Ask MBA

Q: I ride a RockShox Revelation dual-air fork. The positive air chamber's cap is super hard to unscrew compared to the negative air chamber cap that I can remove with my fingers. Should I use pliers to unscrew the cap, or will that cause…
Read More...

Q: The G2 offset on the Trek Fisher Collection forks is proprietary. Can I purchase an aftermarket fork with a different offset and be pleased with the performance? If I can't buy a new fork, can I get the existing Cobia fork revalved and…
Read More...

Q: I'm looking for my first dual-suspension bike and gathered the Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Comp is a great option, but also that the Camber is an excellent choice for the budget conscious. My other favorites are the Trek Fuel EX 7 and EX…
Read More...

Q: I'm a 6'5", 195-pound aggressive trail rider. I built up a Niner R.I.P. 9 as my first 29er, and riding it for the first time was literally a revelation. For a guy my height, I've never experienced bonding with a 26er frame like I did…
Read More...

Q: I am 5'6" and 145 pounds. I want a fast, efficient, light, and, most of all, inexpensive hardtail cross-country race bike for cross-country and endurance racing as my second bike (I already have a Yeti 575). What bikes would you suggest…
Read More...

Q: You recommended the Xdream by Trixster indoor trainer for obvious reasons, but assuming I don't want to spend that amount on a spinning bike, do you have other recommendations on good indoor training systems? -Carl, pedaling in the…
Read More...

Q: I'm a high school freshman and racing in the So Cal Mountain Bike Racing League. I am looking to buy a 29er full-suspension mountain bike that is light enough for cross-country racing, yet durable enough for more technical singletrack.…
Read More...

Q: The Garage Files "Poor Man's 2x10" article (August 2010) on the FSA 386 2-ring crankset has sparked an interest in looking at a 2-ring option for my Trek Fuel EX 8. Is there any reason the new SRAM X7, X9 or X0 2-ring cranksets would not…
Read More...

Given its technological superiority, I wonder whether Honda's unique RN01 gearbox featured in MBA of June 04 was a one-time episode in mountain bike history that is over, or whether any manufacturer has licensed the technology to bring it…
Read More...

Q: I am a Clydesdale weight rider. I ride a 07' Cannondale Rush 6 with a stock bar/stem and fork setup. The frame is large with a 100-millimeter stem and a low-rise bar. I am finding that when I am going down technical downhills, log-piles,…
Read More...