It is better to have a full-suspension mountain bike or will a hard-tail with a suspension seat post be sufficient enough for a smoother ride? Paul G. Fort Wayne, Indiana

I've looked for a year now to find a sturdy watch for my smokejumper. Money isn't the object. I'm looking for simplicity in functions: time, waterproofness, stopwatch (and, made in this decade!). A date display is OK, too. Sounds easier to find than it is, so I come to you. Kary Boise, Idaho

Photo from solarthermienator on FlickrEagle Point, Utah's 14th ski resort, is set to open this December 15, weather permitting, according to SkiNet.com, though there's a chance you've already skied there.Formerly known as Elk Meadows Ski Resort, the property, which has lain dormant for eight years, was purchased last December…

No GPS or weather reports—just a sailboat, the wild open ocean, and the constellations. Think you could find your way across the South ­Pacific? James Campbell rides along with a master navigator in the ­Caroline Islands, where they’ve been sailing this way for thousands of years.

A book about cycling and bike culture presents findings from a study about the social behaviors of cyclists in an entertaining way

Tomorrow, the Copenhagen Wheel, a simple wheel attachment for your bicycle that gathers power as you brake, will compete against an international field of inventions for a shot at the 2010 James Dyson Award, reports Discovery News. Designed by a team of students at MIT, the Copenhagen wheel simply makes…

Luckily, my company is relocating to a place where I'll be able to ride to work! What will I need to commute by bike three or four times weekly? I already have road and mountain bikes, plus the gear, but I don't think my racing garb will work for the daily commute. Loehr Athens, Georgia

While he was clearly not in peak form during the 2011 Tour de France, it was here where he cemented his reputation as an incessant attacker. Here he drives up the Alpe d’Huez, and although he was eventually caught and passed by Frenchman Pierre Rolland, Contador garnered kudos from the…

I going kayaking in two week's time to Big Bend. As I've never done it before, I'd like to know what gear is needed so that I don't freeze in the water. Luis San Antonio, Texas

Nine tools to get you cleaned up as workouts move indoors.