FEATURES SALUTING THE CAPTAIN In Moab, Utah, the desert town known for Arches National Park and endless 4x4 routes, the Captain Ahab trail embodies a more recent mountain biking boom. In a decade since its creation it has become famous, attracting newcomers and veterans alike. Leslie Kehmeier tips her helmet (and lens) to the trail that developed her photography and riding skills. GOLD RUSH TRAIL Before Canada became a country, prospectors discovered gold in the interior of British Columbia. More than 150 years later, Ryan Stuart follows the same route those miners used over a century before—not in search of precious metals, but for prime mountain biking—and he strikes it rich. A 72 HOUR SEARCH FOR 'WOW' A lot goes into capturing the perfect bike shot. Lighting, terrain, weather, rider—it all must line up perfectly. When it does, you get the 'wow factor' that photographer Dan Milner so avidly seeks. During a swift three-day trip, Milner and rider Andrew Neethling seek just that—photo glory— as their time in Iceland's dramatic Badland eclipses. SMILES, (LOTSA) ROCKS AND SOME DONKEY TRAILS Croatia's Dalmatian Coast, rife with port cities and bordered by endless islands, has much to offer—both on land and sea. Now it can be toured with mountain bikes, thanks to the dedicated locals who are converting the region (and its islands') centuries old footpath network into a mountain biker's paradise. DEPARTMENTS Editor's Note Letters Paraphernalia Profile: The Power of a Heartbeat As a professional mountain bike racer, Mark Weir was known for his speed and toughness. Now, having narrowly avoided a deadly heart attack he is a champion of all things electric. Trail Anatomy: Bringing Back the Toiyabe Crest Trail For over 40 years, Nevada's Toiyabe Crest Trail was left unmaintained. Then Kurt Gensheimer saw its potential. He is now facilitating the trail's resurrection. Chain Of Fools: New Friends and a Manzanita Bush It's not always easy to break into a new riding group. But if Jen See can wipe out and still make friends, you've got nothing to worry about. Outlaws: Bike Missionaries of the Navajo Nation Claudia Jackson came to biking through community organizing—in the form of founding the Tour de SiiHasin, a group ride across Diné Bikéyah (the Navajo Reservation). Tested: Yeti SB 120 Tested: Mosaic MT-2 Hardtail Tested: Privateer 141 Wrenched: Bicycle Bearings Breakdown If you're like most mountain bikers, you don't think about your bearings. But, inside your bottom bracket, wheel hubs, headsets and suspension pivots, they're more important than you might think. Framebuilder: Simply Shrimpalicious Corey Kruch has been building bikes since 2016. Until 2021, he had yet to try a full suspension design, that is until an obscure bumper sticker reading "Shrimpalicious" inspired him. Live, Laugh, Loam There's a lot to consider when picking the right college. Looking for some unsolicited advice from a bike bum? Find a school where you can race mountain bikes. —— On the cover: "Not a breath of wind in the air, nary a whiff. If you've spent some time riding bikes in the desert you might know how rare this is. As dusk approached, I captured this image of Cody Kelly in the Utah desert. We got lucky. Very lucky." [Photo] Justin Olsen Department contents: Tutti Gravel Inn in Clinton, B.C., is a dandy place to hang your cap after a long day chasing gold along the historic Cariboo Gold Rush Trail. [Photo] Ryan Creary
