Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 198 i Australian Mountain Bike

Pride month and NAIDOC week have come and gone for 2022 along with many other days that give a platform to minority groups, but how can we make sure that inclusion in sport is maintained for all the other months of the year? As riders we can take for granted some of our tail winds that allow us to participate in this sport. It’s quite an expensive and intimidating activity to enter and maintain, and the barriers to entry are invisible to some and very concrete to others. It’s easy to block out the campaigns around Pride and NAIDOC week because if we are not part of those communities, it may be hard to relate to the issues they are highlighting, or it feels too hard to know what the…

I’ll take a wild guess that those of you reading AMB know a thing or two about enjoying mountain bike trails – in fact, you’re probably experts at it. You might frequent world renowned epics, or find yourself more often than not hitting up your “local” trails after work. Lately, as I’ve been twisting and turning around the Dentist along the Yarra, or shitting myself on the predominantly off-camber trails of the “Norge’” (if you know, then you know), I’ve got to thinking about the work that goes on behind these trails. The area around the Plenty River in Victoria, which holds a not insignificant amount of singletrack, is known fondly as the Norge’. I grew up in that region, and have seen first-hand the lack of care of those…

You do your research, you stay up late in bed scrolling forums and chat rooms until you drop your phone on your face at midnight on a Tuesday. You’ve looked at geo charts, you’ve asked the local bike shop for their opinion, you do more research and watch every bike review on YouTube. You compare the specs of other bikes, then compare a few bikes against each other. Once you think you’ve narrowed it down, you go back to the bike shop or brand website and find out about availability. You’ve drooled, you’ve done your homework, you’ve been patient and now it’s time to pull the trigger! Now comes the waiting game, you patiently wait… and wait… and then the delivery day finally comes, only to be hit with stock…

The Specialized Stumpjumper EVO was popular as soon as it was launched, but being carbon only did put it out of reach for some, or less appealing for those still wary of fantastic plastic. In October 2021, Specialized revealed an alloy range, with none of the features of the carbon model missing, from geometry adjustability through to the SWAT box in the down tube. Specialized say that the Stumpjumper EVO Alloy is ‘built to get gnarly, plain and simple.’ The EVO line of Stumpjumpers are no compromise trail bikes, with more travel and adjustability than the Stumpjumper, along with burlier suspension and more aggressive geometry. As a 160/150mm 29er trail bike the Stumpjumper EVO Alloy Elite toes the line with bikes like the Norco Sight A1 ($7399) or Commencal Meta…

KÜAT NV 2.0 Weight: 24kg RRP: $1259 Capacity: 27kg per bike Wheelbase limit: 1270mm The NV 2.0 is the top model, with full length alloy tray bases and adjustable front wheel cradles. The compression arm pulls the bike onto the tray for zero frame contact, and it can fit 20-29” wheels, although an adaptor is needed for 20-24”. With straps that can take Plus tyres (or 5” fat tyres with an extra kit) this rack will carry just about any bike, as long as it’s within the wheelbase limit. The hitch mount uses a cam lock that compresses into the hitch with a hand dial and 8mm allen key. It makes for a rock solid fit with zero movement. Küat have a release mechanism to let the rack sit vertically…

Even if you’re someone like me who’s been obsessively into bikepacking for many years, Miss Grape may not be a name you’re familiar with. The small Italian brand is a relative newcomer to the space, at least as far as availability in Australia is concerned. Situated in the province of Rovigo, about halfway between Venice and Bolgna, Miss Grape offers a range of bikepacking gear designed, manufactured and tested in the area with a focus on durability, sustainability and repairability all with some aesthetic detail you’d expect from a European manufacturer. Miss Grape work heavily with their material suppliers and manufacturers to achieve the European REACH certification standard which focusses on minimising the use of chemicals that can be harmful to both human health and the environment. Having all their…

Whether you choose Curly, Red Russian, Dinosaur or Redbor… or, any other kale variety… they all have one thing in common – they are ‘super’. And, this recipe celebrates the amazing taste and nutritional benefits of kale. Part of the cabbage family, this leafy green vegetable is packed with fibre, protein, vitamins and minerals. Of particular note, kale is high in vitamins A and K – which are always important for bone and eye health. Fresh raw kale also contains substantial B6, a water-soluble vitamin involved with healthy red blood production and brain function. By cooking at lower temperatures for longer (by dehydrating) there is evidence to suggest that less of this vitamin and other nutrients are destroyed and are therefore available for your body to utilise. The ’cheesy’ coating…

JOIN US AT THE AMB 100 THIS SEPTEMBER! After a forced sidelining in 2021, the AMB 100 is back in 2022, returning to home turf at Stromlo Forest Park on September 18th. The long-standing marathon lets you choose what distance you want to challenge yourself with, providing something for those looking for a couple of hours on the dirt, through to those chasing an all-day challenge. Rocky Trail Entertainment set the course based on what trails are running the best. It’s usually about 25km or so, taking in a bunch of the favourites at Mt Stromlo, with a start and finish near the main trailhead. Then it’s up to you to choose the 1 lap, 2 lap or 3 lap option. Of course, for those who like a long ride…

Here’s the thing about dust: It does actually exist you know. You may be forgiven for thinking that it doesn’t, and fair play to you given the circumstances we currently find ourselves in. Our normally sun soaked nation feels sunk, both in body and spirit these past months, everyone’s gaze lies across the pond to Europe with its 35 degree summer days. I’m writing this article in stark contrast, across from a boiling hot fireplace deep in the Victorian High Country, while it again snows more than half a meter watching an early morning replay of the Andorran World Cup. Which, I’d like to point out, is still available free on Red Bull TV. So if at any point you feel the nostalgia about dust hanging a little too thick…

This Australian Made features an Australian company who were the global pioneers of custom frame protection. Founded in 2007 by Alan Vogt in Canberra, Frameskin has provided fully custom frame protection for over 15 years. If the name sounds familiar, Alan is also a key figure within the Kowalski Brothers volunteer trail building group, so he’s not afraid of a busy schedule! AMB: What was the motivation to begin Frameskin? Alan: ‘Frameskin started by accident. I designed a frame protection kit for my pride and joy (a carbon Ibis Mojo) and was chuffed with the results. I posted photos on an MTBR forum and immediately began receiving messages from people asking if they could buy a kit for their bike. Clearly what mattered to me in terms of protecting my…

The e-bike market is booming and diversifying. A lot of manufacturers chased bigger battery capacity for increased range, more torque for better pedal response, and a burlier build to capitalise on the inherent weight of a large e-bike. While doing this, brands like Specialized thought there may be some other options, and bikes like the Levo SL, Orbea Rise and Transition Relay have been released, or are about to be on the trails. While some of our own testers wondered why you’d want less power and range, the answer seems simple when you ride a bike with a lower torque, smaller motor and lighter battery. The ride response is far more intuitive and the pedal assist blends into the background. Mid-power eMTBs are the perfect complement, not replacement, to the…

Factor jumped into the world of mountain biking in March 2022, releasing the Lando XC and Lando HT, a carbon full-suspension bike (tested here) and hardtail respectively. The Lando models are designed for XC, marathons, stage racing and fast, extended off-road adventures. The Lando made a sneaky appearance pre-release at the 2022 Cape Epic, a suitable testing ground for the full-suspension frame. It was ridden by the Amani Racing Team, who create opportunities for racers in East Africa with gateways to international racing. will be a familiar name for those in the world of road riding. Factor need little introduction if you are familiar with road racing, but Factor may not be a common name to mountain bikers. However they have been the manufacturing partner for several mountain bike brands,…

+ Lots of edge grip + Popular casing size + Good light trail, or downcountry option - A bit at sea on a sea of rocks - Weighty for aggressive XC RRP: $99.95 kwtimports.com.au The Maxxis Forekaster started life as a 2.2” wet conditions cross-country tyre. Although Maxxis added a couple of casing sizes and the tyre saw a lot of spec on trail bikes, the tyre did have a narrow field of excellence. That said, it won at least 3 National Titles in one wet day at the 2021 National Championships at Maydena Bike Park – so it was good at what it did! Maxxis have completely overhauled the Forekaster, and really it’s just the name, EXO casing and Tubeless Ready (TR) bead that remains the same. The new…

+ Two spring tension options + High quality jockey wheels + Stiffer cage - Marginal gains as an upgrade RRP: $240 (Cage or jockey wheels only: $120) From: csixx.com Oversized jockey wheels and reinforced derailleur cages are primarily seen in the world of drop bar cycling. Riders from top road professionals through to cyclocross racers and gravel riders may look for the marginal gains achieved by larger jockey wheels that can reduce the friction on the drivetrain, but they are less common on mountain bikes. Reinforced cages are also available to improve shift precision, or act as replacements for damaged items. CeramicSpeed and Kogel are two brands that make oversized pulley wheels with respective cages for SRAM Eagle and Shimano 12-speed components, and CSIXX from South Africa now join the…

+ Low weight + Super fast hubs + Excellent ride quality + Lifetime crash replacement - Absolute premium pricing - Centrelock only RRP: $4595 bspokevelo.com.au Having been involved in the bike industry for over two decades, I’ve got to see and even ride some incredibly nice products. With a penchant for marathon and stage racing, I have also seen a lot of change in the equipment made for the cross-country end of the spectrum. This sort of gear has had just as many changes in two decades as the rest of the mountain bike industry, but wheel sets may be one area where there has been a big impact for the end user. And the new Schmolke TLO XC Race Clincher Disc wheels could just be the perfect example of…

So you’ve just started mountain biking and you want to give clip in pedals a try, or maybe you have been a flat pedal rider and have decided to head on over to dabble on the dark side… Either way, clipping in is definitely worth a try if you haven’t already. Flat pedals in mountain biking are about as popular as they have ever been but it wasn’t always that way. Clip in pedals were once standard equipment for any mountain biker, even for the most novice of riders. These days it really comes down to a personal choice but there are some great points about being clipped in. The key part for me is grip – you could have the stickiest shoe with the longest pedal pins and they…

Jack Moir is a pretty handy guy on a bike. In fact, the downhill rider-turned enduro rider took out the 2021 Enduro World Series (EWS). Now, thanks to the beauty of social media and technology, we can have a bit of an insight into the training that Jack chooses to share on Strava. With the 2022 EWS beginning on the 4th June in the Tweed Valley, we can check back at Jack’s training into the lead up to his 2022 campaign. I’ll go through some of the weeks a bit more generally and dive a little deeper into some of his key sessions with intervals. A FOCUS ON THE AEROBIC Want to ride gravity and think you can avoid some hard work pedalling? Think again. The 2022 EWS champion clearly…

Working within the mountain bike trail industry is an awesome job, getting to work with landowners, trail builders, clubs, and riders to create new riding experiences and to provide frameworks to renew existing trail networks is rewarding in many ways. We are in a golden period of trail development, driven largely by federal and state government funding to build trail networks on public lands, or through local governments recognising the social and economic benefits that go hand in hand with mountain biking. In parallel we have also seen growth of privately funded, owned, and operated mountain bike parks across the country. In my opinion, the development of public trails in parallel with private parks is critical to ensuring all types of riding experiences are available. We tend to have too…

Through the first three parts of our series on mountain bike suspension we have delved into the worlds of servicing, eMTB setup and shock tuning with some of Australia’s perennial experts in their respective fields. In this fourth and final part of the series, we catch up with Joshua Mclnerney who is a suspension technician at NS Dynamics. Josh, a mechanical engineer by training loves all things suspension and given his technical background we thought who better to quiz on the question of air versus coil. While we appreciate that you could easily fill this entire magazine from cover to cover discussing this inflamatory subject, we’d prefer to let someone like Josh who has both the theoretical knowledge and practical experience designing, servicing and riding both spring types do the…

Riders invest in eMTBs for a multitude of reasons; whether new to the sport, switching disciplines, or just wanting to keep up with their mates, a little bit of pedal assistance will change the way you view riding. While we hope the world never goes so far to label trails “e-bike specific,” there are plenty of qualities that make existing trails and trail networks particularly fun on eMTBs. We’ve compiled a handful of areas that play to the strengths of eMTBs, allowing riders to go further, faster, and experience trails in a way few analogue bikes can. Josh Carlson’s picks MOUNT BULLER, VICTORIA AND MAYDENA, TASMANIA ‘My favourite trail network in Australia on the E-bike at the moment would have to be the Mt Buller Bike Park,’ National eMTB Champion…

The Norco Shore is a unique bike. Whilst there’s potentially more bikes with 150mm-170mm of rear travel than any other market segment, bikes with 180mm of rear travel are far less common. Another uncommon element in 2022 is a bike rolling on 27.5” wheels front and rear, with some other examples being the Canyon Torque and Rocky Mountain Slayer. The Norco Shore is offered in four variants in Australia. The top-of-the-line Shore 1 is the bike I had on test. Then there’s the Shore Park, which is uplift only due to its Boxxer fork and 7 speed drivetrain. The last complete bike in the lineup is the Shore 2, which comes in at $5999. There’s also a frame kit that’s the same frame and shock used on the Shore 1…

UK brand Genesis originally entered the market in 2009 with a complete range of bikes from flatbar commuters to carbon road frames. However their roots lie in high-end steel, and the current range has been narrowed to reflect this specialty. They’re a love-or-hate brand in terms of aesthetic – thin, round tubing surmises this. They’re built for the self-sufficient adventurer with relatively simple mechanics including threaded bottom brackets and external cabling. Genesis’ target market is broad, appealing to anyone wanting to get lost on back roads but also not worried about their aero position during a gravel race. However, their target market is also quite niche, because again, traditional steel and rowdy colour schemes are an acquired taste. The Fugio 30 is their top-tier bike in the Fugio range, designed…

+ Very stable, secure fit + Extended coverage + eMTB safety rated + Good ventilation RRP: $289.99 From: 14co.com.au What do you look for when you’re shopping for a new helmet? Fit? Colour? Ventilation? Style? MIPS? An e-bike safety rating? Mountain bike helmets have come a long way in the past 10-15 years, especially in terms of specificity and safety ratings. KED are new to Australia, and the Pector ME-1 is the German brand’s trail helmet, that also meets the NTA 8776 safety standard for pedelecs and speed pedelecs (so, e-bikes). A CLOSER LOOK The KED Pector ME-1 is a well-finished helmet with a full hardshell covering over the expanded foam. The 14 vents are primarily focused on bringing air in the front and out the back via channels. There’s…

There are probably two kinds of riders, those who want a demure look in understated tones (like, black) and those who want bright colours, wild designs and patterns that radiate fun. If you err towards the latter, chances are you will gravitate towards clothing from brands like Cycology. Cycology have just released some new items, including trail shorts, expanding their clothing range from form fitting lycra to sharp designs and quality materials for mountain bikers. We’ve had jerseys, shorts and socks in both men’s and women’s lines on high rotation on the trails. CYCOLOGY MOUNTAIN BIKE SHORTS - $99.95 You can judge a clothing brand by their shorts, and the Cycology shorts look the business for casual cruises through to trail rides. The material has a 4-way stretch with a…

Protein has many benefits for the athlete – from the weekend warrior to the active teen all the way up to the elite rider. Good quality protein, at the right time is essential for performance, recovery and training progression and can help with satiety and managing weight, too. But there are lots of opinions out there about how much to have each day, when to eat it and what to eat to get enough. WHAT IS PROTEIN? The amino acids in protein are the building blocks of the human body. Amino acids play an integral role in cell regulation and nerve function and help to build muscles, bones, enzymes and hormones. There are some of these amino acids the body can make, but also some that we need to eat…