Dirt Rider, your magazine is great! I started weekly off road riding just a year and a half ago after 30 years of street riding. Looking for a mag that did not cater exclusively to the MX racer was hard but I found your publication and have been very happy ever since. I'm riveted to the how to and dirty part articles to the point of distraction when your magazine arrives in my mailbox. I actually cut out and organize the Dirt Rider pages in folders titled 'Drive train', 'Tires", 'Engine", 'Riding tips', etc. for easier reference. It is almost comical that even with me being far from your target audience (I'm 52) I still find articles that help w/ my decisions about my off road needs. Around the time I started adventuring into the more technical woods riding, you guys have an article on how to handle nasty terrain and another on how to make a hard-core trail bike. Good luck for me!
Recently we have gotten far off the main trails and have lost our direction enough that we started to question the need for a GPS or something. Low & behold this past issue has an article on GPS! Amazing! My question to you is in this area. Not too long ago we had a rider that had a bad crash and could have gotten badly hurt. Luckily he didn't, but in such a situation, is there a specific radio (FRS, GMRS, CB?) that we could have used as for an emergency contact for the Rangers or someone? There was no cell phone reception. I'm aware of the Spot device and am considering this as well. Keep up the great work, I can't get enough!
Steve Baum
Menlo Park, CA
Look into the SPOT locating device (www.findmespot.com) I carry one when I'm riding remotely and especially when riding alone. There is an emergency button that can be used when the stuff hits the fan. I just suspect as more numbskulls get hold of these, it will not be able to be relied upon. But it can also send a message to people I trust will come and save my ass. -Jimmy Lewis