Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 205 i Australian Mountain Bike

editorial A big part of mountain bike media is gear. Mountain biking is so equipment heavy that we must be one of the most gear-focussed sports going. Sure, runners can have a wide variety of shoes, shorts, singlets and fitness devices. But that is nothing on mountain biking. Who else has sets of tyres (or tyres on wheels) for different rides? A shelf of lubricants for specific tasks? A bike for uphill days, a bike for downhill days, and another for the in-between days. As an industry, the bike industry encourages using and consuming lots of product. And hey, it’s all fun stuff and helps us get out and ride our bikes. But that is not why most of us ride. And cycling media also has an obligation to tell…

X-factor When I was young my dad said to me that it was never about the bike, and if I was good enough then someone would give me a bike for free. He was right, I did get many bikes for free for many years and it was never about the bike. It was about the love, the passion, the commitment, the work. But there were plenty of other things aside from the bike that were very important to making those factors actually translate to something meaningful. Things such as a team to be a part of, with a mechanic, a soigneur, a manager, a comfortable place to sleep, and the logistics all taken care of. You will often still hear the phrase “back in my day we didn’t have…

Plugged in In not too distant memory, range anxiety clouded the ride plans for many mountain bikers who wanted to take their new eMTB on an adventure. I even recall needing to have a long lunch on a media launch, so we could recharge our bikes for the ride back to the hotel. And we hadn’t been out that long before stopping. In this era, battery sizes were around 400Wh and 500Wh (approximately). With most batteries being external at the time, it wasn’t uncommon for a rider to purchase a second whole battery to swap out when needed. Backpack brands even developed bags to carry a spare battery in a secure fashion! While a second battery is a legitimate way to really extend the length and amount of climbing of…

FINDING FREEDOM AND ADVENTURE BY BIKE If you think back to why you started mountain biking, or just riding any bike, what was the driver? For riders who picked up a bike later in life, it may have been for fitness or for socialising. It could even be for competition, if you’re a runner with knees that are blown out but you still have a competitive urge. But for a lot of us, when we started riding bikes when we were younger, it was freedom. Freedom to get places on our own, to go further than we may be foot, and freedom to experiment as well. Bikes and cycling can be all these things. They’re a reason to see friends and be social, a way to improve or maintain fitness,…

the hub Mondraker are a Spanish brand who have been heavyweights in the gravity and downhill scene since their inception in 2001. From their first bike—the Petrol DH—to the well-known Foxy enduro model, the brand’s pedigree is focussed on being fast downhill. Fast forward to 2019, and the Mondraker F-Podium Carbon RR took its first World Cup Cross-Country podium with a second place in Nové Město piloted by our very own Rebecca Henderson. Several years on, the F-Podium has taken several world championship medals, and multiple back to back World Cup wins: Mondraker have made the leap from gravity to endurance and to say it’s going well is to put it mildly. Despite these impressive palmares, Mondraker is still a brand that hasn’t quite reached mainstream popularity in Australia. Perhaps…

Tested + Unmatched shift precision + Unmatched smooth shifting + Simple setup and maintenance - High entry cost - Some may prefer previous shifters RRP: GROUP SET FROM $1631 From: PSI Cycling In March 2023 SRAM finally revealed what we had all seen around the traps for well over 6 months – the new Transmission group sets. Called T-type, the design utilises the SRAM UDH but completely removes the derailleur hanger from the equation. By removing variables in setup, SRAM also added a new chainline (55mm), shift mapping for precise shifting and a system that could manage the shift loads even better. The result is what some have called the best shifting, most robust group set for a mountain bike. While the performance gains seemed to be beyond refute, the…

Tested + Light and fast + Great braking grip + Easy setup and very airtight - None beyond reason RRP: $129.99 From: PSI Cycling In June 2023 global tyre behemoth Good Year released some faster, racier rubber in their line up. While Good Year’s Peak tyre range was already popular for having a mix of fast rolling speed and useful grip, the demands of cross-country and marathon racers continues to ask for wider tyres to facilitate greater volume without adding too much weight or rolling resistance. Enter the Peak SL, in both a 2-layer 60 tpi model and the single 120tpi Peak SL Race on test. The Race model has a layer that Good Year call Mono in the sidewall to add extra protection for cuts and scrubs. The Peak…

When it comes to achieving optimal performance on the trails, a well-balanced diet is your not-so-secret weapon. After an intense session on the bike, the body undergoes a process of repair and recovery. One of the key nutrients that aid in this process is protein. Protein not only helps rebuild and repair muscle tissues but also promotes muscle growth and reduces muscle soreness after training. While protein supplements and shakes have become ever popular, there are plenty of natural and delicious food sources that pack the same protein punch for optimal recovery, taste great and can help with the food budget. Even better, focusing on whole foods means you’re also getting a range of other nutrients in at the same time, maximising the nutrition of meals and snacks to support…

THE AMB 100 IS BACK AT MT STROMLO! Our friends at Rocky Trail Entertainment are bringing their party vibes to Stromlo Forest Park this September for the AMB 100. Mark September 17 in your diaries, as the Rocky Trail crew host one of the most varied marathon-style mountain bike events on the calendar! This event really has something for almost anyone. A big lap is marked out, typically between 22-27km, depending on what trails are running the best. You’ll take on the switchback climbs, flowing trails, sweeping descents... and probably a sharp climb or two as well. As the AMB 100 is a lap based event everything is a lot easier for any support crew that may come out, but it also means you can easily support yourself with a…

Trail talk At the TRC Trails conference in St Helens last year, I delivered a presentation on “Building progression into mountain bike trails.” The considerable number of kids and mature riders entering the sport, together with existing riders wanting progression in their riding experiences has created a dilemma for trail managers. While there are a couple of aspects to this issue, for this article I want to focus on providing improved education and training options for riders entering our sport. Starting any new sport can be overwhelming, luckily most of us learned to ride a bike at an early age and the progression from footpaths to dirt doesn’t involve starting from scratch. However, jumping on a bike and heading down a mountain bike trail for the first time does carry…

Mind Body Bike While the world’s best downhillers might spend hours or even days deciding on the perfect line through a section of trail, this isn’t how most of us ride. Sure, if something’s tricky, we might get off the bike and look closely at the trail ahead. But most of the time, we stay on our bikes and do something else remarkable instead: we scan. Scanning refers to the way riders can look quite quickly at the terrain ahead, seeking and finding information about line choices and the skills needed to a) ride them well and b) hopefully not die. Scanning is also something we often do even when we have a precise line in mind – although in these situations it’s more about fine tuning or adjusting that…

Earlier this year I was invited to the launch of Yamaha’s YDX Moro 07 eMTB and subsequently had my very own test bike delivered to my house. My local dealer in Canberra is Team Moto who are one of Yamaha Australia’s 100+ dealers who were each given the choice on whether they wanted to stock the new eMTB and pending e-bike range. Technicians at those dealers have also been trained up on assembling and servicing the YDX. While many of you will know Yamaha from their moto exploits and their e-bike motors, this is the first eMTB from them made available to the public in Australia, and sales will be via the Yamaha dealer network. The motor, frame and forks are backed by a fully transferable three-year warranty, the battery…

the hub Polygon are best known for their value-oriented range of mountain bikes, especially their Siskiu line up. You would be hard pressed to head to the trails on the weekend and not see someone aboard a Siskiu of one type or another with a grin as wide as their handlebars. Polygon have worked to bring a wide range of very capable mountain bikes to market at prices to work with just about any budget. Of course, their range is much broader than just trail and all-mountain bikes, and Polygon have a popular range of road bikes, gravel bikes and some hard-hitting gravity bikes as well. The Polygon Bend has long been a well-regarded gravel bike, but earlier this year I heard there was a new model in the works.…

Tested + High end materials and closure system + Soft rubber + Plenty of ventilation + Compostable packaging - Sizing will not suit some - Inverted sole pattern not compatible with some pedals RRP: $229.00 From: bikecorp.com.au Many moons ago, if you wanted to wear a pair of gravity specific flat shoes you had one viable option, the 5.10 Impact. While their grip was undeniable their durability, styling and availability could easily be critiqued when put under the microscope. Fortunately, we now have an abundance of flat pedal shoes at our fingertips, be it mild like the dark coloured lace up options many brands offer, or the wild such as the Leatt 3.0 Pro being reviewed here. Available in sizes 38.5 to 48.5 and carrying a retail price of $229.00…

Tested + Excellent materials and cut + Great pricing on the jerseys + Light materials that suit Australian climates - Legs may be too short for some - Storage solution required From: Fox Racing Australia Gravel riding has exploded in the past couple of years, and it may or may not be something you are interested in. Here at AMB it gets welcomed into our friendship circle, as for many, gravel is an introduction to cycling in a safe, off-road environment. And that should be applauded. While a lot of social media will be telling you gravel is about long adventures, huge challenges, beards, plaid shirts and 1x drivetrains – don’t listen. Gravel can just be you, outdoors, riding the bike you have, on a dirt road or chill trail.…

We all ride with a phone for safety, so why not make the most of this tiny computer and optimise our cycling training? Here I discuss my 5 favourite must have apps for any mountain biker, and how they can improve your fitness. STRAVA In a nutshell: Social media for endurance athletes Price: Free, extra features available via premium subscription ($14.99/month, $99.99/year) Strava is kind of like the OG cycling app for cyclists and endurance athletes: while you can track a range of sports from kayaking, alpine skiing to golfing, Strava’s core features are centred around cycling, running and swimming. Strava allows you to connect with your mates and see their on-bike adventures (doling out ‘kudos’ on their rides), and you can also upload photos alongside your rides. Strava allows…

Gravity Check The winter of travel has finally returned. Every man and his dog have headed to Europe for a summer break riding throughout the famous Alps, catching a chairlift from town to town while crossing borders on a DH bike with nothing more than a phone in the back pocket. A rite of passage that has become available again to those who hold dreams of following in the footsteps of current World Cup riders, who themselves were once van living also rans who filled up the spots outside the top 80 (now 30) qualifying cut off. It has to be the least structured path to a professional sports career in the entire sports community that I can think of. While there might be self-styled sports coaches popping up on…

Five years ago, you would rarely see vertical bike racks on Australian roads. I remember the first time I saw one on a Whistler trip in 2018 - what a revelation. The fact that you could carry 5 full sized bikes in a relatively short length, on the back of a standard vehicle was a game changer to my naive eyes. Given their absolute explosion in the local market over the past few years, it seems I am not the only one who thinks they’re a fantastic idea. Shaun Jackson, the owner of Dirty Possum, has ridden that wave to perfection and now has one of the most well-known Australian made bike racks available. I recently sat down with Shaun to talk about why he decided to get into the…

Eyewear should be seen as an important part of your safety gear when riding. Our eyes are essential for mountain biking, so it makes sense to look after them. After our goggles group test, sunglasses were the next logical choice, and the demands are similar. This extensive sunglasses group test took place throughout June and July in Queensland, allowing for extensive low-light and dappled light trail riding as well as some brighter days testing some of the darker lens options. All the glasses were tested with a Fox Mainframe helmet as well as a POC Omne Light gravel/XC helmet. The testing matrix focussed on fit, construction and performance. As for fit, my head has a 55cm head circumference and reasonably narrow face and nose. But I also used a secondary…

the hub Last year Trek released the new Fuel EXe to global acclaim. The 29er trail e-bike combined a highly capable trail bike platform with one of the sleekest eMTB systems on the market with the co-release of the TQ HPR-50 motor, battery and head unit. While this model was only available in carbon frames in 2022, Trek have just released two alloy framed models. In Australia these will starts at $8499.99 for the EXe 5 and run to the Fuel EXe 8 for $11499.99 that we have had on test. When the carbon bikes were introduced in 2022, the pricing was very good for the ride and build quality that is on offer. But with the alloy frame, Trek can bring the price point down a little lower. I…

Tested + Intelligent fit and features + High quality materials +Ethical design and standards - Helmet compatible hood will depend on the helmet - Could use a lower hem cinch. RRP: $479.95 patagonia.com.au Patagonia are a well-known outdoors brand heralded for their ethical approach to materials and product design. Their new Dirt Roamer series is aimed squarely at mountain bikers, with a wide range of trail kit to suit all the conditions you will find on the trail. The Dirt Roamer Storm Jacket is an essential item for anyone who wants to get out, and stay out, no matter the conditions. A CLOSER LOOK First things first, the Storm Jacket isn’t a full zip. The half-zip shell is designed to be pulled over your head, and this offers a number…

Step up jumps are great fun. I’ve had some of the best days on my bike sessioning a single step up jump trying all kinds of different tricks and generally just goofing around. The great thing about step ups is that by jumping up to the landing, you land much slower and softer. Because of this a good step up jump is a great place to mess around with your jumping skills, try tricks and generally just get comfortable in the air and on your bike. On the other hand, as a trail feature, step ups can be an intimidating feature with the landing all the way up there and a make or break appearance as you approach the lip. In any case, once you get the hang of it,…

While the exact procedure may differ from manufacturer to manufacturer, we will take look at why the lower leg service of any fork is extremely important, and how to pick tell tale signs your fork may be in desperate need of a service. Your two visible stanchions slide on multiple bushings within the lower leg (lowers) of the fork, protected by a dust wiper or seal to keep debris out and lubricant in. The more precise these tolerances the better debris stays out and the smoother the action. Too tight, too loose or with contaminates in the mix and excessive wear and friction will occur. Any additional friction in your fork will make your front end feel harsher, resulting in trail feedback, a skittish feel and less traction. When forks…