Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 211 i Australian Mountain Bike

Troy Brosnan whips through the trees on his way to his first win in three years at the final UCI Downhill World Series race in Mont Sainte Anne, Canada. The chaos, speed and colour of an Elite UCI Cross Country race. Australian Rebecca Henderson is in the mix, ultimately finishing 11th at Mont Sainte Anne, Canada. Robin Goomes backflipped her way to a historic win in the first ever women’s Red Bull Rampage event. The Kiwi took her place in freeride history books, completing two backflips on the way down steep slopes of Zion National Park, Utah.…

The Quad Crown Orca hit the shores of Tathra on September 6th. With an iconic three-day format, riders sprinted around the trails of Eden on the Friday afternoon’s prelude, followed by stage one at Tathra and stage two back at Eden. In true Quad Crown fashion, the only thing better than the sweet single track of Eden and Tathra were the cold beers at the finish line! Fresh from a season in the US racing the Life Time Grand Prix, Brendan Johnston made the trek to the coast for the Quad Crown Orca, and took the overall leader's yellow jersey. Canberra powerhouse Katherine Hosking took the elite women’s jersey.…

Merida marks a new addition to the lightweight e-bike market with the drop of the new eOne-Sixty SL. Sporting the Bosch Performance Line SX drive unit, the carbon-framed, 160mm travel bike offers an all-mountain experience in a lightweight package. The eOne-Sixty SL represents a shift towards an enduro-focussed geometry and handling, and Bosch Performance Line SX unit means the bike is around 3.5kg lighter than Merida’s lightest full-support e-bike. For fans of the mullet, the eOne-Sixty SL can be run as a full 29" or 29”/27.5” mullet set up, via a flip chip integrated into the seat stays. The eOne-Sixty SL retains some key features of the One-Sixty including flex stay technology and an overhauled sizing range. Similar to the new Big trail reviewed in this issue, the frame has…

Thredbo MTB Park is the ultimate mountain biking holiday destination, and this summer, Thredbo has upped the stakes in the quest for the ultimate holiday. New trails, fresh jump lines and the new Alpine Coaster all await you when you head to Thredbo for the best summer on the bike! Thredbo is Australia’s only lift-accessed MTB Park, and there’s something truly unique about jumping on the chairlift or the gondola with your bike, enjoying stunning views on the way up the mountain and then riding back down. No more smelly shuttle buses; the chairlifts are quick, comfortable and efficient. This means more ride time each day! Over 40 kilometres of pure gravity trails for all abilities are nestled in the hills of Mt Kosciuszko. Thredbo makes significant improvements to the…

Trail talk As the mountain biking community grows, so does the demand for well-designed trail networks that cater to riders of all skill levels. One of the often overlooked aspects of sustainable trail design is incorporating opportunities for riders to develop their skills within trail networks safely, with adequate challenge. This not only enhances the overall riding experience for a wider cross-section of riders but also fosters long-term engagement in the sport while promoting safety and building confidence among riders. Enhancing Rider Development Mountain biking requires diverse skills, from balance and bike handling to bike control in the air and navigating technical features. By designing trails and trail networks with built-in skill progression, riders can steadily develop their skills at their own pace and in a safe and controlled environment.…

The last time I rode a lightweight eBike was when I was pregnant. Tired, out of breath and wanting to ride my bike up climbs that required more out of me than I was able to give, I realised that perhaps eBikes may have finally found a place in my life. However, at this time I felt that lightweight bikes were a little…anaemic. While they could pack a punch with turbo mode, the low and moderate support modes left me a little bit wanting in terms of the support level, engagement and battery life. Moving on a year and a bit, I remain eBike curious, but conversely have found full-powered eBikes to be a bit too big in terms of travel and ‘pow’ for my local trails and the experience…

"What if we walked readers through a complete start to finish feature on getting an average bloke ready for a race? Someone who has to do 'real lif', not a hardcore athlete, you know? Choose the bike, tyres, all the changes we would do at Australian Mountain Bike, as well as fitness and nutrition to show people that riding in an event isn’t scary," Ben Morrison said one day on a quick phone call as I raced to parent-teacher interviews. I know a thing or two about putting riding aspirations aside for work and family, and I loved the idea of using the brains trust of the AMB’s expertise to follow someone on an adventure from weekend warrior to weapon. "Who could we use?" was the big question I had…

The Giant Stance represents a great value bike for those dipping their toes into mountain biking. At $2999, it represents one of the less expensive options on the test, but despite this, it is still able to pack a punch where it counts. The Giant stance features 125mm travel, paired up with a 140mm fork, and is described as a ‘versatile all-rounder’ by Giant. While it varies in geometry incrementally from the well-loved Giant Trance, it’s easy to see that the Stance represents its little brother in the range. GEOMETRY The Stance features a moderate 65.5-degree headtube angle, with a 76.5-degree seat tube angle, on par with most others on the test. A fixed chainstay length of 440mm across the size range and a short to moderate reach of 445mm…

The 6th generation Trek Fuel Ex 5 is a bike that I was itching to ride as soon as I heard about the trail bike group test. In a nutshell, the Trek Fuel Ex 5 is a 29” trail bike that you can enjoy riding all day while also descending with confidence on intimidating trails. The Trek Fuel Ex 5 is a do-it-all trail bike but weighing in at 15.8kg, it certainly isn't light. Despite this, the bike still manages to ride really comfortably on longer 3+ hour rides and getting up the climbs wasn’t impossible thanks to the wide-ranging Deore 12-speed drivetrain. When you turn the bike downhill, it really shines. I found the Fuel Ex 5 confidence-inspiring on fast flowy trails: it’s planted, stoic, and handles technical sections…

Nestled in the hills of Andorra, Commencal is a brand that features heavily in the Australian and World Cup Downhill scene. At $4600, the Commencal Tempo Ride in dark slate is the equal most expensive on test, but will that deliver on the trail? The Tempo is a 29” bike that marries up a 140mm Pike with a RockShox Deluxe Select+ rear shock in a shorter 125mm travel package. As a result, it has a distinctly dirt-jumper-esque silhouette, with the top tube hanging extra low. With a dual-link suspension layout, the Tempo deviates from Commencal’s long history of linkage-driven single pivot trail bike builds. Commencal state the Tempo is ‘perfect for lapping climbs, it is dynamic on hilly singletrack and brings confidence on descents’. With a small test bike the…

the hub The 2025 Alpine Trail E2 has undergone a complete redesign, bringing significant changes to its frame and performance. Marin’s message is clear, ‘more range, more travel, more capability!’ This year’s model comes courtesy of BikesOnline, delivered directly to consumers with minimal assembly required. Once again, we were impressed by the care taken during assembly and packaging. Our Marin Alpine Trail E2 was out of the box and onto the workstand in no time. INITIAL IMPRESSIONS A complete redesign of the Marin Alpine Trail E2 saw many changes to the frame and a simple no-nonsense message, delivering on the ‘more range, more travel, more capable’ motto. BikesOnline continues to impress us with the level of care in assembly and then packaging it all up for the consumer. The bike…

Riding rock gardens is by far one of my favourite things to do on a bike. The feeling of your suspension working underneath you, your bike wanting to go everywhere but straight and the unknown of just what might happen next make it super fun and scary at the same time. The more suspension you have the easier it becomes, but when you approach into rock gardens with really big rocks, your body position and technique becomes even more important. Likewise, tackling rock gardens on shorter travel bikes also calls for your technique to be dialled to get through smoothly and stay upright! Even on a downhill bike, technique is key to ride rock gardens smooth and fast, and there are some fundamentals which can help you along the way,…

the hub Workshop Does your dual suspension bike feel balanced? Does your bike like to buck you when you jump or just have a mind of its own? Here are a few pointers to getting your suspension dialled in and feeling more balanced, it will help you jump, corner and maintain traction better keeping even pressure on both the front and rear tyres. As a bike mechanic and a qualified skills instructor, I am often asked about how to set up suspension and how to jump. The challenge when explaining either really depends on the rider's body position on the bike. If either the rider's body position or suspension are incorrect or unbalanced, the rider's centre of mass will be biased to the front or rear of the bike and…

editorial Life can be divided into two main states: coasting and progressing. Neither is inherently good nor bad; one allows recovery and regrouping, and the other presses forward to new horizons. Coasting and progressing can also coincide in different aspects of your life. For a long while my bike time, skills and fitness have been coasting (some may say freewheeling backwards), while at home and in the workspace, new challenges whiz by at a speed I can only dream of on two wheels. The joys of having a teenager and baby are unparalleled in highs and lows! One day, you’re racing enduro; the next, you’re riding an e-bike with a baby seat to daycare. The thing about progress is that it can happen incrementally, often without realising it. You practice…

For those of you not sold on the lightweight e-bike boom, or simply needing an extra aggressive option for huge hits and gnarly runs, Merida has also released the new eOne-Eighty. Keeping it a Bosch affair, the eOne-Eighty is the longest travel e-bike Merida has released. The bike features the Bosch Performance Line CX motor, 180mm travel and a 6061-alloy, mullet-only frame. The new CX drive unit features a whopping 800Wh battery,and is compatible with the PowerMore 250Wh range extender. Perfect for a truly epic day out on the trails. The eOne-Eighty is offered in three sizes from Short to XLong and in three models, in a single colour way per model.…

TUBOLIGHT DIAMANA HD Tubolight is a brand that prides themselves on fighting the scourge of poor traction with the Diamana range of tyre inserts. The dimpled upper surface and wave-like shaping combined with narrowing lateral air channels, create a Venturi effect: moving air from the larger outer portion of the tyre, to the smaller inner portion closest to the rim bed. A reverse Venturi effect ensures that air is temporarily held in the inner portion closest to the rim bed, slowing the rebound of air within the tyre maintaining more consistent contact with the ground. This delivers a smoother ride, improved vibration dampening and reduced rider fatigue. The new Diamana HD is designed for trail and enduro riders, its medium density compound offers great protection and tyre support while still…

Gravity Check As much as my fiancée would like me to believe otherwise, time isn’t subjective. For those of us that race against the clock, the concept of time as an absolute is ingrained as part of our character, manifesting itself as much off the bike as on it. Then there are those athletes who compete outside the constraints of time, who live to race against their fellow competitors up close and personal, who know that regardless of time it is the person who is in front that takes the glory, whether that margin is 0.1 of a second or 2 minutes. That same mentality is applied throughout nature, and you can argue it’s the same instinct that would kick in if you were being chased by a bear. I…

We can all agree that mountain biking isn’t just physical; it can sometimes be just as challenging mentally. Below, I’ll touch on the role setbacks can play in one’s career, how to deal with emotional regulation, and how our core motivations play into it all. For many, mountain biking is about the process the bike takes you on. We all get into it for different reasons but ultimately for the same common goal: satisfaction. Like anything you’ve started in life, there is always that desire to improve that sneaks in at some stage along the way. And while this progression may take different shapes for each of us, that desire is always there. Finding that limit into a corner, going further into the backcountry, or finally getting out the bike…

‘Built For Fun’ has been Marin’s mantra since their beginning in 1986. Based on the West Coast of the United States, Marin was part of the birth of mountain biking as we know it, and it's been a relevant player in the industry ever since. It seems only fair that we have the brand featured in this test with the bike that they call the ‘do-it-all’ trail bike - the Marin Rift Zone 2 in 29”. The Rift Zone has 130mm of travel out the back and 140mm out front, common numbers in the category and you could argue the perfect numbers for this space. Sold in Australia via the BikesOnline website, Marin delivers incredible value for money. GEOMETRY The medium size tested features a reach of 460mm, seat tube…

Polygon has quickly become a popular brand in Australia with the help of BikesOnline’s direct-to-consumer model. The Polygon Siskiu is a staple mid-travel trail bike in Polygon's lineup. It’s a great fit for riders who want a versatile bike that can tackle gnarly terrain with confidence and yet still be comfortable to ride over long distances. The Polygon Siskiu T8 features a 140mm (27.5”) or 150mm (29”) Fox Rhythm fork with a Fox Float DPS rear shock. The Siskiu is a great all-rounder trail bike that rides comfortably on easier trails but maintains composure when the trails get technical. GEOMETRY We have reviewed the Siskiu T6, T7 and T9 and always found the geometry to strike the balance between playful and planted. The seat tube angle of 76.5 degrees is…

So what bike won our hearts? What would we pick as the one bike to rule them all? Well…it’s not quite that simple. If you’re looking for a budget trail bike, it’s likely you’re looking at the $3000-$3500 or the $3500-4000+ price ranges, and that splits our test bikes into two groups. The Giant Stance, Marin Rift Zone and Merida 140 400 all fit into the less expensive camps, and are all distinctly different beasts. If your goal is feeling efficient on less hectic trails, the Giant Stance is a great low-budget option. The Flexpoint suspension system effectively puts you in a naturally higher position than many of the other bikes on the test, and this results in efficiency on the climbs, but the Stance is perhaps not as surefooted…

the hub The Big Trail is a bike we have ridden and tested throughout several evolutions of the bike. The new 2024 Big Trail marks the third generation of the model that promises to maximise fun on the descent while optimising geometry to ensure climbing to the top of your run isn’t a chore. At $2999 the bike packs a punch, begging the question: do I really need to spend a lot of dollar bills to have fun on the trail? In 2021 I tested the Big Trail 500, and was pleasantly surprised at how fun a trail hardtail could be. With the release of the 2024 Big Trail, Merida has taken the fun-factor and upped it. Designed for a rider that enjoys challenging trails but doesn’t have the budget…

the hub The Trek Rally fulfils everyone's New Year's resolutions by being cooler, lighter and better looking. At AMB we are no stranger to WaveCel helmet technology, having done a deep-dive into WaveCel upon it’s initial release, followed up with subsequent releases including the Bontrager Rally range. In 2024, Trek have made some changes to the Rally design and launched the helmet under the Trek banner for the first time. We loved the earlier iterations of WaveCel helmet. Bontrager's commitment to safety and pushing the bar in terms of technology was commendable, but the helmet itself was bulky and hot: two attributes that are less than desirable riding around in the Australian summer. The launch of the Trek Rally has addressed some of the issues with earlier versions of the…

the hubNutrition THE BASICS OF FUELLING Just as you wouldn’t start a road trip with the petrol light on, don’t embark on a long ride without proper nutrition. It’s equally important to top up along the way. Petrol stations can be a treasure trove of fuelling options if you know what to look for. So how do you choose? The big focus for fuelling long rides should be on easily digestible carbohydrates, adequate fluids to maintain hydration and a little protein to keep hunger at bay. Variety is also key to minimising ‘flavour fatigue’ and keeping things interesting. Using these simple principles, try some of the following options which are all readily available at the average petrol station. HYDRATION ESSENTIALS Staying hydrated is crucial for maintaining energy and performance. At…

Riders descended upon the Western Australian town of Collie for Gravity Enduro National Champs on the 17th–20th October. Backing up from a hard day’s racing at the Oceania Championships on Wednesday prior, riders lined up again to see who would don the green and gold stripes for the year ahead. In the women’s race it was two for two, with Queenslander Elle de Nooyer backing up her impressive win in the Oceania Championships with a National title. De Nooyer also won the Under-21 category. The win marks an impressive comeback for the rider, who sustained serious injuries in a 2022 crash, requiring extensive rehabilitation. Former national champion Jess Hoskin rode to second, finishing only 1.84 seconds behind De Nooyer, with Lacey Adams in third. For the men, Luke Meier-Smith also…

After a long hiatus, 2024 saw the return of the NSW State Cross-Country series. In a joint effort between AusCycling and NSW mountain bike clubs, the series featured four rounds at Kirrikee, Tamworth, Condoo and Mt Majura. Coach Lynne Vaughn was key in establishing the series, and says “after successfully running the state champs for NSW with over 200 athletes in 2022 and 2023, we could see that people wanted this kind of racing. Clubs could take a round on a date that runs alongside their established cross-country events, drawing more participants and offering more competition”. State-based racing is integral for the development of the next generation of cross-country riders, and the series allowed for many of the AusCycling Junior Academy participants the chance to compete in a series of…

X-factor We all joke about the notion of N+1, the tongue-in-cheek formula that says no matter how many bikes you own, there is always room for one more that's slightly different from the one already hanging in your garage. While often used humorously, it does carry some truth, and I believe there is genuine value in owning more than one type of bike. There are many arguments for why one bike can’t do it all. Different terrains, skill focuses, and even the technology and capabilities of various bikes all contribute to the idea that each type of bike serves a unique purpose. A lightweight hardtail might be perfect for cross-country riding or bike packing, but the average rider probably wouldn’t have the best experience on aggressive enduro descents with it.…

Mind Body Bike The first 70km of purpose-built trails officially opened in August at Mogo, on the NSW South Coast, with a total of 135km planned in total. The hype surrounding the Mogo Trails is huge and my early experience confirms they deliver. But this article isn’t (only) about that. Hitting the trails with a group, zeroing in on one feature then the next, holding good speed despite never having seen the trail before…I couldn’t stop wondering: what goes into creating an experience like that? One that delivers in terms of the physical experience of riding, but also the mental experience? Juliane and Martin Wisata run Rocky Trail Destination, who are the principal contractors for the Mogo Trails project. They bring years of experience to the project from running events…

It would be an understatement to say it’s been a big year for Ryan Gilchrist. In his second year racing for Yeti/ Shimano EP racing, he not only landed his first E-EDR podium, he also took his first E-EDR win, the overall series, took the King of Crankworx title and as we head to print, just took gold at the Elite Pump Track World Championships. We caught up with Ryan when he touched back down in Australia after racing E-Enduro World Championships in Val di Fassa, Italy. "I’m lightly jetlagged. Whenever I land and I have a race, I hit the ground and I do everything I need to do to adjust the body clock. When I come home at the end of the season, I’m like 'agh I’ll go…

If you’ve been around bikes, you’ve most likely heard of Merida. They have nailed some really important bikes in the past, particularly the first generation eOne-Sixty e-bike that very much became the reference in e-MTB for years. On the analogue side, though, Merida has never fully impressed me, that is, until the current range was announced. The Merida One-Forty 400 here on test is the cheapest model in their range, which extends all the way to 5-digit premium carbon models. The Merida One-Forty, in both carbon or alloy, features the same frame as its big sister – the One Sixty – with only a change in the shock stroke distinguishing both models. This means the One-Forty frame is strong enough to pass category 4 testing for an enduro level of…

Superior is a 30-year-old European brand that you may not have heard of. Recently, BicyclesOnline started importing them from Czechia, and Superior offers some impressive value for money for the Aussie consumer. Superior prides itself on its in-house R&D and minimalist design, and the XF here on test is a clear example of their ethos. The Superior XF 939 TR is the trail version of their XF platform (if the name didn’t give that away!) and it certainly stood out when lined up against the other bikes in this test, but not for the reasons you’d expect. Read through the geometry charts on all the other bikes in this piece, and you’ll see a lot of numbers that are similar: head tube angle within a degree, similar reach numbers, seat…

the hub When I first rode the new Trek Slash last year, Trek was already at work on the electric version. The result is the all round weapon, the Slash+. The Slash+ is an 170mm all-mountain, mid-power lightweight offering. It features a small drive unit and a mid-size battery in an effort to keep handling more like the analogue version of the Slash, yet with enough assistance from the motor to make a real difference to your ride. The geometry, kinematics, and most of the frame details are all nearly identical to the Slash, save for a few details like a top tube screen and switch on the left side of the bars. In fact, at first glance the screen is quite incognito: most people did not notice that this…

SRAM is peddling their latest range of Time pedals and supplied AMB with their workhorse trail version – Time Speciale 10 – for review. The Time Speciale 10 represents the first release of Time pedals under SRAM. The ATAC pedal debuted in the mid 90’s and has been refined over time to become a top performer in the category. In a case of ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’, the changes are largely cosmetic. The Speciale 10 is a 6106-T6 aluminium-bodied mid-sized trail pedal. For the weight weenies among us, there is also a titanium axle version – the Speciale 12. The Speciale 10 is available in small (64x80mm, 392g/pair) and large (tested, 69x90mm, 409g/pair). SRAM states that the smaller pedals are optimal for trail and enduro, while the…

the hub Goodyear was part of our tyre test earlier in the year and both the Newton MTF and MTR left a good impression on Hayden Wright – however with their focus on intermediate to wet conditions, they left him wanting more in Queensland’s dry and rocky conditions. The new Wrangler MTF and MTR continue Goodyear’s push for front and rear specific tyres, with a block pattern, rubber compound and carcass specifically designed to best suit each end of your bike. I tested the Enduro casing with a double 120 TPI layering, however there is a specific e-bike casing (Electricdrive) with an exclusive construction that has the weight of e-bikes in mind. For someone looking for a stronger tyre, it would be a good option even on an analogue bike.…

the hub Fitness There’s no doubt the winner of this year’s UCI E-Enduro World Cup, Ryan ‘Gilly’ Gilchrist, is a beast physiologically! As if winning the World Cup wasn’t enough to prove that, a recent off-season KOM hunt around his local Coffs Harbour trails reveals Gilly dropping watt bombs that would be the envy of XC riders or track sprinters: 5sec power of 1400w, 30sec power of 953w and 60sec power of 672w. Insane! Are Gilly’s fitness, power, skills and strength a product of nature or nurture? The evidence suggests he chose his parents damn well with an old man who was one of the best white water paddlers in the world. He started riding at age 3, racing at age 4, kicked off mountain biking as a lycra-clad cross…