Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 174 i Australian Mountain Bike

The sun disappears but Pete Miller lofts into the light for Jason Beacham over in Wanaka, New Zealand. Darker days are here but that doesn’t mean you can’t ride, and photographers can’t be creative! Just because summer is over doesn’t mean our alpine playgrounds stop growing. Lake Mountain opened the Cascades Trail in late February. It’s 25km of descending (mostly) through a variety of terrain. Andy White lets his Tonka Truck Surly eFat deal with the late summer dusty berms. Are you ready for the apocalypse? Sam Fraser lets it go at the Queensland State Champs last year. As summer dips away down south – the local scene in Queensland now picks up for the year!…

Celebrating its 13th year on the Australian calendar, Rapid Ascent’s Otway Odyssey attracted one of the most competitive fields to an Australian marathon race in years. On the morning of 23rd February, the nation’s best lined up to tackle the 100km mountain bike marathon, with hundreds of other riders arriving in Forrest, Victoria to race the shorter distances. Known for delivering a mix of fast and open doubletrack and twisty singletrack, the demanding course in the Otway Ranges delivered. The elite women’s start saw a talented bunch leave Forrest at 7am, and soon enough the race was whittled down to a handful of women thanks to the pressure applied by Renata Bucher, Samara Sheppard, Holly Harris, Imogen Smith, Peta Mullens and Jess Douglas. While Mullens succumbed to a mechanical, the…

There is a new marathon race in NSW, as the Graft-TON Grind lands at Bom Bom State Forest on 25th May. With a 100km event, plus 65km and 33km options, there should be something for everyone near the town with an incredibly long cycling history. Bom Bom State Forest might not sound familiar to some, but the trails there were some of the first trails built just for mountain biking in Northern NSW. “The trails have that old school feel; the older tracks were all hand cut, twisty but fast,” says Grant Hodgson from BomBom Racing MTB Club, who are organising the MTBA Tier 1 event. “A fast rider at Bom Bom is someone who can carry corner speed and keep the power down. Our club used to be full…

It was freezing–about 6 degrees: so as a northerner I was shaking like a leaf in a hurricane–yet there was over a hundred women gathered in the Falls Creek carpark, huddled around open fires, coffee and hot chocolate in hand, bundled up in layers; pumped and excited for the fourth annual MTB de Femme weekend. AMB regulars Karen Hill and I headed up to the high country to sample all that MTB de Femme had to offer. What’s MTB de Femme, you ask? Well, it’s a weekend for the ladies. A celebration of cycling. A package of relaxation, exploration, adrenaline and community. A choose-your-own adventure for lovers of mountains and mountain biking. What started four years ago as a women-only social ride has evolved into a weekend of festivities, featuring…

When I first started chatting to Santa Cruz Bicycles adventure athlete Jamie Nicoll about visiting the backyard trails built by the residents of the Nelson region of New Zealand, I honestly had no idea what to expect. Given the scale of most of Jamie’s other recent travels, and his excitement for this project, I knew it was going to be great. What unfolded over the week was a rare opportunity to experience loves, losses and a deep connection with the beautiful New Zealand landscape. A connection that has shaped and will continue to shape the region and it’s reputation for producing incredibly skilled yet equally down to earth and inclusive riders. A short drive south of the inviting city of Blenheim is the property Jentree Hill. A name, and a…

For the inaugural Ultimate Bikes, Beers, and Bakeries tour guide Ben Matthews had planned an itinerary covering the bucket list trails in the region, sampling the best breweries and bakeries along the way. Our tour group was small, consisting of two guys from North Dakota and me, a born and bred Coloradoan—though I’ve been based in Australia for nearly 8-years. The North Dakotans had never been down under, and I hadn’t made it to this corner of Australia yet in my travels, so everything was fresh and unknown. Between heat exhaustion, fire danger and actual fires, things definitely didn’t quite go according to plan, luckily, Matthews was ready to roll with the punches and show off the best the Victorian High Country had to offer. DAY 1 BRIGHT As we…

YT or Young Talent have been shaking up the industry with their direct to consumer model, meticulous attention to the small details and ultimately bikes that win races. The Tues sits at the top of a gravity focused range with downhill and park riding the name of the game. With numerous Rampage, FEST series event wins and twice the World Cup DH overall winner the Tues 27.5 is no stranger to getting to the bottom of the mountain with speed and style. With two alloy and two carbon models, 2 colours and sizes small through XXL and starting at $4199 and topping out at $8299 YT have all bases covered. YT Claim that their race proven Virtual Four Linkage (V4L) can offer stiff, trouble-free and incredibly sensitive suspension while retaining…

Marzocchi is back, and sitting under the wing of Fox has allowed them to dive deep into the parts bin of the suspension giant to create a gravity focused range, and it’s an upgraders’ dream promising great value, reliability and tried and tested performance. The extremely targeted offering is made up of the iconic Bomber Z1, the Bomber CR (both on test) and the newcomer 58. They are all being offered as simple, cost effective and reliable after market options. If you have a faithful old steed that needs a new spring in its step or just want to upgrade your bikes off the shelf suspension, Marzocchi may have a way to revive your ride. With a neat and no fuss appearance that is absent of lockout levers, excessive dials…

It is hard to escape the excitement of riding new trails. Whether I am lucky enough to be at the trailhead of a new mountain bike destination, or just about to point down a scrub lined chute off the side of rough double-track, the excitable anticipation of riding new trails is hard to ignore. Trail development continues to explode in Australia and around the world we have endless trails to explore by two wheels. When I visit somewhere new, or just have more time in one of my favourite riding destinations, I tend to run on one rule: singletrack is never wrong*. Lots of places I have been to have official trail maps and signage, but also plenty of other trails. Funding doesn’t always spread to trail signs and mapping…

SHIMANO TECHNIUM TRAIL GLASSES Fresh from Shimano, these lightweight, broad coverage glasses will not only keep trail grime out of your eyes, but they’ll add style points too. Coming in four colours, the full framed glasses have non-slip contact points and interchangeable lenses with a hydrophobic coating. Sweat all you like! RRP: $99.00 shimano.com.au OSPREY SISKIN 12 Osprey have rejigged their popular range of hydration systems, and we think the 12L Siskin (or 8L women’s Salida) fits the bill for trail riding. 2.5L of fluid, a stable and airy harness and plenty of storage. There are smaller and larger bags in the range as well, but this hits the sweet spot. RRP: $159.95 ($139.95 for Salida 8L) osprey.com CLIF BAR BANANA AND PEANUT BUTTER Love peanut butter and banana sandwiches,…

Looking up to role models is normal in sports and many other endeavours. Looking up to people who do cool things like winning or whips is great, especially when those role models are fairly decent people or appear to be at least. Mountain biking seems to have many riders who can claim the title ‘role model’. Mountain biking, and in particular cross-country, is a pretty tough sport which opens the door to many stories of perseverance and strength. Both of which are at least on-par to winning and whips in terms of creating role-models. Recently a great video was released by Emily Batty on XCO motivation which looked at her 2018 year. A year filled with second places and podiums at the highest level but missing out on that elusive…

A few years back, Giant fully committed to the 27.5in wheel size across its mountain bike range and was outspoken about the handling characteristics offered by smaller hoops and the way they trumped the benefits of 29in wheels. Since the brand dove headfirst into the in-between wheel size, advancements in geometry, wheel, and suspension technology, have changed Giant’s opinion of bigger wheels, due in part to the increasing availability of 44mm offset forks. The Giant Trance Advanced Pro 1 29er (say that ten times fast) sits just below the flagship bike, and beyond a level up in components, the most significant upgrade being the DVO suspension — it also costs $2700 more than the model we tested. INITIAL IMPRESSIONS Our tester features a full carbon frame, rocker, and rear end;…

Endura are one of the most recognised names in Australian sports’ nutrition, thanks to being in the game for a long time and having a great product range with wide availability. You can buy their energy gels in most supermarkets and chemists. Proper nutrition is based upon day to day nutrients and energy requirements, not just race fuel, so we took a look at some of their products that are useful in training and recovery, along with days where your performance against the clock counts. ENDURA MAX CRAMP AND MUSCLE EASE A stalwart of the Endura range, this product is perfect for those who suffer cramps. Endura Max is not a cure-all remedy, nor a normal energy drink mix. It contains a high dose of Magnesium and Taurine, and is…

Am I sweet savoury? Or savoury sweet? The confused cookie is the perfect blend of sweet and savoury. But I'm not sure if I was aiming for a cookie or patty. Try these before you judge. The idea behind the confused cookie is to satisfy and nourish your body in the afternoon. There are plenty of us out there that have hectic work days and want to be able to hit the trails or gym (or whatever activities take your fancy) afterwards. Nourishing our bodies is one way of ensuring we can do that regularly and consistently. WHAT’S GREAT ABOUT THEM? The combination of ingredients, although it may seem a little weird at first, has a purpose; • High in plant based proteins • Packed with vitamins and minerals for…

1. CHECK YOUR FRONT END Check the headset for play by holding on the front brake with one hand, and the other hand on the stem/headset top cap/spacers. Rock the bike backwards and forwards. Feel for any movement or knocking. Another indication is if you have spacers under the stem and the headset is loose, you will be able to spin these easily. Check all stem bolts. Use a torque wrench and tightened to the manufactures spec. Most stems have these marked on them. We’ll start at the front of the bike and work our way back. Don't forget your torque wrench! 2. SEAT HEIGHT AND SLIPPAGE Check your seat post clamp is tightened to manufacturer's spec. Too tight and your dropper will start to bind. Too loose and your…

At the start of March, Pirelli announced that they would bring their marquee Scorpion brand to the world of mountain biking. The Scorpion name has won 70 world titles in motorsport, and it’s clear that Pirelli have high aspirations for their first venture into mountain bike tyres. During the launch at the base of Mt Etna, Sicily, we were shown four tread patterns that would be used across 2.2”, 2.4” and 2.6” tyres. Pirelli are using their own single compound rubber in the tyres to maximise tread life and grip. While tyres will be available in 27.5” (2.4” and 2.6” widths) and 29” (all widths) and a lighter casing option for 2.2” and 2.4” tyres, the restriction to four tread patterns is aims to simplify decision making. Pirelli studied the…

Having recently spent some time in the Victorian high country, I was pretty lucky to be able to attend the 2019 MTB de Femme (see article, this issue). The whole event was really positive and uplifting and the whole theme of the weekend was empowerment and testing your limits. One of the most encouraging things was the panel of experienced riders sharing their experiences of overcoming fears. Gravity shredder Ebony Tanzen spoke of how she’s not all that fly with being in the air for a long time, and is working towards getting comfortable jumping and hitting bigger drops. Australian champion downhiller and coach Indi Boer, who admitted she once had a fear of heights when drops, of an epic scale, became routine on the World Cup downhill circuit and…

Tight Lines Racing are one of many large groups who make events like Cape to Cape part of their yearly traditions. I caught up with TLR for a great meal one night, to hear more about the crew from far around Australia, and what that adds to the event experience. “It’s a bit of home and a bit of family and the boys look after you like you’re one of the family,” says David Harris. “I suppose everyone is somehow connected in the group and some of the connections are very loose. But it’s nice to come back after a stage and hang out with a group of friendly people and have some great food and drink.” Food, drink and socialising are very much a part of the TLR approach.…

About 2000 years ago there was a gigantic explosion releasing 100,000 times the thermal energy of the Hiroshima atomic bomb. Mount Vesuvius volcano erupted and spewed its lava and ashes over 30 kilometres into the air; several Roman settlements were obliterated and buried underneath massive pyroclastic surges and ashfall deposits, the best known being Pompeii and Herculaneum. Napoli, as the Italians call the city of Naples, was my most recent destination for yet another ‘urban adventure’. The idea was to traverse this historical city and surrounding area on bikes in 5 days. From the breathtaking Amalfi coast, via Pompeii to the crater of the Vesuvio, into the urban jungle, history, culture, traffic and chaos of the 3000-year old streets of Napoli to the beautiful island of Ischia in the Bay…

What the heck is a Spectral? Is it even a thing? The dictionary states that a Spectral is ‘of, or relating to a Spectrum’. How the heck does that relate to a bike? What does a spectrum have to do with cycling? Why did Canyon call it a Spectral? Ryan Walsch tested a Canyon Spectral CF 9.0 SL about 12 months ago, and since they offer a women’s version of the bike built from the ground up with tweaks in everything from geometry to platform, suspension build and contact points – it was deemed worth looking at. In essence, Canyon have rejected the recent trend of altering the specifications on an existing unisex frame for women, and have built the Spectral WMN from the ground up. The bike tested, the…

Pirelli are synonymous with performance tyres, and after coming back to the cycling market with their road cycling range in 2017, many wondered whether they would follow the rougher path into the world of mountain bike tyres. We have covered a lot of the technical details about Pirelli’s Scorpion MTB tyres online already – and now with more trail time on the treads it’s time to see how they stacked up in Australian conditions. FOUR TREADS, MANY USES Pirelli haven’t designed tyres aimed at XC, or trail, or enduro. They have made four tread patterns, and made them in 2.2”, 2.4”, 2.6” and then 27.5” (for the two widest) or 29”. The larger tyres have deeper tread, casings that are more heavy duty on the larger tyres, and the larger…

The development of kids' bikes over the last 5 years has been incredible. There are some truly amazing offerings from entry level all the way up to 20-inch wheeled mini trail bikes which would make most adults drool. While the bikes have come a long way, the setup of the bikes is really important as you’ll often find kids at the extreme end of the sizing spectrum for said bike and adjustments need to be made on a regular basis as they tend to grow pretty quickly. Setting up bikes with kids can be a lot of fun and remember to involve them in the process which will also help them understand what can be adjusted as they grow. Also remember that it’s not your bike! Multiple reflectors, crazy colours,…

Each of us will reach stages in our training lives where we seem to be battering our head against a brick wall and wondering why we’re seemingly not progressing, not seeing those new power numbers, reduced lap times on our local track or progressing in our local races! Don’t be worried by this as it is very normal as you could well have reached a plateau in performance. When an athlete first starts out on a structured training program, big improvement can be seen. I have witnessed improvements in power output between 5– 20% across multiple time durations. Big gains are often associated with the athletes cycling history and would generally be bigger for those new to cycling. Using a power meter to measure our output on the bike is…