FEATURES
STYLE & DESIGN 2004
Why Design Matters | 76
In this increasingly virtual life, the physical world has never mattered more. Here's a toast to all the irresistibly designed bikes, cars, cameras, gadgets, and gizmos that get us going in style. BY JOHN LELAND

The Gold List | 80
From a see-through kayak to a Japanese pull saw, feast your eyes on the greatest gear your money can buy. Better make room in the garage -- and the living room and kitchen and bathroom... PLUS: Meet the design wizards from Burton, Adidas, Apple, Jaguar, John Bartlett, and Michael Graves. AND: The magic of carbon fiber, the perfect car, and the five everyday marvels you've been taking for granted.

G.I. Joe, 2025 | 107
From DARPA, the government agency responsible for inventing the Internet and GPS, get ready for the soldier of the future: an unstoppable killing machine able to stay up for seven days straight, treat wounds before they happen, and fly fighter jets using mental telepathy. BY POPE BROCK

Cowboy Up! | 112
Crushed ribs. Broken tailbones. Death. It's all part of the game for those who are brave or crazy enough to enter the ring on the back of a pissed-off 1,200-pound bull. But that didn't deter the author from mounting up at a Georgia bull-riding school to try his hand at the original -- and most dangerous -- extreme sport. BY JONATHAN GREEN

Be Careful What You Fish For | 116
Once upon a time, Albert McReynolds reeled in the largest striped bass on record, a 78.5-pound sea monster gorging on mullet off the Jersey shore in the middle of a nor'easter. Twenty-two years, a few flashes of glory, and a lot of heartache later, he's still battling that same damn fish. BY DAVID DIBENEDETTO

Fast Company | 124
Matt Kenseth, Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Newman, Kurt Busch, Kevin Harvick, and Dale Earnhardt Jr.: They're the young guns of NASCAR, and they're reinventing the sport. BY LEIGH MONTVILLE

ADVENTURE
Mountain Biking Mexico A two-wheeled traverse of our southerly neighbor, over mountain passes and through ruins and rain forests, with cervezas. PLUS: From Asheville, North Carolina, to Downieville, California, the best American biking trails for the best biking season. 28
News Mountain lions and mud snails go on the attack; a Sherpa's record goes under investigation; a new route goes up Everest. PLUS: The month's best travel deals. 38
Books True stories of Colombian guerrillas, a bank-robbing Hungarian hockey pro, and Aron Ralston's improvised amputation. 41
The Clif Bar Story How Gary Erickson, the CEO of a $120 million company, owes all of his success to one bike ride. 45
Bald Eagles Our national symbol's population is finally rebounding, but is this year's planned delisting premature? PLUS: The best spots for seeing a baldie yourself. 52
Hybrid SUVs Pull over, Prius. New sport-utes from Ford, Chevy, and Toyota are environmentally friendly and cool. PLUS: How hybrids work, and the first midsize diesel SUV. 54
Cooking with Fire Learning to embrace the primal art of cooking over an open flame. PLUS: game-bird recipes and all the essential gear. 58

PEAK PERFORMANCE
The Ultimate Runner's Workout How to run faster by training slower. A simple 12-week program -- from U.S. Olympic coach Alberto Salazar -- to improve your 10K time. 63
A Good Shave The secret to smooth cheeks? Forget your razor and focus on how you prep. PLUS: The most righteous shave creams and aftershave balms. 72
Paging Dr. Bob Rotator cuff tears, the truth about knuckle cracking, kidney stone prevention, and whether full-body CT scans are worth it. 74

STYLE
Racing Fashion Finally, you too can wear NASCAR driving boots (minus the flame-resistant lining) and a Pirelli chronograph. 132