Increasingly, race organizers are testing non-elite athletes for performance-enhancing drugs. But is it fair, or even possible, to hold amateurs to the same stringent standards as the pros?

Dear gear swi, I'm looking to get back into mountain biking but have absolutely no clue about mountain bikes these days. I haven't ridden one nor done any research in about six years. If you could reach into the vast knowledge that you call a brain and offer some advice on bikes in range of about $1000, I would be in great debt to you. (And I would prefer a hardtail.) J.R. Venice, California

Last winter was among the deadliest avalanche seasons on record in the United States and Europe. Why is the number of fatalities rising? And what's being done about it?

Week of December 8-14, 1995 Biking Colorado’s Tenth Mountain Trail Skiing South America this summer Backpacking Utah’s White Canyon Kayaking options near Las Vegas, NV Hawaii in one week Trekking the Inca Trail in Peru Biking Colorado’s Tenth Mountain Trail Question: Could…

Week of June 26-July 2, 1997 Camping on north Vancouver Island Guided tours through Acadia Park Fall trip to Zimbabwe, Botswana Relaxing vacations in the West Mountain biking around Yosemite Mountain biking around Yosemite Question: Are there good mountain-biking opportunities near Yosemite National…

Best of the Adventure Adviser Week of July 3-9, 1996 Hotspots in Nowheresville, Iowa Lodges. Near Seattle. Way cool. City dwellers’ salvation: Canoeing in New Hampshire The poop on dogs in national parks Biking Colorado’s Tenth Mountain Trail Camping at Point Reyes Seashore,…

Week of May 9-16, 1996 The Bahamas’ low-key Out Islands Green Tortoise for alternative travel West Virginia is for mountain biking Attack of the killer black flies Wildlife and nature resorts Pacific Crest Trail weather West Virginia is for mountain biking Question:…

Outside magazine, April 1992 Mountain Biking: Full-Blown Fat-Tire Tours By Bob Howells Mountain bikers and other “user groups” might still be duking it out in certain congested recreational areas, but there are other places where bikers aren’t just accepted–they’re embraced. It’s taken years of being real neighborly…

Week of November 2-9, 1995 Fear not the volcanoes of New Zealand Diving’s not the only gig in the Caymans Bicycle touring in northern Italy Mountain biking in Georgia Montserrat’s the spot for Caribbean cycling Sea kayaking Baja’s Gulf of California Mountain biking…

What's a good, moderately priced tire for mountain biking in the snow? I'm not looking to spend a fortune for a studded snow tire, just something with better traction that I can use in the spring as well. Paul Patterson, New York