Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 212 - Autumn 2025 i Australian Mountain Bike

In our last issue I discussed how you have to trust the process of life and roll with the changes. Skipping ahead a few months into autumn, I’ve increasingly found myself embracing the curiosity of what could lie ahead. As my third AMB magazine, this issue represents finding my feet in a few aspects of life. I’m getting more time on the bike (though it’s still not very much, but I’ve accepted the fact that I may never see a 15 or 20 hour week again). My baby is a toddler and my tween? A teenager. As the sands of time pass through the hourglass, I find my feet in the new world order; as a recreational ‘athlete’ mum of two, as the editor of a magazine and storyteller, and…

Mogo Trails is Australia's newest mountain bike trail network, carving through the Mogo State Forest, south of Batemans Bay in the Eurobodalla Shire of New South Wales. ABOUT MOGO Stretching from the coast to the mountains, this spectacular, purpose-built network will have 78 individual tracks, adding up to around 125km of rideable trails. In the middle of the network is the small village of Mogo, where riders will find access to trailheads, parking, and a shopping strip with niche retailers, cafés, great coffee, and gift shops. The eastern branch of the trails opened in August 2024, and the highly anticipated western network, with its challenging mountainous terrain, is set to be completed and ready to ride in April 2025. While everyone’s been hitting up the 80km of eastern trails, which…

Mountain biking has become a significant part of outdoor recreation in Australia, offering riders the opportunity to connect with nature, challenge their skills, enjoy world-class trails, and have fun with their mates. However, behind every tricky climb, thrilling descent or scenic outlook is a bunch of management activities and costs that all add up. We live in an economic and social climate at present where funding for natural areas is not meeting the demands for recreational activities being placed on them. Many of our most prominent trail networks operate on tight budgets, relying heavily on volunteers or irregular grant funding to keep the wheels turning. In response to this situation, several mountain bike parks and trail networks including Maydena, Tasmsnia (pictured), are embracing a pay-to-ride model, where riders contribute to…

Bike packing, for me, has evolved from throwing a few clothes and a credit card into a saddlebag, riding to a pub, and returning the next day to venturing into some of Australia’s most remote regions, covering distances I never thought I was capable of. Each trip is a new lesson in preparedness, and the confidence and skills required to tackle the unknown grow every trip. Some of the best adventures are the simple ones. They don’t have to be the longest, most gruelling journeys, they don’t have to cost a fortune, and they don’t have to be logistically complicated. Some of my favourite, and most cherished, adventures have been the spontaneous ones. The stars align and before you know it, you’re packed up and rolling. In the depths of…

Wearing mountain bike gloves is more than just a matter of comfort — it’s essential for safety, performance, and protection. Whether you’re navigating technical trails, racing down fast descents, or tackling rough terrain, gloves provide a buffer between your hands and the bike, reducing the risk of injury if you find yourself unexpectedly acquainted with the ground, while enhancing grip and control. Not quite sure if you want to wear gloves? Take it from me, you do. I once crashed and impaled my palm with rail ballast at National Champs (riding to the coffee shop after course practice, nonetheless) causing a puncture wound that needed surgical repair. Cue a two day stay at Tasmania’s finest general hospital and no racing for me. Ouch. Needless to say, at AMB we believe…

Wahoo Fitness was founded in 2009 and quickly became a leading name in the world of cycling and fitness technology. The brand's mission has always been to create innovative, high-performance products that enhance the athlete's training experience. The launch of their first Elemnt cycling computer in 2015 made a significant mark on the cycling world with it's simple, intuitive user interface that set it apart from other cycling computers at the time. Today, Wahoo's range of cycling computers, including the Elemnt Roam and Elemnt Bolt, are known for their sleek design, advanced functionality, and user-centered approach. Their latest offering, the Elemnt Ace, takes the capability and durability of Wahoo computers to the next level. A QUICK LOOK AT THE ELEMNT ACE When I unboxed the Ace, the size immediately struck…

Let’s face it, having a baby with your significant other has a massive effect on your mountain biking life. Thoughts that were once, “where am I going riding this morning?”, are now swapped for “gee, I would love an uninterrupted night’s sleep.” Mercifully, the newborn phase only lasts so long, and soon your focus shifts to getting out and about with your little one, showing them the things you love. This is where kids’ bike seats come into play, giving you the opportunity to share your passion for riding and the outdoors with your child. Neck strength, coordination, and the ability to listen to (and follow) instructions are all required in different amounts, depending on the bike seat you choose. The Mac Ride sits at the most advanced end of…

Aenomaly first introduced the SwitchGrade seat angle adjuster early in 2022 to a small wave of critical acclaim. Anyone who has used one (including myself) has nothing but praise for this little accessory, which manages to pack a host of tangible benefits for riders who enjoy both steep climbs and descents. Increased climbing comfort, leg clearance and seated rear wheel traction are all benefits which Aenomaly claims – and I've confirmed – when testing the first SwitchGrade. Now Aenomaly are back with the new SwitchGrade 2.0 Evo. As the name suggests this revised version is more about evolution than it is revolution, with new features focusing on increased compatibility, decreased weight and improved functionality all while coming in at a lower price. OUT OF THE BOX At its core, the…

Spend less than one minute doom scrolling through mountain bike athlete stories on Instagram and you’re sure to find a European World Cup legend depicted with an exorcist face, or perhaps a freshly flogged Sam Fox lying in a ditch. These athletes will explain they’ve just eviscerated their lungs with the latest science-backed high intensity interval training (HIT) 40/20s or 5x5min VO2s. You may look at their pained faces and think “what is this HIT? Why are they doing it? What does science say about it? Is it worth the pain?” I’m here to take you down that HIT wormhole to find out the answers to these questions and more. WHAT IS HIT? HIT has been used by athletes for over a century (Buchheit & Laursen, 2013) and is a…

A Test of Grit and Adventure The New Zealand MTB Rally is a race for those who live for a challenge. The 6 stage enduro event isn’t just about crossing the finish line – it's about conquering some of the toughest terrain, enduring hours in the saddle, and immersing yourself in one of the most stunning landscapes in the world. Starting in Nelson, NZ, riders head to Wairoa Gorge, Silvan, Golden Bay, Cable Bay, Wakamarina and Nelson City trails across the 6 day event. Don’t love the climbs? The crew at NZ MTB Rally have prioritised shuttles where possible, even including a heli-biking day. How many mountain biking stage races feature 4WD, boat and helicopter rides? The Course: Rugged, Remote, and Relentless The route covers 25 to 35km of riding…

PIVOT TRAILCAT SL AND TRAILCAT LT: A TALE OF TWO BIKES Pivot Cycles expands its mountain bike lineup with the introduction of the Trailcat SL and Trailcat LT, two new models that cater to distinct riding styles while sharing a common foundation. Replacing the Pivot trail 429, the Trailcat features new generation geometry, carbon frames, new lifetime warranty and two different platforms based around one frame. A few additional ‘nice-to-have’ features include internal frame storage, a low/high setting (allowing all models and sizes of the Trailcat to operate in a 'mullet' 29”/27.5” wheel configuration), UDH, and internal cable routing. Converting your Trailcat SL to an LT model does require different linkage and suspension, but it’s exciting to see brands offering bikes with more customisation options in their builds. Let’s take…

The coming years will be filled with defining moments for Downhill. Shifts in the race structure, team rosters, sponsorship dynamics and broadcasting rights are set to test the raw and unpredictable sport we know. For all the online whining about race coverage, privateers being locked out of competition, and tracks being dumbed down to suit TV, failing to evolve is to go backwards in an attention economy where the average online interaction these days is less than 30 seconds. Without falling into another spiral of finger pointing toward the reasons for the vast dissatisfaction of fans, there are no mutterings yet of the future challenges riders will begin to face if indeed the sport begins to provide mainstream appeal. Downhill's trajectory isn’t too dissimilar to what motorsport faced long ago.…

Matt Rousu, the 2024 AMB Photographer of the Year travelled to the Mont Sainte-Anne (MSA) World Cup (October 3-6) to cover the World Cup from a photographer's point of view, it’s a lot less simple than you might think… So you’re sitting on the couch at home at some awful hour of the morning watching the live broadcast of a World Cup event. You’ve forked out the $32 a month to stream Stan Sport and are enjoying watching the best riders in the world battle it out bar to bar in the cross country (XCO), or hurtle down the mountain against the clock in the downhill (DH). You keep seeing a group of photographers in the foreground, not exactly in front of the TV coverage but still there in front…

When news broke about the launch of Amflow bikes, featuring the new DJI Avinox M1 drive system, it seemed simply too good to be true. The numbers quoted were so far out of the ballpark that they seemed, surely, to be a marketing stitch-up at best. After all, leading e-bike motor manufacturers commonly feature a peak power of 600W, with many lightweight models sporting a peak power of 300W. While even 300W is nothing to sneeze at for a long, steady effort, the DJI Avinox M1 claims a peak power output of 850W, and up to 1000+W in boost mode. Together with a huge 105Nm of torque (120Nm in boost), it’s easy to see how early news of the Amflow and the DJI Avinox could be dismissed as fake news,…

Many of us have to fit our love of mountain biking between real-life responsibilities. Unlike professional cyclists who are paid to eat, sleep and ride on repeat, the rest of us often flirt with our limits on the bike while also having to function in other areas of life. Pure Sports Nutrition is a New Zealand brand that understands the requirements of athletes – whether Olympic hopefuls or weekend warriors – and creates products that allow athletes of all levels to reap the benefits of their hard work. I tested their new Recovery Shake product to see if it could improve my performance in my glimmers of ride time between grown-up responsibilities like working, gardening and parenting. Pure’s Recovery Shake was recently released as single-serve sachets in addition to a…

This issue we are having a look at a feature which is becoming more and more popular on jump trails across the world: shark fins. They’re an advanced jump feature but get them right and shark fins are super fun to hit and play around on, and can really make a jump trail flow really well. We covered hip jumps a few issues back and shark fins have some similarities to hip jumps, so getting comfortable on hip jumps is a great stepping stone to hitting shark fins. The difference is with a hip jump, you’re taking off straight and landing at an angle whereas shark fins are the opposite – you take off at an angle and land straight. Here’s how to get it done. STEP 1 – PICK…

On February 8 Jackson Goldstone took out the top step of Red Bull Hardline in Maydena, Tasmania, in a time of 3:17.096; 0.233 seconds ahead of up and coming rider Asa Vermette (USA), with Australian Troy Brosnan sliding into third. The win marks the Canadian phenom Goldstone’s return to racing after a crash in 2024, describing the win as “Probably one of the biggest moments in my life.” It was another win for team Canada with rider Gracey Hemstreet taking the win in the women's category, making it two-for-two at the Maydena Hardline event. Hemstreet was the only woman to make it to the startline on race day after the demanding course took out competitors leading into the finals. Despite this, the women’s field continues to gain strength at the…

Whether you’ve recently relocated to a new place or are simply stepping into the world of mountain biking, the adventure of discovering new trails and navigating unfamiliar locations can be equally exciting and intimidating. For many riders, hitting the trail is about more than just physical activity – it’s about the joy of exploration, the challenge of new terrain, and the sense of freedom that comes with riding outdoors. Sometimes, it’s also about knowing exactly where you’re going and switching off to the mindfulness of your favourite route. Navigating the practicalities of finding routes that suit your experience level, fit your schedule, and align with your needs can take time. Having recently relocated myself, it’s reminded me how much this knowledge can be taken for granted, so here are some…

Have you ever stood at the top of a trail feature ready to ride, but the fear of trying it for the first time is holding you back? Someone says, "you've just gotta commit!" and it's exactly what you needed to hear. You ride the feature without any drama and find yourself sharing those same words of wisdom with someone else. So what is it about “you’ve just gotta commit” that is so effective? How does it help with overcoming fear on the bike? And how does it help you connect the dots between knowing what you need to do and actually doing it? COMMITMENT AND COORDINATION With many trail features, there are sections that we can only practice by actually riding them, so commitment is key. It’s a bit…

E-cargo bikes seem to be the hot new thing in the cycling industry, and for good reason. A category of bicycle once rarely seen on the road is now becoming a common sight on suburban bike paths where I live in South East Queensland. The availability and adaptation of pedal-assist motors to this category of bike are responsible for this seemingly sudden surge in popularity, transforming what was once a niche market into one that is now flourishing. Multi-passenger capabilities and family car replacement are the most common selling points for most users, with many cargo bike owners – including myself – using them for daycare drop-offs, trips to the playground, and runs to the grocery store. You might be asking yourself why we here at AMB are reviewing a…

The Forefront 2 is Smith’s newest trail helmet offering, promising to prioritise safety without compromising aesthetics. The Forefront 2 replaces the ‘OG’ Forefront, with multiple safety features including Koroyd coverage, a Mips slip-liner and an integrated skeletal structure that acts like a ‘roll cage’ for increased impact protection. Mips, Koroyd…what does all this mean? Koroyd is an integrated crumple protection in the helmet’s lining that reduces impact and shearing forces in the case of a crash. Koroyd is a thin layer of circular co-polymer extruded tubes that are thermally welded together within the inner shell of the helmet. When the helmet has an impact the Koroyd absorbs the force in a controlled manner, minimising the energy transferred to the head. This feature also reduces angular rotation – a key component…

Pro is a brand that is known for their ride-ready, no-nonsense components. As I am on a bit of a mission in life to find the one saddle to rule them all, I tested out their newly released MSN 1.3 Enduro saddle. Designed specifically for enduro and trail riders who tackle tough terrain, the MSN 1.3 is a mildly curved saddle that provides a neutral position on the bike. It features a short-nose design, keeping trend with many newer saddle offerings within the past five years. The MSN 1.3 is offered in 142 and 152mm widths, and features a carbon reinforced base with a central recess and drainage port for those truly mucky and wet days on the bike. The Pro MSN 1.3 is extra robust thanks to the firm…

Mountain biking is a sport that demands peak physical performance, stamina, and mental focus. Whether navigating challenging trails, tackling steep climbs, or enduring long-distance rides, fueling properly is key. But once you’ve nailed your daily training diet (the cake) and perfected your ride/race nutrition and hydration plan (the icing), what’s next? It’s time to put the cherry on top! Supplements can provide the extra oomph needed to help you cross the finish line first if you know what to look for. Not all supplements are created equal, and it’s essential to know which are safe, legal, and effective before adding them to your routine. The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) categorizes supplements into four groups: Group A (proven to enhance performance), Group B (emerging evidence), and Groups C and D…