Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 215 - Summer 2025 i Australian Mountain Bike

Being a secret nerd, sometimes I like to read philosophy and think about thinking. Boring and weird? No… and yes. Travelling across the world to watch a bike race is, in its essence, a bit of madness. Twenty-plus hours on a plane with a one-year-old, a bit of internal travel, and we made it to Lenzerheide where we watched the best skinny, lycra-clad riders in the world ride around a forest while providing entertainment for a cohort of like-minded bike nerds in return for compensation (because capitalism, baby). Those strapping on number plates at local races, spending their hard-earned money on this little hobby of bike racing while scratching around a local track racing five others? Wild. It seems legitimately mad – even more so when you consider that so…

I’ll go first. Mine are logs. Not the tidy little log rollovers, with a neat ramp of dirt smoothed up to them, where you know you’re not going to strike a pedal or lose traction. I’m talking about the slippery, diagonal, off-camber kind. The ones that look like they’ve been deliberately positioned by the trail gods to ruin your day, and test your faith in traction and the belief in your own bunny-hopping abilities. I can (generally) ride over them, sure, but every time my brain throws a flashback to the handful of times my front wheel skated sideways and I ended up inspecting the trail at a very, close range. It’s funny, because most of us have a “trail nemesis”. That one feature or condition that unravels us. For…

The conversation around ADHD is finally shifting, and it’s about time for the neurodevelopmental difference that has had so much stigma. Better research and awareness mean more people are learning what ADHD traits, and the strategies developed to work with them, mean for themselves and others – people reading this article, people you ride with, people you look up to. In an October YouTube video, Greg Minnaar discussed being diagnosed with ADHD at 43. The video gained 21,000 views and 108 comments, mostly supportive. His story offers a relatable voice for many riders and encourages others to seek diagnosis and support. WHY MINNAAR’S MESSAGE IS SO IMPORTANT In sharing his story of seeking a diagnosis after “not being able to keep up with life,” and the difference awareness, knowledge and…

Who doesn’t love exploring new trail networks, riding all day, and not worrying about where you’ll sleep or eat? A multi-day enduro could be exactly what you and the crew need to chase next. Having done a handful of these events in the past, the kids are now getting older and I’m finding a few more windows to sneak away for some racing. My eyes are set on the upcoming Trans Tasmania next March – we’ve secured an entry and are now working backwards from there. There are plenty of moving parts at the moment: deciding what bike to race, managing and strengthening a few niggling injuries, shedding a few kilos, and rebuilding fitness. For a multi-day enduro race, there’s nothing better than the bike you already know – as…

In October, Sea Otter Australia officially arrived in Batemans Bay, NSW, and mountain bikers turned up in force to support Australia’s first multi-discipline race festival and industry expo. The festival brought the global Sea Otter energy to Aussie soil for the first time. Between demo rides, dusty smiles and lips caked with energy gel; expo giveaways and a stacked schedule of racing, the inaugural event proved what we’ve all suspected – that despite a few rough years, Australia’s mountain biking scene continues to grow steadily, and deserves a festival of its own. The Sea Otter Summit gathered bike industry leaders, top-level athletes and advocates to tackle big questions – from sustainability to trail access and the future of e-bikes. A range of marathon, enduro and gravel events kept all variety…

The Trek Fuel EX has long been "one bike to rule them all" in Trek’s mountain bike lineup – a bike that can operate well from downcountry to light enduro applications. The recent launch of the all-new 7th-generation Fuel EX in Australia sees the brand develop an even more versatile bike. The new Fuel EX departs from the aesthetics of the prior generation, instead taking cues from the Fuel+ EX e-bike. Both the top and downtube now feature more conventional lines, which enables the Fuel EX to have a triple personality on the trail. The increased dropper insertion, standover height and front-triangle space allow the Fuel EX to become three very different bikes with the swap of rocker links, suspension linkage and some suspension and wheel changes. By swapping a…

When I pulled on the Engage test helmet for my recent trail days testing the Fuel EX, I was looking for a helmet that could handle long hours, varied terrain while remaining comfortable. After all, you want to be focused on the ride and trails rather than thinking about what's on your head. I can say that for a mid-tier trail helmet, the Engage delivered on all these fronts. Available in several colours including huckleberry/lichen (the best descriptor here would be burgundy, lemon and forest green), matte chalk and matte black (tested). The Engage MIPS is available in small, medium and large sizing with a head circumference range of 52–62cm to suit all types of melons. From the moment I strapped the Engage MIPS on my head I instantly felt…

Ella Menigoz, Jack Ward and Harry Doye are Australia’s best U23 Cross Country Olympic (XCO) mountain bikers. Ella and Harry are the 2025 Under 23 (U23) Australian XCC and XCO champions, and while Jack is still eligible for U23, he chose to race Elite at the National Championships – taking the XCC win and finishing second in Elite XCO in freezing Mt Buller conditions. All three backed up their strong Australian seasons with stints in Europe, taking on the XCO World Cups. Stepping up from domestic racing to the World Cups isn’t one level up – it’s about a million. I wanted to find out how these three Aussie hitters prepare to race against the world’s best in XCO. Athletes are often guarded about their training, but once I cracked…

RANTS: LITTERBUGS A friend recently attended the iconic Whaka 100 race held in Rotorua, NZ. Those kiwis are known as expert outdoors-people and living in such a pristine environment, they have an epic landscape and mountain biking culture with a lot of natural environment to protect. Imagine the vibes then, when he sent through a photo of all the rubbish he collected when riding through the trails the day after the event (the vibes? They were decidedly off). Gel packets, lolly wrappers, even empty bottles were gleaned from the tracks as he scuttled through the trails like some kind of Australian trash bowerbird on foreign soil. If the outdoor-loving Kiwis can’t get it right, what chance do the rest of us have? Here’s the thing; while we think we are…

AUSTRALIAN MARATHON NATIONALS Peta Mullens has once again etched her name into Australia’s cycling lore, claiming her 15th national championship title after a spectacular win at the 83km long 2025 Marathon Nationals in Melrose, South Australia on August 24th. Just a week after seizing the cyclocross crown in Ballarat, the Bendigo rider tackled one of the country’s most gruelling marathon courses and emerged triumphant. Holly Harris pushed Mullens hard on the first climb, opening a 30-second gap, but Mullens methodically worked her way back and seized control by the two-hour mark. Behind Mullens, Harris secured silver and Sarah Tucknott took bronze. In the men’s race, James Kelly powered away to win his first Elite Marathon National Championship at Melrose, South Australia, finishing more than three minutes ahead of the field.…

If you’ve ever been part of a club trail project, you’ll know that getting new trails built isn’t just about enthusiasm and shovels. It’s about paperwork, planning, and a good amount of patience. Between juggling grant applications, funding agreements, and community expectations, it’s easy to lose sight of one crucial ingredient that determines whether your project runs smoothly or becomes a headache: the specifications. We’ve been involved in a few projects lately where the specs haven’t quite hit the mark — and each one has reinforced a simple truth: getting the specifications right is just as important as the dirt itself. When the specs miss the mark Think of specifications as the “rules of the game” for a trail build. They outline what’s expected, how quality will be measured, and…

We all have big dreams of embarking on epic rides overseas, but often, we overlook the incredible adventures waiting for us right here in Australia. My husband and I had previously taken the iconic 4WD holiday to the tip, but ever since I got into cycling, this journey has been a bucket-list trip. Our journey with Cape York Adventures began on a private charter plane from Cairns, where the aerial view revealed the breathtaking biodiversity of the landscape below. Upon landing in Coen, we stepped into a world of sunburnt country, dirt-corrugated roads, and endless adventure. Initially, I knew only four of the twenty riders, but as we tackled our first 40 kilometres together, bonds formed quickly. Over the next seven days, we covered 500 kilometres and ascended 3,500 meters,…

A perfect season had never been done before – winning every World Cup in the year. If Swiss rider Nino Schurter hadn’t already been knocking on the door of making history, in 2017 he completely blew it off the hinges. Not only did he win the World Cup overall, he topped the year off with a World Championship win in none other than Cairns, Queensland. Fast forward to 2025 and Schurter – the greatest of all time (or GOAT) of modern cross country – announced his retirement, with his final race being the final European World Cup at Lenzerheide, Switzerland. We headed to the race to see just what a World Cup in the home of cross country mountain biking is like, and to farewell the GOAT of the cross…

There’s nothing quite like the first time you pin on a number plate – the unknowing anticipation...the time spent lining up for a portaloo holding in a nervous wee. In its essence, racing is more about testing yourself than taking home the glory, riding with a crew of like-minded riders and finding out what you can do when it’s you versus the clock. Bike events are where the mountain biking community really comes alive. Lifelong friends are made while sharing stories from between the bunting, comparing war wounds, and swapping tips and chatting line choices over a cold beer at the end of the day. It’s the unique mix of competition and camaraderie that makes mountain bike racing strangely addictive, no matter which discipline you start with. The good news…

It’s been several years since Santa Cruz last produced an aluminium dual-suspension bike, which made the announcement of the Vala AL a welcome surprise. Santa Cruz’s return to alloy is paired with a simple, proven four-bar linkage – an intentional shift that aligns with the brand’s modern take on e-bikes, kinematics and serviceability that mirrors the Vala’s carbon offerings. What is a surprise is the price – Santa Cruz is a brand that is decidedly in the premium price range, so to release an e-bike with a sub-$10k price tag is a bold move for the manufacturer, arguably meaning the brand can offer an e-bike that competes in price with brands known more for their affordability. Having recently logged many hours on carbon e-bikes using similar suspension layouts – including…

In the quiet corner of Beechworth, Northeast Victoria, a small shed hummed with the kind of creativity that reimagines how Australians get outside. That’s where Andrew and Kimberley Taylor began Shingleback, a brand that would become synonymous with rugged, solution-focused bike racks designed, as Andrew puts it, to just “get you out there.” Instantly likeable, down-to-earth and authentic, Andrew and Kimberley’s attempt to find a way to work from home and solve a bike transport problem soon blossomed into one of the highest regarded bike-carrier companies in the country. It started – like many big ideas do – with a problem: Andrew’s friend was struggling to shuttle four bikes at once and the racks on the market were clunky, slow to load, and prone to damaging bikes. A boilermaker, welder,…

Mini electric pumps aren’t exactly new, but Trek’s Air Rush shows how far they’ve come. The Air Rush is compact in size, simple in use, and powerful enough for both a road and mountain bike application. It’s designed to be stashed in your pocket and forgotten until you actually need it. One of the first things you’ll notice about the Air Rush is its snug shape. At just 133 grams, it’s roughly the size of a small power bank, with rounded edges, it fits comfortably in your back pocket. The aluminium body feels really solid, and the included carry case keeps it all tidy: hose, valve heads, and even a ball needle. Operation is straightforward: screw on the appropriate head for your valve type, set your pressure, and hit start.…

Posture is one of the most overlooked skills in mountain biking, yet it plays a role in every part of your riding – descending, cornering, jumping, and even climbing. Good posture brings a long list of benefits: increased stability, better energy efficiency, improved vision, greater safety, more effective body suspension, and ultimately, more speed. So how do you improve your bike posture – and what exactly does that mean? Let’s break it down. In this section, we’ll cover what bike posture is, why it matters, and how to practise it effectively. Bike posture is all about how you support your body weight and position your torso on the bike. The goal is to hold a strong, neutral stance and maintain it consistently through all other skills – whether you’re descending,…

PURE PERFORMANCE+ RACE FUEL Pure recently launched their new range of performance-based nutrition products, including the new Race Fuel electrolyte/carbohydrate product, sporting 90g carbohydrate per serve. Available in a single serve sachet and a 700g/7 serve pouch in tropical and raspberry flavours, the new Performance+ Race Fuel features sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium with cluster dextrin and fructose providing the sugars. Race Fuel is simple to use: simply fill your water bottle with 250ml water, add Race Fuel, then top up as desired. With 90g carbohydrate in a sachet, however, we found that Race Fuel is most palatable when constituted as a total volume of 750ml. While you can use less water for a more concentrated mix, we found it difficult to digest in our sweltering summer temperatures. Overall, Race…

The final two rounds of the 2025 World Cup were red-hot. With born-and-bred Australian Luke Meier-Smith taking his monumental first Elite UCI World Cup win in Lake Placid, and a nail-biting showdown between Loïc Bruni and Jackson Goldstone that came down to the very last run of the season, it was a thrilling conclusion to an incredible year. The new, loose, “Sniffer Dog Special” track in Lake Placid was a front-wheel-swallowing beast that demanded riders’ best technical and physical abilities. The weekend’s carnage showed just how intense and unforgiving the track really was. Hard-working Aussie Luke Meier-Smith, no stranger to graft, made that clear when he qualified third, showing the confidence he’d built across the last few rounds. On race day, Luke needed a stellar performance to finish ahead of…

Meanjin, or Brisbane, used to have that small town feel, where six degrees of separation was always a few degrees too many. My school priest would attempt to gain some credibility with the tough crowd of the all girls’ school I attended, dropping references to his mate Bernard Fanning at assembly. A hairdresser friend of mine is friends with the indie band Ball Park Music, and one member of Regurgitator attended my primary school. It was this sense of closeness that created a kind of claustrophobia as a teenager in the mid 2000’s – it felt like everyone has you pigeon-holed, like the whole of Brisbane knows you. It’s taken many years to look at Brisbane with a fresh perspective. Brisbane is unique: we have beautiful but perilously slippery lavender…

In early 2024 AMB delivered one of the most thorough comparative tests of trail and enduro tyres to date. It was no mean feat, with four testers in constant discussion around compounds, casings, tread patterns and test results. Given tyres are your only contact patch with the dirt (all going well), choosing the right ones – and setting them up properly – makes a huge difference to both your enjoyment and performance on the bike. With that in mind, an in-depth cross country (XC) tyre test was always in the pipeline. The demands of an XC tyre are extensive – have you watched a recent World Cup or major marathon stage race? The terrain is as varied as it is demanding. A tyre needs to be light, fast-rolling, and still…

There’s one thing that’s happened since I took on this role that was somewhat unexpected – and it’s the opposite of bike snobbery. While it’s true that all our contributors ride fancy, expensive bikes (after all, bikes are our lifeblood!), my experience testing bikes has broken down my own elitism – thanks in large part to the Polygon Siskiu range. We’re no strangers to the Siskiu here at AMB – the affordable 140mm/135mm alloy 29” trail bike that punches well above its price tag. The new 2025 Siskiu T range has just been released, and while it’s more of an evolution than a revolution, it highlights Polygon’s commitment to staying current. Updates include Shimano brakes across all T-series models, UDH frames with reinforced rear triangles, top tube mounts, internal cable…

True is a brand most often associated with gyms and protein, but with the launch of its new Electrolyte Advanced Hydration, it’s likely that more cyclists will start using the label. Available in a 240g pouch or individual travel-pack sachets, Advanced Hydration comes in Lemon Burst, Strawberry, Blueberry and Tropical flavours. Featuring sodium, potassium and magnesium, it’s designed to rebalance electrolytes after sweat loss, promote faster recovery, combat dehydration and support healthy muscle and nerve function. Each 6g serve contains only 3g of carbohydrate, so this isn’t the electrolyte mix to use if you plan on fuelling directly from your bottle. Instead, I found Advanced Hydration particularly useful on shorter rides in the heat where carbohydrate isn’t essential, later in the day after training to maintain hydration, and during periods…

Since the early 2000’s carbohydrate – especially refined carbohydrates such as sugar – has been given a bad name. Why is it then that endurance cyclists particularly have been pushing the boundaries of what is possible in terms of carbohydrate intake for performance? Confused about carbs? Let’s dive right in. Carbohydrate-containing foods include bread, pasta, rice, wholegrains, fruit, vegetables (especially potato/sweet potato), some dairy, sugar and sports foods (gels/bars/drinks). They are the primary and most efficient source of energy for the body during exercise, particularly moderate to high-intensity physical activity. For mountain bikers, who often face unpredictable bursts of effort – from sprinting up a climb to ripping through technical terrain – this quick-release energy is indispensable. Carbohydrates are stored in the body as glycogen (in the muscles and liver)…

Anyone who has experienced brake fade or ineffective braking knows – you don’t understand how important the hangers are until you’re hanging off them! An integral part of bike control and safety, how often do you check and maintain your brakes? Ryan goes through some quick checks to get you stopping safely, every time. CLEANING YOUR BRAKES How often do you clean the brakes in your car? Chances are that you don’t, but we do know to keep some cleaning products such as silicon based polishes, oils or waxes away from them. Why? Well brakes require friction and many of these products will act as a lubricant and reduce the friction and cause your brakes to become ineffective, make noise or simply not work at all. Brake pads effectively sweep…