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Baja, BB – Dinah Gumns and Spencer Harding

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Baja, BB – Dinah Gumns and Spencer Harding

Baja, BB
Words by Dinah Gumns, photos by Spencer Harding

Serena and I were sitting on the blacktop overlooking Dodger’s stadium and downtown L.A. after an evening ride, and somewhere around the middle of the half pint of Hornito’s 
“I wanna do the southern part of the Baja Divide but like… make it into a surf trip” fell out of my mouth. 

“Aw hell yeah. Let’s go.”
 “Ok.”

From mid-October to late December, our plans shifted almost weekly. Within two weeks of our start date, Serena and Spencer finally bought their tickets. 24 hours before we flew to Cabo, Serena’s bike and gear came in the mail. In every sense, it was a “fuck it, we’re doing it live” trip.

We jammed fingers and sliced open our feet before we even got on the road. We got our periods in the middle of the Sierra la Lagunas and only made it 35 miles in two days. We rode with 8ft surfboards from Todos Santos to San Pedrito and Cerritos to surf whitewater and 2-3 foot shin-slappers. We washed our menstrual cups in rather suspect water. We couch-surfed and almost wept when we ate vegetables. We “dumped ‘em out” at the ocean, a lot. We wound up in a kite-surf wasteland that was full of margarita bars and too much Jack Johnson playing everywhere. We took acid and played on cliffs and drank all of some sweet old folk’s tequila and smoked all of their weed. We pet so many dogs. We almost gained a horse, twice. We used our words and didn’t fight or hate each other at the end. We got sand fleas.

Radar

Simply Propelled

What an amazing story!

“Dreams come in many forms, unique to each of us, and ranging from the fleeting to the enduring. Our dream to ride the divide of North America begins in the Arctic and proves to be a challenging start to our nine-month journey. In the wilderness, we discover strength in our diversity and that our direction is influenced by many dreams.”

See more at Simply Propelled.

Seth’s Land Run 100 Salsa Cutthroat – Jarrod Bunk

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Seth’s Land Run 100 Salsa Cutthroat – Jarrod Bunk

Seth’s Land Run 100 Salsa Cutthroat
Photos and words by Jarrod Bunk

Seth’s Cutthroat is a Testament to having one bike that can do a lot of things well.  Seth has raced the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, DK200, and completed Land Run 100 more than a few times, this bike was ridden 10,000 miles last year alone.  Local knowledge certainly paid off for him as I’m told he didn’t have to walk any of the hike-a-bike sections. It makes sense to see a 38c tire on a MTB then, especially with the notoriously muddy terrain that can take you from 30MPH to zero in a flash. Those Prototype 38c Vittoria Mud Tires were proven that day, from the loose slick climbs, to the bombing descents they never skipped a beat.  Last year was probably the worst year for mud, ever, and the Shimano Di2 drivetrain worked flawlessly, even when caked full.

If you’re thinking about riding Land Run this year sign up is live – I know a few people from the Radavist will be there – and you can bet Seth will be there ready to rock as the cannon fires this year. What bike will you bring?

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Follow Jarrod on Instagram, and Land Run 100 on Instagram

Radar

Paul’s Custom Salsa

This Ross Shafer-built, custom MTB from the 90’s was made especially for Paul of Paul Component Engineering. Check out this video for all kinds of tidbits from the early days of Salsa and Paul, for that matter!

Mike ‘Kid’ Riemer’s Salsa Blackborow with Ode To Trout Cedaero Bags

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Mike ‘Kid’ Riemer’s Salsa Blackborow with Ode To Trout Cedaero Bags

Mike ‘Kid’ Riemer’s Salsa Blackborow with Ode To Trout Cedaero Bags
Photos by John Watson, words by Mike ‘Kid’ Riemer

Editor’s note. I emailed Mike, requesting a few quotes about this bike, and received a novella, telling the tale of Mike’s interest in the outdoors. While I could pull quotes from it, I felt that as a whole, it tells more of the tale than I ever could…

I often tell my son, and my nephews, that there is nothing better than finding something in life that you are passionate about. 

I’ve been lucky in that regard, I guess.

I grew up in Korea, loving the outdoors and playing in the pine forest around our home and the neighboring hills, hiking the majestic Sorak mountains of the west coast, and living in the waters of the Yellow Sea for as much of my summer each year as possible. The outdoors became a passion for me, in many ways without me ever realizing it. It was inside me waiting for opportunities to come out. 

Jay Petervary’s Dirty Dirty Tour Divide Salsa Cutthroat

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Jay Petervary’s Dirty Dirty Tour Divide Salsa Cutthroat

I first met Jay Petervary back when Salsa took me on the Cutthroat launch on the Tour Divide. Admittedly, Jay was friendly, but you could tell there was apprehension. He was about to embark on the TDR on a new bike and had plenty of other things to think about, rather than making small talk with a photographer / blogger. I hadn’t seen Jay in years, until this year’s Saddle Drive when he greeted me with a smile and a firm handshake. Jay’s like that. He’s the nicest guy you’ll meet, but like all athletes, before a race, he’s reserved and focused. Catch him post-race or at a Salsa event and he’ll wax poetic tales of racing, or just shoot the shit in an intoxicatingly positive manner. The dude has a smile as big as his accolades.

After hearing that he brought this year’s TDR Cutthroat to Saddle Drive, I really wanted to photograph it. There’s something telling about a bike, all dusty and sated, that you just can’t get from documenting a show bike, or something that’s brand new. This bike has character and best of all displays Jay’s personal choice when it comes to products. Industry Nine wheels, a power meter and a mix of Salsa and Bike Bag Dude bags. There’s nothing overtly corporate or branded about this rig. It’s punk rock from a dude who has nothing to prove at this point in his career.

Jay, you keep on ramblin’ round the world, doing your thing and I’ll catch up to you again in the near future. High fives, buddy!

Ethan’s Tahoe Rim Trail Salsa Timberjack – Jarrod Bunk

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Ethan’s Tahoe Rim Trail Salsa Timberjack – Jarrod Bunk

Eathan’s Tahoe Rim Trail Salsa Timberjack
Photos and words by Jarrod Bunk

“Fresh of an 8 week collarbone recovery, I felt the call of the woods and passing up the spectacular views and world class trail that the TRT has to offer just wasn’t an option. 4 day and 170miles with some of the best riding and hardest Hike-a-bikes, I circumnavigated my way around Lake Tahoe to Northstar for the Kick off of another rad Saddledrive! Covering some 24,000 feet of elevation gain left quit a toll on not only my body but also my gear. TJ was the perfect choice, confident on the descents and still perfectly at home loaded down. And though I may have push it up more trail then I would have liked I can’t think of a better way to spend 3 nights under the stars!” – Ehtan Frey

We’ve all been there, the feeling of spending time off of your bike, when its all you want to be doing, sometimes it can be the daily grind, or some thing outside of your control, like breaking your collarbone.  Ethan defintiely made the most of the time before Saddle Drive this year, he took his custom Timberjack, outfitted with everything he would need to naviage the TRT.  After I talked to Ethan about his trip he said if he had the choice he would do it over with a dual sus bike.  The combination of a dead silent Onyx Hub, Whisky Carbon Rims, and a SRAM Eagle build peg this as anything but stock, to me its really cool to see how a stock bike could be transformed over time as your riding styles change.  From the trail to the tour this Timberjack is ready for anything, and Ethan proves that bicycles are the best medicine!

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Follow Jarrod on Instagram, and follow QBP on Instagram.

Saddle Drive 2017: Salsa Mukluk Carbon GX Eagle

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Saddle Drive 2017: Salsa Mukluk Carbon GX Eagle

We’re here in Tahoe at Northstar for QBP’s Saddle Drive!

The Salsa family of fatbikes didn’t change much this year, aside from more kit offerings and what I would consider a great bang for your buck, in terms of a full-fat expedition rig. In this family tree, the Beargrease is the more nimble of the two, yes, even for a fatbike, making it the ideal race machine. Yet, for expedition-style riding, or bikepacking, the Mukluk reins supreme. This year’s model has four pricepoints, ranging from the balleur Mukluk Carbon XO1 Eagle build for $5,399, down to the alloy Mukluk NX1 for $1,799. Resting between those two kit options is the Mukluk Carbon SLX 1×11 for $2,699 and this model, the Mukluk Carbon GX Eagle for $3,499. The paint remains earth-toney and muted this round, but these build kits, especially the GX, offer versatility to a go-anywhere expedition rig.

There’s more to come from Salsa next week and in the near future, unfortunately, with so many of their bikes under embargo, we’ll have to wait until September to see more.

Radar

Instruments

Here’s the feature length short video entitled “Instruments of Adventure” and featuring the wilds of Alaska.

Win Salsa’s Titanium Timberjack and Help the IMBA

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Win Salsa’s Titanium Timberjack and Help the IMBA

Wanna win a sick titanium hardtail from Salsa? All ya gotta do is simple:

“When you join or renew your IMBA membership now through May 31, you will be entered for a chance to win a Titanium Salsa Timberjack. By supporting IMBA and joining with thousands of other mountain bikers we all stand up for the trails we love. Special thanks to Salsa, Industry Nine, Maxxis, and SRAM.”

Head to IMBA to read more. Thanks to all these rad companies for supporting IMBA, who is already supporting us all! Also check out more information on the new Salsa’s Ti Timberjack.

Salsa’s Land Run 100 Coverage

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Salsa’s Land Run 100 Coverage



“There’s something so special about pushing through a rough patch in a long ride and entering a Zen-like meditative state where you stop thinking about how many miles you have left, who is in front of you or behind you, what stresses you have going on at the office or at home, and just ride your damn bike. You realize what an incredible amount of crap we live with when it all falls away.” – Travis Dubose

Check out more coverage from the Land Run 100 at Salsa and don’t forget to flip through our gallery if you haven’t.

Jay Petervary’s Land Run 100 Salsa Cycles Warbird – Jarrod Bunk

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Jay Petervary’s Land Run 100 Salsa Cycles Warbird – Jarrod Bunk

Jay Petervary’s Land Run 100 Salsa Cycles Warbird
Photos and words by Jarrod Bunk

Jay Petervary’s Salsa Cycles Warbird was pretty dialed for Land Run this year. Those Salsa Cycles X Brooks England LTD frames are so good. Jay has been doing the whole gravel and adventure racing thing for close to 18 years now. Fresh off his win at the Iditarod Trail Invitational a few weeks prior, JayP was in town for Land Run.

You can learn a lot about what works, and what doesn’t just by looking at his bike. Aero bars, double wrapped tape, 32c tires, bombproof Industry 9 wheels, and not overpacked with water and food. The name of the game on Saturday was mud clearance. It worked out pretty well as I’m told that Jay was at the front most of the day and even finishing with a 3rd place on the hardest Land Run yet.

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Follow Jarrod on Instagram and Jay on Instagram.

Radar

Salsa’s New Deadwood 29+ Sus MTB

While Salsa has nestled itself inside the bikepacking niche within cycling, they’re making an attempt to branch out a bit with this new Deadwood 29+ full suspension MTB. As per a post on their blog, the Deadwood aims to “see off-roading in a whole new way” with its approach angle, geometry, suspension design and big, blump 29’r tires. Here’s a video from their launch in Virginia and you can see more information on the models available at Salsa.

The Adventure Cycling Association Bikecentennial Salsa Marrakesh Touring Bike – Kyle Kelley

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The Adventure Cycling Association Bikecentennial Salsa Marrakesh Touring Bike – Kyle Kelley

The Adventure Cycling Association Bikecentennial Salsa Marrakesh Touring Bike – Kyle Kelley
Photos by Kyle Kelley, words by John Watson

When June and Greg Siple teamed up with Dan and Lys Burden to found the Adventure Cycling Association, I doubt they anticipated their impact on the bicycle touring world. Now, 40 years later and the ACA helps cyclists from all over the world navigate the trails, roads and dirt tracks all over North America with their route maps and magazine.

The ACA exists solely to grow the spirit of cycle tourism and a large portion of its funding comes from memberships and the sales of their maps, along with donations. Some of those come in the form of projects like this: the ACA Bikecentennial Edition Salsa Marrakesh. Between now and December 31st, 2016, each cyclist that you refer to ACA will land you a chance to win this bike.

While in Montana at the Bikecentennial celebration, Kyle got access to one to photograph it in an attempt to stoke the fire for the ACA and bicycle tourism! Head over to ACA’s Share the Joy website to find out more information and to enter for your chance to win this bike.

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Follow Kyle on Instagram and Adventure Cycling on Instagram.

The New Bike Models from Salsa, Surly and All-City at Saddle Drive – Jarrod Bunk

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The New Bike Models from Salsa, Surly and All-City at Saddle Drive – Jarrod Bunk

Editor’s note: Jarrod recently attended Saddle Drive, Quality Bicycle Product’s outdoor showcase for their forthcoming products. This included components, accessories and complete bicycles from brands like Salsa, Surly and All City. Jarrod spent two days there, photographing new components on day one and on day two, complete bikes. Here’s that gallery.

The New Bike Models from Saddle Drive
Words and photos by Jarrod Bunk

Northstar at Tahoe is the perfect venue to showcase product, for day two I set aside most of my day between seminars to shoot some of the new bikes from Salsa, Surly and All City, Including the new BigBlock, Warbird Carbon/Alloy and Woodsmoke 27.5+. If I could I would’ve stayed the rest of the week just to be able to swing a leg over all of the other bikes. Check out the gallery for some of my favorites.

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Follow Jarrod on Instagram.