Izzy Cohan Articles

Louisville, KY—At the World Championship Expo the guys in the Challenge tent were using sausage aromas to bring people in and the new Sexy Skunk tires [officially known as, Limus XS 3] were keeping them around. A Limus sidewall paired with a Grifo XS tread—the best of both worlds—perfect for an iced over course with slick turns. They were invented at the request of Helen Wyman and she put them to good use winning the European Championship. If the conditions are right for them, maybe Wyman can drive them to another podium tomo...

After an apocalyptic Nationals weekend last year that saw riders ice skating down the race course—adjustments were made for this year's edition. Having any race course on the face of a ski resort will result in lots of climbing Angel Fire followed that trend to a tee. Directly after the first turn out of the start area the course turned skyward and stays that angle for three miles. In those three miles racers gained 1,023 ft in elevation. D1 and D2 Men did 4 laps while the Women did 3. Towards the top of the climb there are rock gardens ...

Todd Wells (Specialized) Raphael Gagne (Equipe du Quebec / Rocky Mountain) Ryan Woodall ( MTFmx.com / Top Gear) Howard Grotts (Specialized) Derek Zandstra (Scott-3Rox) Heather Irmiger (Subaru-Trek) Chloe Woodruff (Crank Brothers) Judy Freeman (Crank Brothers) Amanda Sin (Scott-3Rox) Rebecca Gross (Tough Girl Cycling)

In the hot Georgia summer of 1996, mountain bikers lined up for the first Olympic cross country race. With a well-built course, racers pleased international audiences as they competed in arguably the first extreme sport allowed in the Olympic games. Mountain biking had been established as a sport before the games, though, after Atlanta, the Olympics were the race to watch. With all eyes on the Olympics, other big races like the World Championships could lose value. But-- does Olympic mountain biking really matter? When some of the fastest moun...

My nickname used to be the perpetual third wheel—every time I was with my friends I was the shadow in the corner—forgotten and alone. I would try to find a companion of my own—but in the end I always ended up living friendless. Throughout my seeking, I have found different methods of coping, however, I am still continuing my search. As time has passed I have grown farther apart from my nickname—and yes—at times I am still a third wheel, but having a girlfriend is not what I fantasize about when I shut my eyes afte...

Watch more videos on CyclingDirt The Life Our hobbies Our or knobbies When we come out to play Motherfuckas get slayed So don’t get in our way Cross ups and whips None of those flips We aint freestyles And we aint mileas But we do live in a Sprinter (van) Yea with no printer (Man) So don’t ask me if I have an extra reg sheet Go check down the street We huck our meat And fuck over the sheets Ned and me be cookin rice At the venue and killen mice This is the life We live on the edge of the knife 22s are lame we are not to blame for r...

A race course serves its purpose- there is a start line, there is a finish line, and ample space for pain and suffering in between. If you travel a race circuit, whether it’s the World Cups, the Pro XCT, or your regional series—you throw yourself around these courses, but do you get to see the other trails the location has to offer?   This past weekend was the USA Mountain Bike National Championships in Sun Valley, ID. The XC course was brutal, straight up and straight down. Though there was some nice flow, the trail was a rac...

Right from the gun Todd Wells hit the gas. On the second lap the pack started to hit the sweet fly over. In most of the other races people tried to keep it on the ground, but the Pro Men took flight. Whips, cross ups, and tailtaps galore. As the race progressed Jeremiah Bishop attacked Adam Craig for second. Slowly the peleton broke off into smaller groups. Starting on the back row 'Cross super star Jonathan Page worked his way through the field. He eventually finished a solid sixth. Stephen Ettinger went under the radar till he crossed the fi...

  Just another Sunday afternoon in Brownville. One thing I can count on in this continually changing bike racing landscape is a summertime trip to the homeland for some World Cup racing.  It always feels good to step off the plane and feel that thick, warm air, knowing it’s even thicker under the dense forest canopy.  Full of oxygen and roots, rain or shine, the conditions are always right as far as I’m concerned.  We had each in the last two weeks at World Cup rounds #5 and 6 in Mont St. Anne, Quebec and Windha...

The life of a rubber-tramp has been flirting with me all year—sitting in Biology class I would dream of rolling down I-90 with my feet neatly tucked in my compression socks and my eyes set on the mountain ridges approaching at eighty miles an hour. Only on June first did my dream become a reality. My friend and adventure partner Sean Leader (Kona Grassroots Racing) picked up the Sprinter van and I left my parents house for Knoxeville, TN—our starting point.     Living in a Sprinter van is nearly as plush as you can get as...