Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 202 i Australian Mountain Bike

RIDERS SIAN A’HERN & REMY MEIER-SMITH PHOTOGRAPHER MATT ROUSU When it was announced in 2022 that the Cannonball Australian Open DH would be hosting the Australian National Downhill Championships for 2023, everyone knew it was going to be a huge day on the hill. Sian A’Hern (below) had a triumphant return to the top step, soon after the announcement she would be riding for the YT Mob. Expect more top steps this year for Sian. She had a tough year in 2022 recovering from injury – but she looks to be back in the drivers seat. And while it was Remy’s older brother Luke who won the title, Remy laid down lightning fast times – a sure sign that he isn’t going to have any issue making the jump from…

Five days, three locations, 100km and 6000m of vertical. The Trans Tasmania is no quick hit enduro race! The Australian multi-day enduro was on again in 2023 after the inaugural year in 2022, heading to the gravity mecca of Maydena Bike Park to get things going. Riders are thrown straight into the deep end with some of Australia’s steepest trails before heading across to Queenstown for some antigrip, then finally finishing up in Derby, the place that put Tasmanian Enduro racing on the world map. Trans Tasmania is totally unique to the Australian Enduro scene, and a big part of that is the location in Tasmania. There is nowhere in Australia where you can find 5 days worth of unbelievable descending, and still have to choose which tracks to include…

FORK MODS ADAPTORS Have you been stuck trying to get 15mm through axle wheels into 20mm forks? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. The crew at Fork Mods have been making solutions for a variety of forks, letting you run 110x15mm hubbed wheels in 20mm axle forks like the Fox 36, Fox 40, Ohlins Dh38, RockShox Boxxer and the Manitou Dorado. They also make models to fit a 100x15mm wheel into a 100x12mm fork – ideal for older mountain bike wheels to do double duty on a gravel bike! From $120 forkmods.com FOX RACING UNION SHOES Earlier this year Fox Racing released their new, and much-anticipated, Union shoe range. They jumped in both both feet, so to speak, releasing the Union, Union Boa and Fox Union flat pedal shoe. Each of…

Gravity Check I’ve been lucky enough to travel and compete in some of the most iconic events around the world in the past decade or so. A few have been invite only, while others have been mass participation. I’ve complied a must-do list for 2023 and beyond. Time to get planning. The challenge: BC Bike Race This has been on the list for too long, Covid threw a spanner in the works as the event changed course for a couple of years, moving from the Sea to Sky corridor to the wine region towards the interior of BC. Nothing against the trails around Kelowna, but the event is back exclusively on Vancouver Island. I’ve ridden a few trails in the area, and oh boy, this will be one for the…

With over 170 dealers around the country, GripSport has made a name for itself by specialising in unique travel solutions for bikes. They’re proudly Aussie made, starting from humble roots and now with an entire factory in Melbourne with its own impressive research and development department. We caught up with Talon Weaving to discuss the history and progress of this innovative brand. AMB: GripSport are known for their bike racks now, but they originally started with bicycle frame repairs. Tell us a bit about your origins. GripSport began as a small manufacturing company in a two-car garage 25 years ago. With limited equipment but extensive knowledge in engineering and fabrication, the founder started by repairing bicycle frames, including small cracks and snapped sections, and providing heat treating and powder coating…

On a hot summer’s day in the shuttle line at Mystic Mountain Bike Park you are likely to see a laundry list of the latest and greatest gravity bikes available in Australia. Carbon fibre, high pivot, mixed wheel - name your flavour and it’s certain that your cravings will be satisfied. These high end, high dollar bikes are all developed for years behind closed doors, with design secrets being kept under lock and key until the frame is deemed ready for marketing and mass consumption. Standing out among the crowd, there is one homegrown bike which bucks this trend. Through the combination of their truly unique take on bicycle design, choice of materials, and construction ideologies, the three men behind Trinity MTB are in the process of developing a genre…

What are the first pictures that come to mind when you think of Victoria’s High Country? No doubt the sweeping mountain-scapes of Mt Buller and the pine plantations of Bright. These are among a handful of riding locations that have earned iconic status in the hearts and minds of mountain bikers. But one area has flown under the radar. Situated 40 minutes from Albury, the Indigo Shire envelopes the historic towns of Beechworth and Yackandandah. These towns sprung up during the peak of the gold rush era, but are now home to modern cafes, famous bakeries, fine accommodation, and boutique retail stores. And while the gold is long gone, the produce from these towns is widely renowned; from honey and beer to fashion and art, Beechworth and Yackandandah are prime…

the hub Pirelli’s Scorpion Enduro S and R tyres impressed me but left me wanting more. Their ability to perform within their specified window was striking, but I feel that most riders need something a little more versatile here in Australia. While the ‘S’ and ‘R’ stand for Soft and Rear respectively, the ‘M’ line of tyres are Pirelli’s Mixed terrain tyre. A jack of all trades if you will. Featuring their relatively new SmartGRIP Gravity rubber across three casing options, it seems there should be a width and casing combination available here to suit most trail/enduro riders. Over the past few months I have been testing the ProWALL, HardWALL and HyperWALL variants of the Enduro M back-to-back on a variety of terrain. TREAD PATTERN AND COMPOUND With the Enduro…

the hub tasted + Firm but comfortable + Built tougher than it looks + Shape is versatile - Not a crazily soft saddle - Expensive for a seat RRP: $419.95 From: Advance Traders 3D printing is pretty hot right now, with all sorts of things being printed and designed. Beyond the humourous accessories printed by @outsidebrendan on Instagram, the bike industry has seen some cool use of 3D printing. Namely – for saddles. Last year I tested the Specialized Power Pro with Mirror. It was a 3D printed version of Specialized’s popular Power saddle. One of many shorter, wider and flatter saddles, this popular style shape has been seen in a number of models by different brands, including Fizik who make the Argo. It’s neither a road saddle nor a…

the hub tasted + 5 Star safety rating in a lightweight and breathable package + Fidlock buckle + Comfortable fit with no hotspots or secondary liners - Visor visibility may be an issue for some aggressive positions RRP: $459 lazersport.com First teased in mid 2022, the Lazer Cage KinetiCore has finally landed on Australian shores. This helmet is the all new enduro and downhill certified full-face offering from the Belgian helmet specialists in quite some years, and brings with it a list of features which help it stand out in what is now becoming quite a flooded market. Initial glances bring your eye to the carbon fibre reinforced fibreglass shell, with its smooth styling and plentiful intake vents. Sitting atop this shell is a fixed position visor, designed to break…

Hitting drops at higher speeds calls for a slightly different technique to normal. A lot of the time you’ll be looking to carry more speed than what is really needed for the drop and overshooting or sketchy landings are a likely outcome, so the technique involves having your weight distributed correctly to allow for any unknowns on the landing. It’s also great fun and as you get better at it it’s a great tool to be able to keep consistent speeds over drops you might have to otherwise slow down for. It does have a height limit though and that will vary with your confidence level, bike and appetite for risk but starting on smaller drops and working your way up will give you a good gauge of where that…

HIT THE DIRT WITH ROCKY TRAIL ENTERTAINMENT IN 2023 You’ve been living under an event rock if you haven’t heard of Rocky Trail Entertainment by now. This crew of incredibly dedicated mountain bikers have been running some of the most cherished events in the country, all under the banner of good times and healthy competition. There are three pillars under the RTE umbrella: the cross-country orientated Shimano MTB Grand Prix, the hugely popular Fox Superflow, and the school-aged focused Rocky Trail Academy. They will also be continuing several non-series events this year including the AMB 100 and JatBlack 24hr along with the Willo marathon that took place in early March. No matter what kind of bike you have, from cross-country rig to dirt jumper, everyone will find a home amongst…

This very column title – X Factor – gave me the inspiration to write about something that has bothered me for quite some time. I’ve been both the benefactor and the victim of this thing. Much like the TV show The X Factor in which future hit singers compete for the validation of a panel of judges, athletes are made to parade around their talents in the hope that they will be selected to be a star and receive the support they need to continue to chase their dreams. A STORY AS OLD AS TIME It is not anything new to bring up the topic of funding in cycling, and I am not here to give a solution for the top end of the sport. Much has already been said…

Sustainability in MTB Millennials (people born between about 1981–1996) and Gen Z (1997–2012) make up nearly 50% of consumers globally. This cohort wields ridiculous power over brands’ decisions and strategies, successes and failures- and they’re thinking green. Recent studies demonstrate that these younger generations are much more likely to base their purchasing decisions on sustainability and social factors than their parents did. For example, a recent analysis by Retail Touchpoints reveals that 83% of Millennials want to buy from brands that align with their values and make them feel good, favouring ethical consumption over low prices, while 75% of Gen Z are looking to make sustainable purchases, most of them willing to spend 10% more to do so. With the biggest single cohort of consumers looking for sustainable credentials and…

Every now and then a new bike, or a new technology comes along that completely revolutionises the sport. These days however, it’s mostly marketing spin, although both the Trinity V4 and Vasstech Veli featured in this issue are pretty interesting. The Bowhead Reach however, is a complete game changer for adaptive mountain biking. Imagine this, you’re at the top of your game, you’ve competed at Red Bull Rampage and the world is at your fingertips. You are one of the best freeride mountain bikers in the world. Then you’re not. A life changing accident leaves you with no use of your legs and you’re confined to a wheelchair for the rest of your life. Your whole identity is gone, everything you thought you were, and planned to be, has changed.…

In 2020 the world changed. Our horizons contracted and for a while the thought of exploring the world just didn’t seem to be that important – or possible. As time wore on through the year, plenty of Australian mountain bikers would be chomping at the bit to get out and explore. Be it beyond our shores, state lines – or even a 5km radius from home. Travel restrictions have had an impact around the world, and many once popular travel destinations are now working hard to beat the drum to attract tourists back to their shores. My recent visit to Rotorua, New Zealand, was a timely reminder that before we all flocked to Tasmania, New Zealand was a top notch place to go and ride bikes. In January I was…

The rate of change in mountain biking is relatively slow. While a bike you buy today will have a lot of differences to a bike from 5 years ago, there haven’t been any huge shifts in design. We have certainly had a lot of refinement, but there really hasn’t been anything that has been a major industry disruptor. Earlier in this issue Hayden rode the Trinity V4, a gravity bike that can swap from downhill to enduro, while also using a traditional drivetrain or gearbox. This is the sort of thing that represents change – as does the Vasstech Veli, a mixed-wheel, super light carbon bike I was sent very late in 2022 for testing. This bike is one of a handful in existence at the time of testing. It…

the hub tasted + All the cleaning products you need + Refill sachet for cleaner + High quality chain lubes included - BYO bucket and sponges - Aerosols are a single use product FEsports.com.au Tru-Tension are a new brand of bike cleaning and maintenance products that have recently landed in Australia, hailing from the United Kingdom. With expertise in motorbike and go kart maintenance, Tru-Tension also make a thorough range of cleaning and maintenance products for bikes. And given how grubby things get in the UK, you can be pretty sure they know what they’re doing. I was sent out Tru-Tension’s Deluxe Cycle Bundle, Grime Guard and Graphene Bike Detailer to use and review while looking after my bikes through the tail end of summer. TRU-TENSION DELUXE CYCLE BUNDLE: $99.95…

the hub tasted + Big size range, plus wide fit and women’s + Very comfortable upper + Breathability is great, plus fast drying - I’d prefer a second BOA RRP: $220 shimano.com.au Shimano are well-known for having a broad range of cycling shoes, and it seems to grow every year as the niches of cycling increase. Even the SPD sandals have made a comeback for those tourers who like the wind between their toes. While Shimano have invested a lot into their gravity, XC and trail shoes, they have also added a gravel range to their line up. I’ve always opted to use my XC shoes for gravel, as the stiffness and weight tends to be just about right. But Shimano recently sent out a pair of the Shimano RX6…

the hub tasted + Strong, consistent braking + Great modulation + Potentially run cooler - Expensive RRP: $59.99-99.99 Fesports.com.au In late 2022, AbsoluteBlack released a range of disc brake pads, with wildly tall cooling fins and some pretty radical claims. AbsoluteBlack claim they can reduce braking temperatures of pads and rotors by 35% with the GraphenPads, along with improvements to modulation and brake pad life. Here at AMB we aren’t in the position to test operating temperatures of braking systems – but I was able to put the pads through a range of braking conditions to see if they offered marked improvement. A CLOSER LOOK You might have already glanced at the price. Yes, the brake pads start at $59.99 for a simple Deore/Tektro pair, but run up to $99.99…

the hub tasted + Secure and stable fit + Solid and well-made + Insulated - Can be hard to get things out of when full RRP: $110.00 leadoutsports.com.au Whether you want to head out all day, for a few days, or just don’t want to use a backpack, using some small frame bags can make taking everything you need on the trail a little easier. Bikepackers have made frame bags cool in a way that tourers never could manage with panniers, and they’re just as useful on mountain bikes as they are on dropbar adventure rigs. Top tube bags, bar rolls, frame bags and massive saddle packs are all useful in their own right. But top tube bags and small bar bags can find favour beyond the great unwashed bikepacking…

the hubNutrition DO WE NEED FAT? Fat is one of the main sources of energy for the body, along with carbohydrates and protein. However, there are more than double the kilojoules in a gram of fat compared to a gram of carbohydrate or protein. This is the main reason for the advice to cut back on fat when it comes to managing weight – if the aim is to reduce calorie intake, then reducing fat results in the biggest bang for your buck. There are different types of fats, too, and some are healthier than others. Unsaturated fats are an important part of a healthy diet as they provide essential fatty acids and help with the absorption of important fat-soluble vitamins. Fats to watch out for are saturated and trans…

fast track Tru-Tension are a UK based brand who make cleaning and maintenance products for a wide range of uses. Their cycling range has found a home in Australia thanks to FE Sports, and we tested their Deluxe Cycle Bundle ($99.99) in this issue. Tru-Tension have a range of products and other bundles, to take care of cleaning, lubricating, detailing and polishing. You can go and read the review, but FE Sports would like 3 of our readers to find out how complete the range is themselves. So we have three Tru-Tension Deluxe Cycle Bundles to give away. Just head to AMBmag.com.au/win and tell us what item isn’t in the Deluxe Cycle Bundle. You’ll be in with a chance to win 1 of 3 Tru-Tension Cycle Bundles! WIN! 1 OF…

Trail talk We are currently in the process of developing trail signs for a some large trail projects. Well designed and clear signs are a critical element of any trail network. Good signs enhance the riding experience, tell you what you need to know, and are not overbearing on the environment. Through the process of developing the sign content it dawned on me that once you have been in the sport for a while, you tend to gloss over the fundamentals of trail etiquette because you assume that everyone is on the same page when it comes to using our trail networks. It is worth looping back and looking at these socially agreed rules of the game every now and then and do a self-check to see if we are…

Plugged in We live in a highly connected world where our phones carry all the details about our lives. Without going too tin foil hat, it can be concerning that your phone can potentially track your location, listen in to your conversations, watch your browsing habits and more. The flip side of that is the convenience on offer. We can download apps to do our banking, track our rides, track our fitness, monitor air quality, tell us the boiling point of water at our elevation – and of course to customise the tune of our eMTBs. Many mountain bikers have a ‘set and forget’ mentality. It’s not about the bike, it’s about the rider! And while the bravado of such a sentiment should be applauded, it also turns its back…

It’s incredibly intimidating to step outside our comfort zone and learn something new. This is true at any age but is especially so as we get older. There is a certain vulnerability in being bad at something and persisting, particularly when it carries the risk of injury. I know, because I started mountain biking in my forties – and when I started, I was exceptionally bad at it! Like so many others, however, I was hooked from my very first ride and persisted. Sometimes through gritted teeth and occasionally through tears, but I persisted. Fast forward eight years and mountain biking has transformed my life, with the lessons I’ve learnt going far beyond those of simply riding a bike. Here are some of my biggest lessons, so far. 1. LOOK…

After two years at Maydena Bike Park, Tasmania, the 2023 AusCycling National Mountain Bike Championships were off to a new venue. Given Maydena’s downhill course was a crowd favourite and they had the ability to cut in just about any XCO course they wanted to, it could prove difficult to top the world-class trails in Tasmania. But, the crew at Thredbo simply said ‘hold our beer,’ before announcing they would combine the full National Championships schedule with their highly popular Cannonball MTB Festival. Better yet, the cross-country and gravity events would have a bit more breathing room, with racing starting Thursday 9th February and running until Sunday 12th February for all the cross-country events. Things would change gear in the week as the Cannonball Festival fired up, with Pump Track,…

the hub tasted + Easy to mount, simple to use + Light and strong + A perfect ride saver! - Not suited for most singletrack riding RRP: $120 From: Carbuta For four or five years my kids and I have been using a tow rope of some kind. After a few iterations of dog leash or bike tube contraption we stumbled across the Barcelona based Trax MTB retractable tow rope. I ordered one to keep on my bike at all times at a mere 95g penalty. I’d forgotten to pack a stretchy tow rope from time to time and any parent knows if your child runs out of steam or snacks it's long walk home or to the car. So the ability to have a tow rope stowed on the…

the hub tasted + Precise fit, quality materials + Proper cuff closure + Touchscreen friendly - No sweat wipe area RRP: $39.95 rubbersidedown.com.au Along with the new Apex Technical Shorts, Rubber Side Down have added a form fitting pair of gloves to their range. The Element gloves have a veritable tick box of features that most of us want from a pair of gloves. These are a unisex glove, running from XS to XXL, and available in navy or black. I had a large on test and I found them suitably snug, so the stretch gave the tactile feedback I wanted. The back is a 4-way stretch material, with a full cuff and velcro closure on the inside of the wrist. I do like gloves that are pull on, pull…

the hub Places that rock Wollongong’s Cringila Hills Mountain Bike Park is a family friendly riding facility that offers 12km of beginner - intermediate trails, jumps and challenging features to test the best. There’s also a state of the art asphalt pump track and bike skills play area. The mountain bike trails are part of a bigger recreation space with 3.4km of shared use walking trails and an impressive inclusive playground designed for children of all abilities. In 2022 Wollongong held the UCI Road World Championships and achieved international recognition as a UCI Bike City - Cringila Hills is one of the cycling projects that feature around Wollongong to foster cycling opportunities for the city. Once overgrown with lantana, Wollongong City Council has transformed Cringila Hills into a welcoming community…

the hubFitness For the past few years, I’ve been lucky enough to discuss (what I think) are exciting training concepts, hopefully allowing the readership of the magazine some food for thought and ideas about how to increase their fitness for more fun when mountain biking. You’ve heard all about some of my favourite sessions, planning a season, even how to implement some heat adaption into your training. While I’ve tried hard to ensure there are variety of voices within this column, including professional and elite athletes, physiotherapists and strength and conditioning coaches, I haven’t as yet engaged my peers within the coaching space to to AMB’s fitness column. All the coaches featured in this edition’s article are predominantly mountain bike specific coaches, and while their goals will broadly be the…