Jason Van Horn

First Rides at the new Timberline Bike Park (Video)

August 31, 2019 by Jason Van Horn

After years of waiting, the Timberline Bike Park has finally opened. Officially open for an initial preview season, as mountain bikers get to enjoy a new system of lift accessed single track, trail crews continue their work on Phase 2. It’s been a long time coming; mountain bikers have been waiting years to ride a […]

First Rides: the IXS Trigger FF, the Lightest Full Face Helmet to Date

August 24, 2019 by Jason Van Horn

Trail and enduro bikes are so capable these days, the amount of protection needed has ramped up. Enduro helmets with removable chin bars came first. Then helmet brands began the battle to create a lightweight full face helmet suitable for all-day riding. Last week at Crankworx in Whistler, IXS stepped into that ring in a […]

Review: Leatt DBX 4.0 Fullface Helmet and Velocity Goggles

August 12, 2019 by Jason Van Horn

Leatt has been on the cutting edge of protective gear for some time. Earlier this spring I attended the launch for the Velocity goggles and the new DBX 4.0 full face helmet, and taking a set of each home with me, I’ve been rocking them on all my gravity fueled rides with great results. Certifed […]

First Look at New 2020 GT Force 29

August 2, 2019 by Jason Van Horn

GT is a popular brand name for mountain bikers that grew up riding BMX. Though they lost steam for a while, they’ve been coming back into the limelight with Martin Maes crushing it at the EWS on one of the most affordable bikes in its class. The Force geometry looks on point and the sweet […]

A Weekend at MBO: Recapping the Mountain Bike Oregon Experience

August 1, 2019 by Jason Van Horn

MBO, AKA Mountain Bike Oregon is a three-day mountain bike vacation and festival based in the town of Westfir, its located 4 miles west of the town of Oakridge. The entire zone is surrounded by the Willamette National Forest’s network of trails, and Oakridge has become known as a mountain biking destination thanks to the […]

Showers Pass MTB Collection Review: Hi-Line and Apex Merino Shirts and Cross Country Shorts

July 28, 2019 by Jason Van Horn

Showers Pass is a Portland based apparel company best known for reliable, high-performing waterproof commuter jackets. Last year they expanded their line with the introduction of the MTB Collection. Featuring summer weight merino wool-blend tops and nylon blend MTB shorts, the summer weight apparel is well suited for mountain biking as well as general cycling […]

Review: Feetures Elite-light Cushion Crew Socks

July 23, 2019 by Jason Van Horn

We love good socks. All kinds, but my go-to for the day varies based on both the shoes I’m wearing and whether I’m running clip-in or platform pedals. When clipping in, my preference is towards middle to or even heavy weight socks, as they provide a bit more cushioning and long term comfort throughout a […]

Evoc Hip Pouch & Race Belt

July 18, 2019 by Jason Van Horn

We’ve made an effort to use and test most of the waist packs out there but our experience with Euro-brand Evoc is limited, so it was time to take a closer look. Earlier this year we had a chance to get our hands on the Hip Pouch and Race Belt from Evoc bags. The Hip […]

Santa Cruz Jackal Dirt Jump Bike Build & Review

July 14, 2019 by Jason Van Horn

The Santa Cruz Jackal MTB dirt jump hardtail is only available as a frame only, and at $800, it’s on the high end in terms of available options. Because of the high entry cost, unless you have a health budget or a fondness for the most choice gear, it isn’t in our top recommendations for […]

Bellingham, Washington: Whatcom Falls Pump Track

July 13, 2019 by Jason Van Horn

After a day of riding the Galbraith trails in Bellingham, we headed to the pumptrack at Whatcom Falls Park to check it out. Although the surface could have used some watering and was dry and a bit dusty, the Bellingham pumptrack is still a fun time. Built in the spring of 2017, the pump track is […]

Review: Lezyne Side Load Flow Water Bottle Cage

July 11, 2019 by Jason Van Horn

It’s not often we post a negative review. With so many great products out there and so little time, we prefer to highlight the positive experiences we have and pass on the negatives. However, having posted about the Lezyne Flow Cage SL side load Water Bottle Cages (as seen at the Sea Otter Classic) and […]

Klootchy Creek Trail Build Update II: Finally, Trails in Seaside, Oregon

July 4, 2019 by Jason Van Horn

If you didn’t know where you were at, the freshly cut trail we’re on could be located anywhere in Oregon. However, unlike the tame, often boring/stale/humdrum heritage trails that wind through many of the forests in the state, a smile hasn’t left our faces since dropping into the single track off the gravel access road. […]