Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 167 i Australian Mountain Bike

The Convict 100 has carved it’s own place in Australia’s mountain bike history, just like the engineering folly it runs along. The Old Convict Road was built to run from Sydney to Newcastle, but by the time it was built, there were faster options via ship up the coast! But what was a good road in the 19th century has now degraded to a demanding mountain bike course, where weather events change the best lines, and you can never be totally sure what you’ll be tackling. With the event now over 10 years old and offering not just the iconic 100km, but also a 68km and 44km option, there truly is something for just about any appetite. Starting and finishing at St Albans, about 90 minutes out of the centre…

The Trek-Shimano Australia team has been prominent on the Australian cross-country scene for many years, “It’s going on 8 years now,” confirmed team manager, mechanic, feed zone support person and talent spotter Peter Dowse. “We started this a long time ago, and our main focus was to try and fill a void of support for junior athletes, and try to build them through to trade teams or potentially a pro team.” When you consider the riders who have ridden under this banner, they have done a pretty handy job. “This year we had a lot of our senior riders move on to bigger and better things, which was awesome to see. That somewhat forced our hand to rebuild again, and that’s what we’ve done. We looked at our U19s, and…

Four ways to experience the best of Tropical North Queensland Not sure where to start? We’ve put together some itineraries to help make mountain biking a part of your Tropical North Queensland holiday. Cairns adrenaline MTB weekend Cairns isn’t known as the adventure capital of Australia for nothing, and if it’s a hit of adrenaline you’re after, there’s no end to the choices, from bungee jumping to night-time Hummer tours. But really, there’s no better way to scare the hell out of yourself than with two wheels, a shuttle, and a solid helping of gravity. Here’s our suggestions for an action-packed weekend in Cairns. Start with something different at the Reef Terminal, just a short walk from the hustle and bustle of the tourist strip, where you’ll find Bad Fishy…

y eyes are burning with streaming sweat, blood is thundering through my ears like a runaway train and my legs are smouldering with lactic acid; I’m starting to wonder how I can keep this up for another 25 kilometres. The trail is so steep and too loose to climb, I have to stop pushing my bike up every few metres to desperately inhale all the thin air I possibly can to keep my pulse from going into overdrive. This journey through Graubünden in Switzerland is turning out to be a real challenge, but at least it’s a beautiful one… Over an excessively stacked Swiss cheese platter the night before at the Hotel Belvédère in Scuol, it dawned on Richie Schley, Ale Di Lullo and myself that the last time we…

In recent years, smart trainers like the Wahoo Kickr and the TacX Neo have led the way, and it is difficult to go past an indoor trainer those of us who seek fitness but have to fit it around other life commitments, like family and work. Would TechnoGym’s pedigree of trainers–having developed the iconic SPINTRAINER from the 90s–mean that the MyCycling can compete with the modern-day smart trainer? We unboxed it to find out. FIRST IMPRESSIONS TechnoGym have certainly channelled the aesthetic needs and wants of many high-end cyclists; the unit is compact and sleek and with a weight of 18kg, on the lighter side for a smart trainer. The silver alloy body and large (5kg) magnetic resistance flywheel–which has a maximum power output of 2100w and maximum slope of…

It is hard to go past the humble backpack for your fluid and spares needs. Or in the case of the USWE Patriot 15, the highly evolved mountain bike specific backpack. Those who don’t like riding with a backpack normally have a few pet hates: a sweaty back, stability of the bag, and protection from what’s inside. USWE manage these bug bears quite well with their all-day Patriot 15. One of the features of all the USWE bags is their No Dancing Monkey harness system. The central attachment is not only a cinch to use with gloves, but as the straps are also elasticised it’s not a rigid fixing. The padded straps go over your shoulders, and have an elasticated point before the clip. The wide Velcro straps come up…

Simple. Nutritious. Delicious. Sardines are not everyone’s cup of tea but they sure do pack a good nutrition punch. This is a great breakfast alternative for those that like to get a bit adventurous with their food in the morning or a no-fuss dinner option. This recipe is ticking all the boxes, including the taste buds. WHAT’S GREAT ABOUT THEM? Sardines are a great source of omega 3 fatty acids and vitamin D, among others. Omega 3 fatty acids can help with recovery from exercise through their anti-inflammatory effect in the body, as well as supporting a healthy immune system (flu season is coming). Very few foods contain vitamin D and sardines are one that does. Vitamin D plays a role in maintaining a healthy immune system and muscle strength.…

In a time where mountain biking is pushing further towards the boundaries on every spectrum, it can be hard to find where you fit. Are you a trail rider, and if so – what does that mean? If you prefer to bomb the descents does that make you ‘enduro’? So what if your fun comes from keeping your wheels on the ground and spending all the daylight hours exploring? Would you be pretty happy if you only ride flow trails, and didn’t have to negotiate rocky, off-camber natural trails again? That’s your choice. It’s all your choice. The more our sport grows, the more mountain biking diversifies. Here at AMB we obviously love mountain biking, and I personally think a mountain bike can be one of the best ways to…

Maydena Bike Park is well and truly open for business, and it’s the place of dreams for many riders. At the end of April, Maydea Bike Park hosts their first Gravity Fest. Running from the 26th April, the Gravity Fest brings a huge range of events to the big mountain. From an Air DH, Dual Slalom, Ultimate Flow Challenge, Tech Assault and Pump Track Challenge through to the invite-only Whip off... this will be a long weekend to remember! Full details are online. maydenabikepark.com…

If you’ve ridden in South-East Queensland, you will have almost certainly come across someone from the Planet Cycles Team. The team size seems to grow each year, something head coach Donna Dall confirms. “The team started out very small, about 6 years ago. It has grown every year since then.” The team is directly aimed at developing junior talent from the South East Queensland area, giving them experience to take beyond their own region. “The idea is to develop these juniors and take them to the National Series. We’ve had fantastic results, and we’re just so excited, “said Dall in Armidale. “We’ll carry it on, we’ll keep going” For the past two seasons, MTBA have held doubleheaders for most race weekends. Meaning you race a round each on Saturday and…

At the end of winter Shimano sent me a pair of their latest footwear. Not the flash new gravity shoes, or an updated trail boot – but the XC5. A couple of steps below the XC9 (or S-Phyre) tested a couple of issues back, the XC5 fills a different role. Shimano claim the XC5 is a multi-surface shoe, meaning they suit some mountain biking, maybe touring (called bikepacking these days), gravel riding or road if you use an SPD pedal. Lacking a full-carbon reinforced mid-sole, they're not about to be an XC World Cup race shoe. And without the support that gives, and built in protection, they don't suit all-mountain and enduro use. The surprise was, I tend to reach for the XC5 for most of my riding. Here's why.…

For nearly five years I have opted to transport my bikes on the top of my car, after holding out for a very long time and always making them fit in the back of the car. The trouble with putting bikes inside when you’re a mountain biker is all the trail grime and dirt or mud that comes with them. And while I still don’t own a car worth more than my bikes, I do appreciate not having chainring marks on the roof of my, and dried mud caked into the interior. After some solid service, I upgraded the Yakima FrontLoader racks on top of my Subaru Forester, which really won me over as a secure option for just about any bike. The clamp the front wheel and secure the…

Suspension setup is something which takes years for even the most knowledgeable riders to understand. Throw in a mix of multiple adjustments and a never ending spectrum of technology and it only gets more and more difficult to get right. More often than not, finding the right tune takes quite a while and varies with different riding conditions, rider abilities and bike setup. More often than not though we find ourselves in a situation where we need to do a quick setup as a starting point to get the ball rolling. Chances are that with a new $10k bike in the back of your car you’re going to look to hightail it to the trails and get out there as soon as humanly possible, or you might need to borrow…

The Townsville MTB Festival returns at the end of April, and the main event is the National Cross-Country Marathon Championships, alongside the North Queensland Schools Challenge and the Glow Ride. So what’s all that? On Friday 27th April the Schools Challenge is for students from Year 7 to 12 across 3 categories, racing in a traditional Olympic Cross-Country event at Cape Pallarenda. There is also an Observed Trials component, and the school with the best combined ranking – wins! On Sunday the Marathon National Championships will be contested, and the best of the best will be in Townsville to test themselves on the course at Cape Pallarenda. With iconic trails like Smedleys and Under the Radar traversing the rocky terrain, overlooking the Coral Sea, riders have a view to Magnetic…

CANE CREEK HELM FORK Coil is making a come back! The Cane Creek Helm Coil is optimised for 130mm to 160mm of travel, via internal adjustment by changing the location of the coil piston on the compression rod. Sharp hits and trail chatter are said to be covered with ease thanks to the supple feel of the coil spring. RRP: $1649 From: canecreek.com AUSSIE GRIT FLINT APPAREL Aussie Grit clothing is the brainchild of Australian Formula 1 driver Mark Webber, and their range of mountain bike and running clothing is refined with little compromise. Their Flint jersey and shorts are aimed squarely at the XC/trail rider, with a short leg, comfortable chamois, and performance cut full-zip jersey. There’s a lot to like about this combination for long days in the…

Shimano support the World Cup globally, and at home, they support events like Rocky Trail Entertainment’s Shimano MTB GP Series, Bike Buller, EWS Tasmania and more. Mountain biking isn’t only about racing, but Brand Manager Toby Shingleton says that event support is still a key role for the brand. “Our history with the sport shows that if a rider does well with a product, they tend to stick with it. Someone like Bec McConnell is a perfect example, she has ridden Shimano for ages and the challenge of finding a team that uses it as she knows and trusts it is a consideration.” Shimano don’t just support elite racing, and a lot of their athlete support in Australia isn’t just aimed at the professional or elite riders. “A lot of…

For those who have been around the mountain bike scene for a while, Karen Hill may be a name you know. In 2016 Karen exploded onto the Australian scene, taking multiple solid top-five finishes in national series events, and even travelling to Cairns to race in the World Cup. After such a stellar breakthrough year, Karen took some time off the bike to finish her PhD in Nutrition and post-exercise protein supplementation, and is now at the start of a big-time comeback. We chatted to the Venus Bay-based rider about what she has been up to for the past couple of years, who her main support team is and what her goals are for 2018 and beyond. Though she states her thesis is as yet her biggest achievement off the…

Travelling north is a pastime most of us are used to. Escaping to the pristine beaches, warm and stable weather, a relaxed atmosphere, and alas all the crowds of people doing the same thing. But what about escaping a little further north for something a bit different? That’s right: the Sunshine Coast, off peak and on trail. It is pretty clear that we have a bit of a crush on this Noosa and surrounds for a bike getaway in all senses of the word. Give it time and this is an area that will become synonymous with mountain biking. With easy interstate access thanks to Mooloolabah airport and agreeable winter weather for those in the southern states who want to thaw out. Noosa nails it with a relaxing atmosphere and…

Keeping your bike out of harms way at home doesn’t need to involve drilling holes for hooks, or investing in massive racks – it can be done quickly, simply and efficiently with a few products on the market. There are already a couple of products out that use the hollow axle of BB30, Shimano Hollowtech II and similar crank arms, but the Granite Designs Hex Stand also folds up for easy transport, which makes it ideal to bring along to an event. By using the hollow centre of the crank axle instead of around the rear axle of the bike, you neatly sidestep changes in wheel size or tolerances between frames and disc rotors. The Granite Designs stand comes in a carry bag, and the two legs slide down, and…

STEP 1 We shall start with your already tubeless taped up wheel. Insert the valve and tighten by hand. Cush Core requires a special valve. This valve lets the air and sealant flow easily when the Cush Core is installed. STEP 2 Next it's time to install the Cush Core. This can be quite tight on some rims. Use the handle of a hammer gently to pin the wheel to the floor. This allows you to get more leverage to get the last bit of Cush Core on. Once you have fitted the system a few times, it does get a bit easier. STEP 3 Once in place, stretch the tyre over the wheel so the wheel is in the middle of the tyre un-beaded. Sometimes spraying a little soapy…