Mert Lawwill, Mountain Bike Pioneer, Innovator and Motorcycle Champion, Dies at 85

If you came to mountain biking in the early 1990s, the name Mert Lawwill needs no introduction. For the rest of you, please continue reading. You won’t regret it.

Specialized Cactus Cup Adds New Vintage Race and Bike Show

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz (February 3, 2026) Roll back the clock to the glory days at Pinnacle Peak in Scottsdale, Arizona—an era defined by cantilever brakes, elastomer suspension, bar ends, and taco’d wheels. It was a time shaped by icons of the sport such as Travis Brown, Juli Furtado, Andrés Hestler, Tinker Juarez, Alison Sydor, John Tomac and, of course, Ned Overend.

Whiteface Mountain brings Downhill back to America with new track

After a long, long season, the 2025 spotlight shifts to Whiteface Mountain, which will host a World Cup downhill for the very first time. With more than 3,400 feet of vertical drop, Whiteface is one of the steepest ski areas in the East, and its terrain provides a raw canvas for a new generation of racing. The track was designed by American legend Aaron Gwin, who blended high-speed openers, brutal compressions and a steep finale into a course that is expected to test the world’s best. 

Lake Placid again Poised for High-Stakes Showdown in the 2025 WHOOP UCI MTB Cross Country World Series

As the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series arrives at Lake Placid, New York on October 3-5, the season enters its decisive stretch. For those who recall the drama in 2024, and for those tracking this season’s leaderboard, this round promises to reward not only raw power but tactical smarts on a course that forces both. With Mont-Sainte-Anne in Canada scheduled the following week, Lake Placid will shape the momentum heading into the grand finale. 

Update: Public Land Sell-Offs Removed from House Bill, But Major Environmental Threats Remain

Thanks to community pressure lawmakers removed an amendment to sell off more than 500,000 acres of public land in Utah and Nevada. However, the final bill still poses serious threats.

Statement from Height of Land Publications Opposing the Sale of Public Lands in Utah and Nevada

As the publisher of Alpinist, Backcountry, Cross Country Skier and Mountain Flyer, Height of Land Publications represents a broad and passionate community of climbers, skiers, mountain bikers and outdoor enthusiasts whose lives, livelihoods, and identities are deeply rooted in public lands. We stand in firm opposition to the provisions in the House Natural Resources committee bill that proposes the sale of over 500,000 acres of federal public lands in Utah and Nevada. The dangerous precedent this sale would set is well outside any existing statutory construct for the sale of public lands. In short, what goes next? Roosevelt said it best: “The nation behaves well if it treats the natural resources as assets which it must turn over to the next generation increased, and not impaired, in value.” That ethic of stewardship is as relevant today as it was more than a century ago. Public lands are not disposable assets. 

Fat Bike World Championships Back in Crested Butte

Annual wintertime event returns to its roots for 10th anniversary

Ten Years is a long time by any measure. But a full decade in the bike racing world is a borderline eternity. Indeed, cycling events—especially in recent years—have come and gone with alarming frequency. Reasons why range from covid and supply chains, to inflation or just changing tendencies.

Thumbin' It: A Message From The Publisher

Dear Reader,

You’ve probably noticed that it’s been a while since issue 79 landed in your mailbox and you’re likely wondering what’s going on. I want to assure you there will be an issue coming soon. It will be different from what you’re used to and it will be great. Why the gap in our publishing schedule? Being a storyteller at heart, the best way I can explain it all is to share one. It’s a story that starts near the end, but like all good endings, it’s really a new beginning. My story starts on the side of the road…

Calling All Dirt Disciples: Ritual Mountain Bike Film Tour To Start Spring 2024

Four years after the original premiere—postponed due to Covid—the Ritual Mountain Bike Film Tour has announced is set to return, starting in Boulder, Colorado in the spring of 2024.

Powder Mountain Bike Park, Open for the Season

After a long and deep winter, Powder Mountain Bike Park has re-opened for the ’23 bike park season.