Innholdsfortegnelse for 151 i Australian Mountain Bike

Rider: Shane Wode Photographer: Sean Lee In late October many of Australia’s downhillers flocked to Bali for the Asia Pacific Downhill Championships. There’s always time to kill, and Sean Lee capture Shane Wode at play, riding a wall near where they were staying in a town called Padung Bai. Rider: Chris Panozzo Photographer: Damian Breach Chris Panozzo drops into the upper rock chute of Juggernaut, at Hollybank Mountain Bike Park, just outside of Launceston. The trail offers something for everyone, with double black diamond line choices and plenty of optional gaps to hit! It’s also one of the longer continually descending man-made mountain bike trails around. Don’t miss it if you head to Tasmania.…

Falls Creek have launched the latest stage of trails in late November, and their cross country singletrack will increase from five trails to 12 trails – with the majority of these being blue (intermediate) cross country. A few have All Mountain features and there will be some entry level green trails as well. All up the network to date will offer a brilliant experience for those familiar with the area as well as for those starting out. With a great outlook, ready access to backcountry trails and an increasing singletrack network, Falls Creek is a great place to head this summer. Fallscreek.com.au/mtb…

Fatbikes are versatile, and a really fun way for riders to get out and see trails differently, or even to get people new to riding a little more comfortable thanks to the huge air volume and gobs of traction. Outdoors International want to help get people offroad, and they’ve given us a Mammut 24 fatbike to give away to one lucky reader! The kid’s size fatbike is suitable for teenagers or tall younger kids, and is likely to be a fun way to help get your kid into mountain biking, or give them a bit more ability to explore. Just cruise over to AMBmag.com.au to enter the competition, and you’ll go into the draw to win one of the Mammut 24 fatbikes. Full terms and conditions are online.…

Hi AMB, I just wanted to say that I throughly enjoy each AMB issue but I especially enjoyed the 150th issue! Imogen Smith wrote a fabulous (and bigger than expected!) article about our hugely successful Chicks in the Sticks (CITS) women’s only mountain bike race that was held last August (thank you SO much Imogen!).The day was so much fun and the tracks were amazing and a good challenge for all levels. We were thrilled to see so many happy faces. This issue was particularly special also because it took me back to my early days of mountain biking. I really really enjoyed the “Creating the Culture of Mountain Biking” feature and how the 1990s made mountain biking. I loved mountain biking back then and still do now. I remember…

Glen Jacobs is a person whose name is synonymous with mountain biking. What started as a few mates pushing their bikes up hills and finding playful, two-wheeled ways to return to the bottom, has led to a career building trails that have come to define our sport. When the UCI saw the types of trails Jacobs and his crew were building in Cairns for the 1997 World Mountain Bike Championships, he was offered a job as a professional race track builder, the first in the world. Fast forward almost twenty years, and Jacobs’ company, World Trail, has moved from designing tracks for racing to delivering world class experiences for recreational riders. The sport’s biggest growth area is now adventure tourism and, as Jacobs is quick to point out, this means…

YOUNG MAN; 18 YEAR OLD KEVIN, STANDS ON A DUSTY STREET CORNER ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF ANTIGUA, GUATEMALA. TWO YEARS AGO HE RECEIVED A BICYCLE FROM WHEELS 4 LIFE THROUGH HIS SCHOOL; “ESCUELA PROYECTO LA ESPERANZA” WHICH WAS FOUNDED AND IS RUN AS A UK BASED CHARITY. THEY PRODUCE AN EXCELLENT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM FOR THE EXTREMELY POVERTY STRICKEN PEOPLE OF THE ANTIGUA AREA IN CENTRAL AMERICA. Kevin jumps on the back of our pick-up truck and guides us to his humble home where he lives with his mother, it is a primitive brick building with a metal door and no running water. His room is tiny and beside his bed he stores his few belongings, which consist mainly of clothes, school supplies and apart from his football trophies; his most…

ESSENTIAL ENGLEBERG DETAILS TRANSPORT The real beauty of travelling in Switzerland compared to other areas is the ease of transport. We travelled only by rail, and had no problems with our bike bags and luggage, or with our bikes on day trips. Some routes might require booking a ticket for your bike, but station staff will be able to guide you on that. We used a Swiss Travel Pass, which meant we were able to use the trains and most Swiss transport as required within our trip. If you’re likely to be moving around a lot, this is a really good investment, as single tickets can otherwise add up quite quickly. The Travel Pass will also reduce the cost of mountain trains and lifts. myswitzerland.com/rail HUT TO HUT The Swiss…

Here in Australia, Canyon held a bike preview in Victoria which was also attended by Fabian Barel. Not just a team rider, Barel has been instrumental in the design of the Canyon Strive CF, Canyon’s 160mm travel all-mountain bike. His engineering background, and racing experience makes him the perfect tool for building a refined bike to tackle the Enduro World Series. The Strive frame is long and stable, and by using the CT scanner they have manipulated the carbon layup to maximise the stiffness and strength, and minimise the weight. Tube shapes have been tuned for standover clearance, clearance for a full bottle, and no-fuss internal routing, with all hoses or cables having their own carbon sleeve inside the frame. The real focus is almost hidden – the Shape Shifter…

IMOGEN SMITH RIDER BIO Riding Experience: A regular AMB bike tester, Imogen has spent her adult life riding and racing mountain bikes. Generally Rides: Bianchi Methanol 29 FS, Cannondale Caad 9 road bike Height: 171cm Weight: 57kg Bike Test Track: Engelberg trails, Switzerland THREE THINGS YOU LIKED ABOUT THE BIKE - Very stiff, owing to fat carbon downtube and cockpit setup - Extreme pedalling efficiency worthy of a World-Champs-winning bike - About as lightweight as a duallie’s going to get THREE THINGS YOU WOULD CHANGE ABOUT THE BIKE - I prefer a slightly slacker head angle, and would be willing to sacrifice steering precision for slightly more relaxed handling - To like this bike, you really have to like the colour red - Continental tyres aren’t my favourites in most…

It may come as a surprise then that Reynolds Cycling actually debuted their very first carbon mountain bike whee lset way back in 2007. Called the Topo, the complete wheel set came in at just 1350 grams at a time when the idea of employing a composite rim for off-road use was mind-blowing. The Topo’s ride quality and durability proved their worth though, and Reynolds has been growing consumer confidence in carbon wheels ever since. Addressing the needs of todays long-travel superbikes, the AM Carbon Wheels are Reynolds’ strongest and widest mountain bike offering yet. This 27.5” wheel set has been designed and engineered to handle the rigours of Enduro racing and hardcore trail thrashing, with 31mm wide tubeless-compatible rims, adaptable hubs and a user-serviceable design. Coming in at a…

The action camera segment is a saturated one and extremely competitive. Major brands like Sony and Panasonic are trying to vie against long term leaders GoPro. New comers to the market are constant, with a reputable brand like TomTom offering a new action camera we anticipated a polished and well thought out product. GETTING A FIRST LOOK. One of the most important factors for an action camera is its size, or lack of it. Smaller is usually better, so long as it remains easy to use. The TomTom Bandit is certainly no class leader for size. It is noticeably bigger and heavier than a GoPro Hero 4 (encased) and similar in size to the Drift. The design is nice and simple, a bullet design similar to the previous generation Garmin…

At its core, rocks and dirt are all that make mountains stand tall. But this bland list of ingredients has the power to create an adventure. An adventure to breathe rarefied air while looking out across landscapes that those who don’t dare climb will never see. But of course the descent down is the real reward. The small town of Bright in the Victorian Alps is able to boast some big mountains and epic singletrack in its vicinity, all with their own unique and amazing experiences. Mt Hotham, Falls Creek and Mt Buffalo are climbed year round by World Tour pros and weekend warriors alike. Mountain bikers from all around frequent the awesome singletrack that Bright has to offer. But what about the road less travelled, or perhaps the climb…

It is not big news that mountain biking is increasingly about what you want it to be, not about your speed down the hill, or around a course. What’s really important about that is deciding what mountain biking is for you, and what it means to you. If you’re out riding on your local trails, chances are that plenty of people will have an opinion about what bike you are riding, or what equipment you are using. As mountain bikers, we are also likely to judge another rider by their bike, their helmet or their clothing. One rider might dismiss another’s technical ability due to their preference of bib shorts and jersey. And some riders might not consider a rider in board shorts and singlet might be able to ride…

In late October, the 21st Crocodile Trophy ran from Cairns to Port Douglas – the long way – taking in many of the great trails in Tropical North Queensland. In 2015, the elite men’s field was well stacked, featuring many national marathon champions, including our own Brendan Johnston. Over 9 days of racing, the Swiss professional Urs Huber proved he was the strongest, winning all but two stages, and taking the overall title. Having won in 2009 and 2010, Huber visited to experience the race and how much it has evolved in the past few years with shorter, more technical stages and a UCI S1 ranking. “I’m really happy about my third victory at the Crocodile Trophy. This race has changed so much since I won it last in 2009…

The eighth edition of the Margaret River’s Cape to Cape stage race took place in late October, taking in the breweries, wineries, food, and beaches that this stunning region has to offer. Starting at Cape Leeuwin at the tip of WA’s southwest coast, over four days the event travelled to the northern edge of the region, finishing on the fast and technical singletrack of the Dunsborough Country Club. The men raced neck and neck all the way to the finish line on the last day, with Kyle Ward victorious, while Peta Mullens cemented her place at the top of Australian women’s mountain biking with a win in the women’s category. Jon Gregg and Marie-Claude Baars won the masters categories. With 1,000 riders taking on the challenge, loads of social events,…

As mountain bikers, the desire to explore runs thick within our blood. In contrast to many others in our species, us mountain bikers love escaping the clutches of our urbanised dwellings and travelling to places that we’ve never been before. We crave any opportunity to experience adventure, adrenaline, and the rawness of Mother Nature. Stripped back to its most basic elements, this is to me what mountain biking is all about. But we’re not alone in our desire to explore the outdoors. In fact, us mountain bikers happen to share a lot in common with our fellow hikers, kayakers, trail runners, cycle tourers, surfers, and adventure seekers. Sure, we might use different equipment to do so, but when it all boils down, we all share the same fundamental desire to…

There’s nothing quite like the adventure of a backcountry trip, getting off the beaten track and exploring. Going beyond the marked trails and seeing what is on the other side, and rarely seeing another soul on your journey. It’s the unknown, the fact that no one else is around, and finding your own way. You’re out there with the elements and those unknown elements become part of the adventure. I love exploring the backcountry and I spent a couple days exploring the Falls Creek backcountry last summer with Shannon Rademaker of All Terrain Cycles Mansfield and guide Andrew. For Shannon, backcountry operator and guide, one of the biggest things about being an operator in the backcountry is having a really good trip plan, understanding the risks involved and how to…

ADAM (FERNY) FERNYHOUGH RIDER BIO Riding Experience: Over 25 years on mountain bikes, riding worldwide Generally Rides: Santa Cruz Bronson, Orange 5 Height: 178cm Weight: 83kg Bike Test Track: Upper and Lower Blue Mountains THREE THINGS YOU LIKED ABOUT THE BIKE - Really stable suspension and great front and rear balance - A great drivetrain package - Playful handling in the air THREE THINGS YOU WOULD CHANGE ABOUT THE BIKE - A stiffer wheel set - Make sure you run it tubeless - Play with some offset bushings to achieve a slacker head angle Fuji may not be the first brand that comes to mind in the current world of ‘enduro’ style bikes. More known for their road bikes and recreational models the Fuji Auric is set to launch the…

As an Australasian brand that has been in our local bike shops for three decades, many of us will have either owned an Avanti bike at some point, or had a mate who’s owned one. Back in 2010, Avanti broke out of their hardtail mould and made a successful relaunch into the full suspension market with the introduction of the Vapour XC and the Torrent. It may have come as a surprise to many at the time, but given the proximity of Avanti HQ to the riding Mecca of Rotorua, it really shouldn’t have. Amongst the Avanti development team, a talented and passionate group of mountain bikers and industrial designers decided that they could offer something different to their American and Taiwanese competitors. The Vapour XC and Torrent were the…

Kogel aren’t new nor are they inexperienced in the world of bearings, but as a new entrant to the Aus marketplace they probably aren’t a household name to you…yet. With extensive R&D and fussy, fussy material and tooling selection, Kogel come from the higher end of the market, focusing on durability and excellence in every little part their products contain. Intriguingly (and somewhat disturbingly stimulating), is their claim to offer instant gratification…yes, we’re still talking bearings and in this case, ceramic bearings, sheltered by proprietary Cross/MTB seals all encased in their PressFit 30 bottom bracket which we’ve just clocked 1000kms on. Ok, it’s hard to get excited about the aesthetics of a BB, (a cool Ano colour is generally the most you can push it) especially as it’s a mostly…

We’re roadside having a debate whether ‘bounce’ is a UK, American or Australian company. I’m not sure what the difference or importance is but the discussion is getting heated, it’s probably just because Tim just needs to eat a Bounce ball and stop being hangry. Luckily these bounce balls are all protein packed too, nutritionists say that keeps you fuller for longer, it’s science. We grabbed a handful from the servo and it was a surprise. Here’s what we got: APPLE CINNAMON – PROTEIN PUNCH Everyone knows what apple and cinnamon tastes like, it seems the go-to for an energy bar company, but Bounce have wrapped them in peanuts, it’s a good balance of sweet and that little bit of perfect salty, creating that addictive taste of salted beer nuts.…

We all know that feeling all to well - we’ve rolled up to something on a trail and thought “here we go!” without too much about what lies ahead…. Next thing you know your heart is in your mouth and about 3 seconds later a relieved cheer is let out just before you begin to contemplate just how badly things could have gone wrong. Riding anything challenging for the first time requires a good amount of assessment and preparation, but as we get more confident, we often decide to assess and prepare less (or not at all!) and quite often have a crack before we are really ready. The truth is though, simply slowing down and having a quick look can only take about a second, and can keep you…

In previous articles I have written about the importance of training to your weaknesses. So many athletes make the mistake of only ever training their strengths, generally because they enjoy the types of training sessions that they are good at! As in most things in life, we become better at something the more we do it. If an athlete choses to ride the same hill climb, at the same pace for their hill interval session each week, they are likely to become very good at climbing that one gradient in that one specific energy zone. Throughout all phases of training, it is important to be constantly aware of your biggest limiters to that next level of performance and to continually change sessions around to work on those limiters. In my…

RIDER PROFILE NAME: Jordan Prochyra AGE: 21 HOMETOWN: Perth, WA SPONSORS: Giant Australia, Fox Head Australia FAVOURITE TRACK: Andorra or Mt Saint Anne Jordan Prochyra is a rider from Perth, Western Australia who has quickly flown out from under the radar. He’s been on the Australian circuit for years but with some recent overseas trips he’s tured up not only the heat but the pace. How do you like the bike, compared to your previous bikes? I got this bike in February just before the Thredbo national round from the guys at Giant Australia. Giant really stepped it up a notch with the new Glory! With the new wheel size and improved geometry it’s by far the best downhill bike I’ve ever ridden. A big leap forward from the previous…

While the UCI scratch their heads and the Enduro World Series (EWS) continues to grow, Mountain Bike Australia (MTBA) ensured there was an Australian Gravity Enduro Championship held, with official National Titles being rewarded after a weekend of racing in Tropical North Queensland. The Enduro discipline, also known as Gravity Enduro, has been Mountain Biking’s fastest growing competitive category in recent years. Plenty of mountain bikers favour the format’s similarity to getting out and mountain biking – surviving the climbs, and letting it all out on the descents. The event ran over 17-18 October in beautiful Palm Cove, with a transition ride taking riders to race stages at the iconic Smithfield Mountain Bike park, the venue of the 2014 and 2016 Mountain Bike World Cups. While competition was fierce for…

For the third year running we are sponsoring Rocky Trail's marathon opener for the year – the AMB100. Running on 14th February at Mt Stromlo, it's a perfect date for those that love singletrack, love mountain biking, and love a challenge. The course for the AMB100 is approximately 30km of Mt Stromlo's finest trails, hand selected by Martin Wisata in the week before the event, depending on trail conditions. It's one of the only opportunities you get to race so many of the great trails at Mt Stromlo in such a large event. There are 1, 2, 3 and 5 lap options of the race, with the 5 lap '100 mile' starting at 5am so racers can finish before the heat of the midday sun. Jason English has already shown…

The GT Bike Buller Festival presented by Fox, has just been announced for 2016 with a huge range of stages for all types of riders. Taking place over the Victorian Labour Day long weekend (12-14 March) on Mt Buller’s world-class trails, the Bike Buller Festival has three days of mountain biking plus festival fun at the popular Picnic in the Park food, wine and music festival at Mirimbah Park. As an ‘all-mountain’ event using Mt Buller Bike Park’s world-class cross-country, endurance and downhill trails, the festival is suitable for riders of all abilities and disciplines. The Bike Buller Festival will feature a massive event schedule with a diverse range of mountain bike races, kids’ events and even a trail running component. Whether it’s XCO, gravity racing, running, epic rides, downhill…

It’s amazing how far mountain bike racing has come in terms of catering for newer riders, and I’m certainly not alone when I say that women’s racing is exploding at a grassroots level. When I started riding, the numbers of elite women racing at a national level were at record levels; the recent Dirt Roads to London campaign had catapulted an extra ten or so women into the previously dying numbers of women’s cross country. What the sport didn’t do so well was cater for brand new women riders and generally paltry numbers saw anyone with a shred of fitness struggling out in the elite category. Ergo, I did my time struggling around in the elite category: without the race experience or riding experience to have a ‘good time’ I…

The Kootenays are literally and figuratively misty. The rugged terrain and verdant, cloud-soaked forests hide some of the best mountainous activities in BC from thermal hot springs to loamy singletrack. The area makes up a large portion of southeastern British Columbia, spanning from the U.S. and Alberta borders, clear up to the towns of Revelstoke and Golden. The name stems from the Ktunaxa (Kootenai or Kutenai) First Nation people and the massive Kootenay River, a tributary of the grand Columbia River—the largest river in North America that pours into the Pacific Ocean. In the heart of this vast wilderness, bordered by Slocan Lake to the west, Kootenay Lake to the east, Goat Range Provincial Park to the north and Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park to the south sits the mountain biking…

Switzerland is known for chocolate, efficiency, banking and mountains – and in Australia it actually doesn’t quite have the reputation for mountain biking that it should. While we will often dream of a trip to Canada, the USA, New Zealand or the French Alps to get our mountain bike kicks – I can think of plenty of reasons, in-fact kilometres of reasons, why Switzerland should be considered for your dream mountain bike adventure as well. THE ANGEL MOUNTAIN Despite sitting almost in the middle of Switzerland, Engelberg is actually one of the country’s easiest ski resorts to access. Placed within the Obwalden canton, Engelberg is less than 45 minutes by train from Luzern, and only a little longer from Zurich Airport train station. This makes it an easy choice for…

Direct to consumer means just that – you don't go to a bike shop to talk to the staff, and test a variety of bikes that they source from importers. Instead, you choose your bike online, and pay for it to be delivered to your door. This means there's no need to be paying for the mark up of the importer, or the bike shop. You pay the manufacturer directly for the bike, and they send it to you. This concept has been working very successfully in Europe, where Canyon have experienced immense growth. I visited Canyon.Home in Koblenz, Germany, to gain a greater understanding of the brand, their bikes, and how their business will work for Australian mountain bikers. THE EARLY YEARS Part of getting to know the brand…

WIL BARRETT RIDER BIO Riding Experience: With 15 years of riding experience, Wil has spent the majority of his life on two wheels. He’s been testing and reviewing bikes for the past 3 years, and is obsessed with the technical details that go into producing a bikes geometry, handling and suspension characteristics. Wil occasionally puts on a number plate for the odd XC and marathon race, but he loves nothing more than riding technical singletrack and exploring backcountry trails. Generally Rides: Cotic Solaris, Trek Fuel EX 29, Pivot LES 27.5 Height: 175cm Weight: 67kg Bike Test Tracks: Bendigo, Castlemaine, Lakes Entrance, Mt Taylor THREE THINGS YOU LIKED ABOUT THE BIKE - Confident big bike geometry in a tighter, lighter and faster package - Supple and bottomless-feeling rear travel - Excellent…

Before Bontrager were under the Trek umbrella, they were their own brand, producing some fine products, including exceptional steel and titanium hardtail frames. The man behind the brand, Keith Bontrager, coined the oft-mentioned phrase “Light, cheap, strong. Choose any two.” The XXX range of parts and accessories is certainly light and strong, but not particularly cheap. That said, if you demand exceptional performance from your XC focused parts, then XXX components are typically exceptional value. Having tested the Bontrager RXL shoes almost two years ago, I was really impressed with the fit, stability and overall durability of the shoes. The XXX is a no-compromise cross country shoe that Bontrager claim is “Simply our fastest, most advanced mountain shoe ever”. Those are big claims, but looking through the specs of the…

Shimano’s Deore XT goes way back to 1983, beginning life as a touring group set. While it’s undergone countless changes since then, it’s always been known as a hard-wearing performance group set. It has never had the “no cost spared” materials or production of XTR, but XT has always come very close in performance, with substantially less cost. After Shimano introduced single chain ring options of the new M9000 11 speed XTR in 2014, it was obvious that XT would soon get the same treatment. In a sense, it did. But the new M8000 has included a single chain ring specific option with a wider range cassette, plus regular double chain ring models (triple options aren’t currently supported in Australia). We’ve got a 1x11 Shimano M8000 group set that has…

The 1x drivetrain is certainly the most fashionable trend within mountain biking right now. And in many cases it makes sense. With a decent range of gears out back, you can get rid of that ugly front derailleur, remove one extra cable and outer from the bike, and ditch the left-hand shifter in favour of a simpler, lighter and cleaner cockpit. SINGLE RING DEMAND Santa Cruz-based Praxis Works is best known for their tough cold-forged chainrings and high quality bottom bracket solutions, but it’s their new narrow-wide chainrings and 10-speed MTB cassettes that have been garnering the most attention lately. Many riders are attracted to the idea of adding more gearing range to their existing 10-speed drivetrains, without necessarily upgrading to a whole new 1x11 group set. The currently accepted…

One look in your local bike shop and you’ll notice a whole host of gels, bars, tablets and powders all proclaiming magical endurance-extending powers. We took five different gels for a test drive. See how they stack up. [Intro] To get you through a ride longer than an hour, you need to top up your fuel stores as you go. This means taking in some carbohydrates, your body’s first choice for fuel during exercise. Unlike during the rest of the day, when you’re exercising you’re after fast carbs. The quicker the carbs are digested, the quicker they will get to your muscles, so sugar is usually the best choice during exercise. Sports gels can be a really convenient option to take fuel on board without too much fuss. The problem…

I love bikepacking – the simplicity of just you and your bike, out in the wilderness, minimal gear and relying on your own sense of adventure to carry you through the day and into the next. But sometimes I see something so amazing or experience such an awesome section of trail that I wish I had a group of mates around to discuss the day’s events or relax with a cold beer without the (sometimes) relentless pressure to simply keep going. Hence a decision to organise a trip to race in the Cape to Cape MTB stage race in Western Australia. Why the Cape to Cape? Well, I’ve got lots of friends that have done it and the consensus has been that the trails are awesome, the racing is close…