If you like traveling and craft beer, I have a destination for you: New Zealand. The Kiwis grow all sorts of great stuff in their … Read the rest
When Should You Get a New Mountain Bike”
WARNING: This blog post about buying a new mountain bike is ridiculously old! Here is some better, newer content about this topic.
This Human-Powered Monorail is the Coolest Contraption Ever
As a longtime cyclist, I can tell you that there is nothing dorkier than a recumbent bicycle. But stuff a recumbent bike into a metal-and-plastic … Read the rest
Rogue Trailbuilders at Work in Papago Park”
In the summer of 2016, the city of Phoenix caused an uproar by destroying an important mountain bike trail at Papago Park and turning most … Read the rest
Mountain Biking in Nelson, New Zealand
The very same day I mountain biked in the Whakarewarewa Forest, I started to wonder where else in New Zealand I could ride. Our … Read the rest
Review: PRO Packing Cubes and Gate Check Pro XL
This summer, I started testing a few new travel products – one for a problem I’ve always had, and another for a brand-new problem caused … Read the rest
Yes, This is Another Blog Post About Out-of-Control Bike Prices
I just bought a tire for $90.
Normally, I wouldn’t squawk about that. But this wasn’t for my Subaru – it was for my damn … Read the rest
Recap: 6 Hours in the Papago
My training plan for the 6 Hours in the Papago mountain bike race wasn’t a winner: A month before the race, I came down with … Read the rest
How Does Hawaiian Airlines Measure Up?
If you ask me whether I like something, I can give you a definite answer. Do I like black licorice? Oh, hell, no. Do I … Read the rest
This is the Worst Place in the World to Go Mountain Biking
The Whakarewarewa Forest in Rotorua is absolutely the worst place in the world to go mountain biking. If you ride here, you will go … Read the rest
Riding the Tour De Scottsdale
After a more than 10-year hiatus from road-biking tour events, I made my return at the 2016 Tour de Scottsdale. In the meantime, I’ve ticked … Read the rest
Phoenix Destroys Some of the Nation’s Best Urban Mountain Biking
NOTE: See the updates at the end of the post.
Congratulations, Phoenix. You’ve officially destroyed one of the nation’s best urban mountain biking areas. … Read the rest
Could the Boeing 757 Mean Fewer Delayed Flights”
I expected to get on my American Airlines flight at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and land in Phoenix. That happened eventually, but nowhere near … Read the rest
What Visitors From Abroad Need to Know About Los Angeles
Whenever I connect with travelers visiting the U.S. from abroad, there’s one destination that’s invariably on their itineraries: Los Angeles.
I like Los Angeles… Read the rest
How to Survive Summer Heat in Phoenix – Or Other Hot Places
I hate summer heat in Phoenix – and I’m sure I’d hate it in any other hot, desert city. But you know what” It’s not … Read the rest
9 Places to Get Nitro Cold Brew (Updated October 2021)
Right now, Starbucks is pretty pleased with itself over the nitro cold brew it’s pouring at select locations around the country.
Just don’t ask where … Read the rest
A Roundup of Odd Sports, From Jugger to Spikeball
I have a co-worker who always calls me “Ocho.” As in ESPN the Ocho, the (unfortunately) fictional ESPN arm that shows odd sports. Yes, … Read the rest
In Search of Good, Budget Mountain Bikes – Part 1
I might be the world’s weirdest mountain biker: I simply don’t care about super-expensive, shade-grown, organic, gluten-free artisan bikes. There are so many great $5,000 … Read the rest
The Great List of Non-Obvious Travel Tips
Every time I see a list of travel tips, I brace myself to expect the obvious – from the practical “remember your ID” to the … Read the rest
United Airlines Versus American Airlines
My recent travel unexpectedly turned into a little United Airlines versus American Airlines test. I didn’t book the flights, and my wife wound up booking … Read the rest