When it comes to bicycles and components, people tend to defend their preferences with what amounts to an almost-religious fervor. But ultimately our opinions about what’s “best” are often just that—opinions. The insufferable retrogrouch insists that steel is the only material worth considering, while the performance-obsessed racer maintains that, gram for gram, nothing beats carbon fiber, and ultimately they’re both...

　　Overwhelming evidence shows that active kids do better in life—physically, emotionally, socially, and financially. That’s why Utah-based Youth Sports Alliance is committed to helping all kids experience the outdoors. With the Defender 130, that job gets a lot easier, says Executive Director Emily Fisher. “Being able to offer transportation and move mountain bikes, skis, and other gear removes a significant...

　　Back in the 1980s, my left-leaning dad used to joke at the dinner table that if a certain right-leaning President were re-elected, we would be moving to Sweden. In his mind, the country of his forebears was an egalitarian society of hale and hearty outdoor people who lived among nature and cared deeply about the welfare of others. My dad...