Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 181 i Australian Mountain Bike

Rider: Paul van der Ploeg Australia’s High Country had a devastating summer, but many communities were lucky and had minimal damage. One of those is Falls Creek, and Paul van der Ploeg was quick to get back up the hill and rip on the trails. Falls Creek is open until April 12, will you make the trip? Rider: Tanya Bailey Tanya Bailey living that slab life over in Western Australia. If you haven’t ridden in the west, it is well worth the visit. There’s a whole lot more variety over there than you might think! Go grab our last issue for more details. The Silk Road Mountain Race called on riders to dig deep into their toolkit of courage. With a 1700km course that was as demanding as it was…

Always evolving, the 2020 Crocodile Trophy route is a reflection on the success of 2019 when the route received acclaim from all who completed the 25th anniversary event. In 2020 the 8-day event expands back to 9 days with a prologue at Smithfield Mountain Bike Park. The 9km race against the clock will help sort out the start order before the race’s marathon stages start on Saturday 17th October, as riders head over the range to Ringers Rest and the race really gets started. The total route covers 700km on the way to Port Douglas, with 14000m of climbing, and runs from 16-24 October 2020. You will race on singletrack in the rainforest, double track on remote rural properties, along the beach, and through wild trails in the Daintree. The…

The big one is coming! Of all the races in the world, the Olympic XCO race for many racers is the pinnacle event. Four years of preparation and a lifetime of hard work has led to a few riders already booking their ticket to Tokyo. For many others, the next few months of racing will decide if their Olympic dream will come true in 2020. The Nove Mesto World Cup in May will mark the penultimate stop on the Olympic journey for some racers. A top performance there could sign the ticket for the train bound for Tokyo, which will make this World Cup race a hard-fought spectacle. World Cups have around 120+ riders take to the start line while World Championships feature about 90 riders in the men’s race,…

How high and far can someone actually fly on a mountain bike? My previous idea of manageable dimensions on two wheels is currently being completely overthrown. I crouch in the bushes in one of the most remote places I have ever visited. All of my focus is on staring through the eyepiece of my Nikon camera. I cannot miss the upcoming flight phase of this crazy rider, because such a riding style cannot go on forever and I want a picture of the spectacle as long as it is still possible. We are in British Columbia (B.C.), Canada and the scenario with the bushes, the remote location and the insane mountain biker is playing out for the second time this week. At Red Bull Rampage last year, I briefly got…

When I’m looking for races to ride or adventures to tackle, I try to look for something unique. Something that will take me somewhere new or offer an experience like no other. Along with my cross-country racing throughout the year, I always try to add a stage race or a marathon into the mix. In the past I’ve done races like the Alpentour in the Austrian mountains and the Belgian Mountain Bike Challenge in the Ardennes. Races like these offer vastly different experiences and have an individual ‘feel’ to them. The Cape Epic, The Pioneer and Swiss Epic make up the global Epic Series and offer riders a chance to experience three incredibly unique and vastly different events all within one series. The rugged South African bush during the pinnacle…

When the new Marzocchi Z1 was announced in 2018 I was surprised not to see a coil option. While uber supple, the Z1 we reviewed last year equipped with a simple and robust Fox air spring and damper left me thinking there was space in the market for a coil option or upgrade. Fans can rejoice as the coil Z1 has returned for the folk whom want simple, supple and send ready fun up front! Marzocchi offered the fork as a coil option ready to ride out of the box or as an upgrade kit for owners of a Z1 or Fox 36 Rhythm. The coil conversion is offered with a choice of four spring rates with a rider weight range of 54kgs to 113kgs and a high gloss red…

Derby is a magical place nestled in the north-east end of Tasmania, and in only a short few years has gone from a modern day ghost town to a buzzing mountain bike destination. It’s one of those places, if you haven’t been there already, you should be planning to go. Now, the former mining town has two bike shops, a pizzeria, two pubs, a bakery, a few cafes and even an outdoor beer garden all along the main drag. With heaps of accommodation and AirBNBs popping up Derby is becoming a one stop shop mountain bike destination. But, hidden in the trees is something a bit different which offers to the best of our knowledge a one of a kind mountain biking experience. Cleverly concealed inside the Blue Derby Trail…

Being able to reach for a healthy option without having to think about shopping, cooking or cleaning up can be a lifesaver when you’re juggling work, life and training. However, there are some key things to think about before you dive right into the freezer for a ready-made meal, so you don’t compromise your performance on the bike. There are now some great ready-made meal options out there, and the variety is almost endless which is a big improvement. To help you decide on the best option for you, make sure you do your research. OVERALL NUTRITION First things first: Is this ready-made meal going to give you what you need in terms of nutrition? To make sure you’re getting what you need from your meal to support your training,…

Dr Tim Noakes MD was the first to introduce the concept of the central governor theory: which posits that fatigue and reduced performance is wholly managed by the brain (the centre) as a protective mechanism against physical damage, prior to damage occuring. Noakes put forward a model of fatigue that had all athletes never quite reaching their potential due to the brain’s ongoing need to maintain equilibrium or homeostasis. How else could exhausted marathon runners surge towards the end of a maximal effort event? The earlier focus of fatigue was the peripheral model, understood as events related to an inefficient tissue oxygen delivery, metabolic accumulation, muscular acidosis and muscle substrate depletion1 . This theory began in the 1920s, and was ‘validated’ by experimental trials to exhaustion in which oxygen was…

It’s all too easy to get mired down with choices for new tyres, wheel sizes, suspension settings, rim widths and colour-matched clothing and helmets, when sometimes the most important decision is staring us in the face. When will you next go for a ride? Just getting out and riding your bike can often be the best answer to any question you have about your bike, bike parts, where your next mountain bike trip will take you, or just any sort of question beyond the scope of mountain biking. Indeed, getting out and riding your bike can provide the perfect clarity for making a decision about life, work or what’s happening at home. It’s simple, ride your bike, smile at people, share the trails and go back home a better version…

The 2021 Enduro World Series calendar has been released, and right after the EWS circus visits Nelson, it will drop into Tasmania in April 2021. The series will also have two rounds in the USA and of course hit the high and steep trails of the European Alps. The 2019 edition of Shimano Enduro Tasmania saw in excess of 5000 spectators cheering the riders on. In 2021 the schedule will be expanded into a more inclusive multi-day festival with a dedicated EWS Kids event, eMTB events with the Derb-E and an expanded line up of entertainment. All we can say is book your time off work, travel and accommodation right now!…

Keen-eyed readers may remember we mentioned that there is an upcoming redevelopment at Wylde MTB Park to accomodate the M12 Motorway and also give the venue a revamp. Just before this current issue went to print, the plans for the upcoming changes were released at a public session down at Wylde itself. Among the upcoming changes there’s quite a lot to get excited about, with a new pump track that’s expected to be the longest in Australia, planned space for a BMX facility and skills park, and a wider variety of trails including a couple of black-rated sections being added, along with more track junctions to offer a wider variety of experiences and options to keep things interesting. There’s a general focus on suiting longer-travel trail bikes, now the more…

We are in the middle of a deluge on the east coast of Australia. As I write this, our local creeks are thundering, our tanks are overflowing and flash flooding intermittently causes chaos on the arterials and motorways of the region. It’s very easy to find a reason to stay inside, drinking coffee and playing Nintendo. Bike time is relegated to the shed, because short hard efforts in the rain, or longer, wetter, fire-road rides with friends seems like a pretty tough day out. It’s difficult to justify a few hours of fun in the singletrack for the havoc it can cause on our trail networks. Kit gets damp, bikes get dirty, bearings seem to always need replacing and it’s a ripe microcosm of heat and moisture for unusual fungus…

After an enduro last year at Red Hill in Victoria, Lachlan McKillop had crashed pretty hard, and when the race was said and done, he was feeling pretty beaten up. In search of relief, he didn’t pop a few Ibuprofen or reach for a tube of Voltaren; instead, he put a few drops of cannabidiol (CBD) oil underneath his tongue to dull the soreness. McKillop is no stranger to managing pain; he’s undergone two major knee surgeries - one to repair damage to his ACL and another for a shattered patella. “I used Voltaren for quite some time, and it worked — it took the pain away and didn’t make you groggy or anything. But, it really messed with my gut, and I had borderline irritable bowel syndrome.” McKillop says.…

Maydena Bike Park has a name now known around the world. My first day at Maydena was to cover the Gravity Enduro National Championships. Nick Waygood and I had driven over from St Helens in the north-east the day prior and we were slated to shoot the event then hang around for a few days to explore the park before heading back to the mainland. Neither of us had previously been to Maydena, or Tasmania for that matter, and had no idea what to expect. We ran into fellow photographer Ryan Finlay as we were headed up the mountain, and knowing his way around the park Ryan helped us hatch a plan to divide and conquer to shoot the race. “To get down to your stages you will have to…

Stage races like The Pioneer require a lot of time on the bike which means that being comfortable and familiar with your ride is paramount. I raced my sponsored 2018 Norco Revolver FS in The Pioneer. I’ve been on this model for a while and am very familiar with everything, which means I can do most maintenance work on my bike in the camp or out on the trail, with varying levels of success. For these longer stage races and marathons, I run Shimano XTR M9100 12 speed, with a 34t chainring and a 10-51t rear cassette. The XTR Race brakes were matched with 160mm rotors and regular metallic pads to give me a bit more longevity in the muddy conditions. Wheels were the DT Swiss XRC 1200 Spline with…

What sort of bike do you use for a multi-day bikepacking trip, and what do you pack? We say, take the bike that works for you and pack what you need to get through. The bikes on the event were as diverse as the people, but we contacted Jeff Kerkove from Colorado, USA, to see the finer details on his carbon hardtail and pack list. You’ll notice a couple of changes like a double chainring and a sturdier, longer travel fork on his bike, and some pretty specific lightweight and warm clothing. This is a complete gear list of what Jeff pedalled and pushed to 5th place at the Silk Road Mountain Race in a time of 8 days, 16 hours and 32 minutes. 1 Canyon Exceed (size L) with…

Trek have always been one of the biggest brands in the cycling industry, their history, quality and range have always made them one of the greats. Whilst Trek have been producing eMTBs for a few years now, they had failed to really deliver a real eMTB that could compete in popularity with the likes of some of the other larger brands like Specialized and Merida. In choosing to run the reliable yet very large Gen 3 Bosch Performance Line CX motors on the older Powerfly LT, the geometry and handling has always been compromised. This really seemed to affect their popularity, at least here in Australia. Finally, this is all about to change. Bosch have released their brand-new Gen 4 motor and it’s got some massive improvements. Trek are one…

Stans NoTubes rims and tubeless products quickly became widespread across the mountain bike world over the last decade and a half. The popular Crest, Arch and Flow models have always been the core rims but the range has expanded with wheels and rims to suit more uses, and a move to carbon fiber as well. Still, the Crest, Arch and Flow are longstanding models that suit cross-country, trail and enduro/all-mountain riding. Each rim has been updated and the latest generation Arch Mk3 rims are an ideal evolution for riders looking for a modern trail bike or hard-hitting cross-country rim without going to carbon. WIDE IS RIGHT – TO A POINT It really is up for debate as to what the right width for a mountain bike rim is. The new…

Gloves are one of the most useful contact points going, and if you’re a gloves-free rider you will hate to hear that. But the right gloves give you better tactile feedback with your bars in w ider range of conditions, protect your hands from crashes, the sun, and a thrashing from trail-side flora. It is easy to be put off by gloves that have a poor fit, high price or just get too hot. There are plenty of times during a ride where you need to use your digits precisely. Be it adjusting something on your bike, using your touchscreen, a camera, a GPS, or just opening and closing pockets or zips on your clothes or a backpack. Use some gloves that don’t fit well and it’s a quick recipe…

Jack Moir has had plenty of successes in downhill racing, with a 2nd place in the 2017 Fort William World Cup, 4th place in the 2017 Cairns World Championships, Crankworx Downhill series winner in 2016, along with no less than 3 top-10 finishes in as many starts in Enduro World Series (EWS) races when he’s dipped his toe in those waters. Now in a huge switch, he’s signed with the Canyon Collective for 2020 to race full-time in the Enduro World Series. AMB: Was the decision to leave Intense Factory Racing (IFR) bittersweet, looking back on the highlights you’ve had? JM: That part definitely sucked. A lot has changed since my first few years at Intense though. I had a good run with those guys, but it was time for…

Nearly 1500 riders lined up for the Otway Odyssey in Forrest in February, and the 100km Otway Odyssey had a new course record set by professional road cyclist Robbie Hucker of Team UKYO, in what many claim was one of the strongest fields at a mountain bike race in years. Hucker has recently returned to mountain biking and broke the course record by almost three minutes in a time of 4:15:39, ahead of Cameron Ivory in second place (4:18:14) and Reece Tucknott third (4:20:05). “It was a good course; tough, hard work, but I just tried to keep my momentum and stay calm so I’m pretty happy with that,” said Hucker. “I knew my fitness was there off the road bike, but my skills are a little bit less desirable,…

If only World Cup Downhill had pre-season just like Moto GP, we would have something fresh to talk about. The gap between the last race of 2019 and the first of 2020 feels like an eternity. As exciting as the last World Cup Season was, I can barely remember who did what and when. Maybe it’s because I’ve tried to supress most of it given the French were so dominant, even though their performances were that good they should be re-watched at least once a month for the next 10 years. Don’t worry, this isn’t me setting up to unload again on MTBA or Cycling Australia later in the piece. Maybe my frustrations from a long off-season comes from the constant hit of social influencing, everyone is looking to cash…

Driving into Derby there are bikes everywhere — on cars, outside shops, bolted to the roofs of buildings and yes, under riders too. With the recognition the Blue Derby mountain bike trail network has earned and the way the town is bustling you would probably guess that it has been around just as long as somewhere like Mount Beauty, but things only really took off in 2015. Before Derby became a mountain bike town, it was a locale on the verge of going bust. When World Trail founder Glen Jacobs first rolled into Derby he remembers there was only one person out on the street, and they were boarding up the windows of a shop. “People were living here of course, but nothing was going on, and it (the town)…

The final Pioneer presentation offered a great time to look back at the winners from the week and those who gave it their best. It also showcased riders who have taken on the challenge of becoming an Epic Legend. These are riders who have completed all three epic races around the world: Swiss Epic, Cape Epic and The Pioneer. It’s a major investment to tackle all three, but the reward in experiences will be cashed in for years to come. Two riders who have tackled all three epic events within 2019 are South Africans Denzyl O’Donoghue and Pieter du Preez from team Axis House Cycle 4 CANSA. After racing the Cape Epic in 2017 and 2018, the team committed to the full series in 2019, while also raising money for…

By launching an all-new sequel to its popular predecessor, Pivot has their fans world over excited about the launch of the new Switchblade. The genre bending original opened riders’ eyes to the possibility of a true all-in bike, switching from 27.5+ to 29” wheels along with geometry that pushed the conventional norms, they produced a bike that would take riders everywhere from after work spins to Enduro World Series stages. In launching the all-new Switchblade with a completely redesigned DW-link suspension layout, has Pivot been able to hit that all mountain sweet spot again? Or has the need to satisfy so many different scenarios produced a bike that makes too many compromises to please everyone? Let’s take a closer look. INITIAL IMPRESSIONS The first thing you notice on the new…

One of the most banal but important things to figure out for mountain biking is how you’re going to carry fluid. We have seen many bike manufacturers forget the need for a water bottle mount, and then be slaughtered on social media by riders whose climate and needs dictate that they carry a water bottle. Carrying a bottle on your bike is one of the simplest ways to make sure you can stay hydrated when on the trail, be it for a short afternoon jam or a longer ride. But that doesn’t mean all bottle cages suit mountain biking. Fidlock make a huge array of products relying on the magic of magnets, and the Fidlock water bottle incorporates two magnetic fasteners that secure a specific bottle to the mount with…

I’m a sucker for a new backpack, and Patagonia have made plenty of bags that I have wanted to add to my collection. Their new Black Hole range using recycled materials really caught my eye. With my current go-to backpack wearing through at the bottom, plus having paid a high price for a Macbook repair after water ingress, I was keen to find a backpack that was hard-wearing and water-resistant. Being made from recycled materials was the cherry on top – and something we should all be increasingly aware of when making purchases. Now let me be clear, this is not a full-size pack for taking on the trail. It lacks a harness system beyond shoulder straps and a sternum strap to stabilise a 25L load when mountain biking. What…

The front wheel tap up is a relatively unrecognised skill when it comes to trail riding. When it comes to trials riding though (you know, that crazy stuff where they hop around with no seat), it’s a fundamental skill required to make it possible to get up and on to large obstacles. When translated to the trail, it can become a really useful tool to get up high, technical ledges or even over large obstacles like logs or boulders. It’s also pretty damn fun to execute. On the skill level, it definitely ranks as an advanced skill but on the right obstacle and with the right skills base, it can be a relatively low risk manoeuvre to practice, have some fun with and progress. Personally, I use it quite a…

These antioxidant-rich raw cookies are awesome anytime – whether you want to include them as part of your ride nutrition, your post-ride recovery or simply as some afternoon deliciousness. Antioxidants help you recover from stress (e.g. pollution or training) so including foods with a high ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) contributes to preventing the damage by free-radicals on cells. Recent research has even indicated a diet of rich antioxidant foods helps reduce the likelihood of depression, anxiety and stress. Three of this cookie’s ingredients have exceptionally high ORAC values – Cacao, Acai berries and Goji berries – but we’ll only focus on the berries here. Neither are particularly sweet so, combined with the dates, this snack is the perfect amount of crunchy sweet. Native to the Himalayas, Goji berries contain…