Men's Journal

letter from the editor

Everyone at Men’s Journal is still working remotely. The pluses of that situation are obvious: work from home or anywhere, no commuting, avoiding COVID, nap whenever. The big downside is that office camaraderie is no more. Discussing stories, face-to-face collaborations, figuring out where to get lunch, and keeping an eye on the ever-growing pile of junk on that one guy’s desk have been replaced with Zoom calls and an avalanche of emails. As a result, I’ve found myself living vicariously through some of the events and people featured in these pages, who are doing all kinds of exciting, interesting, and challenging things with their lives. The Olympics kick off July 23 in Japan after a year’s delay. Once again the USA is sending lots of top talent, including swimmer Caeleb Dressel. Heralded…

e-mountain bikes take off

Barely a year ago, e-mountain bikes were a curiosity on backcountry trails—now they’re here to stay. Twenty-five percent of all dollars spent on mountain bikes in 2020 went to models equipped with a motor and battery that boost pedaling power. That’s because pedal-assisted bikes offer indisputable advantages: They lessen the gut-punch of harsh, relentless uphills, and help riders crank over blocky rocks and other muscle-sapping technical features. Consequently, e-mountain bikes (e-MTBs) let cyclists of varying abilities and fitness levels ridetogether compatibly, with badasses on regular bikes and less-aggro types using pedal-assist. Action photographers are increasingly using e-MTBs to chase pros into Gnarville—while hauling loads of camera gear with far less pain. Riders in scorching climates love how e-MTBs let them dodge heatstroke in temperatures that typically make cyclists hang up…

power play

SLAUGHTER PEN AND BLOWING SPRINGS Bentonville, Arkansas The Slaughter Pen system includes rollicking downhill flow lines (Boo Boo and Choo Choo) and chundery Schroen Train. The Razorback Regional Greenway to the Blowing Springs network has cliffy drops and waterfalls. SOUTH MOUNTAIN PARK AND PRESERVE Phoenix Towering saguaro cacti surround these 70 miles of blocky-rocky singletrack where Pivot Cycles developed and tested its Shuttle e-MTB. THE WHITE RIM Moab, Utah This 100-mile route showcases scenery in Canyonlands National Park. On e-MTBs, cyclists can complete it over three days (rather than the usual four) and float up the final 1,500-foot climb. GREENHORN GULCH Ketchum, Idaho Smooth, flowy ribbons of decomposed granite wind through thickets of wildflowers, grasses, and ghost forests scorched by wildfires. E-MTBs let you see it all on the 23-mile loop combining the Cow Creek/Mahoney/Greenhorn/Imperial trails. BIG BEAR LAKE San Bernardino, California You can…

brewpubs with a view

Think beer plants are ugly? There’s more to marvel at than stainless steel vats at these microbreweries with big flavors and bold settings. FULL SAIL BREWING CO. Location: Hood River, Oregon The view: Columbia River Gorge The beer: Session Premium Lager—winner of 28 gold medals Full Sail was declared Oregon’s Brewery of the Year at 2020’s New York International Beer Competition. As impressive is the brewery’s outdoor deck, which has sweeping views across the Columbia River Gorge into Washington state, complete with Columbia River wind- and kite-surfing entertainment. DIRT FARM BREWING Location: Bluemont, Virginia The view: Blue Ridge Mountains The beer: Tart 31 Cherry Ale—with farm-picked Montmorency cherries In prime Blue Ridge country, the lofty patio of this brewhouse and family farm known for its fresh “plow to pint” seasonals hovers 1,000 feet above the bucolic Loudoun Valley. Arrive early…

sun seeker

CAN THIS NEW EV REALLY DRIVE US OFF THE GRID? WE’RE ABOUT to get hit with a surge of burly electric adventure vehicles, from a plug-in pickup from Rivian to the electrified rebirth of Hummer. Each of these rigs will be powerful—and heavy. What if there were another way? Such is the question posed by Aptera and its eponymous three-wheel electric vehicle with solar assist, which the San Diego company aims to roll out in 2022. Aptera is a featherweight—it should weigh between 1,800 and 2,200 pounds. Along with an absurdly low drag coefficient, that spry makeup will enable the solar panels on its shell to create enough power to send it 45 miles daily—meaning some owners might not have to plug it in at all, though when they do they’ll gain…

should wildlife be private property?

EACH FALL thousands of people from around the country flock to Montana to hunt. They come for the state’s wilderness, abundant game, and the mythology that imbues its vast, open landscape. And because it’s one of the few Lower 48 states where wildlife—and access to it—is still a public trust. Montana’s free and fair wildlife access sets it apart in the West. In New Mexico, for example, nearly half of all hunting tags go to private landowners, who can sell them to the highest bidder. In Colorado, up to 25 percent of tags are given to landowners to sell. In Wyoming, hunters can’t hunt in wilderness areas without paying an outfitter to guide them. In Texas, most land has been privatized. That’s why when Montana’s state government moved to privatize most hunting,…