

I'm pretty sure that sort of thing is gone forever.

Unboxed: Wall To Wall Freestyle Collectible Package

I wasn't expecting this to show up today, but I was home when the FedEx guy dropped this off. I grabbed the box, my GoPro and opened the package... I only had enough time to see what was in the box, but I'll go through everything in more detail shortly! http://www.davealdenBMX.com/

2017 Rose Mountain Rumble Gravel Ride

The 2017 Rose Mountain Rumble in Lyndenborough, NH was a blast.

The RMR was one of the rides that I did last year and I had been looking forward to the this year's edition.

And, as the weather forecast got better and better as the day drew close, it seemed like it was destined to be a great ride. And it was.

Harold Parker State Forest Trail Report

NEMBAFest 2017 Video

NEMBA Fest 2017 at Kingdom Trails, East Burke, Vermont from David Alden on Vimeo.

Cannondale Bad Habit 1 Video Review

NEMBAFest--Day 2

Thanks to Bear Cieri and Clif Bar for the pic!

After a cloudy start, Saturday turned out to be a truly amazing day.

Ralph played camp host and brewed coffee for the crew and after we all scarfed down some breakfast, it was time to hit the trails.

Mike Lawless made the day trip up from MA to join us too, and after a quick shock check at the SRAM/RockShox tent, we were rolling.

We hit many of the favorite trails, Harp, Coronary Bypass, Pastore Point Loop, Coronary, Troll Stroll,  Eager Beaver, Webs, West Branch, Hog Back, Sidewinder, and Old Webs before heading back to camp for lunch.

NEMBAFest--Day 1

Mud.

Mud was the theme for day one of NEMBAFest 2017 in East Burke, Vermont.

The morning started out dry, as Dave Tufts, Glen Gollrad (both BMX brothers from the '80s) and I hit the road early from the Boston area, but skies turned darker and wetter as we traveled north...

That rain created quite a few headaches for campers in the RV area on Darling Hill.

There was a huge area of grass that was deceptively deep, slick, and squishy and many people got stuck.

Fortunately, I didn't, but there was one huge travel trailer that was "camped" in the middle because you could tell that there was no way he was moving until it was dry. And several others fell victim to the mud too!

NEMBAFest 2017

Another great weekend in the Northeast Kingdom!

• Day 1 (Friday)
• Day 2 (Saturday)
• Video!

More is coming, but in the meantime you can also check out last year's coverage including the huge photo gallery.

Wanna buy some land in East Burke?

Acadia National Park--2017

It's another Memorial Day vacation and another trip to Acadia National Park in Maine. As you may recall, Jean and I were there last year and had a great time.

Much of this year's trip was similar to last year, great rides on the carriage roads, short hikes with killer views, and some amazing sea food.

Of course, this year, we had THREE dogs with us as we have added to our pack with Ruby Roo.

Three dogs, plus Jean and I in our travel trailer was a little tight at times, but doable. And, far easier to deal with than if we had all been in a tent!

48 + BMX

RockyMounts TomaHawk Roof Rack Review

I have bikes and I like to go places. I like to take my bikes when I go places so I need to safe and secure way to bring them with me. I’ve been a Thule guy for a LONG time. I’ve had Thule racks on the roofs or the backs of my cars and trucks for almost 20 years. Right now I still have 8 bikes worth of Thule Racks for my truck and my wife’s car. But alas, Thule hasn’t kept up my needs, which currently include the need to carry a plus bike on my roof.

2017 Muddy Onion Video

Muddy Onion 2017 from David Alden on Vimeo.

For the full story and link to the photo gallery, go here!

Muddy Onion Gravel Ride 2017, Montpelier, VT

I'd have to say, by all accounts, the 2017 Muddy Onion gravel ride presented by Onion River Sports was a success.

Perfect weather, great course, excellent support and an all-around great vibe for the nearly 600 riders.

Click here for the photo gallery

Video is posted here.

Jean and I had done this ride last year and it really set the tone for gravel rides for the remainder of 2016, and since then, we've been looking forward to this year's event. Read More