Innholdsfortegnelse for issue 183 i Australian Mountain Bike

The new guy on the block. The guy she told you not to worry about. Glendhu Bay, situated on the glistening shores of the lake, overlooking Wanaka, looking out to Treble Cone, Mount Aspiring and at the mouth of the Mototapu Valley, this is the bike park you want to ride, and bank the quintessential Instagram photo of in the process. Having only been open since the start of February 2020, Bike Glendhu is barely broken in. It features some of New Zealand’s finest trail building, having had Tom Hay and his crew from Elevate trail building spend months slaving away, blowing up huge amounts of rock, and slapping enough lips to guarantee a life sentence of carpel tunnel. It shows; The trail are immaculate. Even if Blenki did do…

The internet, social media and our own pages are typically awash with images of trails designed to inspire and enthral mountain bikers. We show photos of trails in destinations that are exotic, we show photos of hero lines and with epic scenery. And while we want to share the stoke of mountain biking, we also want to fuel that fire to get out and explore, and ride somewhere new. Travelling to new trails is one of the best ways to meet new riders, develop greater skills and of course have a great time doing so. It is easy to forget that sometimes the best trails lie closer to home. Some riders say the best ride you can do is the one you’re doing right now. Being able to put your…

When my father removed the training wheels on my bike, I developed a love for biking and the freedom it brings. I remember I had the only one wish for Christmas - my first mountain bike - and how disappointed I was when I found a ladies cruiser behind the curtain next to the Christmas tree. I feel sorry now for my parents for how they must’ve felt after all the scrimping and saving, to see their daughter crying over her Christmas present. Fortunately for me, they were very understanding. They pulled together some extra funds and the cruiser went back to the shop. I became the proud owner of my first and fresh new mountain bike. I’ve been riding ever since and my bike follows me everywhere I go.…

The mountain bike industry is full of innovation, and full of people working on some cool tech and processes to make sure mountain biking is travelling on a sustainable path. “When I started Why Cycles in 2016, we had a whole section on our website on our commitment to sustainability,” says Adam Miller, founder of Why Cycles and Revel Bikes. “We did things like reusing packaging. We’d get our bikes in here in packaging from China that might not look the nicest, but I thought why not use that when we send it back out?” Even your local bike shop gets inundated with packaging. From bike boxes, shoe boxes, all the packaging that a new group set comes in – it all adds up. Most stores here in Australia use…

When Specialized broke cover with the Levo SL, a lightweight eMTB with less power, less range and a higher price tag I wasn’t sure what to think. Despite being open minded I didn’t understand why anyone would want an eMTB that delivered less power. So I was eager to find out what the fuss was about. I reviewed the Specialized Kenevo earlier in the year, a bike that I feel was the start of a wave of super capable eMTBs with long travel, huge power and range. The Kenevo knows it is never going to be a welter weight trail bike and owns it. The Levo SL sits to the other end of the spectrum and does away with all the excess. Like many bikes, understanding their intended use and…

If there was ever a need for more mountain bike tyre innovation, it’s in the eMTB segment. Tyres haven’t needed to be as indestructible since downhill tyres went through their extremely overbuilt era of the early 2000s. In the past five years, pedal-assist mountain bikes have been pushing weight and tyre limits. Tyre manufacturers have had to step up and resist repurposing the light-weight tyres that have been important for the rest of the industry for the last 20 years. Last year I tested the Schwalbe Eddy Current 27.5” which took that thought process to the extreme, with a tyre that wasn’t far off what a motorbike would use. It is a great tyre but it came at somewhat of a weight penalty... too much? Maybe. So in steps the…

Microshift do things a little differently in the drive train world. With the majority of drive train manufacturers pushing hard to add more gears and an ever wider range to their group sets, Microshift have taken the approach of creating reliable and value-focused components that mean you can spend your pennies on other areas of your bike or life. Having tested the 1x9 Advent drive train last year, I was already impressed at the ease of setup and the low maintenance required. By using a standard HG freehub, the 11-42 cassette mounted on just about any wheel, and the movement for each shift wasn’t so small that having the cable tension or B-tension adjustment off a little didn’t really make much of a difference. But, 11-42 is a little narrow…

If you have an interest in bike maintenance, servicing, and high quality workmanship and tools, you probably follow a number of influential mechanics and tool aficionados on Instagram. You might follow David Rome (@romeandstuff) from CyclingTips, Lachlan McKillop (@spinthatup) from SRAM DSD, Brad Kelly (bee_kay77) who works at Drift Bikes, or Brad Copeland (@bbcopeland) who is Kate Courtney’s mechanic and partner. Any of their feeds will feature high end tools like those from Abbey Bike Tools, but also plenty of techniques that can result in greater results, or a step towards efficiency. Sometimes it is the latter that are the real golden nuggets, as most of use are looking for greater results for a smaller investment in time. Abbey Bike Tools feature across those four mechanics’ Instagram feeds for a…

The times keep on changing, but 2020 has been a year where the whole world has stood to attention. In our summer the globe watched as our nation burned, and it felt like Australia was on the cusp of positive change in climate policy. Since then, everything has been overshadowed by a global pandemic, but the end result has actually seen many of us spending more time in the great outdoors. And more specifically, our own backyards – both literally and figuratively! This issue was earmarked to take a closer look at sustainability and reducing our impact and what we do as mountain bikers. AMB is not a political soap box, but while there is one key story in this issue that looks at a few companies who are thinking…

SPECIALIZED’S NEW EPIC AND EPIC EVO In late June, Specialized released their new Epic and Epic EVO. Clearly Tokyo 2020 was the target, and the Epic would have been aimed squarely at the top step. The updates to the Epic match what the mountain bike world is doing with cross-country bikes – but Specialized are really pushing to a longer reach and slacker head angle, paired with their reduced offset fork. The aim is to have a front wheel that tracks the ground and stays planted when climbing, yet is out in front and loaded up for traction even on the most intense descents! Specialized have upped their carbon game again, with the S-Works model gaining the lightest and stiffest frame – however all the other models get the same…

RACKPRO BIKE RACKS Designed and made here in Australia, RackPRO have a three and five bike models for hauling your bikes to the trails. Not only are they designed for off-road 4WD use, the racks have a complete light setup and plate holder for plug and play use. Better yet, the rack can swing out of the way from the back of your vehicle, meaning you can still access the back of your van, SUV or ute tray even with all the bikes loaded. All parts are replaceable and the mounting is quick and easy for fast shuttle turnarounds. RRP: 3 bike $1100 | 5 bike $1300 rackpro.com.au MODEX NATURAL Depending on your stance on supplements, they can be something you need, or snake oil. Modex uses Pycnogenol and claims…

Riding for me is for fun, to progress and challenge myself through racing. I usually drive to the dirt for a ride in the afternoon or on weekends, but if I am training for races riding from home gets the kays in. Brisbane has a strong scene for recreational riding as well as racing in XC, enduro and downhill. From the suburbs, there are 20 places to ride within a 2hr drive and it has a strong mountain biking history producing talented riders with internationally competitive results. On the dirt at Gap Creek Reserve Gap Creek has always been the local go-to. Not just because it’s close to home, but also because the trails have enough character to build beginner confidence while also providing a playground for experts. You definitely…

As a photographer and filmmaker when I’m not riding around Victoria, I’m very lucky to be able to travel to amazing riding destinations like Rotorua - New Zealand, Derby - Tasmania and the Victorian High Country regions. Quite often these trips will involve travelling to these riding locations in my camper van which is loaded up with bikes, camera equipment and coffee making facilities. Lots of time will be spent planning the ultimate riding experience in the location of choice and as I get to witness world class trails being ridden by world class riders, usually in the golden hour and followed up by coffee and food at some quality hospitality establishments, this is a pretty extraordinary way to experience mountain biking. For my weekly rides I stay close to…

The humble bike helmet has come a long way since the Stack Hat, or the flying pumpkin as my mate’s dad called it as we grew up in the late 80s early 90s. The general concept has remained – reduce the force of impact that gets transferred to your brain, and therefore reduce the severity of injury. The materials used to do this, and therefore the weight, ventilation, fit and looks have come a long way over the last few decades. Of course there are different ways to achieve the protection that a mountain bike helmet needs to offer, but when you tie in constraints based around ventilation, aesthetics and affordability, you can see why we end up with a lot of helmets that look about the same – a…

The Hammerhead Karoo was launched in 2018 as a new entrant to the cycling GPS market. It was a completely new take on a cycling head unit, with a next level display and a new user interface. The idea of the unit was conceived when one of the founders of the company, Piet Morgan (an old cycling buddy of Chris Froome) was cycling across the United States. He had the idea that there had to be a better way to navigate. Together with his two co-founders he set out to re-invent the cycling GPS, both from a hardware and software perspective. FIT UP AND SET UP The unit came packaged very nicely, everything necessary was included, even some Allen keys to mount the unit with the provided out-front mount. The…

The key to corner speed always relates to how fast you can exit and not how fast you enter. Getting your braking right for corners requires a lot of discipline to come in smooth, brake early and roll out rather than coming in hot and rolling the dice. Once you gain some confidence with your cornering, there are some great little techniques to make your cornering faster and more efficient such as running wide on the exit when you can, looking for high lines to enter and maximising your braking technique so you can limit the time you spend on the brakes. Here we’re looking at a great little technique to maximise your braking technique as you come into corners. The technique is relatively simple, but it is a great…

After mountain bike events were cancelled or postponed for months, elite mountain bikers have some hope on the horizon, as professional riders can get back to doing their jobs, and amateurs can chase the success and challenges they desire. The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) have developed a compact calendar for the Olympic Cross-Country (XCO) and Downhill (DHI) World Cup and World Championships. And for armchair athletes like us, it’s going to be a two months of being glued to the screens watching RedBull TV late at night! The condensed calendar sees World Cup racing almost every weekend, all in Europe: • September 5-6: Lenzerheide, Switzerland – XCO and DHI • September 19-20: Les Gets, France – XCO and DHI • September 29 - October 4: Nove Mesto Na Morave, Czech Republic – XCO…

They’re back again! In 2020 the AMB Photography Awards presented by Shimano adjust their focus onto photography – sounds wild, right? We have created a mix of categories that represent a range of mountain bike photography styles. The terms might not be too technical, but you will need to brush up your skills to really nail and win a category, orthe overall. Given 2020 has thrown up many challenges, we encourage you to go through your stock photos to find images that suit. If riding outside with one other is safe and allowed in your region – go right ahead and get something fresh. There will be four categories. Each will have a winner, second and third place as voted by you from a short list that we put together…

Mountain biking for me has always been about the escape – working in the photography industry a large part of my days are spent emailing and editing, with Netflix binges in between jobs. It’s nearly a requirement to escape to the nearby trails for an hour each day, and usually as the sun sets behind the mountain ranges. Living in Canberra, we have a great scene ranging from families to semi-pro and professional athletes willing to ride for hours. We’re lucky to have so many great locations to ride our bikes, and it is easy to ride straight from the front door to the trail head. On the dirt at Stromlo Most mountain bike riders around Australia are familiar with Stromlo, with the bike park having first opened in 2007.…

Starting a premium mountain bike bike brand in this day and age is a pretty ballsy move. There are so many quality brands producing amazing bikes, with years and years of experience and customers with outstanding amounts of brand loyalty to them. However, Colorado based brand Revel Bikes have done just that. Starting with just two frames in easily the most competitive segments, Enduro and Trail. You really have to have belief in your concept to take these challenges on and it’s obvious the folks at Revel have bucket loads. From what started in 2016 with niche cycling startup extrodinaire Adam Miller and another niche bike brand Canfield at Interbike. This quickly became the new Revel brand being launched in the first quarter of 2019. A bunch of other industry…

In April, Fox had two major rounds of product launches. While the new Fox 38 with bleed valves, elliptical steerer, new axle system and new GRIP2 with Variable Valve Control (VVC) grabbed the main headlines, many riders also took interest in the Fox 36 and Fox 40 models that saw much of the same technology, and the updates to the DHX2 and X2 rear shocks. Those were not the only updates, as the Fox 34 trail fork was also gifted the new ultra-adjustable GRIP2 damper with VVC, and there were updates to the popular DPX2 shock and the reliable Transfer dropper post. While the Fox 34 GRIP2 isn’t available in any limited edition colours, those who want to really fine tune the ride of their trail bike won’t have missed…

Steve Peat has been a big name in mountain biking since I was in high school, and that’s a long time ago. While Peat might not be racing the Downhill World Cup, he still has a big impact in mountain biking. With 17 World Cup wins to his name and a career length that eclipsed so many other riders, Steve Peat has lots of connections in the bike industry, and a lot of experience about what works and what doesn’t. And all that has rolled into his product range. In their marketing, Peaty’s state that they want to be eco friendly while helping athletes reach the top of a podium. And at the same time, they want their products to be user-friendly with less time involved in setup and maintenance,…

Chia (Salvia hispanica) is a bit of a superstar in the seed world. They are gluten free, high in omega-3 fatty acids (alpha-linolenic acid, ALA) and with a low omega-6 ratio, they possess anti-inflammatory properties. If that isn’t enough, they are high in fibre and even contain traces of selenium – important for healthy thyroid function. Whether you chose chia seeds that are white, black or somewhere in-between there is no nutritional or flavour difference and all chia seeds have the amazing capacity to absorb liquid (up to 10 times their weight in fluid) and become gelatinous – creating the delicious and nutritious chia pudding. I’ve also added Mesquite powder (Prosopis spp.) to this pudding – it pairs with the cacao adding a little sweetness and softening the bitterness sometimes…