Gear Dude, I going crazy. I'm considering buying my soon-to-be ten-year-old son a $300 mountain bike—Specialized or a Trek; he likes the Specialized. He wanted a bike with gears on it and I plan to have him do some riding with me in the future. The reasonably priced department store bikes I looked at were simply junk. Are there any other similar-quality, yet less expensive bikes in other brands that I'm missing? I don't want to drop for a $300 garage ornent. Steve Arlington, Texas

Pro mountain biker Andrew Taylor gives an inside look at how he converted the a Ford E350 Short Bus into the drool-worthy camper it is today.

Week of October 10-16, 1996 I want to be an Eco-Challenger Acadia hiking is short but steep Spring break on Santa Catalina Island Self-guided bike touring in Italy What’s a nice spot for Christmas hiking? Acadia hiking is short but steep Question: With…

It may be cold, it may be impossibly vast and empty, but in its first hours of existence, Canada's newborn Inuit territory proves that there's nothing so liberating as home rule.

Hey, brah—at the Camp, Southern California's new outdoor-retail supermall, you can catch big air and fill big bags

With the right armor—either built in or as a high-tech housing—the new digital cameras can take the hits and keep your vision alive

What's the advantage of wearing mountain bike-style shoes with pedal clips, versus regular, all terrain-type shoes? Also, how does one escape from the clip? Jes Greene, New York

My sister Teri is running her first marathon in Florence, Italy, this November, and the Adidas Twin Strike shoes I bought her for a semi-marathon four months ago have already had their day. She has flat feet, a low arch, and needs support plus extra cushioning on her forefoot. This is vital here, and I have been doing research for her because she has little knowledge of computers and the world of online resources. Help! Tina Languedoc-Roussillon, France

Have mountain-bike designers finally solved the riddle of the perfect ride?

Week of July 17-23, 1997 Where in Colorado should a runner move? Cycling through Europe on a shoestring Kayaking Lake Powell — without the crowds Rock climbing in Kentucky’s Red River Gorge Options for Christmastime trekking in Morocco Where in Colorado should a runner…