Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 161 i Australian Mountain Bike

Rider: Baxter Maiwald Photographer: Tom Mallett This summer was huge for Thredbo. While the New South Wales alpine resort has long-held the title of the home of gravity, its spread of trails has been increasing thanks to the vision and work of Dirt Art. There’s far more to point your bike down than just the Cannonball run - and a visit to Thredbo gives you plenty to ride, as well as daily lift access. With first snows now settling onto the new trails high on the mountain and lower in the valleys, we’ll have to see how they bed in with the pressure of an Australian winter snow load. But we can’t wait to put tyres to dirt when they are open again in late spring. Riders: Kaine Cannan Photographer:…

Want to get down to Tasmania to shred trails but don’t have the time to sort out logistics? Well Bus 2 Berms take the hassle out for you. They can organise your shuttles, or even your transfers to Blue Derby from Launceston Airport. The crew can also recommend what trails to ride depending on the experience you want and current conditions. Bus 2 Berms is run in collaboration with Sainty’s Coaches, who have over 40 years of experience operating in Tasmania. By working with Ride Tassie, they have combined to provide a seamless service for visiting mountain bikers. Right now, Bus 2 Berms want four AMB readers to have a mountain bike trip to remember at Blue Derby, and have provided the following prize pack for a lucky winner who…

SOME GIRLS LOVE SHOES AND BAGS; MY LOVE IS BACKPACKS. In Bikeland, where many of us reside (whether it be through our hobbies, work or online daily distractions) we are often sold the latest and greatest. That’s fine; technology is moving swiftly and we have seen the development from 26” to 29” and now 27.5” in less than 10 years. There seems to be a new industry standard with each year’s models. Technological advances mean we now have 160mm travel bikes that can pedal uphill, something that would have been mind-blowing a decade ago. We have lightweight, more protective helmets and better fitting clothing. The tides change rapidly and, generally, it’s for the enjoyment of the end user: kooky bike geeks like me and you. I appreciate all the stuff…

“It was a great day and an awesome event on the best trails in Australia.” The words of Garry James perfectly summed up the feelings of everyone at the AMB100 at Mt Stromlo in April – and not just because he was triumphant in the 100km Super Masters category! By far and away the biggest reaction from all riders - whether they were doing a 33km one-lap blast or dragging themselves out of bed in the dark for a 5am start in the 100 mile marathon – was regarding the perfect weather conditions. It must be said that a few competitors had bad memories of 40-degree temperatures when the four-year-old event was previously held in February, so they were delighted with the two-month bump on the calendar that brought with…

In August last year, Ironman (who own The Pioneer) announced they had also bought the Cape Epic. Reactions to the news in the mountain bike world varied. Some people were concerned it would mean the cost of the Cape Epic would increase, others thought that the influx of ‘Ironmen’ (not the professional athletes) into the mountain biking world might change the sport. But when I spoke to Cape Epic founder Kevin Vermaak during The Pioneer, his decision to sell his race to Ironman was about growing mountain bike stage races globally. Or to be clear – he wants The Pioneer to be the first stage race to become a part of a global stage race series, and an event that lets people qualify for a highly coveted starting position at…

Avanti are as Kiwi as they come, and the bike brand that is synonymous with making great value and great riding bikes was launched in 1985. Two years after they brought out their 10-speed road bike, Avanti sent the Revolution to market, which was their first foray into mountain biking. From there it was a story of growth, with unique designs coming out of New Zealand to the local market and to Australia from 1990. Nathan Rennie raced on Avanti in the late 90s and since then, Avanti’s bikes have won national, world and Olympic titles across various cycling disciplines. With Avanti’s mountain bike focus leaning mostly to trail riding, they were quick to jump into plus-sized bikes - with a 2.8” (or larger) tyre on a 27.5” rim. The…

DHaRCO’s second generation tech tees feature new prints and an updated version of a custom fabric called ‘drirelease’. This moisture-wicking, odour-controlling fabric feels like a soft cotton t-shirt but is meant to dry several times faster and retain its shape after heavy use. We tested the men’s ‘party’ tee and the women’s ‘black triangles’ tee. Both designs hit that magic mark where it’s the right amount of tight and the right amount of loose. It’s long enough to keep you covered while descending and (for women) high enough on the front to keep your cleavage in check. The slim fit cut means they stay in place nicely on the trails, although some riders may want to size up if they’re not so slim in physique or prefer a roomier fit.…

The darks days and cold mornings can make it difficult to stay motivated to train in winter. What you eat can have a big impact on your mood and your ability to train well. Try these tactics to make the most of your winter training, so you can come out fighting fit in spring. 1. PUSH FLUIDS, NOT JUST PEDALS Staying hydrated during winter is essential, especially when training. In summer we see sweat trickling down our foreheads so drinking is at the top of our minds. We can sweat just as much in winter, but your sweat is being absorbed by your jersey or base layer - so drinking is often forgotten about. Even a small amount of dehydration can affect your performance on the bike, but also make…

Winter is fast approaching and much of Australia is beginning to get cold, wet and dark. It is to be expected that your enthusiasm for getting out on the bike in such conditions will dwindle a little in favour of rigging up the indoor trainer or perhaps just staying in bed! This is a great time of year to start some off-bike strength and conditioning training. It is my belief that many riders would actually gain more benefit from spending some quality time each week working on functional strength off the bike, rather than just slogging out extra kilometres on two wheels. I have recently completed a Level One qualification in Strength and Conditioning (S&C). The main reason for doing the course was because I have witnessed so many riders…

There’s no avoiding the fact that this issue of AMB is heavy on event coverage. From Crankworx and The Pioneer in New Zealand, through to the Enduro World Series (EWS) in Tasmania and the recent National Marathon Championships in Townsville. None of these events were as a simple as an afternoon shred on the trails for any of the participants, and none of those attending would have expected that. They probably wouldn’t have even enjoyed them if the riding was easy. While at both The Pioneer and the National Marathon Championships, I had similar thoughts. They ran along the lines of “Why do I do this? This isn’t fun!” And it’s true – at that very moment I wasn’t having fun. I was in pain, tired, and struggling to focus…

PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR The prestigious title of AMB Photography Awards ‘Photographer of the Year’ will be awarded to the entrant who submits the best portfo lio of four images that covers each of the categories (Speed, Adventure, Skill & Lifestyle) with an extended caption for each. The Photographer of the Year competition will be judged by a panel of mountain bike experts. The winner receives... $3000 PLUS A SHIMANO XTR M9050 Di2 GROUP SET Both professionals and amateurs are encouraged to enter all elements of the competition. The best images in the four individual categories will be shortlisted and put to a vote by the public. There are prizes of $500 on offer for the image with the most votes in each of the four categories. CATEGORIES TO ENTER…

By the time you read this, the first World Cup Downhill will have been run and won, and (rain withstanding) it wouldn’t have been too much of a stretch to think that a big wheeled bike would power onto the podium. I feel bad for saying this, but the intrigue surrounding such a technological shift has been great for both fans and riders. Consumer interest in mountain biking is on the rise, with live race feeds now delivered into our homes or sweaty palms anywhere in the world (save for the frequent RedBull TV hiccup). In turn, the popularity is growing to an extent where we are seeing interest from outside the traditional flannel-wearing base we have come to know. The formula is simple and makes for captivating viewing -…

I’m out of control. You know the feeling – a momentary loss of focus, a slight misjudgement, an overcorrection of the handlebars and you’re falling. Eyes closed; brace for impact. WHUMP! Instead of the expected hard pain dulled by adrenaline, the contact is nicely gentle, if a little cold. That’s because either side of the trail are foot-deep snow banks, a powdery cushion in which my bike and my body are now half buried. My face and helmet look like they’ve been dipped in coconut frosting but I can’t stop laughing at the incongruity and painlessness of my fall. I shouldn’t be that surprised. It’s pitch dark and -20°C this mid-winter’s evening in Canada’s Northwest Territories - specifically the town of Yellowknife (population 20,000). I’m riding a circuit of Grace…

With rolling hills, tall peaks, rushing rivers, rich farmland, exquisite vineyards and some excellent country pubs, Central Otago has a lot to offer a visiting mountain biker. While ‘Central’ has some great singletrack based around Alexandra, the area might be best known for the trails that pull in mountain bikers, cycle tourists, and active travellers from all around the world. While the Otago Central Rail Trail has become the poster child for rail trails and cycle trails that have a broad appeal the world over, the whole area has a wealth of gold mining history that has left the landscape full of relics, and old routes to link one town to the next. And part of New Zealand’s push to have a range of national cycle trails includes the Clutha…

 Cube is a German bike manufacturer, founded in 1993. Despite being a relatively new company (in the grand scheme of bicycle production) Cube are now exporting to 60 countries and are best known for their range of mountain bikes. Anyone with a keen interest in the Enduro World Series will know the brand’s pro team, the Cube Action Team, featuring athletes such as Nico Lau and Greg Callaghan. “THE FOX FLOAT DPS PROVIDED MINIMAL PEDAL BOB AND WAS QUITE EFFICIENT WHEN THE TRAIL TURNED SKYWARD” Though Cube have been in Australia for a number of years, they’re not a major player in the market as yet, although they do offer a complete range of bikes for all mountain bike disciplines: from cross-country to downhill. We tested one of the most…

Earlier this year we were lucky to be loaned a big Isuzu D-Max for a couple of weeks while we worked on some bike tests and photo shoots on the trails in South-East Queensland. With riders carried in the cab up front, and room for bikes in the tray, the obvious thing that was missing was a way to make sure the bikes were transported safely. That’s where the Yakima Crashpad comes in. Pull in to any trailhead carpark and you’ll see people using a whole range of methods for carrying their bikes to the trail. There are roof racks with the front wheel on, or off. Or the tetris option of fitting bikes and gear in the back of the car – sometimes this game is more complex with…

Gap Creek Reserve, just west of Brisbane’s CBD, is one of this bike-friendly city’s most popular MTB parks. Council have recently expanded the car park to accommodate the hordes of shredders of all ages and abilities who flock here each sunny Queensland weekend. Gap Creek Reserve is where many Brisbanites did their first ride. It was the first park in Southeast Queensland to gain legal recognition of its ‘mountain bike only’ trails, and remains a favourite for its easy access and proximity to the city (just seven kilometres if you drop in from the top of Mt Coot-tha). Gap Creek is kept alive and in beautiful condition by the Gap Creek Trails Alliance, who have worked closely with the City Council to maintain trail access and expand the mountain bike…

They say sport is the greatest unscripted drama, and time and time again this is proved to be a brutally accurate account of a supposed ‘leisure’ activity. This drama plays out, often to the detriment of the dreams and aspirations of those battling between the tape. Some drama is somewhat predictable in cycling. An attack may occur where the strongest rider breaks clear of the rest and the only remaining question is whether or not they will be caught. At the end, there will be a winner and a loser - the winner will be happy, the loser not so much. Some races, though, play host to far more absurd occurrences. Ones that have spectators gobsmacked and athletes posing the sort of questions that can keep you up at nights.…

“TRACKS WITH LONG SWEEPING SHALLOW TURNS, MAKING YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE CARVING A LONGBOARD, ARE TRANSFORMED INTO THE STRAIGHTEST LINE POSSIBLE BY RIDERS TRYING TO FIND THEIR LIMITS.” PART I IT’S NOT RAINING Rumours about new tracks, old tracks, man-made or scratched in were red hot leading into the race. And as riders began using their downtime to get out there and walk the stages, it wasn’t long before social media started to fill up with pictures of giant boulders, long straights filled with rocks, as well as soil barely touched by machine or rake. It looked tough, it looked wild and best of all, it looked good. The top section of stages two and four were new, along with a completely new stage six, featuring the infamous trout…

It was probably as little as 10 years ago that if you asked an Aussie about Rotorua they would mention geothermal activity, or Maori culture. Always a tourist destination, the town— located in the north island of New Zealand—had people seeking it out as early as the early 1800s to experience the healing quality of the hot pools, witness the geothermal wonders and observe the Maori performances and practices. Within the past decade, though, Rotorua’s tourism has gone from strength to strength and if you posed the question now, many people would be able to list the region’s network of world-class mountain bike trails as a key feature. The trails and mountain biking community is so strong in New Zealand that for the past three years Rotorua has been host…

 Trek Bikes are one of the cycling industry’s big success stories. A company that started as a family run business in a small shed in Wisconsin is now one of the world’s largest bike manufacturers. While it’s still controlled by the Bourke family with headquarters located near that original shed, these days the company - which prides itself on its engineering and innovation - produces almost every type of bike imaginable. MATCHED WITH THE SUPERIOR TRACTION PROVIDED BY THE BONTRAGER XR4 TEAM ISSUE TYRES, THIS IS A BIKE THAT SURPRISES YOU WITH ITS ABILITY TO GRIP IN MANY SITUATIONS WHERE OTHERS LET GO, EVEN ON TECHNICAL CLIMBS AND LONG AFTER I EXPECTED THE REAR TO SPIN OUT. Despite this, Trek’s reputation is not the primary reason I sought out the…

When it comes to group sets, the different choices and associated ride experiences they offer are becoming more numerous than post-ride beverage options at your local café or brewery. Until recently, the biggest question riders faced was Shimano or SRAM, and the level of goodness within a given range. But add a preference for a single or double chain ring up front, and Shimano’s customisable Di2 electronic shifting into the mix, and drivetrain choices are reflecting an ability to tailor our bikes more than ever before. Di2 isn’t new. Shimano first went electronic on the road with their Dura-Ace Di2 group set in 2009 and followed this up with their premium dirt offering, XTR Di2 in 2014. XT Di2 was released late last year. XT has always been the more…

Shimano, and their component arm PRO, are known for making reliable and good value products, no matter where they sit in the price range. Dropper posts are becoming ubiquitous to mountain bikes, from Olympic medal-winning cross-country bikes through to race-winning EWS bikes, and of course just about any trail bike. And away from high-end bikes and pro-level servicing, an important aspect is reliability and value for money, especially for dropper posts. ENTER THE KORYAK PRO's Koryak line represents value and reliability in the line up, and that's the level where PRO have introduced their dropper post. The Koryak dropper has 120mm of drop, comes in 30.9mm or 31.6mm sizes (at 415mm long) and with stealth routing only. The posts come with two lever mounts. One that goes on the bar…

A good old-fashioned baked custard is a perfect winter warmer to recover from a big weekend of bike adventures. Eggs are inexpensive and also a very good source of high quality protein which is an essential part of recovery. They also contain many vitamins and minerals to support immune function and energy production. The rice and caramelised pear provide a good source of carbohydrate to refuel (or fuel) your muscles. If you like your baked custard on the sweeter side you will need to add a drizzle of maple syrup. This is well worth the cooking time. INGREDIENTS (Serves 6-8, depending on energy requirements) - 1 pear - sliced fine - ¼ cup water - ¼ cup brown sugar - 1 cup cooked rice (your own preference) - ¼ cup…