Gerow started as a freelance writer for Singletracks and was a full-time staff member from 2019 to 2022. His areas of expertise include component tech and tires, suspension setup, gravity riding, bikepacking, repair, and maintenance. A mountain biker since 1986, Gerow continues to contribute compelling and expert mountain bike and component reviews.
"If not riding then I'm writing, or quite possibly cooking something. I play bass with nine-and-a-half fingers, eat vegetables and fruit, and prefer movement as frequently as possible. I find discomforts and challenges more useful than most things, particularly what emerges from them. If I died and could return as anything I would choose a camp fire."
Author snapshot
- Instagram: @ribbonsinsticksmedia
- Location: Bellingham, Washington
- Previous location: Torino, Italy and Florence, Italy
MTB experience
- Mountain biking since 1986
- Current bike stable: Raaw Madonna (160mm) and a Kona Unit (rigid)
- Favorite place to ride: Jamniza, Slovenia
Writing experience and education
- Other publications: Craft MTN and various Italian blogs
- Masters of Sociology
- Firefighter 2 Certification, EMT, Hazmat Operations, Rope Rescue
If not riding then I'm writing, or quite possibly cooking something. I play bass with nine-and-a-half fingers, eat vegetables and fruit, and prefer movement as frequently as possible. I find discomforts and challenges more useful than most things, particularly what emerges from them. If I died and could return as anything I would choose a camp fire.
For 2020, Norco's short-travel Optic trail sled gains some squish to accommodate its fully updated geometry and wheel sizing.
For many trail users around the globe, Himalayan blackberry vines pose a familiar and occasionally painful nuisance. Here's a little info on how to eradicate them from the trails and how to make a delicious sorbet from their fruit.
Gerow tries out the newest rendition of the Cannondale Jekyll on 29-inch wheels.
Get the full report on our summer-long test with the 160mm x 29"
One library in Maine aims to address the affordability issue in mountain biking by loaning bikes and other outdoor gear in a system similar to the gear-loaning programs at many US colleges and universities.
The Czech Republic might be best known for smooth Pilsner and the literary works of Franz Kafka, but the Bohemian nation has been scribbled with excellent mountain bike trails in recent years.
Stans No Tubes has created a new way to plug the holes in tubeless mountain bike tires when the sealant isn't enough.
The three-year project will focus on developing educational resources and frameworks for mountain bike trail building, design, construction, maintenance, and management in Europe.
GoPro has two new action cameras and a host of media specific add-ons available soon.
Folks often remark that they would "love to watch an average mountain biker throw themselves down some EWS tracks." I recently had the chance to play the ragdoll role in that fantasy at the
The SB150 is a razor-sharp tool for its intended job of enduro racing and high-speed mountain biking. When it's fed the elements of a modern enduro race course this bike will eat all day without satiation and will do it better than a lot of bikes in its class.
The Hellkat is Kenda's flagship mountain bike tire tread for true gravity riding and it delivers tarpit-like grip.
Do you wait for your slower riding companions, ride their pace, or meet them back at the trailhead?
Have you ever been caught in the forest with a broken spoke or bent rim that forced you to walk out? Here are some tips to try the next time around.
A personal narrative of recovering from a bad crash, and a subsequent search and struggle to return to the flow state.
With a glut of modern "quiver killing" trail bikes to choose from, and a tool marketed to every sub-sub-genre of the sport, we want to know which type(s) of bike would you never feel the need to buy.
Basecamp for the inaugural Trans Varaita Enduro multi-day race was set around the quaint alpine hamlet of
The Canadian company's new 29er steel mountain bike is clearly designed for a celebration in the woods, with a robust build and modern geometry throughout.
The high speed and low speed rebound adjustment on Fox's Grip2 damper is a sweet feature that can help you dial your mountain bike fork in for the unique trails and weather conditions you ride in.
Tire plugs were a clear focus at the Eurobike expo, while several brands brought new treads and tire products to show.
A 9-speed mountain bike drivetrain with light weight and a ton of range, plus details on the unusual Ceramic Speed drivetrain concept.
The Void Range mountain bike pants fit like a good pair of jeans.
The folks at Stompump have developed a mountain bike tire inflator that uses foot power instead of arm power.
Digital shock pumps provide sharper pressure accuracy when compared to analog inflators. As mountain bikers are dialing in their suspension tune, or trying to maintain a precise feel, it is helpful to have a clear number to aim for rather than a hashmark on a dial that can be difficult to line up accurately.
Young Talent Capra 29" fans can now snag the brand's enduro favorite in a top-shelf polished alloy build, provided they act fast.
This year's Eurobike expo showcased a smattering of new wearable mountain bike product releases, including featherweight helmets, all-mountain and trekking shoes, goggles, and full coverage body armor.
The folks at Hunt Wheels in the UK have designed a wicked fast looking enduro mountain bike under their new frame label, Privateer.
The three themes of gravel, gaming, and e-bikes dominated the Eurobike show in Friedrichshafen, Germany this year, with muscle-powered mountain bikes mostly left on the sidelines.
Ion made some improvements to their well received
In the realm of featherweight, carbon-soled mountain bike race shoes, Fizik has designed a rather pretty slipper.
The Syncros Fraser iC integrated Cross Country handlebar and stem is lighter and less expensive than the competition.
The Driven bicycle transmission has 13 speeds and pairs a shaft and pinion design with electronic shifting.
The engineers at Tektro Racing Products (TRP) have been working with a handful of pro-level downhill racers over the past three seasons to bring their new 7-speed mountain bike drivetrain components to life, and today they are ready for the big reveal.
For 2020, the Devinci Django mountain bike gets more travel up front and other party-focused updates.
The Swiss tire technicians at Onza are bringing back a blast from the 90's with their revamped Porcupine mountain bike tire tread, available with black or white tread, and good ol' gum wall.
2019 marks Vid's first season with the Orbea Enduro Team, and we wanted to draw an outline of how he reached this step in his mountain bike racing career.
Mountain bikers are literally racing by sight, rather than by the combination of a memory of trails we know and what we can see.
When she's not racing and winning EWS rounds across the world, Cecile Ravanel creates unique and beautiful helmet art for fellow mountain bikers.
The association is not coming in and smoothing trails to make them less technical, as they know that will only lead to additional unauthorized trail building. Instead, they are working to keep the trails in the natural style that everyone loves.
We recently tested out a spectrum of packable jackets, from windbreakers for cool morning and evening riding to full-on rain shells.
Keeping our overpriced toys from being stolen is a daily concern for some riders, and the engineers at Ottolock aim to ease that worry.
Throw this tire down and at whatever you like, and it will grab traction with the best of them.
The Maxxis Aggressor mountain bike tire is a fantastic rear tire for gravity riding.
In Slovenia, mountain bikers can take a guided, 2.5km singletrack ride through an underground mine. Between the braided trail center in Jamnica, Slovenia, and Petzen Bike Park in Austria, northern Slovenia has enough riding to satisfy any mountain biker's vacation hopes.
In the genre of compact hip packs, Mavic's Crossride Belt is as comfortable as they come.
How to set up a mountain bike fork and dial in the settings, using the
From trail riding to bikepacking, Mavic's XA Pro shoes are a cozy way to clip in.
A web of natural singletrack lines the inside of Slovenia's chicken-shaped border, beneath the country's pristine forests. From the capital city, travelers can reach a wide variety of mountain bike trail centers in every direction.
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