The Rake by Camelot Tools Review: A Purpose-Built Trail Building Tool
There are trail tools that look good in a catalog, and then there are trail tools that earn a permanent spot in the trailer because they solve real problems in the field. The Rake by Camelot Tools falls firmly into the second category.
There are Dinosaurs on the North Shore
Dinosaurs lurk in the forests of Vancouver’s North Shore. Decades old, these relics of a different time are a poignant reminder of how time waits for no one. Seemingly forgotten, and rarely given a second thought by most who might find them, the ladder bridges and skinnies that once were at the forefront of the freeride movement are an important part of mountain biking history, returning to the earth.
Pedals and Paperwork: Cilenca Trails’ Journey to Mountain Biking Paradise
Tucked between Italy, Austria, Croatia, and Hungary, Slovenia is so small you might skip over it on your next biking trip — but that would be a huge mistake. Smaller than the size of New Jersey, Slovenia has it all: emerald rivers and lakes, cliffside castles, mesmerizing caves, jaw-dropping waterfalls, rich wildlife, beautiful forests, a diverse coastline, and some of the best restaurants in the world. If we switch our focus to the world of mountainbiking, Slovenia boasts diverse terrain, ranging from rugged alpine trails to picturesque forest paths, offering an exhilarating playground for riders from all corners of the globe.
Women Trail Builders Spotlight: Ama Koenigshof
Get to know Ama Koenigshof! Ama grew up in Niles, Michigan, tearing around on go-karts and motorcycles, and roguing seed corn fields at just 11. With a fierce ‘prove you wrong’ attitude, she’s embraced every challenge, including taking up mountain biking in her thirties to stay connected to the evolving trails industry. She’s not hitting big jumps, but you’ll find her putting in the work creating and designing trails with a smile.
Building Without Permission: Inside Germany’s Unsanctioned Trail Scene
There are trails that exist because they were approved. And then there are trails that exist because nothing else did.
In the forests of southwest Germany, one trail builder operates in both worlds. He works within the system, advocating for legal trails. And at the same time, he builds outside of it.
When Sanctioning Trails Benefits Everyone
A mountain biker rolls along precariously balancing on 20-foot-tall skinnies through the forest: a common sight pre-2003 when the Gillard trail network was a well-kept secret in the mountainsides of Kelowna, BC.
Field Test: Dakine 25L Builder Pack on a 5-Mile Trail Build Project
The new Dakine 25-liter Builder Pack is the little sister to our favorite 45-liter Dakine Builder Pack. When you want a little less bulk with a little more stability, this is the pack I reach for every time.
Kasanje Bike Park: Uganda’s First Mountain Bike Park Aims to Grow Cycling Culture
East Africa, the home of some of the best modern day long distance runners, Kenya and Uganda in particular are synonymous at producing elite level running talent. Cycling and East Africa, certainly do not appear in the same sentence very often, not yet at least!
There are many cultural and economic factors that one could point to for creating an argument as to why East Africa, and more specifically Uganda is not producing elite level riders, like it does runners. However, on the surface the answer is simple, the sport is too expensive and access to bikes is limited, certainly at least good quality bikes.
How the Oregon Timber Trail Alliance Maintains One of America’s Longest Mountain Bike Routes
Our first conversation is with Steve Brook, President of the Oregon Timber Trail Alliance (OTTA). The nonprofit stewards the Oregon Timber Trail, a roughly 700-mile backcountry mountain bike route that runs the length of the state. Unlike most trail systems, this isn’t a network near a single town or trailhead. It’s a corridor stretching from the California border to the Columbia River Gorge, crossing multiple forests, ecosystems, and rural communities along the way.
What Rural Communities Get Wrong About Becoming a “Trail Town”
At some point in almost every rural community conversation, the phrase shows up: “We should become a trail town.”
Yep, it sure sounds simple. Clean. Strategic.
You know, just find funding. Build trails. Market them. Attract visitors. Boom ...
But this is where many communities get tripped up.
Becoming a trail town is not a branding exercise. It is not a cool logo or a catchy tagline. And it is not something you declare.
It is something you grow into.
And when communities rush that process, the friction usually follows.
