I raced my XC bike all year, I am kind of sick of bikes right now and really don't want to touch a bike with a 10 foot pole. I have been doing a ton of hiking, kayaking, hockey, squash, and camping, yeah bring it! But a bike ride? Wenting's cycle in Mission some how convinced me to demo this 2008 Trek EX8. I went to pick up the bike and my first thought was, man this bike looks deadly, it just looks like it will eat anything on the trail for breakfast.

Hey maybe a bike ride will be alright?

I go through a lot of different bike parts and gear. Some of it wears out or breaks, some of it I really regret buying, and some of it I swear by. Stuff Mike Rides will show up every now and then whenever I get around to writing it. All of the stuff that I don't feel like writing a 9000 word review on will be in one of these. More than anything though 'Stuff Mike Rides' will be about how things held up over the long haul.

Edition #1 has got some Syncros Mental pedals, Crud Catcher fender and Troy Lee's SE glove. Enjoy....

I got a chance to test out the FUNN Hooka DH cranks this summer. Cranks might not be something most of us give a whole lot of thought to once we’ve made our purchase and installed them.

I honestly didn’t know that humans could get fleas, I figured that they preferred things like Golden Labs and the neighbor’s cats. But low and behold after a trip over to Cory’s place to help his mom out with some plumbing I have found myself to be the new owner of some burly fleas – Jumping Fleas no less. They must have used their acrobatic prowess and gained entrance through the open window, cause really how else could there be fleas at Cory’s house?

In the most simple of terms, brakes make you stop. However, somewhere between coasting and skidding is a midrange that most of us ride – that is, if we’re riding with any sanity and skill – employing varying pressure on our front and back brakes in unison, in what is aptly called “modulation.”

There is no such thing as too much meat and September's installment proves it!

Up first we have three servings of medium rare Race Face cutlets. The all new Diabolus D2 stem, Atlas AM stem and the low-rise Atlas bar. Hutchinson is on the plate also with its full sized 2.5" Bulldog tires and Axiom is represented with its nifty Enforce DLX Gauge mini floor pump. For dessert we've got some killer BLT lights to keep you riding full year round. The FireWire 4.0 and the snack-size Ozone 21NE

If you are as sick of seeing Interbike coverage as I am about writing about it, then you'll be glad to know that this is most likely the last Interbike Update for 2007! Read it twice because there's gonna be a test after.

For those not in the know, SWASS is short for Sweaty Ass and it is the number one thing that ruins a show from the get go. Number two being my sore feet, but since this isn't about me, I'll move on. Not only is the show full of great bits from Giro, Bell, Dakine, Scott USA, FSA, Knolly and so many others, but if you were to walk outside and turn right on Koval you can wander over to the Vegas Resistance. Deity, Transition Bikes and Spectrum Tech Wear were three of the 5 companies at the resistance-read on to learn more.

Once again the crew at Freeride-Entertainment put together one hell of a party for their world premiere in Vegas, of New World Disorder 8-Smack Down. Held in the Rain Night Club at the Palms Casino, the place was packed and everyone was ready for a good time.

Freeride Entertainment has always put together opening sections that set the stage for the whole show and this year was no different. The theme for rider’s intros in Smack Down was a Mexican Wrestling, Royal Rumble if you will. Where, as a rider’s mask gets removed, it would queue up their section. The matches were funny and the riding is amazing. So with out further ado here is my take on NWD 8 Smack Down:

Pinkbike's coverage of Interbike continues with shots from day 47 at the show. Ok, it was only day 3 but Vegas time travels faster than regular Canadian time. Despite feeling like I got ran over by the 'Interbike Train', this update includes all of the cool new gadgets and bikes that you want to see....Along with the most haggard booth girl ever!

The indoor show is massive, not like a Carl's Jr. burger either. I'm talking HUGE here folks. You can walk around for all 3 days and still miss booths. But being the diligent little media folks that we are, here is a look at some of the booths that we did encounter on the journey of a million steps.

Rocky Mountain Bikes, Marin Bikes, Sombrio Clothes, Bike Mine Distribution, DT Swiss, and a bag of mixed goods are all inside.