Anna Newkirk Interview

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Anna Newkirk interview
Anna Newkirk interview

Anna Newkirk had several podiums last year in the women’s junior downhill category through the 2019 UCI World Cup series including a win at Ft. William. This year, she’s moving up to the elite classification and will be competing against the fastest women on the planet. As part of the Young Guns Racing Team based in Europe, this American is ready for launching into a season full of opportunity and excitement.

Follow Anna Newkirk on Instagram @annanewkirk_
Anna Newkirk is sponsored by: Canyon Bikes | Maxxis Tires | DT Swiss

Note: this story originally mentioned an ankle injury that was from an interview with another athlete. That erroneous text has been removed. Anna is healthy and ready to go.

Can you tell me a bit about growing up in Salt Lake City? I was born in Salt Lake and I grew up there racing BMX. We used to go ride at Rad Canyon a lot and we tried to race every race. My brothers and I raced a lot of national BMX races in the US. Tell me about how your parents supported you over the years? They've always been my biggest supporters. Always helping me when I need and introducing the bikes in the first place. Especially just supporting me in general, mental support. Always believing in me. They've definitely been the biggest part of my whole racing career. Do you have dual citizenship and can you speak German? I don't have dual citizenship yet. I'm working on getting my Swiss passport, but yeah, I am fluent in German and Swiss German. How did you transition from BMX to downhill? I think it was just a natural thing that happened – mainly because of my little brother, actually. When we lived in the US I remember my first mountain bike. It was a Marin with 20 inch wheels. I did a little bit of mountain biking there, and then moved to Europe and we didn't really have a lot of options of riding BMX or racing BMX. My brother started riding downhill and mountain bikes and I thought, "Well, he's doing it, I’m also going to start doing it." I started riding downhill bikes mainly through my brother.
Tell me a bit about your win in Ft. William last summer. Yeah, that was a really cool experience. It was funny because the weekend itself at the beginning didn't start off really well. In practice I had a pretty nasty crash and I messed up the ligaments of my toe and I couldn't really put any pressure on it. I didn't know if I was even going to be able to race or ride. Then on qualifying or qualifying day, I was able to ride and it was all good. I crashed in my qualifying round again and hurt myself a little bit more. I guess on race day, everything just came together. I was super focused throughout the whole run – and even though there were still two riders left, I was just super stoked on the run. I didn't expect that I was going win. I remember sitting on the hot seat and looking at the time board. First, they were green. Vali Holl, she was ahead of me at the splits, and then they were red. From there, I was really nervous. I couldn't watch anymore. It was really a cool experience.
Anna Newkirk on the podium at Ft. William
Do you have any other tracks that you really like other than Ft. William now? I like a lot of the courses. I really liked the one in Croatia last year. Andorra is always fun. Les Gets is super fun. Mont Saint Anne was a lot of fun. So is Snowshoe. All of them. I guess I like all of them. Do you prefer fair weather compared to riding in wet conditions? Honestly, I didn't think I was very good in the wet, But in Ft. William, it was raining and it was really wet. I guess it just depends on the course. I wouldn't say I'm good or bad. It just is what it is. Talk a bit about riding enduro with Isabella Naughton and Lauren Bingham in the Trophy of Nations last year. That was really cool and a lot of fun. I was able to learn a lot from both of them about riding enduro and racing enduro. It was important to pace myself and not just to go all-out at the beginning. I wasn't as nervous when I was racing with them as I was at the first EWS I did in Zermatt. There, I was really nervous and I crashed almost in every single stage. Then in Finale at the Trophy of Nations, racing with them – I was a lot more calm. It was just a lot easier to do. What have you been doing in the offseason? What are you working on differently than last year, if anything? I don't think I've been doing that much differently from last year. Maybe some small things, but nothing that's like, "Oh, I'm in the elite category next year, so I have to do this and this differently." It's been mostly the same. On Monday, I don't do training. On Tuesday, I'll go to the gym in the morning, and then if I have enough time and enough sunlight, I'll go ride in the afternoon. Wednesday, I'll also go to the gym in the morning, and then I'll go ride in the afternoon and do sprints. On Thursday I'll go to the gym in the morning and if I have enough time and sunlight, I'll ride in the afternoon. Then on Friday, I do sprints and ride. Saturday and Sunday are just riding. Do you have a personal trainer or just the team trainer? Do you train as a group or do you have individual workouts? I work with a gym in Basel with them. It's called the Medical Fitness Center and I have a personal trainer there who helps me out in the gym. Mainly, the training and stuff, the gym workouts and sprints and stuff, I'll do by myself or with him. When I ride enduro, I’ll either go with friends or groups, and sometimes by myself. What do you enjoy doing when you're not on the bike? I like hiking and climbing and just being in the mountains enjoying the sun, good weather Are you a skier? I used to be. I mean, I really enjoy winter sports, skiing and snowboarding, but it's really expensive – especially here in Switzerland. I haven't been in a really long time, but I'd love to get a pair of skis soon because I really enjoy doing it.
Boris Beyer - photographer

Photos throughout this post are used courtesy of photographer Boris Beyer. You can follow Boris on Instagram @maddogboris to see more of his work. Boris was also featured in an episode of Maxxis Tires’ Rubber Side Down video series.

How do you handle it when things don't go your way when you know you could have done something better in a mountain bike race? That's the worst, especially when you've just finished a race and you just think that you know and you just know that you could have done better. First, I'll just become disappointed in myself. I like to be alone for a bit, and then I guess afterwards, just reflect on the race and think what I could have done differently and what I need to change for next time. Aside from the UCI stops, do you have any other events on your calendar that you're looking forward to? I always look forward to the Crankworx stops. I don't know if I'll be able to make it to any events this year, but I really hope I'm able to hang out a lot of fun. Also excited for the EWS races in Val Di Fassa [Italy] and Petzen [Slovakia].
American DH racer Anna Newkirk
What do you want to earn or achieve this year? I want to race as best as I can. Just mainly put down runs and earn results that I'm content with. Based on your experiences, what would you like to say to parents who have kids that are getting into racing I’d say don’t put any pressure on your kid and never make your kid feel like they have to finish first or finish on the podium. If they don't, don't be disappointed. Never make your kid feel like they could disappoint you. Tell me about your Young Guns Team? What you guys are about? What are your expectations and responsibilities are that go along with being part of the group? The Young Guns Racing Team is all about just pushing young racers up to their second year in the elite category and World Cups. Just helping them out, giving them support, and trying to make them into the best rider they can be. I think it's really cool. I learned a lot last year. I had a really good time with everyone. One thing that I think is really cool about it all is they don't put any pressure on us.

The Best 24″ Wheel Mountain Bikes For Under $500

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Best 24inch mountain bikes for less than 500 dollars
Best 24inch mountain bikes for less than 500 dollars
NOTE: Due to COVID-19 and stay-near-home guidelines, kids' bikes have become very popular and a lot of manufacturers cannot keep inventory. You may wish to see our Kids Bikes For Sale - October 2020 post.

Best 24-inch Wheel Kids Mountain Bikes under $500: Want to get your kiddo on the trail without breaking the bank?  We’ve created a list of our favorite 24″ wheel kids mountain bikes for less than $500.  A few notes about the bikes on this list:

Mountain Bike Suspension

You’ll notice that 4 out of 5 of our recommended mountain bikes for kids have no suspension fork. Unfortunately, the suspension on most low to mid-range kids mountain bikes is heavy and ineffective. Kids often don’t have enough mass to really compress the front shock. Fully rigid bikes are are lighter and require less maintenance. Thus, they are great for beginning and intermediate riders.

Drivetrain And Gears

The kids’ mountain bikes on our list have a maximum of 8 gears. If you’ve been shopping around, I’m sure you have seen kids’ bikes with up to 27 gears. In our opinion, a 1 x with 7-9 gears is enough to give your kid the range to make it up steep hills and still pick up some speed when its flat. a 1x set up will make shifting more intuitive and save some serious weight.

Fit Is A Key To Success

We’ve listed the stand-over height for each bike on our list. Importantly, before you shell out the money on a new mountain bike for your kid, you’ll want to be sure they can straddle the bike with both feet flat on the ground (for beginners) or on tip toe (for more advanced riders). Get a good stand-over height measurement by measuring your child’s inseam.

For more tips on buying the best mountain bike fo your kid, check out: 10 Things To Know Before Buying A Kid’s Mountain Bike.

Our list of the best 24-inch wheel kids mountain bikes under $500…

Norco Storm 4.2 - 24 inch wheel bike for kids

Norco Storm 4.2

The Norco Storm 4.2 mountain bike for kids is made for fun on the trails. The x6 aluminum frame and SR Suntour XCT Jr. fork is built to conquer the trails. This bike even has a quick-release seat post clamp.

Buy this kids’ 24″ mountain bike from:

Wheel Size24 inches
Min. Standover Height23.74 inches
Frame MaterialAluminum
Drivetrain7 speed
BrakesTektro Alloy V-Brake
Shifter(s)Shimano Tourney, 7-Speed
DerailleurShimano Tourney TY500
ForkSR Suntour XCT Jr. Coil Spring, 50mm
Weightna
MSRP$449.00
Live PriceJenson USA
REI Co-op Cycles REV 24 inch wheel bike for kids

REI Co-op Cycles REV 24 Plus Kids’ Bike

The REI Co-op Cycles REV 24” wheel mountain bike is a great option to get your kids out on the trails for under $500. The REV 24 has several nice features that your kid will like.  First, the REV 24 boasts plus-size tires (2.6 in. wide) to soften the little bumps and stick to the trail for a smooth, stable ride. Second, 1 x 7 shifting keeps it simple. Third, mechanical disc brakes provide confidence-inspiring, responsive braking.

Buy this 24″ kids’ mountain bike from:

Wheel Size24 inches
Min. Standover Height24 inches
Frame Material6061 aluminum
Drivetrain1 x 7 Shimano Tourney, 14/34
BrakesMechanical Disc Brake
Shifter(s)Shimano Tourney Revo Twist
DerailleurShimano Tourney
ForkRigid Aluminum
Weight28.2 pounds
MSRP$379.00
Live PriceREI

Trek Rosco 24 inch wheel bike for kids

Trek Roscoe 24

The Roscoe 24” is a mountain bike designed to help kids build confidence on the trail. This bike features 2.8˝ mid-fat tires to provide great traction and stability. The 1x drivetrain with a wide-range cassette make for comfortable and intuitive climbing. Additionally, the mechanical disc brakes make controlling speed a breeze. The Roscoe is an excellent bike for little riders who want to build skills and have fun. This 24” wheel kids mountain bike will fit kids 4’3”- 4’11” tall.

Buy this kids’ 24″ mountain bike from:

Wheel Size24 inches
Min. Standover Height23.6 inches
Frame MaterialAlpha Aluminum
DrivetrainSunRun cassette, 8 speed , 11-34
BrakesTektro MD-M280 mechanical disc, 160mm rotor
Shifter(s)Shimano Altus M310
DerailleurShimano Tourney TX80
ForkRigid Roscoe 24”, alloy
Weight25.1 pounds
MSRP$499.00
Live PriceTrek

Prevelo Alpha 4 24 inch bike for kids

Prevelo Alpha 4

Prevelo designs every aspect of their kids’ bikes to inspire confidence and make riding fun. Firstly, the 24″ Alpha Four offers an 8-speed Shimano drive train. The 11-34T wide range gearing gives growing riders truly usable gear range. Secondly, at only 21.2 pounds with pedals, this bike is exceptionally light, helping to make bike control and climbing easier. Thirdly, the Shimano Acera Rapidfire Plus shift lever is easy for small hands to operate, has an indicator display, and operate just like shifters on high performance bikes. Finally, the Alpha 4 boasts unique low and narrow geometry to keep your rider rider low, balanced and in control.

Buy this 24″ kids’ mountain bike from:

Wheel Size24 inches
Min. Standover Height23 inches
Frame Material6061 aluminum alloy
Drivetrain1 x 8, Shimano 11-34T
BrakesTektro V Brake
Shifter(s)Shimao Acera Rapidfire Plus
DerailleurShimano Altus
ForkRigid Aluminum alloy
Weight21.2 pounds (with pedals)
MSRP$499.00
Live PricePrevelo Bikes
Norco Storm 4.1 24 inch wheel mountain bike for kids

Norco Storm 4.1 – 24-inch Kids Mountain Bike

The Norco Storm 4.1 was created for epic outdoor adventures. This 24” wheel kids’ mountain bike features a lightweight X6 aluminum frame. The SR Suntour XCT Jr fork will smooth out the bumps. Additionally, shifting is intuitive and easy with the Shimano Altus 7-speed Rapidfire shift system. Importantly, the Tektro mechanical disc brakes will help your little ripper help control their speed safely.

Buy this 24″ kids’ mountain bike from:

Wheel Size24 inches
Min. Standover Height23.7 inches
Frame MaterialAluminum
Drivetrain1 x 7 Shimano HG200 Cassette 12-32
BrakesTektro Mechanical Disc Brakes
Shifter(s)Shimano Altus Rapidfire 7spd Shifter
DerailleurShimano Tourney TY500
ForkSR Suntour XCT Jr. Coil Spring Suspension, 50mm
Weight?? not published
MSRP$499.00
Live PriceNorco
Woom 5 mountain bike for kids

Woom 5

The Woom 5 is a beautifully designed light-weight 24 inch wheel bike for kids. It doesn’t have disc brakes or a suspension fork, but its ergonomics are geared towards making the bike easy to ride and therefore allowing your child to develop a strong foundation of bike handling skills. We did an in-depth review of the Woom 5 and absolutely loved it.

Buy this 24″ kids’ mountain bike from:

Wheel Size24 inches
Min. Standover Height26.38 inches
Frame Material6061 aluminum alloy
DrivetrainSRAM X4 8-speed
BrakesV-brakes. The levers are suited to fit small hands.
Shifter(s)SRAM grip shifter
DerailleurSRAM X4 derailleur
ForkAluminum
Weight18.08 pounds
MSRP$499.00
Live PriceWoom Bikes

Tyler McCaul Interview

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Freeride mountain biker Tyler McCaul / T-Mac

We had the opportunity to talk with mtb freerider and Redbull Rampage athlete Tyler “T-Mac” McCaul last weekend. After taking an injury last month, he was on crutches and hanging out in the GT Bicycles team tent at Bootleg Canyon. So, without further ado…

Has it been a year since you moved to Utah? Almost, I moved in April last year, so 10 months. What's a typical day like in Toquerville while you're on the mend? Lately, I've been doing physical therapy and doing a lot of stretching on my ankle. I got a trainer for my road bike, but I just set up downstairs so I can look at the hills and bring it in it and kind of spin out on that. So, finally I’m able to get some exercises. Today's been a month. I couldn't do anything other than ice and elevate. But now, I can actually get going. I’m trying to stay healthy and get it moving and keep it working. Is it hard to keep the diet going too, just because you're not burning all those calories all the time? Yeah, I’ve tried to lower my caloric intake but it's tough because food can cheer you up when you're bummed and it's a bummer to be sitting on the couch. Lots of movies? Yeah, lots of movies and then there’s a guy named Paul who reached out to me on Instagram, he's a trainer and physical therapist. He gave me kind of a workout routine I can do while I'm on one leg. So, I don't just sit there and wither away. That’s pretty good. Is he local or is he working from afar? He’s in Colorado. I've never met him or anything, he’s so cool. He just reached out and said he wanted to help and gave me a routine I can do on one leg and try to not waste away completely. Do you have cabin fever yet? It just is what it is. It happens. It’s part of the territory and I did it to myself. It's just tough because we moved there in April and then it’s summer – and summer’s here are so hot. So the whole time I'm just looking forward to winter. And right now is prime-time. The best weather all year. I’m bummed to be missing that, but obviously it could be worse. It's petty to dwell on that kind of stuff. I'll be back when I'm back and now that I live in Utah, I’ll catch the next winter. Do you work with a sports psychologist? No, just my lady telling me to stop complaining. What's your physical therapy like? Right now I'm doing two days a week. And we just do an hour there. The therapists grab it, twist it, pull on it, do all kinds of crazy stuff. And then I just do some on my own at home; certain exercises they gave me and I try to do those pretty regularly. Do you ever skip any of those, like brushing your teeth every day? Right now I'm trying to do anything I can to get riding again. When will you be good to go? They don't know, actually. It's a weird injury. I bruised a bunch of bones in my ankle, which I've never had before, I had no idea how painful that could be. It hurts more than when I broke my right ankle and this is my left one, but it's getting better. It's been a month and I’m getting to the point where I can put weight on it. So, I'm hoping it'll just keep getting better quick. But, yeah, they're not too sure how long it will be. Was surgery ever an option or a possibility? No, not for something like that. I thought I tore some ligaments or achilles tendon maybe but all that was stretched and inflamed but intact, so that's good. Would you be racing here [at Bootleg] if you were healthy? I would like to race. I used to when I was younger. I think the last time I was here was 2010. It’s been a long time since I’ve raced but I think it'd be super fun. Talk about Jaxson Riddle for a moment. That kid is the future. He's incredibly talented, motivated, down-to-earth. He’s a full package. I'm hoping he gets in Rampage this year, which I think he will. He’s been working super hard and I think he's gonna raise a lot of eyebrows. A lot of people are going to take note that he's gonna make a great name for himself and for freeride. He's definitely leading the younger generation of riders. That’s for sure.
How good is it to have the wild wild west outside your door now? What projects have you been working on? I started digging before I got hurt for a video project. I did one last year it’s called Handbuilt. I was going to do chapter two in Utah, had some really cool stuff picked out to build. I was hoping to be filming right around now. We may have to postpone it until next winter, but we’ll see. Do you have a favorite filmmaker that you work with or just local talent? I did my first one with Calvin Huth, he's from BC, super talented filmer and easy to work with. He can help me on the shovel too if we need to make last minute adjustments. He's who I'm going to film next for this next one, and we might bring in Pete Jamison as well. That'd be a really good team. Tell us about how the Proving Grounds event provides the opportunity for additional talent to get on board. I think Proving Grounds is definitely something that needed to happen. It's fairly controversial just because you can't really replicate that kind of [Rampage] terrain. But the idea is there. It’s something tangible to rank people on and see what they can do other than the video part because some people could have more money and more time to put into a video part than others. But it's called Proving Grounds for a reason. You're competing against each other. And it's not exactly like it is in Southern Utah. But at the same time, it's big features and it’s a competitive environment. You can see how riders do under pressure in a contest format, all that stuff I wouldn't be surprised if they started doing it in different countries, it seems logical. They've been talking about it. But there's nothing set in stone that you know of? Not yet. You've been on GT for quite a while, how long? I think this is my 12th year. That must be a record. It's been awesome. They've supported me through everything I've ever done. Before I signed with them I was doing a little bit of racing and slopestyle and they brought me on to be their slopestyle guy. I've switched full focus to that and then have gone back-and-forth. Sometimes I will race and they will support that. And then I stopped doing slopestyle and settled on and focus on speed and style, which they fully supported. Now I moved to Utah, I'm spending most of my time on a downhill bike which they support. So, it's great to have people that believe in me and give me the freedom to pursue what I feel is right at the time. Tell us about the gigantic drop you had in your Rampage line last year. That was the Triple Dipper. And this is on Chili’s menu? Hah! Yeah, that's right. You gotta have stuff in the back of your head for what the next thing is going to be, right? That's part of the fun of writing this thing, because you get to name the features after you make them. We used to name the big drops after margaritas at Chili’s and those ran out in 2017. In 2018 I was driving to Virgin with my friend Alex who digs with me every year and he asked, “If we find a big drop what are we're going to call it?” And I said, “I don't know, pull up the Chili's menu.” So, he pulls it up on his phone and says, “The only margarita left is called tropical sunrise or something.” I said, “Well, we're not going to name it that because that's just not cool.” And then I said, “Well my favorite appetizer at Chili’s is called the Triple Dipper, but we can't name it that unless there's a landing in between, so it’s like a triple.” So, we found this big drop. I was dead set on putting that in my line. And then Brandon [Semenuk], the feature he ended up flipping; the flat-flip to lily pad, that landing was in between the takeoff and landing of our drop, so it looked like a triple. So, then we were like, “Okay, cool, its triple dipper, it meets all the criteria.” You're always smiling and it's wonderful. It trickles down for sure among all the other riders and fans. Thanks for the talk. I really appreciate it. Thank you, too.

Tyler’s Instagram Account: @tylermccaul

Best Seattle Mountain Bike Trails for Kids

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Seattle area mountain biking for families

Best Seattle Mountain Bike Trails for Kids: There’s nothing more exciting than getting your kids hooked on an activity you love. But for mountain bikers, that can be a bit of a challenge. It can be really hard to find good beginner trails for kids that keep them interested and help them progress, without being too challenging and overwhelming.

That’s why we’ve put together this guide to the best mountain bike trails in the Seattle area for kids. These trails are all easily accessible, with optional features that kids can challenge themselves on. They’re well signed, so you won’t run into any surprises, and most cater to beginners specifically, so you won’t have more aggressive riders coming up behind and passing. And most of all, they’re fun. Your kids will have a blast exploring and riding all of these trails – whether they’re riding a strider, or riding their mountain bike harder than you.

Duthie Hill Bike Park

Duthie Hill is a huge bike specific park, with something for everyone. While it’s got plenty of bigger intermediate and expert terrain and features, what really sets it apart for kids and beginner riders is how the whole park is designed for progression. There are trails and features designed to help riders of any ability level grow. So younger kids can just get a feel for pedaling and cornering on dirt, and as they progress, there are easy building block features that will challenge them without being overwhelming.

Even really young kids who are still on balance bikes can get a feel for singletrack riding at Duthie. And most of the trails at Duthie are designated as directional, so everyone will be going the same way. That’s especially helpful for kids who can struggle with stopping and starting again when they meet riders coming the opposite direction. Duthie Hill made our list of best Seattle mountain bike trails for kids because it provides a fun, safe environment to grow as riders.

Duthie Hill mountain biking 01
Duthie HIll mouintain biking 02

Palouse To Cascades Trail

The Palouse to Cascades Trail, formerly known as the John Wayne Pioneer Trail, is the perfect option for kids who want to ride a little further, but aren’t as interested in technical terrain. It’s a wide, mostly gravel trail that follows an old railroad bed, and even goes through a tunnel. The tunnel is an adventure not to be missed, and the mellow riding means you don’t even need a bike with real mountain bike tires. Because it’s on the railroad grade, the climb and descending are very gradual, so even kids who just learned to pedal or use hand brakes can stay in control.

The whole trail is over 100 miles long, we recommend riding shorter sections and setting up a shuttle with multiple cars so that they can ride point to point in the downhill direction of the trail. Our favorite section of trail for kids starts at the Iron Horse State Park and drops West towards Cedar Falls. From Iron Horse to Cedar Falls is 23 mostly downhill miles, but you can cut it shorter depending on how much energy your kids have. This section is mostly gently downhill, and includes a railroad tunnel so bring lights and headlamps. The John Wayne Pioneer Trail is the perfect place for kids to build confidence and experience for longer, more technical rides. This is definitely a big adventure, so grab your mountain bike shoes, put on your bike shorts, and get ready for a fun day!

Palouse to Cascades Trail
Palouse to Casades Trail

Black Diamond Open Space (BDOS)

The Black Diamond Open Space is a conveniently located trail network with a high concentration of great beginner and intermediate trails. Located close to Henry’s ridge, Black Diamond Open Space is flatter and less demanding than much of the riding in the Seattle area, and its densely packed trails make it easy to stack small loops of riding and cater to any skill or endurance level.

Like Duthie Hill, the BDOS trails are optimized for progression with plenty of optional features, and a variety of blue and green trails. Kids can build skills on easy trails, and then quickly step up to more technical trails in the same area. And there are plenty of more interesting intermediate and expert trails for parents and older kids. BDOS is a great place to go ride with your kids and learn about what kinds of trails they prefer, and what their strengths and weaknesses are.

Paradise Valley

Paradise Valley’s trail system isn’t quite as tightly stacked as Duthy or BDOS, which means there’s more riding between intersections. And there aren’t any really big climbs or descents, instead it’s mostly flowy up and down riding that helps build endurance and bike handling skills for kids.

Most of the trail at Paradise Valley is beginner or intermediate, so don’t worry about taking a wrong turn and ending up in over your head. Instead, you can plan bigger loops and ride continuously with your kids. It’s not quite as easy to progress to more technical trails or bigger features here, instead it’s an ideal place to just solidify all-round bike handling skills and fitness.

Child mountain biking in the Seattle area

About The Author

We are evo Seattle, a mountain bike shop with an emphasis on invitation & getting everyone out having fun on the trails. evo is a one stop shop for all things bike repair while also offering mountain bike rentals.

evo explores the collaboration between culture and sport by seamlessly joining art, music, streetwear, skateboarding, snowboarding, skiing, mountain biking, and wakeboarding. Our aim is to bring all things relevant to the urban, action sports lifestyle into one creative space. Whether it is on the website, on the phone or in our stores, our aim is to make all who come into contact with evo feel welcome and excited about their experience.

Check out our Destinations and Trails page for more fun places to ride and visit! We’d love to hear about your favorite places to ride bikes with your family, too. Share your faves with us on Instagram or Facebook

Deals On Mountain Bikes For Big Kids – January 2020

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Mountain bike deals for teens - January, 2020

Deals on mountain bikes for teens and pre-teens – Are you searching for a mountain bike to fit your pre-teen or teen or NICA rider?  There are some some killer deals on select mountain bikes happening now. May of these bikes are 2018 or 2019 models, but if you’re looking to buy new, you’ll want to strongly consider one of these deals. Many shops are generally looking to get rid of remaining inventory to make room for newer models. These six mountain bikes have good quality components and are available now – but not for long!

Mountain bike deals for teens - January, 2020

January 2020 deals on mountain bikes for teens and pre-teens

orbea m50 eagle 27.5 carbon hardtail mountain bike

Orbea Alma M50 Eagle 27.5″ (2019) | 50% off | ONLY Medium Size Left!

One of the most amazing deals on mountain bikes for teens this month! Orbea designed the Alma to create a light, fast bike that you can take anywhere. Complete with Orbea’s OMP carbon frame, the Alma 27.5” M50 is a mean trail ripping machine. The RockShox Recon TK air fork sports 100mm of travel that will guide your rider effortlessly over obstacles, while the Mach 1 Klixx wheelset is tubeless ready. The SRAM NX Eagle drivetrain provides your young rider with a huge 12-speed gear range to get through any terrain, and Shimano’s hydraulic disc brakes give you optimal stopping control. Orbea’s wide handlebar and low stem make handling a breeze, and the Selle Royal seat keeps you comfortable even on long rides. The medium frame Alma M50 has a stand-over height of 28.9 inches and is made to fit riders ranging in height from 5’5″ to 5’11” tall.

picot mach 6 carbon mountain bike

Pivot Mach 6 Carbon Race Xo1 Eagle Mountain Bike (2018)| 20% off | ONLY Large Size Left!

The Pivot Mach 6 carbon into lively and witty bike. See our full Mach 6 review. Whether you’re churning out the watts to get to the top of the next hill or bombing down technical terrain – the Mach 6 carbon yearns to help you build and release the kinetic energy that makes this sport so rewarding and fun. Pivot uses a DW-link for its ability to soak up the chunder without compromising pedaling. The Mach 6 climbs like a short-travel bike, and descends with power and authority. The Fox Factory Float DPX2 shock provides 155-millimeters of buttery-smooth travel. Additionally, the SRAM Eagle drivetrain offers massive gear range. The large frame Pivot Mach 6 carbon has a stand-over height of 29.25 inches.

santa cruz tallboy a d complete mountain bike

Santa Cruz Bicycles Tallboy A D Complete Mountain Bike (2019) | 30% off 

The Santa Cruz Tallboy A D Complete Mountain Bike doesn’t care if you call it a trail bike, an XC racer, or just a good old mountain bike. It’s all of these things, but all it wants to do is rip. Made from dependable and rugged aluminum alloy, this is a lightweight short-travel bike with that’ll pedal with all day long, with quick acceleration and an efficient SRAM NX 11-speed drivetrain. Additonally, this bike boasts a Fox Float Performance DPS  shock and the RockShox Recon RL fork. Finally, being a Santa Cruz, the Tallboy is set up to rip right out of the box, this model is your most affordable ticket to getting out the trails on a Santa Cruz full-squisher. Currently available in sizes S, M, L and XL with a minimum standover height of 27.75″

juliana joplin mountain bike for teens

Juliana Joplin D Mountain Bike (2019) | 30% off | ONLY Medium Size Left!

The Juliana Joplin is a trail bike built for speed and distance on technical trails. Your teen or pre-teen rider will find many things to like about this mountain bike. Firstly, the shock has been specially tuned for lighter riders and provides 110mm of VPP suspension. Secondly, the aluminum frame adds durability and value. Thirdly, the Rock Shox Recon 120mm Fork can handle rock gardens with ease. Additionally, the SRAM NX 1×11 drivetrain offers a wide range of gears. The Medium size stand-over height = 27.6″.

norco fluid fs 1 mountain bike

Norco Fluid FS 1 (2019) | 20% off 

With its confidence-inspiring geometry, playful ride handling, incredible suspension feel and unmatched fun factor, the Fluid FS will take your teen’s’ trail riding experience to the next level. Designed around 27.5″ wheels for XS-M frame sizes and 29″ wheels for M-XL, the Fluid FS gives medium riders a choice of wheel size allowing them to further fine tune handling characteristics based on their size, riding style and preferences.  The Fluid FS 1 mountain bike includes a RockShox Revelation RC fork with 130mm travel and the RockShox Deluxe R shock. The Norco Fluid FS1 is available in sizes S, M, L and  with a minimum stand-over height of 29.5 inches.

Trek full stache 8 mountain bike

Trek Full Stache 8 (2019) | 20% off | available in M and L sizes only

Full Stache 8 is a full suspension 29+ mountain bike perfect for rugged backcountry riding. This bike has some impressive features for teen riders. Firstly, the Alpha Platinum Aluminum frame provides extra stiffness.  Secondly, the SRAM GX Eagle 1×12 drivetrain gives a huge gear range for quick climbing and blistering sprints. Thirdly, the Fox Float rear shock provides 130mm of travel mirrored by the RockShox Pike fork. Fourthly, aggressive 29×3.0˝ Bontrager XR4 Tubeless Ready mid-fat tires on beefy 40mm rims will roll over just about anything. As an added bonus, Trek also threw in a a Bontrager Dropper post. The height range for a medium is listed as 5’3″-5’8″ and the height range for a large is listed as 5’8″-6’2″.

We hope our list of deals on mountain bikes for teens and pre-teens is helpful. We’ll try and publish a list of new deals monthly, since you never know when your teen will hit that growth spurt and outgrow their bike and all their shoes and clothes!

We’d love to see what MTB shenanigans your kids are up to! Share your MTB adventures with MTBwithKids on Instagram or Facebook