Innholdsfortegnelse for issue 185 i Australian Mountain Bike

Ty Bowmaker entered a wide range of photos in the AMB Photography Awards this year. This image went very well in the public voting for the Wide Angle category, but just missed out on placing. I really like it as the conditions are very evocative, with the light breaking through not just the canopy but also cloud or fog. The lens really shapes the trees to draw your focus to the rider, and only when you start to look closer do you start to get a scale of the rock drop. Ryan’s photo is a sharp sunset image with a rider who has been happy to send it on the big jumps on the lower slopes of Maydena Bike Park. And while it could be taken anywhere, the clear layering…

Let’s be clear, the hardtail has never been dead, it just continues to reinvent itself. The humble hardtail eschews the complexity of an extra suspension item and pivots, and they tend to offer great equipment for a given price point. There are some new models out for 2021 showing that hardtails aren’t just for entry level XC riding and racing the Olympics. Although they’re great for that too! MERIDA BIG.TRAIL The Merida Big.Trail range has moved from a plus-wheel sized option to a 29” wheeled trail bike. The alloy frame has huge amounts of standover clearance, possibly the best trail geometry in Merida’s whole mountain bike range, internal cable routing, 140mm travel fork, clearance for 2.5” tyres and dedicated 1x group sets across the whole range, from $1249 through to…

Writing words to go along with pictures is so much harder than I ever thought it would be. Not that I really thought about it too much before Instagram came along. For an app that makes story telling so easy through images and short video, why do we obsess over the caption written below the image more often than what the image itself is trying to tell us? If the text is so important, then wouldn’t we be more interested in an app based around lots of text and fewer images? Unfortunately that would take more attention than what the average view time of an Instagram picture would be. It’s less than 5 seconds per photo in case you were wondering, depending on which data statistics you believe from the…

Merida have lead the charge in World Cup cross-country, bikes that have great bang for your buck, eMTBs and more. Their short travel One-Twenty trail bike range can be looked over – but it might just be one of the quiet highlights in their bike range. The One-Twenty sits above the racey Ninety-Six, and below the 27.5” wheeled Merida One-Forty. As the name suggests the Merida One-Twenty has 120mm of travel, which is matched to a 130mm travel fork. And while there used to be 27.5” wheeled options with the One-Twenty, they have gone the way of the Dodo for 2021. The desire for more travel can mean some riders overlook many short travel trail bikes like the One-Twenty. Having spent a lot of time on the Transition Smuggler and…

There is something about a hydration backpack that gets me every time. Is it that they represent the potential for adventure and long days of exploration that won’t be served by a couple of bottles? The need for extra snacks that exceed the simple pockets of a jersey? The fact that you’re riding with the stuff ‘in case of emergency’ which alludes to the risk-reward relationship we have with the sport? Enter the Thule Vital Women’s 3L pack. You probably know Thule as manufacturers of transport solutions for your bike, but the brand also has a huge range of products that you probably don’t know about (child seats, prams, luggage and more). With a newly expanded hydration pack range, I was intrigued to see what Swedish heavyweights could bring to…

After testing the DT Swiss F 535 Darth Vader enduro and all-mountain suspension fork a couple of years ago, we had heard there would be more to come from the Swiss masters of wheels and wheel components. The DT Swiss F 535 impressed with its stiffness and very plush initial stroke that offered incredible traction. The DT Swiss 232 ONE range is at the short travel end of the spectrum and aims to ‘push the boundaries of XC even further’ and it includes a suspension fork, rear shock and short travel dropper post. If you’ve been keeping up with the World Cup cross-country (XCO) racing over the past few years, you’ll understand why even XC bikes are getting stiffer forks, far greater adjustability, wider tyres and rims, longer and slacker…

Recently for some reason I really wanted a piece of passionfruit slice… remember the one when you were a kid … made with a passionfruit curd on top (which I cheated and bought). The base of this slice is a mix of sunflower seeds, brazil, pecan and cashew nuts – all are jam-packed with anti-oxidants (especially Vitamin E), monosaturated fatty acids and a good dose of the mineral Selenium. Passionfruit is actually a berry and originates from Brazil and is known by some for its calming properties. It is definitely underrated – the passionfruit also has high antioxidant properties, and is rich in potassium, Vitamin A and fibre. Combined with the nut/seed base – this slice is a great immune boost. FIONA HERRON With a PhD in digestive physiology, a…

Here we are again. You’re holding the issue that showcases the hard work of a range of photographers around the world. The images we scroll or flick past don’t always get the respect they deserve, and the images don’t truly show the grit and determination required to get them. While working as Editor for Australian Mountain Bike magazine I have seen photographers go without food and water for most of the day, striving to get the photos they need. I’ve seen a photographer break their wrist, but carry on with the photo shoot anyway. I’ve seen photographers cross icey cold rivers to get the angle they wanted, shimmy across fallen trees, crouch over ants nests, and in general put themselves in bad situations to get the right photo. And why?…

THULE ROUNDTRIP BIKE DUFFEL In the age of specialisation, a bike-specific duffel bag might seem like overkill – until you try one. Thule’s RoundTrip Bike Duffel is designed to create all the storage options you need for bike knick-knacks when you’re hitting the road to hit the trails. The individual packing cell pockets are the big deal here, creating space for bottles, eyewear, gloves, nutrition, spares, a sports towel, suncream – and all those other small and necessary items that you need to take to the trails. There’s a lined pocket for shoes, a padded area for a helmet, and extra pockets for the smallest items. With ventilation to keep the pong to a minimum, and haul and carry straps along with a robust material, this duffel will become your…

Flat pedals win medals? Loiter at any trailhead long enough and you’ll hear the phrase ‘flat pedals win medals.’ It’s a catchy saying, but is there any truth to it? While the majority of professional Enduro and Downhill riders use clipless pedals, flats have some distinct advantages. They allow you to take a foot off instantly, you can move your feet to weight the bike more precisely, and you can drop your heels further for stability and braking traction. In the last twenty years, no name has been more synonymous with flats than Sam Hill. World Cup Downhill rounds and series wins, three World Championships, and his recent three-peat of the Enduro World Series (EWS) overall demonstrate that flat pedals definitely win medals. Hill’s success is an anomaly however, particularly…

With four new categories for 2020, we wanted photographers from around Australia and the world to hone in on the precision involved with capturing a certain moment in time with a camera. But we also wanted the four categories to be quite different from each other. With the Hero Shot, Pan Shot, Wide Angle and Detail categories we created a cross-section where photographers could find a home for almost any great photo that they might have on hand already – as 2020 has been a year like no other. Whether a few more people were grounded and had time on their hands this year, or more of you connected with the categories, we had the greatest number of entries yet, and at a really high level. We had entries from…

Young Talent is in the name and make-up of the YT brand, and a quick look at their story and philosophy shows that they don’t just want this to be a marketing term but an actual mantra to live by. Young Talent is said to be about finding your passion and having fun no matter your age or talent level. A glance at the features of YT’s models so far shows that having fun is exactly what they’re designed to do. While some brands want to enhance a bike to shave split seconds off a race time, YT wants to enhance the fun factor, although they are also pretty handy on the racecourse. The YT range so far has heavily featured long travel bikes with a gap at the shorter…

With a name synonymous with motorsport, Pirelli turned their attention to mountain bikes in 2019 with the Scorpion mountain bike range of tyres. The Italians hit the dirt with four tread patterns in 2.2”, 2.4” and 2.6” casing sizes. The bigger the casing, the more the reinforcement. Pirelli’s Scorpion range is defined by their conditions specific tread selection. They have a Rear specific tyre, plus a tyre for Soft conditions, Mixed conditions and Hard conditions. As the masters of rubber, Pirelli rely on their specfically formulated single compound SmartGrip rubber to provide the chemical grip with the terrain, while it’s the tread pattern that creates the mechanical grip. All this means the Soft conditions tyre is designed to really dig into soft terrain. That could be mud, deep loam or…

In May this year, Shimano dialled the Deore group set up to 12. But at the same time, they made the Deore group set their biggest mountain bike component range, with 10, 11 and 12-speed variants. I went over the details when the three fully updated group sets launched, and you can find the specifics on our website. In a nutshell, 10-speed Deore has a wide 11-46t range, while 11-speed offers 11-51 and 12-speed has 10-51, with just about all the top tech found on the rest of Shimano’s 12-speed family. This means all parts can be combined, so you can match 12-speed Deore, SLX, Deore XT and XTR throughout your bike, to hit your own performance demands and budgeting. The big changes are the move to HyperGlide Plus for…

Designed and made in Australia, Ride Mechanic Hoop Goop is fresh to the shelves of your local bike shop, but it’s far from a knee jerk reaction to creating yet another sealant for us all to buy. Owen Matthews from Ride Mechanic is an absolute world of knowledge and information and it is no wonder with his background that he has been asked to help develop and test all sorts of items. Hoop Goop is Owen’s take on a tubeless sealant, which he actually calls a puncture repair liquid not a sealant. There are a few things that stand out with Hoop Goop and one of them is a used by date of 30 days from opening, yep that’s right 30 days. This is a premium product and in turn…

There is absolutely nothing that’s more of a momentum killer than a slippery root on a climb you just can’t get over. One minute you’re peacefully ascending and the next minute your rear wheel is spinning, your bike slips sideways and before you know it you’re off the bike or even worse – on the ground! For novice and intermediate riders, the challenge is huge and at times it seems no matter what you do, it can just seem impossible to get safely to the other side of the offending root. Unfortunately, quite often the outcome is the root will “disappear” from the climb under the cover of darkness. However, the reality is that the skills developed in this situation cross over to so many other climbing techniques when it…

Progress is hard to measure if you don’t know what you’re looking for. This article discusses some of the different ways we can assess and reassess progress in different facets of cycling, with varying levels of equipment required. SKILLS TESTING Skills really underpin the foundation of riding success. Sure, for longer marathon or gravel events the engine usually wins out over ‘extreme steeze’, but if you have better skills you can be more efficient by using less energy and recovering through the singletrack, and be faster when it matters. It’s safe to say that in all other disciplines, however, your ability to win a race will be inextricably linked to riding skill. There are a few ways you can test then reassess your skill progression: 1. The Rolly Run Select…

What’s your 2020 looked like? For some it has meant more time at home and more time on their bikes. For others it has meant continually changing plans and uncertainty. And for some people, it has created more opportunities. Whether you have been stuck at home, opted to stay put, or been too busy to do much anyway, chances are you’re itching to get somewhere new to ride when the time is right. After a summer of fire in 2019 and early 2020, you can rest-assured the the Victorian High Country and New South Wales Snowy Mountains are keen to see your tyres on their trails! While precise opening dates are difficult to publish right now, do keep track of updates on the Falls Creek, Mt Baw Baw, Mt Buller…

It’s a sentiment that I think is echoed around communities in Australia and world-wide: a vague disgruntled foreboding related to the ongoing impacts of a global pandemic. Sure, I know we need these restrictions; we really do have to take this s^&* seriously. Yet at the same time I’m pretty sure it’s normal to feel a little boxed in and unhinged with this sense of perpetuity of the restrictions. I know this may read like I’m a spoilt brat (like I haven’t heard that one before), my home state of Queensland has done really well to contain infections, and I am infinitely grateful I am not deep in the trendy, fashionable bowels of Melbourne, where restrictions have necessitated creating the verb ‘burbing’ where you just ride all around your suburb.…

2021 is has seen some very long-awaited updates to what was considered a best-in-class bike when the Slash was first released. The original Slash ticked so many boxes and was leading the charge into the world of Enduro both at the Enduro World Series and for the everyday rider racing at home. Trek have made some running changes releasing them on their alloy Slash a few years back, but these changes were very conservative and just served as a tease of things to come for riders holding out for changes to the carbon Slash. A fully redesigned and revamped Slash was released in early September, taking input from Trek’s testers, engineers, the public and the Trek Factory Race Team. Trek have made all of these changes and adjustments to both…

The 2021 Trek Supercaliber 9.8 is a very neat bike, aesthetically and practically. There is an untold level of excitement and satisfaction on picking up a new bike like this at your local shop. And despite the move to contactless transactions and direct to consumer purchases, I don’t think the feeling of collecting a new bike from the shop, where the staff are as stoked as you, will ever be replaced. The Trek Supercaliber has very clean lines no matter which way you look at it, from the straight downtube to the somewhat hidden shock underneath and inside the top tube. The bike has a classically shaped frame we can all recognise from some point in our own lives, two opposing triangles situated between a set of wheels with a…

GoPro have lead the charge with action cameras, and they really jumped back to the front of the game with the Hero7 Black which I tested a couple of years back. With further advancements with the Hero8 especially in the realm of image stabilisation, I was left wondering where GoPro would go when I heard there was another model coming out. It turns out, there was a whole lot they could work on. The new GoPro Hero9 Black has better clarity, greater stabilisation, and a bunch more software and tools to make it better for both capturing memories and creating professional photos and videos. A CLOSER LOOK In your hand, the new GoPro Hero9 Black is a little bigger than the previous editions, but that comes with a few key…

The Shimano range has developed over the years to have now reached a peak with the return of the mighty clipless sandal! For those of us unable to have our feet so free, there is still a wide range of shoes to choose from including the ME7 for enduro trail riding in tough terrain. The enduro/trail category sits between the all-out gravity shoes and lightweight XC models. The trail series features the top ME7 model tested and the ME5 along with two insulated versions of both models for when it gets really cold and wet. The ME5 is a lighter model that foregoes some of the extra protection than the ME7 offers and is more geared towards general trail riding at a slightly cheaper price point. The ME7 is designed…

The right set of wheels and tyres on your bike can make a night and day difference for ride quality and control. This is not new advice, as people like myself have been saying as much in cycling titles for decades. And for decades, riders around the world have been choosing Hope hubs for custom wheel builds to suit their needs. Hope do have their own range of wheels, built tough and with a long service life. And anyone familiar with Hope wouldn’t expect them to do it in any other way. The Hope Fortus 26 wheels were sent out to review in early winter, and they haven’t skipped a beat since then. Hope are well-known for their reliable hubs, which have a long service life, a good 44-point freehub…

WHAT IS SALT? If you did any basic chemistry at school, you’ll probably know that salt is made up of two particles: sodium and chloride, both electrolytes. Once in your body, sodium helps to regulate the amount of water in your cells and your blood. Too little water and you can become dehydrated which can affect performance on and off the bike. But too much water and you can develop hyponatremia which occurs when your cells swell, leaving you with symptoms like feeling weak, nauseous, incoherent and even seizures, coma and death. So getting the balance right is key to riding well and staying safe. HOW MUCH SODIUM DO I NEED? Due to sweating during training, athletes have higher sodium requirements than those who are sedentary. The NHMRC recommends the…