BIKE Magazine June 2009 Issue On Sale Now

Making the Brand

John Tomac might have been the best racer to ever shimmy into Lycra shorts. The brand of bikes bearing his name, however, has been less succesful. But two years ago, Joel Smith walked away from a high-paying job at Answer Products to sink his life savings into the twice-failed brand. His mission: make Tomac Bicycles worthy of his hero's name. His secret: keep it simple, obsess over the details, and ride every day.

DIY Everything

Equipment budget busted? It's looking like pinching pennies might be America's next great pastime, but you can still save money and keep your riding habit. We show you the best do it yourself fixes, tricks and tips that won't just save you some coin, but will improve your bike, get you riding more, and have you looking twice at such staples as duct tape, zip ties and even busted spokes.

Make Your Own Mecca

Fifteen years ago, Vernal was just another small town in Utah -- ringed by mountains and surrounded by vast swaths of public land, but with precious few trails. Then Troy Lupcho moved to town, opened Altitude Cycles, and began cutting new trail at a feverish pace. Today, Vernal has more than 100 miles of singletrack and could rival Fruita as the best in the West.