You'll be nice and clean before you start the Warrior Dash ...

The Warrior Dash brings a lot of people here to WanderingJustin.com. Or more accurately, questions about it. I’ve looked through your search terms and written something from the most-popular questions about the Warrior Dash. This expands on my earlier post and tells you what you need to know based on my own experience:

What Should I Wear to the Warrior Dash?
If you splashed out big bucks for some Lululemon gear, you’ll hate yourself for wearing it during a Warrior Dash. The mud and other obstacles will do some damage. Wear something old and ratty, but still functional. If you have a pair of running shoes that are on their last leg, send ‘em to Valhalla with one last mission in the Warrior Dash.

Now, you can also choose the costume route – which some people love for adventure racing. The mud and various other obstacles will place it in serious danger. I’ve seen everything from dresses to unitards to Greco-Roman getups. I’d love to find some photos of people who have done something really original, so speak up if you know of anyone.

What’s a Good Time?
It depends. The fastest dudes finish in about 26 minutes, give or take. If you finish in 35 or less, I think you’re doing pretty well by any measure. Don’t get caught up too much in comparing yourself to others. Know where you stand, and just try to leave it all out on the course. It all depends on your lifestyle and any changes you may have made to it.

... and absolutely sloppy with the mud after. Dress accordingly

Can I Skip Obstacles?
I didn’t see anyone monitoring obstacles, so probably. But obstacles are the point of the Warrior Dash and just about any adventure race! Any able-bodied people who contemplate this option are lame-ass, 17 corndog-eating wheelbarrows of sadness. They’ll get horns and t-shirts, and will deserve neither.

Am I fit enough?
If you can finish 5K race in about 30 minutes, I think you’re fit enough to run – not walk! – a Warrior Dash. Now, I get irate when people walk a Warrior Dash three abreast. If you can’t run the whole thing, at least be considerate and get to the left so faster people can pass you. I think organizers should get hardcore: Have a cutoff time to each obstacle. If you don’t make it, you get disqualified.

What to Bring
A towel. A travel bag (those soccer bags with the drawstrings are about perfect). A complete change of clothes. Some spending cash. A snack and a decent drink. You’re done. The Arizona edition of the Warrior Dash had a bag check, which means others probably do, too. That’s where you should drop your bagful of gear while you race.

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Rich Maines tackles the hills and rainy weather. (Courtesy of Rich Maines)

Rich Maines is one of the faster mountain bike racers in Arizona. The guy absolutely flies on a singlespeed.

Even better, Rich makes a strong case for me to label him The Most Interesting Mountain Bike Racer in the World (stay hydrated, my friends). Why? Well, he combines cycling with travel. He blogged in-depth about a four-day cycling tour of the mountains west of Hanoi, Vietnam – Hanoi, Son La Province, Phu Yen, Tam Dao – in March. I really admire this since Rich is a local rider, not a superstar in the Hans Rey sort of mold. He’s a regular guy who went out on his own to craft a cool adventure – and he succeeded by any measure. Rich logged 27 hours of total ride time, 370 miles and 22,913 feet of elevation gain during his tour. He also encountered buckets of rain since March is the rainy season.

Rich got his share of awesome views – sugar cane fields, rice paddies, banana treas and enough fields of tea leaves to keep America awake until the next ice age.

Rich gets some carbs and electrolytes. (Courtesy of Rich Maines)

The route had more hills than Rich expected … which led to some challenges on a singlespeed, fixed-gear road bike. Judging from some of the photos, a mountain bike would’ve been at home.

“I just figured I’d walk what I couldn’t ride. If I couldn’t hit all the planned destinations, no worries, I was there to see the beautiful surroundings and enjoy the experience,” Rich says.

Rich’s trip proves the power of the bicycle: Local kids were eager to greet the strange Westerner pedaling through the mountains. He had no shortage of offers for food and invitiations to stay and visit.

“The people of Vietnam were very gracious and hospitable, even in the tiny, remote mountain villages,” Rich says. “Getting the opportunity to pedal there was an incredible thrill.”

You can – and should – read more about Rich’s racing and riding adventures at his Rich Maines – Endurance Mountain Bike Athlete blog. Just prepared to be jealous since he’s sponsored by cool companies like Ergon, Stan’s No Tubes and Hammer Nutrition. 

Comments

• May 16, 2012, Roy Maines writes: Very cool indeed.. Adventure is in the Maines spirit!

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The 2012 Scottsdale Night Run managed to get one of the most important elements of running a race dead wrong: water.

It’s May in Arizona. That means every water station should be in place before the starting gun ever goes off. I ran past the site of the first station, and volunteers were still carrying the table and water into place. It wasn’t until nearly 5 miles into the race that I saw my first water station.

And there? I got myself two cups of air-temperature water. And, again, it’s May in Arizona. Failure. And potentially dangerous for the people who struggle to complete the distance. I’m not exactly a fast runner, and I started the race a good two minutes late. Yet the water station wasn’t ready to go. Some people behind me were able to get some water, though.

More notable problems: There were no mile markers, and there were long stretches of the course that were completely dark … and over bad pavement. And I still can’t believe any race organizer thinks it’s a good idea to route a running race through Scottsdale’s club district … which is generally full of idling, exhaust-spewing taxis.

The water, though, is the biggest problem with the Scottsdale Night Run. If organizers had gotten everything wrong but the water, I could be somewhat forgiving. But I can’t see signing up for the Scottsdale Night Run again. Not without some guaranteed changes. First, water. Then, course.

I feel bad for the Scottsdale Night Run volunteers who probably endured the wrath of people who needed to vent. The paid folks deserve the blame, not the kind people who did their best and donated their time.

Comments

• May 14, 2012, Laura writes: This was my first year doing The Night Run. I'm relatively new to running, and also not a fast runner. I read that on their page about the water. And I do agree that seems like a pretty huge fail. I fortunately was running with a Camelbak, so I didn't even stop at the water stations or notice the problems. But had I not had water, I'm sure I would have pretty desperately needed it by that point because it was quite warm. But! I did want to say that beyond that, I really enjoyed the race. I thought that the lighting was actually better than what I expected. But I'm used to running in the dark in the mornings. I can see it being problematic if you're not used to running in the dark. And I actually enjoyed running through the club district. I thought it was sort of a neat experience since they had half the street cordoned off for us. It was a neat way to see that part of town. I thought the course as a whole was really nice since we got a bit of downtown, residential areas and the park and lake. Anyway, I know it's your blog, but I just thought perhaps for the other-side-of-the-coin's sake, I'd throw in my two cents.
• May 14, 2012, WanderingJustin writes: It's always good to have someone else pitch in, Laura. I've done the Night Run before, so the club district thing might just be "been there, done that" for me. I overheard a few funny conversations from by-standers that made me laugh a bit, though. I always used to run with a Camelbak. I switched to a Nathan setup with two small bottles ... but I figured for a race as short as an 8k I wouldn't need it. Lesson learned - I'll bring it for anything longer than a 5k just in case anything goes haywire (like people stealing water stations!). That's the first time in 10 years of racing that I've seen anything like that happen. Over time, I've become kind of minimalist, and it came back to bite me this time.
• May 17, 2012, John writes: My name is John Lookabaugh and I am the race co-director for The Night Run. You have some valid points and I take full responsibility and am sorry for the water problem at mile two. What you saw when you ran by was the replacement water station getting set-up. The original was stolen and we will certainly take precautions next year to avoid this. Emergency water (in jugs) was always there, but no cups. Not our plan, but the reality. The water station at mile four was operational for the entire event. As for the course - take it or leave it. It is definitely unique and many participants have written us to say that they loved it, especially the twists and turns through the club district. And it is a "night" run, so it is going to be dark in some areas. There will be more prominent mile markers next year, but the course will remain the same - similar to the course which has been used for 25 years. Three state age records were set on this course at this event. Sorry about your timing issue. Raceplace Event Systems, our timing company, is the best in the business. The Chronotrack system uses RFID chips attached to your bib. Very rarely is there a problem reading the chip, but this may have happened to you as you crossed the start line. A bib that is not worn in the correct orientation can cause a read failure. For what it's worth, we had many volunteers, including the race directors, who worked very hard to bring this event back. Many of them were RNs from Scottsdale Healthcare. We had no health issues reported other than a scraped knee.
• May 17, 2012, WanderingJustin writes: Hello, John. Take this from a guy who's run races from Seoul to Reykjavik: I want very much to love this race. But I barely even like it, despite being able to walk to the starting line from my house. It might be a good course for the front and back of the pack. In the middle? Not so much fun. This was my second running of the Night Run, and the first experience hardly blew me away, either. My wife, a far better racer than I am, has zero desire to sign up for the Night Run next year. So I think you'd do well to put all options on the table to figure out how to improve it. Remember, this race got cancelled in 2010 - that's because of the costs for police presence along the route, right? So, would a different route not make the event a greater success in raising funds? And just maybe ensure its future? Raceplace usually does very well. I like the new system of attaching the chips to bibs - WAY better than the shoes or ankles. And glitches happen - it's not like I was anywhere near the front. But it was just one more thing that didn't go well. John, I recommend that you take a hard look at what you can do to make the Night Run better. Explore every option, including the route and venue. There may be options that racers would love even more.

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Seoul - a really cool place for a good marathon, half-marathon or 10K.

Being a large Caucasian guy in South Korea is a weird experience. As I warm up for the Hi Seoul 10K run, a TV news crew fixates on me. The camera sweeps over me. Records every move. Captures every lunge, backbend, hamstring stretch.

It’s been like this since I stepped off the bus from Incheon to Seoul. I’ve caught so many glances from the corner of someone’s eye. The Koreans have been discrete. And no look has been hostile. Just … curious.

The 10k race (and the marathon and half-marathon) brings out the few other Caucasian types – ex-pats who make their living as a English teachers. They stick together in their own cluster before the race.

I’m by myself, though. Sarah went to line up with the half-marathon crew. At 6’2 with a long mop of hair, it’s no wonder the camera hovers inches from a lone white guy like me.

If the TV crew expected me to be fast, they were mistaken. The gun goes off to start the 10K race. I thread my way through the crowd. As the theme from Star Trek Voyager plays, I’m penned into the pack. After about a mile, I can finally reach a natural stride.

The 6-mile route takes me to parts of workaday Seoul. I move to pass someone … and discover that I’m about to plow over a lad who comes up to my solar plexus. His dad notices that I’ve revved up to pass, and pulls him out of the way.

"Who is this long-haired guy, and what is he doing here?"

Soon, I’m at the finish line. I paw through my race goodie bag … I find canned spicy chicken and chopsticks. My sweat and the morning breeze make me shiver.

I wait for Sarah to finish her 13.1 miles – and just enjoy being an oddity in Seoul.

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Cruising the red rocks at Papago Park. (Photo by N. Scott Trimble)

Mountain biking near Phoenix offers any rider some hard choices. There’s no shortage of great mountain bike trails. A few years ago, I published a list of my favorite trails. Now it’s time to refresh it with some new info. Things change – so my old list may not be as much help anymore.

Rather than a “best” list, I’ll list all the spots of ridden regularly and give them a grade. The letter grade reflects trail quality, amenities, traffic and all that good stuff. I’ll make extra notes about location – it’s a bit unfair for some great trails to get dinged for being a bit further away.

This list is NOT complete. If I don’t mention your favorite mountain bike trail, I welcome you to add it in the comments. Click the links in each section for a more in-depth look at the trails.

Black Canyon Trail
Barely close enough to the Valley for this list. But I can’t let a nationally recognized mountain bike trail go ignored. The southern reaches start off flat and firm. Go north, and the action gets steep. All told, this is supposed to stretch way far north. I’ve heard Prescott and beyond. Far northwest of Phoenix. Grade: B+

I have a long history with Trail 100 and the Phoenix Mountain Preserve.

Deem Hills
A new bit of mountain biking fun out in the West Side, right in view of the I-17 freeway. Your ride will start with a hard slog to the top of a mesa. That’s where the fun singletrack lives. Great flow up there once you get up that grunt of a climb. Grade: B-

Fantasy Island North Singletrack
Named for the famous bit of State Trust Land in Tucson. This was built on private land a few years ago – miraculously, the land owners haven’t closed it. Tight, twisty and turny. Only one really long climb, but lots of rolling terrain. Far out to the southwest. Grade: A

Gold Canyon
Just did my first ride here in May 2012. Well-designed singletrack – tight turns, steep chutes, quite a few technical bits. Some of the best scenery around since it’s right near the foot of the Superstition Mountains. Far to the southeast. Grade: B+

The sort of riding you'll find at McDowell Mountain Regional Park.

Hawes Loop
An East Valley favorite. There’s quite a bit of road riding involved. But the downhill sections have great flow. You’ll need to check your speed. If you head a bit north, the terrain will get steeper and more technical. Dead east of Phoenix. Grade: B

McDowell Mountain Regional Park
Pack lunch: You’ll find more than 50 miles of singletrack mountain biking. There’s the Competitive Track, the Pemberton Loop and numerous off-shoots – plus a pump track! Home to some of the best races. Northeast of the Valley, north of Fountain Hills. Grade: A

Papago Park
Lots going on here, all just moments for Sky Harbor International Airport. Fast groovy singletrack; gets more technical as you head south. Some short power climbs to get your heart going. Home to the informal STP races. Grade: B

A little Pima and Dynamite fun.

Phoenix Mountain Preserve
Well more than 30 miles of action. Trail 100 is the out-and-back backbone of this mountain bike trail system. Lots of off-shoots. The far east and west portions are the most fun, with the middle third fairly bleak and rocky without much flow. 15 minutes north of Sky Harbor. Grade: B

Pima and Dynamite
A nearly-uncountable amount of singletrack, most of it on State Trust Land. Wild and wooly undulations, with a high likelihood of wildlife encounters. Gets more technical the further northeast you ride. North Scottsdale. Grade: A

South Mountain
The Desert Classic gets a lot of love, but the really technical mountain biking is up on the Mormon and National loops. Plenty of offshoots no matter where you go. Lots of rattlesnakes in the spring. These trails get a lot of use – check yourself. Grade: B+

Comments

• May 2, 2012, Harry writes: South Mountain gets a B? I think it deserves an A+. The only problem with SoMo is that it packs too much epic-ness If you're going to mention South Mountain at all, you have to mention the new trails on the south-west end of South Mountain - the 620 area. Busera, Valley, Gila, Pyramid. They are outstanding.
• May 2, 2012, WanderingJustin writes: I had to deduct points for the crowdedness. You're right about trying the new trails - I don't get over there very much. Door's open to ya if you ever feel like doing a guest post. That's your home turf!

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Awesome scenery, great flow, lots of turns - it's the Gold Canyon singeltrack.

There’s nothing like a new mountain bike trail. Except riding it on the second day of 100-degree-plus heat. Oh, well, one out of two isn’t bad.

But enough about the heat: Let’s talk about a nice gem of a singletrack network in Gold Canyon, which is just east of the Phoenix area. It’s just across the border into Pinal County and butted right up against the awesomeness known as the Superstition Mountains. You can get a lot of the nuts and bolts about the trails – including how to get there – from my article on Examiner.com. You can also find a great map at gilamonsteroutback.com – a rider named Phil did the homework for all us mountain bike sinners whose GPS receivers conk out at inopportune times.

I have plans to chat with Phil about the origins of this super-cool trail network. He seems to be a go-to guy when it comes to knowledge about the Gold Canyon mountain bike trails. And if Phil had a hand in the design and building, I am prepared to give him major props. These mountain bike trails have that flow and groove so elusive to trail builders. Someone has made maximum use of the space, and even brought little chunks of Moab and the North Shore to the fun (see the video at bottom).

The Gold Canyon trails are hard work. You’ll need skill. You’ll need to pay attention. In short, you need to be a REAL mountain biker.

So go check out the dirt from the Examiner.com article, hit gilamonsteroutback.com for a map, go ride Gold Canyon … then recharge yourself at Mountain Brew Coffee afterward.

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This should make you want to ride the Yorkshire Dales. (Photo by Amber, courtesy of Sykes Cottages)

The English county of Yorkshire is an outdoor lover’s paradise. Locally known as God’s own county, the soaring mountain peaks and sweeping moorlands make Yorkshire one of the greenest places in the UK and the perfect place for a biking holiday. With two national parks and a number of designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, you are sure to be enchanted by the rugged Yorkshire landscape. Bicycle enthusiasts will find no shortage of trails and courses to challenge their skills. Champion road racers and daring mountain bikers will find a test of their mettle in Yorkshire.

Way of the Roses

The newest of the UK’s coast-to-coast cycle ways stretches 170 miles across the north of England, from the Irish Sea coast in Lancashire to the North Sea coast in Yorkshire. While peddling your way along this well sign-posted route, you’ll pass through the cities of York and Lancaster and innumerable quaint towns and country villages. The terrain is varied, including traffic-free paths, cycle lanes, and country roads – all of which are part of the National Cycle Network. A reasonably fit biker can complete the route in 3 days, but there are some testing areas of steep hills so you may want to give yourself a little extra time if you’re less experienced. Taking it a little slower will also give you time to explore on foot along the way, and maybe treat yourself to a well-earned tasty treat or two! For accommodations, there are a number of options available to you. Maybe consider one of the many Yorkshire holiday cottages available along the way – a great place to lay your head after a long day of cycling!

Three Peaks Cyclo-Challenge

If you seek a bigger challenge, maybe the Three Peaks Cyclo-Challenge is for you. Billed as the toughest cyclo-cross event in the UK, this isn’t for the faint of heart. You’ll cover 38 miles. … which doesn’t sound so bad. But you’ll climb and descend the three highest peaks in the Yorkshire Dales, Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside, and Ingleborough. You won’t even get to ride the whole distance – 17 miles is on road, 20 miles is unsurfaced road, and 3 to 5 miles is unrideable terrain. The first person to complete the challenge was a 14-year-old school boy in 1959. It took him 6 hours and 45 minutes. Last year’s winner, Nick Craig, completed the route in a staggering 3 hours and 8 minutes, a feat of human endurance few could even dream of accomplishing! This is not an event for an inexperienced rider, and you’ll need the right equipment. But even just visiting the Yorkshire Dales to watch the spectacle would be an experience.

The UK is a great place for a cycling holiday, whether you like to amble down country lanes with a picnic in your basket, or test your endurance and take on an extreme challenge like the Three Peaks. There are many great guiding companies throughout the country who can help you organize a trip or just rent you a bicycle for the day. Either way it’s a great way to see the countryside and will eliminate all the guilt of over-indulging on the local delicacies while on vacation!

This post was written by Amanda, who writes for Sykes Cottages. While she admires the endurance and nerve of those who undertake challenges like the Three Peaks Cyclo-Challenge, you’re more likely to find her peddling along a country path with flowers and foraged berries in her bicycle basket!

WanderingJustin.com thanks Amanda and Sykes Cottages for this great featured introduction to UK bicycle holidays.

Comments

• April 13, 2012, Vakantie Boeken writes: That environment just screams to walk or ride through it :)
• April 13, 2012, WanderingJustin writes: Yes, it sure does!

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I love this quote:

“We are not suspecting foul play,” sheriff’s spokesman Brandon Jones said. “We are not sure what caused it, but we are not done investigating.”

(Facepalm) Yes. Offing someone by staged bike accident is definitely a high-percentage tactic.

I hope the Republic at least has enough sense to be embarrassed that, if not for a guy freelancing in his spare time, its reporters wouldn’t know about two deaths in its market.

If you feel like reading it, here’s a link.

Make sure you note the publication dates.

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This is what you usually get from a ride at McDowell - big smiles and good times. Stay safe out there, everyone.

A mountain biker died during a rider at McDowell Mountain Regional Park Saturday. That’s the second mountain bike fatality at my favorite park in the last six weeks.

I have a story on Examiner.com with more details. That’s what you want to read for the “just the facts” info. Frankly, the story is missing the rider’s identity. I could press harder – but in this case, that’s not what’s important about the situation.

My motivation for writing the Examiner story was two-fold: First, so other riders can remember the basics of how to be prepared (see below). Second, I hope it’s a wake-up to the abject performance of the so-called outdoor writer at The Arizona Republic. Every hiker who skins a knee on Camelback Mountain warrants a story, but the Republic can’t be arsed about anything beyond sight of the newsroom.

But here on my own site – I just have a few messages for my mountain bike brethren. There are a few points I want us all to take away from the deaths of Ron Cadiente and the as-yet unnamed out-of-town visitor.

Be Prepared

If you mountain bike without a helmet, water, tools, a properly maintained bike and a cell phone … You.Are.Not.Prepared. Don’t leave home without any of these. And think about a sports drink and some snacks, especially as the weather gets hotter. And honestly, I can’t believe I still need to tell anyone to wear a helmet. It boggles my mind that anyone would mountain bike without a helment – there is just no valid reason for it.

Don’t Do Anything Stupid

If you can’t pass someone safely, don’t pass them at all. Wait. I don’t care if you’re a Cat 1 or pro mountain bike racer (in fact, they tend to ride safer than Cat 3’s front-of-the-pack riders), finishing a few seconds earlier is not worth your safety or that of your fellow riders. Your sponsors or the bike shop who sponsors your team certainly agrees. And yield the trail whenever you can to riders headed the opposite direction. I notice a lot of people like to ride Pemberton counter-clockwise these days. Fine. Let’s all be good to each other and allow some room.

Control Yourself

This means to things: Keep your speed reasonable and watch where you want to go. I know speed is fun – but the there’s a fine line you’ll cross when the speed gets too much for your skill or the trail conditions … and it shrinks your margin of error. And that’s not fun.

Now, onto “where you want to go”. Most experienced riders instinctively know that your bike will go wherever your eyes do. Call it “target fixation” or whatever, but it’s true. So look at the path around the obstacles before you. See the smooth line and fix a firm but loose gaze on it. It sounds easy, and it is – but it’s also essential for keeping your mountain bike in control.

You are Cool, Caring People

Mountain bikers are good people. The Internet can bring out the worst in people. But read the very first reports of Ron’s death on MTBR. And then witness the support as people set up a low-key but meaningful way to raise funds to honor his memory. The response makes me more than a little proud to be a mountain biker. And I regret not doing more to participate. If there’s a second-annual ride for Ron, I’ll get behind it on this site and I’ll be there to ride.

Do any of you other riders out there have any observations about what we can take away from these unfortunate losses?

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Pink streamers on a fast bike equals funny.

Last season, I got a good laugh out of a fit, fast racer with pink streamers on the handlebars of her tricked-out mountain bike. I loved the “don’t take me too seriously” humor. The streamers were hysterical … but I’ve seen many other people perform perverse acts on perfectly nice bikes – all by fitting them with ill-advised accessories. Here’s a roundup of the six most horrible things you can put on your mountain bike.

A Kickstand

Kickstands have their place: on beach cruisers, commuting bikes and kids’ bikes. They don’t belong on a seriously sweet trail bike. First, it’s dangerous – with all the jarring of off-road riding, the kickstand will never stay in place. Second, you should be riding way too much to need a kickstand. If you want a way to get to the local coffeehouse, get the right bike so you don’t have to desecrate a real off-road machine.

Slick Tires

Smooth tires are great. They let you pedal over pavement with a lot less resistance, letting you go faster. Notice how I said “over pavement”? That means smooth tires belong on bikes meant for riding in their milieu. Why buy a mountain bike and put slick tires on it? The most egregious example I’ve seen recently was a Santa Cruz Blur with a full XT group all dressed up for road riding. I actually felt sorry for that poor bike.

Flat Pedals

There’s something sad about a off-road racing machine with platform pedals. I can understand a bit of newbie fear factor when getting into mountain biking. But if you can afford a $4,000 bike and are willing to spend that much cash, you’d better already know what’s best for your bike. And platform pedals are not it. I suppose I’ll cut downhillers some slack – but nobody else!

A Gas-Powered Motor

Nothing says “I’ve had one DUI too many” like retro-fitting a gas engine to your bicycle. This is already bad when the bike in question is an ugly POS. But it becomes an epic travesty when said putting engine clings to the side of a decent bike.

A Pump – On the Wrong Side

Frame-mounted pumps are great – they’re always around when you need them. I really like the kind with a bracket under the water bottle cage on the downtube. But obey this one rule: Make sure you mount the bracket so it holds the pump on the non-drive side. In other words, the side that doesn’t include the cranks. You wouldn’t want some off-road shaking and shuddering to knock the pump loose and into the chainrings.

BMX-Style Handlebars

Some grizzled, mulleted old ex-1970s BMX racers love to combine the current reality of mountain bikes with the BMX looks of their youth. The result? An abominable collision of styles – a horribly upswept handlebar desecrating a mountain bike. Combine this with the gas motor, and you’ll be the ultimate two-wheeled hillbilly.

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Comments

• March 27, 2012, Another Wanderer writes: Most of us with some experience don't buy into the elitist and less than rational attitude that clipless pedlas are the only answer. Each have their place, and ultimately it is rider preference. Some of us have bikes with each style and may even change them depending upon conditions. Here's an example of a balanced viewpoint based on facts and reality: http://betterride.net/blog/2011/head-mtb-skills-coach-andy-ws-take-on-clipless-pedals/
• March 27, 2012, WanderingJustin writes: A few things you should realize here: First, I'm a cross-country rider, so clipless pedals will always always always be my choice. Second, this post isn't about "rational facts" and "realities": It's about laughing a bit at some observations about our sport. I've ridden since 1992, so I love poking fun at some of the things I see. I mean, you seriously took this post seriously? I'm talking about handlebar streamers, gas motors and old dudes with mullets! I don't care what you or anyone else rides as long as you have fun and come home safe at the end of each ride. I will give you one practical piece of mountain bike advice now, though - don't love mountain biking so much that you can't laugh at it. Just curious - you submitted your comment using my own email address. Is there a particular reason for that?

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