Stay to the right!

Just got back from an overnight in NJ where we went to a friend's wedding. Can I just tell you how much I hate I-95?! And before any of you think you have a road near you as wild as 95, let me tell you, you're just wrong. I-5, I-10, I-80, etc...have nothing on I-95. And people in Maryland you need to learn how to stay to the right (thanks to the Bike Riding Donut Guy for the link)!

I think there is no provision for passing on the left and staying to the right while driving in MD. In fact, I remember some MD senator being ticketed for reckless driving a few years ago when he was high-beaming the car in front of him. His explanation was that he was trying to pass on the left and the car in front wouldn't move over to the right. He learned that there was no such rule in MD and was shocked. He paid the ticket, admitted he was over the top, and vowed to change the rule at some point in the future. Since I live in Northern Virginia, I don't know if the rule was ever made, however, I can tell you that if it was it is not being practiced.

In order to calm down from the drive I hopped on the computer and made the blogging rounds to see what I missed over the weekend. Two things in particular caught my eye:

• Tim at Blue Collar Mountain Biking did a nice interview with Dirt Rag publisher, Maurice Tierney. Tierney discusses the origin of Dirt Rag, its growth, and future direction. I agree with Tim that Dirt Rag is the magazine that most captures the soul of mountain biking.

Tierney made reference to the growth of the magazine beyond the east coast scene several times. Clearly critical to the long-term success of the magazine, I just hope this means continued expansion of content and not the watering down of content to please all audiences. Given the slow-growth strategy Tierney references, it would seem that DR is well positioned to be the premier magazine covering mountain biking over the long-haul. Great job Blue Collar!

• Guitar Ted revealed the bike that was the source of rumors that a "major player" was to be launching a full suspension 29er. The bike is from Intense, and as G-Ted aptly points out they are not really a major player, but more of a boutique manufacturer. He telegraphs the tipping-point for 29ers though and I'll bet he's right!