Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 154 i Australian Mountain Bike

The eyes of mountain bikers around the world turned to Smithfield Mountain Bike Park at the end of April. With the World Cup returning to Cairns after the last visit in 2014, there was a little more at play in 2016. Next year, Cairns will host the 2017 World Championships at the Smithfield venue. 2016 is also an Olympic year, and with the Cairns round being the first round, there were very few elite XCO racers who did not make the trip. SMITHFIELD’S PLACE IN HISTORY Smithfield Mountain Bike Park has been through all of this before, about 20 years ago. The world had seen what riders were doing in Tropical North Queensland thanks to a few videos that ended up with a cult-like status. The world of mountain biking…

April was a busy time in the mountain bike world. With new group sets, a World Cup, new bikes – and plenty of riding to do as well. While Canadian bike brand Norco have already impressed us with their Aurum downhill bike, the Sight trail bike and cross-country focused Revolver FS, they unleased something new in mid-April. The Optic sits between the 29” Revolver and 27.5” Sight, but it also comes in both 27.5” and 29” wheel sizes, depending on the ride quality you prefer. Norco created their biggest test fleet yet to get the ride characteristics and suspension dynamics perfect – so that both bikes felt the same save for the inherent characteristics that each wheel size has. The 29” wheeled bikes offer 120mm of front travel matched with…

BRYTON RIDER 100/310 Bryton have been in the GPS game for a while, but their latest Rider units are likely to push them towards the head of the class. With a new screen layout, easier uploading, up to 25hr battery life, ANT+ and Bluetooth connectivity, the GPS units combine all the features you want and need for training and recording your rides, but keeps the price sharp by sticking to buttons and no automatic updates. The 100 model is barely that many dollars, and the 310 is $149 but is compatible with power meters, has almost twice as many data options and is more customisable. For those who take their training seriously but don’t want the extra frills, this one is for you. Check out our next issue for full…

By now, most mountain bikers in Australia have at least heard of Alice Springs’ magnificent network of hand-built trails. Given that they take you deep into the desert, AMB reckons the best way to experience Alice is in an event, when bunting, arrows, and feed stations take at least some of the mystery out of navigating an endless maze of scorching flow. Imogen Smith gives the low-down on racing Easter in the Alice, a three-day, four-stage race, at around $100 bucks, arguably the lowest entry fees of any multi-day MTB event in the world. Stage One – The Bunny Buster Easter in the Alice is the only stage race I’ve ever known to incorporate a top-level XCM event, and this year stage one’s ‘Bunny Buster’, a 90-kilometre romp through desert…

The solstice is almost upon us. For the next two or three months, those of us who fit riding in around work and family are going to have to head out in the dark occasionally. Whether it’s just for the commute between home and your MTB trails, or to light up the singletrack itself, a decent set of lights is a must. If you’re into full-blown night riding or racing 24-hour events, chances are you’re sorted with large rechargeable units for both handlebars and helmet with separate battery packs and long burn times. But what about those mornings and evenings when you just need some extra illumination and for just an hour or so? In my view, it’s not worth carting around a battery pack and untangling cords just for…

Vee Tire Company had until recently been pretty much an unknown in the mountain bike industry, until the rise of the fatbike. Vee were slightly ahead of the curve with fatbike rubber and offered a lot of very good, tubeless ready options at a time when there was little else available. This gave them the means to expand their range into more common genres of bicycle, and the first stop was Plus sized. Here we test the Crown Gem in 27.5x3.0” and the Bulldozer in 2.8”. Both tyres feature 120tpi casing, a tubeless ready bead and weigh in at a very respectable 925ish grams. It’s clear that to achieve this weight Vee have had to create these tyres around a reasonably thin sidewall but mounted on a nice wide rim…

Previously a point-to-point race that finished on the Retreat’s lawn, the Flight Centre Epic relocated to Hidden Vale after the 2011 floods devastated its old route and property owners pushed to expand the enormous, 12,000 acre property’s network of trails. Since then, singletrack development has mushroomed, and today World Trail have teams of trail builders toiling to construct 100 kilometres of flowing trail in the red clay and rocks that define this Ipswich and Lockyer Valley bushland. Hidden Vale has always been known as a tough place to ride, largely because its hand-built trails and working farm roads had always been rough and rocky. With the arrival of World Trail and a $2 million investment, 100km of green- to blue-rated flowly, bermed, fast singletrack is being added to the mix.…

I have seen first-hand how an athlete’s performance can be below-par, simply because they have failed to prepare optimally on the day before racing. As a coach, it can be very frustrating to see athletes put so much hard work in their training leading up to an event only to ‘fall apart’ or make the wrong choices in that final 24 hours. Focus during this time should be on preparing the body physically and mentally for the task ahead while also trying to stay relaxed. I have outlined some of the ‘key ingredients’ to an ideal pre-race plan. TRAVEL If you need to travel on the day prior to racing, it is well worth throwing on a pair of compression socks or tights. Travelling by car or plane for any…

All hail Captain Coffs! After a period of over four years away from the international stage, from the bottom of the ranking barrel Josh Button raced his way to fifth at the Cairns World Cup. Surprising not just the crowd but himself. With a more permanent sponsorship now on the table with Kona, will we see more of this local legend on the World Cup scene? Bec Henderson is back on track with the stand-out Aussie XCO performance of the weekend, snaring a third in the Elite Women XCO. The Elite Men XCO kicked off with a bang as well, the rivalries of last year in full swing. With everyone on form going into the Olympics it’s sure to be a tight year of racing. Finally props to all the…

In a move that may have been inevitable, but is none-the-less well received, Shimano announced in April that the SLX group set would gain a gear, and that Di2 technology would be available at an XT level. The XT Di2 shifter and rear derailleur are functionally very similar to XTR – but it’s the display that holds some great new functionality. The unit allows wireless Bluetooth connection to Shimano’s E-TUBE program, which is the system Shimanouses to set up and control the Di2 shifting behaviour. Through Bluetooth technology riders or mechanics can wirelessly communicate via their computer, tablet or a smart phone through the SC-MT800 system information display. As well as allowing wireless workshop customisability, it allows riders to customise their shifting preferences on the trail via an app on…

Racing bikes is tough. Like… really tough if you’re out for a win. It’s the way it should be; after all you don’t win Olympic gold by doing bike path rides with your mum (though it can be debated the social benefits of these type of rides are of no less importance in the big picture of life). Anyone who has had a serious crack at any of the mountain bike disciplines can attest that in order to race well, you have to put yourself in uncomfortable places for prolonged periods of time. Even those not at the pointy end of the field can understand how deeply uncomfortable giving it your all can be. Is it any surprise then, that riding through hardship and adversity can forge some of the…

In early April this year, the New England MTB Club (NEMTB) hosted their annual “UNE 12hrs in the Piney” race, right in Armidale State Forest. While it wasn’t a close event to get to for me, it did offer an opportunity to find out a bit more about possibly the loudest mountain bike club in Australia, and the programs they have in place to turn out such exceptional bike riders from regional NSW. At the past few National Championships and National Rounds I have attended, there’s been a huge roar for any of the riders from NEMTB. Partly due to their enthusiasm, but also their sheer volume. The club has been bringing lots of young riders to the National Championships and key National Rounds, to help develop their capabilities. I…

“This trail has everything,” says Gaz, with his trademark bike-riding enthusiasm, months before we catch up. “Mean bush, tech sections, a drop dead view, and two funny stories. Also a downhill on the return run which will blow your mind that it was not designed by bikers.” Like any good trail that you can’t believe you’ve stumbled on, or into, Gaz is one of those forces of energy that cycling would be very different without. A track racer with Olympic aspirations in his teens, a master mountain biker and gifted storyteller several adventures later. He and his partner Glen Anderson are best known on the West Island for their clothing brand, Nzo. They’re also big supporters of the mountain biking community at large. If it happened in or near Rotorua,…

The Specialized Demo has been a downhill and freeride icon since its creation in 2004. The frame at each stage has been an evolution of the last which is something that I really admire, staying true to your own designs. The latest carbon fibre version of the Demo was no less than a pure piece of art, exemplifying the creativity and engineering skill that only Specializied would be able to pull off. Not only was this single side shock mounted frame an engineering marvel, it also saw numerous 1st places by team riders and an overall win in the downhill World Cup series. The frame that shocked the industry stood up to the test and proved it could be number one. These carbon fibre wonders though came with a hefty…

Wahoo Fitness are probably best known for their direct-drive trainer, the Kickr. In late 2015, Wahoo announced the ELEMNT bike computer, to go with the sensors and trainers, the ELEMNT is set to complete their range. The new unit is large, a tad smaller than a Garmin 1000 but bigger than a 520. It foregoes a touchscreen for 6 highly tactile buttons, and uses an app to set up the device, and upload your data. Best of all, it’s compatible with just about any electronic training accessory you have. OPENING UP AND SETTING UP I’m a big fan of ‘plug and play’ with electronics. And the ELEMNT is pretty close to as simple as it gets. Opening the box, there’s a graphic which shows all sorts of screens you might…

The high-powered light game is always getting stronger. The past 10 years have seen head units get much smaller, battery burn times increase and charge times decrease – and best of all prices are lower. My Tiny Sun are a German company who make precision lights for outdoor sports. Caving, mountaineering, motorbike riding, trail running – and of course mountain biking. What drew me to this model though was the mounting and adaptability. This unit uses a GoPro mounting system. And while it comes with a bar mount, there are then all sorts of options for where and how to mount it to suit your bike. From your top cap, to high or low off your bars, or a helmet mount. And given the amount of neat, super-secure GoPro mounts…

E13 have been around for years and are probably best known for their stellar range of chain guides, and more recently their growing options in cranks, wheels and tyres. The obvious next step once wheels and tyres are in the lineup is a way to get them to hold on to each other a prevent flats. E13 Tyre Plasma Sealant shares many of the traits of its competitors but claims to be able to seal punctures up to 4mm in length and doesn’t contain any nasties that may start to eat away at your tyre from the inside once flats have been healed. E13 also claim that one 120mm serve should last as long as six months in a tyre which seems like a bold claim and quite a bit…

STEP ONE Start with measuring the amount of cable you need. I usually do this carefully on the outside of the frame as pictured. Remember to take where the bottom of the post will sit in the frame into consideration when measuring this. KS also has a recommend way of getting the right length in their manual. I usual find measuring externally easier to work with, but you can try either way. STEP TWO Next is the tricky part. Internal cable routing varies from frame to frame. Some are way easier than others. The bike we used has an internal channel running the length of the frame, so all you need to do it push the cable through and it will pop out of the seat tube. Some have no…

If you’re reading this, chances are you’re into mountain biking. Either you’ve been in it for a while, or you’re just becoming engaged with the sport, in whatever fashion suits you. If so – welcome to the best sport in the world! Since I started mountain biking, scratching around on trails in Sydney’s gullies and canyons in the earl 90s, it has changed a lot. Bikes have changed, riding styles have changed, what we can ride has changed – and the fact that just riding makes you a mountain biker – you don’t have to identify with any sort of racing fraternity. But despite that, those outside of mountain biking might still associate mountain biking with competitions. Whether it’s because that’s the only aspect of our sport that makes the…

Right after the World Cup in Cairns, Cannondale released the details of their latest Scalpel – the Scalpel Si. The name has been long associated with Cannondale’s XC racing squad, ever since the days of Cadel. But with the previous Scalpel starting to show its age, Cannondale have redesigned it, creating the Scalpel Si – built for XXC. XXC? Yeah, extreme cross-country. Cannondale believe that they needed to build a bike that can cope with the ever-changing demands of World Cup cross-country races, and world-leading marathon and stage race events. The frame has adopted some key features from their F-Si hardtail, most notably the offset rear end, which moves the to allow for greater mud clearance and a tighter chain stay length. The wheel then has the dish corrected to…

MY MOUNTAIN BIKE LIFE DO YOU WANT TO WIN a brand new bike, setup like the Trek Remedy ridden by Enduro National Champ Chris Panozzo? Shimano Australia and AMB want to help you get on a new bike setup with Shimano’s new XT M8050 Di2 group set, Fox Factory suspension and Bontrager parts. And we want to send you to Finale Ligure for the final round of the Enduro World Series (EWS) to ride with Chris and shoot a video. YOU JUST NEED TO SHOOT AND EDIT A VIDEO under the theme “This is my mountain bike life” that truly captures what you like best about mountain biking - be it trails, people, travel, racing, relaxing - that’s up to you. Submit your videos directly to AMB and we’ll upload…

I wrote an opinion piece recently. Well, I tried to. It went a bit like this “flow trails are lame. All new trails are flow trails and they’re lame and I want to ride trails that aren’t flow trails. Goddammit, they’re lame”. It’s easy to hate on stuff. It’s one of my talents (it goes hand in hand with my exceptionally healthy pessimism and being noisy). The problem I had was when I got past the initial hating on flow trails, and trying to back up my own feelings with evidence. I had some wine and pondered why the trail-building group IMBA and their flow trail nation seems to get under people’s skin within my circle of riding comrades. I couldn’t find the answer so drank some more and slept…

With my full-time design engineering role mixed in with an attempt at a decent amount of training, the results have been alarm clocks set for 5am and all my brain function ceasing to exist about 7pm every night. Each morning the alarm would go off and a barrage of cursing would happen, sometimes in my mind, sometimes out loud. The previous nights’ programmed coffee pot kicking into action was the only positive note of the morning daily routine before heading out on a training session before work. DESTINATION: SOUTH AMERICA Arriving at Albury airport at 6.30am to catch a long haul flight ended up as a strange sleep in. There was not so much excitement but a sense of relief that for the next 3 weeks I was heading over…

“DURING A GROUP RIDE MID-TEST A FEW FRIENDS THREW A LEG OVER THE 6FATTIE AND THE FEEDBACK WAS ALL THE SAME. ‘IT’S LIKE YOU CAN TAKE WHATEVER LINE YOU WANT!’” Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last couple of years you’ll definitely have noticed that wheels and tyres in the mountain bike industry have been getting bigger. The fatbike started it all, giving riders a taste of what was possible on the trail when you had to worry less about the ‘right’ line and the camber and could just focus on the most important thing – fun. But not everyone (well actually almost no one) wants a fifteen kilo trail bike these days and so the combined industry created the ‘Plus’ genre. A stunning hybrid between our…

Our mountain bikes are treated to some pretty harsh abuse when out on the trail. If you want your bike to look after you, you need to look after it. We were sent some Weldtite products to test – so here’s a step-by-step look at an easy bike clean to ensure your bike keeps running smoothly. 1. There are a few basic things you’ll want: a small bucket, a sponge for cleaning, a spray on bike wash, some degreaser, small brushes, and a couple of rags and lubricants to suit your area. MOst of this comes in the one kit from Weldtite. 2. A spray on degreaser like the Weldtite citrus degreaser can be applied sparingly to the chain, jockey wheels and chain ring. Pedal it through and let it…

The USWE Airborne 9 Race by old standards is a small pack, but by modern ones it’s perfect for the average racer with just enough room for the essentials. Designed in Sweden this electric blue number (also coming in black or crazy yellow) is constructed from a weather resistant blend of nylon and polyester - tough and ready for the trails. THE FEATURES The highlight of the USWE Airborne 9 is the harness system, aptly named ‘no more dancing monkey” it is a unique design. A cross strap, centre lock harness, similar to a mexican bandit’s gun slings, that unlike its conventional brothers should eliminate bounce and movement during your ride. For storage space a main compartment, with room for a provided USWE 3 litre bladder, is carefully placed within…

Prepping for the a 3000km self-supported bikepacking event, the inaugural Tour Aotearoa, finding appropriate clothing was a vital piece of the puzzle to enjoy my weeks on the trail. The brief: bombproof clothing for all the elements that NZ can throw at you and comfortable enough to want to wear day-in, day-out for weeks on end. A tall order, but who better consult than the people living and breathing the bikepacking lifestyle, Ground Effect. Ground Effect are a passionate, rider-owned company based out of Christchurch that make no-nonsense riding apparel and have done for over 20 years. Looking over their website I decided that I would do the old fashioned thing and call to see what they would recommend. As luck would have it I spoke to somebody else doing…

In Australia, more than 40% of us report drinking daily or weekly. Think for a moment about how much you might have in a week? Often we don’t really think about how much we drink, but if you’re serious about doing well on the bike, you might want to rethink your drinking habits to get the most out of your performance on the bike. Drinking alcohol has both short-term and long -term side-effects. Common sense will tell you that drinking and riding is not a good (or legal) idea, for all the same reasons as we shouldn’t drink and drive. Alcohol is a depressant which so it slows your central nervous system. A slower central nervous system means poorer concentration, slower reaction times and less coordination. Not great if you’re…