If you ride bikes long enough, you realize three things:
- Good cockpit upgrades matter.
- Loam is undefeated.
- Recovery is everything.
This week had all three.
We’ve been in the Pacific Northwest for what feels like a winter that never fully showed up. Short days, yes. But very little rain. More sun than usual. And a lot more riding than most PNW winters allow.
Here’s what’s been fun, interesting, and worth paying attention to.
25% Off PNW Components (MTB Deal Worth Grabbing)
PNW Components is currently running 25% off.
If you’ve been thinking about upgrading your bars, grips, or dropper post, this is one of those moments where it makes sense to move.
Their Range bars and Loam bars are both solid options depending on what you’re building:
- Range = more aggressive trail/enduro feel
- Loam = classic trail versatility
- Loam grips = comfortable without being squishy
- Droppers = reliable and easy to service
I’m personally looking at the Range bars for my dirt jumper right now.
Cockpit setup completely changes how a bike feels. Rise, sweep, and width can make a bike feel alive or awkward. If your current setup feels “off,” bars are one of the cheapest ways to transform the ride.
If you’re building a DJ, trail bike, or enduro bike this winter, this is a solid upgrade window.
Our Viral Archibald AC1 Loam Video (114,000+ Views)
Sometimes you overthink content.
Sometimes you just ride good dirt.
This short of the Archibald AC1 ripping through a deep loam section just crossed 114,000 views:
👉 https://youtube.com/shorts/NoeqILQ6mvM
No gimmicks. No crazy edits. Just quiet forest, soft dirt, and a gearbox bike absolutely flying.
The AC1 has been a blast to ride in loamy PNW terrain. The planted feel, the silence, the way it carries speed through soft corners… it makes that kind of riding addictive.
Loam never goes out of style.
Why I’m Using Red Light Therapy for MTB Recovery
Now the real shift.
If you’ve followed our riding over the last year, you know I’ve dealt with knee irritation, low back tweaks, and general “ride hard, feel it later” fatigue.
Lately I’ve been stacking red light therapy hard.
Here’s my current setup:
- Joovv Go – morning exposure (face and targeted areas)
- Kineon Move+ Pro – knee, low back, or specific pain points
- Joovv full-size panel – during meditation when we’re not in the van
The goal is simple: improve recovery, reduce inflammation, and keep training consistently.
This isn’t a magic wand. I still prioritize:
- Sleep
- Protein intake
- Consistent strength training
- Mobility that supports riding
But red light therapy has become a tool in that system.
What the Research Says
If you want to go deeper into the science side:
- Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) for Musculoskeletal Pain https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4743666/
- Photobiomodulation Therapy and Patellofemoral Pain – Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12786645/
Photobiomodulation appears to support pain reduction and functional improvement in certain musculoskeletal conditions. It’s not hype, but it’s also not a replacement for training intelligently.
For mountain bikers who ride hard and want to keep riding hard, recovery tools matter.
Final Thoughts: Upgrade Smart, Ride Hard, Recover Harder
This week was a reminder of something simple:
- Upgrade when it makes sense.
- Ride good dirt whenever you can.
- Take recovery seriously if you want longevity.
The PNW might have skipped winter. I’m not arguing with that.
More riding. More sun. More red lights glowing in the van at night like some kind of recovery spaceship.
If you’re building your bike this winter, or trying to ride more consistently without breaking yourself, now’s a good time to dial things in.
See you out there. 🌲🚲
— Joe
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