Four years ago, cross country racing was dying, World Cup downhills were hidden in far-away Europe, and slopestyle contests had yet to hit their stride. Back then, freeride was surging and the Red Bull Rampage was its premier event.

"Bike course rebuilt after it was destroyed by fire."

Riders, local volunteers and Toronto Crime Stoppers have teamed up to rebuild the city's public BMX park, two months after it was destroyed by flames.

Contractors who had read about the story in the newspaper also came by to volunteer their time, helping the kids to rebuild and teaching them a thing or two about wood working. Crime Stoppers pitched in more than $1,000 for the reconstruction of the wooden ramps and to help break the barriers between police and the youth at the park.

Tiny pyramids make for the toughest mountain bike frame yet. If a simple polygon can hold up to pharaoh's tomb for 4,500 years, it should survive some off-road riding.That's the thinking behind the 2.75 pound Arantix mountain bike frame from Delta 7 Sports. It's 10 times as strong as a steel frame of the same weight would be and has enough to survive the company's informal "run-over" test with a Ford F350 pickup.

There are few American cities with a bike culture as vibrant as San Francisco's. It's the city the spawned Critical Mass and the region where mountain biking found its first real foothold, yet until the recent emergence of a group called Ride SFO, the Bay Area downhill scene lacked a real sense of community.

Hardwood Hills and Pearl Izumi welcome riders from all over Ontario back for the 14th annual Ontario High School Mountain Bike Championships. We look forward to providing a fun and challenging day for all ages and levels of riders. Each cyclist may compete as an individual in the morning races and again as a school relay team in the afternoon. All schools and riders are encouraged to bring other riding friends and athletes to fulfill "team" points for their school awards. Elementary School riders are also welcome to compete in a dedicated category.

Free Riding Soared On The Shore. The North Shore mountains and Vancouver's spirited mountain bicyclists put international huck into the sport. North Vancouver's Dave Watson likes to travel the world "spreading the groove" about the B.C. spawned mountain-bike free-riding scene — and on a sunny July day in 2003, he shook the young sport's groove thang further than ever before.

this nation's oldest ban against mountain bikes has been quietly dismantled in Boulder, Coloardo. The opening of Doudy Draw last October was the latest in a string of small victories for Boulder, mountain bikers, and while this meandering meadow trail won't set singletrack lovers' hearts aflutter, it represents a historic breakthrough in one of America's most hostile climates for mountain bike access.

Why not skip the green beer and shiny shamrock stickers this year in favor of some real Saint Patrick's Day fun? Kiss an irish las if you must, but do so after the day of ripping diabolical trails beneath the warm desert sun. Then, after you've had all you can take of the technical terrain in Boulder City, Nevada, head to the Vegas strip, just half-hour's drive away.

The Toronto International Bicycle Show is the best place to shop for bicycles and accessories, preview the newest trends in cycling from the top manufacturers and distributors plus enjoy thrilling action-packed events. The show is celebrating its 22nd year in production and is one of the largest exclusive bicycle consumer shows in North America.

Some of the events will include the exhilarating Toronto BMX Jam 08 contest in the Heritage Court. This exciting Pro/Am Street contest series returns to Toronto for the 8th year, featuring many of the world's biggest names in BMX Street Course pulling unbelievable tricks on an indoor street course. Add the Toronto X Track Challenge (Mountain Bike and BMX 4X Races and the Freestyle Dirt Jump Contest) and the CFO Pro/Am BMX Flatland Freestyle Competition and you get lots of value for your admission. The show also provides valuable cycling information such as where, when and how, club enrollment opportunities, A Bicycle Film Festival, Mountain Bike Trials show, and much more.

Cyclists have been waiting a long time for this one. Based on the 1490's sketch by Leonardo da Vinci, The Ride's rear hub mimics an infinite number of gears, rather than the mere 21 offered by the usual chain-yanking transmission. So you can always find the perfect gear ratio, whether starting from a stop or speeding down a hill.