The following video short of mountain biker Scott "Wink" Grant offers viewers several layers. For one, it makes you marvel at Grant's skill as a rider and ponder why you are not equally as skilled. After all, Grant makes it look so easy, so it can't be that hard. For another, it makes you pine for the forest and begin plotting ways that you can leave the office, without being seen, so you can go on a long ride (and perhaps on a long cycling vacation that will last several days). "Would..

Burry Stander, a South African mountain biker and Olympian, was killed Thursday after being struck by a motor vehicle while training near his home on the nation's South Coast. "This is a massive tragedy and we are all stunned at the suddenness and impact that this will have on everybody in the world of cycling," states KZN Mountain Biking on its Facebook page.

Image of Burry Stander is courtesy of the Specialized S-Racing Team

Stander, 25, an international star and..

This summer, Rocky Mountain unveiled their revised Altitude line, which takes styling cues from their Element series, boosts the travel to 150 millimeters, and adds 650B wheels to the mix. In all the hubbub about 650B, another new-for-2013 Rocky Mountain model--the Instinct 29er--seems to have gone under the radar. Click here to read Bike magazine's preview of it.

Photo courtesy Bike magazine

Bike magazine recently previewed the 2013 Specialized Enduro Expert: "The Enduro has long been a staff favorite at Bike, and with good reason. When it comes to descending, few bikes in the lightweight, six-inch travel market (what everyone calls "all mountain") can keep up with this thing. Small bumps, big wrist slammers, and everything in between, the Enduro just gobbles up the hits." To read what Bike had to say about the 2013 edition, click here.

Photo courtesy Bike magazine

Bike magazine correspondent Danielle Baker has weaved quite the tall tale about cycling in Mexico--one that involves her retired parents, federales, drug gangs, and wild dogs. "On my first bike ride with the ladies this year we rode past a shelled out house, where a gunfight between one of the gangs and the federales had killed thirteen people, and two roadside shrines for other gang members who had been assassinated in their vehicles. One of the families in the village had their son..

This is a look back at some of the amazing places, people, and riding that we encountered this year. Here's to 2012, and all the best in the new year!