Zack Vestal

Mavic has vastly improved XC, trail and all-mountain sets in their venerable Crossmax line.

For pro mountain bikers, sponsorship ain't what it used to be. But that ain't all bad.

What makes a great race? What makes a race last for 40 years? And can the Quiznos Pro Challenge replace or even exceed the Coors Classic? This questions and more are answered as VeloNews takes a look at the history of American racing, from its humble beginnings through the Amgen Tour of California and on into the future. Subscribe today!

Hot damn! One rippin' ride on 2011 Shimano XTR has Singletrack.com's tech editor Zack Vestal highly impressed with the venerable group's re-tooling.

SEA OTTER: Some choice bits of tech from the Otter expo. The ever-stylish line of accessories from Lezyne grows by a couple of pumps, German brand Focus unveiled a new 29er hardtail and DT Swiss is getting serious about forks.

What's XXtra cool about SRAM's new group is that it works well not just on anorexic cross-country race hardtails, but on 5-inch, full-suspension trail bikes.

Now that SRAM's XX group is available to the masses on 2010 bikes and in aftermarket catalogues, the question is does it deliver? Singletrack.com's Technical Editor Zack Vestal gives you the low-down in a two-part XX review.

It wasn't this way for all of us, but for race leader Jeremiah Bishop, the 65km second stage of the Intermontane Challenge in Kamloops, British Columbia, unfolded in much the same formula as stage 1: a neutral rollout through town, followed by roughly an hour of dusty desert riding, an hour in the forest above town, and a third, final hour weaving through sagebrush on the way to the finish line back in town.