The riding season is not over yet but we are focusing more and more on the skiing topics from now on.  Also, days are getting already shorter here and the trails are becoming generally really muddy and slippery. For me this means that I am going to ride more cyclocross too which probably isn’t as interesting to report as our routine rides consist of some mixed roads, gravel roads and easy trails – nothing too spectacular in other words.

We still try to get some more mountain bikes to the test though. I’d love to test a couple of 29er full suspension bikes (preferably Niner R.I.P 9 and Pivot Cycles Mach 429). Let’s hope we get those to the test ride before the slush and ice fill all the trails, and skiing season begins.

On the skiing and snowboarding front we have some interesting content to come: we have interesting interviews of Finland’s most experienced snowboard freeriders in progress at the moment. Stay tuned – this is something we are stoked about and I guess we will hear some good views about riding, mountains and life in general.

Bike riding wise, this summer was really great for me. Despite some obvioys restrictions such as two small kids I got probably more riding mails under my belt than ever before. In the following we list some of our most interesting MTB and general cycling)posts from the summer 2008. Some of these were also personal highlights of the season:

1. Tahko MTB Event 2008 – Finland’s biggest Marathon/Endurance race with nice scenery and lots of good terrain. This was my first effort on this type of event, and a very rewarding experience. Next time I guess it is time to try two loops (120km).

2. A Review of a dream Bike – Pivot Cycles Mach 5. Well, I guess I couldn’t ask much more from 26″ inch wheeled trail bike.I have been pondering about buying a full suspension bike since this ride…not nice because those damn things seem to be quite expensive! (See also another Pivot cycles review: Mach 4 cross country machine)

3. Mountain Biking In Rhodos Island. Our visiting writer from Rhodos Island, Andreas Kavalieros, wrote about his favorite loops in his home island. This is where we would like to head for the “beach holiday” with our families for sure…

4. Tour de Helsinki 2008 – first longer road (group) ride for me. I did this pretty spontaneously. So it seems like…

5. …riding a rigid single speed on the trails pays out at least somehow. I still haven’t started my (planned) fall gym routine but luckily riding a single speed somehow works as strenght training too! (Btw. I just love my Singular Swift bike. The tested 26″ full suspension bikes surely felt great and smooth but when riding my own rig again, I just laughed how well the big wheel rolled over the obstacles, even without any suspension at all. For our generally flat but rough trails the 29 inch wheel just works pretty damn well IMHO)