Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 159 i Australian Mountain Bike

The Thredbo Cannonball Festival just continues to grow, which fits the growing riding opportunities at Australia’s home of gravity riding and racing. Matt Staggs captured this shot in the fading afternoon light as Josh Clark follows Harry Parsons in the Saturday evening Whip Off. Jackson Frew in action at Thredbo. We featured Thredbo last issue as it really is the home of gravity riding in Australia. They are proving that again with the Thredbo Super Enduro which is on in late February.…

It’s good news for mountain bike riders in Melbourne’s east. Parks Victoria, in partnership with Lysterfield District Trail Riders (LTDR), has completed upgrades to Lysterfield Park mountain bike. With improvements including upgrading jumps and other trail features, laying aggregate, improving water drainage and fixing erosion, the upgrades have improved safety conditions and will enhance the riding experience. “The feedback we’ve had from the community so far has been extremely positive,” said Ben Reeves, president of LDTR. LDTR, through their own fundraising efforts, have provided financial support for the improvements - as well as spending thousands of hours volunteering to maintain and upgrade the bike trails. Reeves says the contributions all the members allows them to give back to the community while also providing a better service for everyone. “I’m 50/50…

There’s a strong racing pedigree in the area. There are regular race series in all disciplines and the Paluma Push Marathon has clocked up an impressive 14 years (soon to be 15). Late last year, Townsville was awarded a two-year contract to host Australia’s National XCM (Cross-Country Marathon) Championships, and the local club, the Townsville Rockwheelers, have seized the opportunity, turning what would otherwise be a weekend of racing into a week-long festival of shredding, sightseeing, and events – the Townsville MTB Festival. XCM CENTRAL – PALLARENDA TRAILS The Townsville MTB Festival will kick off a week of dirt activities on 28 April, when the National XCM Championships come to Pallarenda Conservation Park at the northern tip of town. Here, there are close to 25 kilometres of rocky, flowy, and…

So much has happened in the last nine years – we have had five Australian Prime Ministers, found water on Mars, Facebook grew from 100 million to 1.8 billion users (24% of the global population) and society has (thankfully!) survived the GFC, SARS, Ebola, Zika and Lance Armstrong. Nine years is a long time to be in a relationship, to work for just one company or - in the context of mountain biking in Australia - successfully run an annual race that keeps people excited, energised and coming back for more. Step forward Cape to Cape. Many of us probably associate Margaret River with craft breweries, surrounding wineries, beautiful beaches (plus the odd large fish with sharp teeth) and some of the finest surfing breaks the west coast has to…

“THE BIKE’S AGILITY AND FRAME STIFFNESS, COMBINED WITH A QUALITY BUILD KIT MEANT THAT YOU COULD HAPPILY PUSH THE BIKE HARD THROUGH ROUGHER LINES, OR POP OVER THEM.” Internationally, KTM have a range of hybrids, road and mountain bikes - but in Australia we just have a selection of the mountain bike range which are the models best suited to our terrain and riding. The Lycan sits below their longer travel Lycan LT (that we tested in early 2015) and above their cross-country focused Scarp. KTM claim that the 27.5” wheeled, 125mm travel Lycan 272 is “ a real mountain bike designed for riders who want one bike that can do it all.” And with a handy suspension package, straightforward frame design and Shimano group set, it’s hard not to…

Mention the name Merida and images of tight lycra-clad XC and road racers immediately spring to mind. Long recognised as one of the largest bicycle brands on the planet, Merida’s recent partnership of Taiwanese manufacturing expertise and German R&D brilliance is quickly redefining the company’s image - jerseys are getting bigger, shorts baggier and smiles wider. With a major shakedown of their current off-road models already observed (i.e. One-Twenty and One-Sixty bikes), Merida’s Big Trail rolls into new territory with 27.5” wheels bulging. The purpose of Merida’s all new Big Trail is obvious – trail riding! As their first strike into the plus bike campaign, Merida offer two well-equipped and affordable hardtail options; Big Trail 800 ($2,599) and Big Trail 600 ($1,999). We were fortunate to capture the higher spec’d…

Albert Einstein famously observed that “insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting the same result”. Fortunately for GoPro, its team appear to have taken this sentiment to heart with the impressive upgrade to the company’s tiny Session camera, the Hero5 Session. When the original Session was released two years ago, it was regarded by some as the first misstep from the most famous name in the action camera genre. Compared side-by-side with the GoPro’s Hero range, consumers baulked at the compact, waterproof-without-a-case Session. Fast forward to today and plenty has changed inside the tiny shooter. The Hero5 Session has proudly moved into the middle of a simplified three-camera GoPro lineup, between the Hero5 Black and the current iteration of the original Session. POCKET ROCKET The latest…

HOW MUCH CAFFEINE IS IN THAT? 1 cup instant coffee (average brew) – 60mg 1 espresso shot (regular cappuccino or latte) – 100mg Long black – 200mg 250ml can Red Bull – 80mg 1 cup green or black tea (average brew) – 30mg 375ml can Coke – 49mg Caffeine is one of the few legal ergogenic aids that has substantial evidence behind it. So, how do you use it to get the most out of your legs when you’re on the trails? What is caffeine? We all know caffeine is in coffee and tea… but do you actually know what caffeine is? Caffeine is a stimulant naturally found in the leaves, nuts and seeds of plants. You’ll find it not only in tea and coffee, but also in cola and…

The New Year is in full swing, and if you are like me you have a calendar scrawled with dates and plans and excitement. Year on year, the mountain biking calendar seems to grow. When I started riding more seriously I remember the year hung on the NSW State Series, and the Mont 24hr in October down in Canberra. The National Series was beyond me, and I’d rather go to the beach through summer. And while mountain biking has evolved a lot, and is more of a recreational sport than a competitive one in the mainstream minds, for many riders the options for things to do, events to compete in, trails to ride and big races to watch is close to endless. Consider the fact that, in 2017, Australia has…

You’re never too old to play in the woods, and mountain biking is built on that fact. The 2017 Mont 24hr race runs from 1-2 April in ACT’s East Kowen forest. Arguably Australia’s biggest mountain bike festival, the Mont attracts riders who are keen to ride, to race, to socialise – and to have a whole lot of fun on their bikes and off them as well. With some of the nation’s best trails to shred, the Mont 24hr is the perfect time to get a group of mates together, take Friday off work, disconnect, and head into the forest for some good times on great trails. Full event details are online. selfpropelled.com.au…

You’ve heard the news already, the EWS is coming to Derby. So why not be part of the fun and get down to watch the action? Whether you want to take your bike and ride the trails of Blue Derby, or enter the Challenger class and race on some of the same trails that the EWS racers will use, it is going to be one of the biggest events on our shores in 2017. While practice starts on Friday 7th April, you can stay at the campground from the 5th . Racing runs on April 8th and 9th . This is going to be a huge few days, and you’d be silly to not put in for a few days of leave and join the masses. Check out the full…

“Partners for sport...or...?” Yep, some bloke asked your beloved AMB editor that back when he and his now wife were purely partners for sport. It’s funny how that happens. That a male/female pairing are often assumed to be together when they may just be partners in training, and not in life (I understand this is quite heteronormative, but I can’t deny that’s frequently what people assume). Sometimes, like with the example above, it can turn into a relationship - but more often than not a good riding relationship requires a solid foundation of heckling and spurring each other on, which can become more complicated when there’s more of a vested emotional interest. I have been thinking about this a lot recently, how the people one rides with tend to shape…

The new year has started and that means it’s time for full gas summer racing and adventures with mates. It’s also a great time to sit down with some popcorn and see what teams the professional riders will be racing for in 2017. While the transfer season in mountain biking isn’t quite as dynamic as it is in road cycling, there were still some big changes. The future of the riders from the Multivan Merida team was of particular interest after the announcement that they would be closing the doors at the end of 2016. As one of the biggest teams on the cross-country mountain biking circuit, their departure saw some stellar names without a team for the upcoming campaign. Arguably the biggest star on the team was Czech rider…

But like so many things that have been introduced to Central Otago – it really took off. And while the gold mining brought prosperity to the region, it also brought new opportunities for what was a very poor area of New Zealand. And now, us mountain bikers get to benefit from what history has created. Old roads have been repurposed as trails, water races for gold mining have turned into mountain bike trails across the steep slopes, the old railways are used as cycle touring routes, the planted forests are riddled with technical singletrack, and some of the high leasehold farms are open for heli-dropped rides. While Central Otago and its mountain bike hotspots of Cromwell, Clyde, Alexandra and Naseby might not have the names of nearby Queenstown and Wanaka…

We were just enjoying the amazing panoramic view of the mountains in the morning light as we immediately switch to full concentration, tunnel view. An old mountain biker’s saying comes to my mind: “You ride where you look”. No sooner had that thought passed and we were away, my focus moving to the narrow path ahead. The mountains vanish from our vantage point. Our hearts beat faster and concentration is at 100 per cent. Phew, all that early in the morning?! Not that the trail is technically demanding but the exposure of some parts demand steady manoeuvres and leave no room for error. As our bodies warm up, our movements become smooth and the joy of riding grows. All hesitation leaves us and makes room for speed. Now we enjoy…

Whyte Bikes are a proud British-designed bike company who strive to build you a bike that works wherever you need it to go in whatever the weather. Over a decade of development has gone into their pressure-forming techniques, resulting in their high performance frame construction. Whyte’s G160 S, as used on the EWS scene, is definitely aimed at the gravity crowd and the aggressive all-rounder. AMB reviewed a G160 back at the end of 2014 – but the industry has moved on a little since then, especially in terms of suspension refinement, and of course a few industry standards, like Boost spacing. FIRST LOOK At a first glance the 6061 aluminium frame stands out with a very nice aesthetic. The G160 has a noticeably long top tube and nice short…

In a time where the cycling world has gone carbon mad, Brisbane-based wheel builders Craftworx have watched the popularity of carbon mountain bike wheels rise from the sidelines. Until now. With their own mountain bike wheel range boasting four different rims - with weights, widths, stiffness and profiles to suit the whole gamut of mountain bike riding - their entry into the carbon wheel game has been measured and calculated in an effort to stick to their core values as a company: quality, ride feel and reliability. Mark Kirby at Craftworx explained: “Alloy rims are very good. It is actually hard to produce something better. It was quite a challenge to get the qualities we want via carbon, to then make a superior rim or wheel.” The Dirty Harry has…

The Compartment 10 trails located in the magnificent South West of Western Australia were opened last October after roughly four years of hard work and planning. And AMB enjoyed a guided visit with trail builder boss David Willcox from Common Ground Trails. With a serious amount of flow, the new trails are sure to bring a grin from ear to ear. A combination of whoops, berms, double rollers and tabletops await. The Compartment 10 trails are built entirely in a small section of native bushland and make the most of the space with links to trails in neighbouring networks. Whilst it is a small area, it does amazingly well in the ever-important “bang for buck” stakes. With a small amount of elevation the climbs are relatively easy, and the descents…

We are in an age that expects immediacy. We have ultimate connectivity. We can Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and text our mates while we are on the trails. We download the latest and greatest in apps. We use our disposable income to purchase shiny new things (including bikes - I’m the first to admit to my own fetishisation of cycling merch! It sure does act as a welcome distraction from the daily grind). We can break a derailleur on the trail, and while waiting for our mate to come and bail us out we can have one ordered and ready to be shipped to the comfort of our own home. This is 2017’s reality. I live near some cool trails and for that I am thankful. Some are hilly and dry.…

Giant has long held a reputation for offering highly functional bikes at value-for-money price points, which has seen them hold a large share of the market for many years now. The Anthem has been a staple in the range and since the mid 2000s and it has had many refinements and tweaks. Come 2017, it’s been stripped back and rebuilt, turning the previous XC thoroughbred into a more versatile short travel, lightning fast trail bike. At the heart of it, the frame and fork travel has been increased to 110mm in the rear and 120mm up front - an increase from 100/100 in the 2016 version. Geometry has been updated to sport a longer top tube, shorter chainstays, and a slacker head angle for greater stability at higher speeds. Hub…

In an industry of ever-evolving genres and standards, you’d be forgiven for seeing a 29+ bike for the first time and saying, “Urgh, not another style!” In truth the 29+ category predates the rise of other Plus bikes by some years, first being brought to life by Surly in 2012 with their Krampus. The options have remained slim since then however, mostly due to the lack of suspension fork options, and 29+ has been the domain of the bikepacker who had very little need for a light, nimble bike as long as it could roll through hell and back. With their Stache models, Trek aim to redefine the 29+ genre with a range of bikes that are super comfortable and roll extremely well - but handle like a trail bike…

Given push bikes are based on pedalling a chain over gears, chain security is king when it comes to function. With a front derailleur, thrown chains were normally the sign of poor front derailleur setup, or excessive chain ring or chain wear. Or just getting too out of shape. But with 1x drivetrains, part of that security is lost. Even with narrow-wide chain rings and clutch rear derailleurs, it is possible to throw a chain. Fitting a chain guide becomes an easy insurance policy, especially if you’re riding against the clock. Funn’s Zippa Lite range have a direct mount type top guide, an S3 mount top guide, or an ISCG05 type guide with bash guard. We tested the D-type and ISCG05 mount. Fitting for both is relatively straightforward, with shims…

Hairpin (180 degree) fire road turns are one of those things which can be a whole lot of fun, or a whole lot of bad news. They are fairly common, both on race courses and fire road links on trail networks and to be honest, sometimes I don’t mind a good slide around them. If there’s one thing we all know about fire roads, it’s that they are slippery and loose. They are also incredibly easy to overcook and end up out wide in the rough, or over the edge. Braking points and control is key, as is picking the right line. Here’s how to get it done: STEP 1: BRAKE EARLY Braking early is key to fire road turns. Look up and look for the widest possible entry and…

Healthy meals don’t have to be expensive, complicated or time-consuming - as proved by this lamb and bulgur salad. Build your own adventure towards a higher vegetable intake, even protein intake and adjust your carbohydrate intake to suit your training/activity level (or lack of it). Protein portions should be evenly spread throughout the day to provide an even intake of amino acids to your muscles. Carbohydrate intake should be varied from different grains and starchy vegetables and match your activity levels. Fat intake comes from plant based omega 3 sources. Build your own adventure provides a framework for achieving balanced meals. INGREDIENTS serves two PROTEIN - 100g Lamb rump *Choose red meat 3 times per week *Choose non meat protein sources for vegetarian and/or vegan options CARBOHYDRATE - 1 cup…

Hopefully someone was kind to you this Christmas and gave you a SRAM Eagle group set. If you were that lucky, we’re going to talk you through how to install it. We won’t give a rundown of how to build your bike from scratch, but more the vital information about what to swap over and how to set up if you are upgrading from a SRAM 1x11 build to 1x12. YOU WILL NEED STEP ONE We’ll start with the crank set. As Eagle was designed as a group, we recommend you use the whole kit (no aftermarket chain rings). Pop the crank set into whatever BB style cranks you have. Here we have a GXP set. Tighten the crank bolt to the relevant torque marked on the crank bolt. STEP…