Innholdsfortegnelse for Aug-Sep-Oct 2020 i Mountain Biking Australia

When I sat down to write the corresponding address for the May/June/July issue we had just emerged from the most traumatic Australian summer in living memory. Little did I know that would be quickly forgotten as the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic set in. 2020 has indeed been a rough year and we have only just passed the halfway mark. Hopefully, there is a bit of light at the end of the tunnel when this issue hits shelves and letterboxes. There is plenty for you to sink your teeth into to help pass the time. While we are allowed a little more freedom now, what we know as ‘normal’ may not return for some time yet. We have a varied selection of bikes reviewed including the very affordable Norco Optic…

Picture this XC scenario: the race has started, you have put yourself in a good position and are in a very nice flow. The riders around you are the ones you generally like to see, which means everything is going to plan at this part of the race. In your head you start thinking of the right moment to attack, when to do a tactical feed stop and what to eat next and then BAM… you clip a tree and hit the ground…hard. At first you think you’re fine and the bike is probably too. You get up as quickly as you can, spin the wheels to make sure they are still turning and try to hop back on. But then you notice that you crashed a lot harder than…

I read with great interest Huw Kingston’s recent feature on the question of e-MTBs and their mostly cons, with a few pros thrown in, and how it may affect this country’s (and the world’s) ever-growing obesity crisis (among other things). I found myself nodding my head occasionally and laughing more than once. When I had some spare time (emphasis on time here), I pondered the whole e-MTB thing in general and how I arrived at the point of being a not-quite fervent fan with increasingly more appreciation of the power assisted bicycle – and how I could convince Huw to, literally, jump on board. Most notably, the bigger question here was how I could even be a fan, considering I represent the obese/unfit rider Huw was talking about and, really,…

Within the last 18 months we’ve seen quite an evolution within the Norco range, and it all kicked off midway through 2019 with a revamp of their XC race dually; the Revolver FS. The new rendition underwent some sizable changes to the geometry with a slacker head angle, longer reach and front-centre as well as a steeper seat angle. In addition to the ‘modernised’ geometry, the new version was offered in both 100mm and 120mm variants. In its longer travel format, the Revolver FS120 overlapped heavily with the older Optic; in fact the revised Revolver was now half a degree slacker with reach/front centre figures that are on average 20mm longer. So their XC racer was effectively more capable on the descents than its trail-oriented counterpart. The solution was obvious…

The DART Tool is designed to be extremely light, durable, and easy to fit into pockets and packs, while offering an ergonomic design that’s easy to hold and allows precision DART placement. The DART Tool’s handle includes a built-in valve core remover, making it easy to add sealant. The tool is made of an ultra-strong but light moulded plastic. Because even the small details are important, the rod that presses DARTs into punctures is made of ultralight, corrosion-resistant and incredibly strong carbon. The length of the rod is specifically calibrated to let you insert DARTs to the perfect depth every time, just by pressing until the head of the DART Tool contacts your tire. No more damage to rim or rim tape during a fast repair. DART Refills include 5…

New SHIMANO DEORE brings even more adventure to your outdoor lifestyle with a wider range of gear choices for the steep stuff, the fast stuff and the fun. Heighten your mountain biking confidence and control with smooth riding, improved chain stability, and sharp shifting on the trail. Climb steeper trails and fly down descents with improved stability and predictable control. Ride your way with SHIMANO DEORE. New SHIMANO DEORE also expands 10/11-speed group capabilities New SHIMANO DEORE components deliver a new level of premium performance to the value category by bringing hallmark elite mountain bike technologies to a new price level. SHIMANO DEORE M6100 is a no-compromise component group, offering a full 510% gear range and all of Shimano’s top 12-speed technological innovations first introduced with XTR M9100. SHIMANO DEORE…

“More often than not I’ll end up spending six hours on my mountain bike. I just enjoy that variation; it feels so new. That really helps with the positional element and getting used to the different positions.” The once deeply entwined souls and spirits of fat and skinny tyres parted ways in a bitter divorce many years ago. And then a few years back came their illegitimate love child – the gravel bike, which has made sweet tracks towards once again finding common ground between the disciples of the dirt and radical roadies. Road cycling is a sport that is often chokingly constrained by a strangely alluring tradition, which is often rebelled against and then re-discovered and appreciated in the same way that a fine cognac and a classic Marlon…

It’s been slightly more than 12 months since Norco shocked (excuse the pun) the MTB world with the release of its ultra-impressive Sight VLT 27.5 e-MTB. The Canadian brand had taken its time before entering the powered bike market segment, and that wait (as we mentioned in the review of the VLT 1) was worth it for riders. In short, the VLT killed it; that bike’s adherence to the riding characteristics of its mechanical brethren was one of the many highlights (that also included its flickability, powerful 630Wh battery, and robust drivetrain and frame) of the bike. Even then, there were whispers of not ‘if’ but ‘when’ a 29er version of the VLT would land but, again, Norco was in no rush – the Canucks have had a lot going…

Social media is a group of programs that enable participation in social networking, creation or sharing of information, ideas, career interests and other forms of expression via virtual communities and networks. It has become a way to interact and communicate with our world, even a way to earn an income and make a living for some. Hash tagging in a social media sense is a type of metadata tag used on social networks. It lets users easily post and find messages with specific themes or content. Outside is free. These three fairly simple words form one such hash tag that has, at last count, been added to 4.6 million posts on social media. 4.6 million…that is a lot of posts. For some of these posts it is more than likely…

Chester Pedals have long set the standard for mountain biking pedals. Now they’re back but something’s different. A party's just not a party until Chester shows up in some new colours. This burly nylon composite pedal is big on features, small on price, and fully ready to tear up some trail. The Full Meal Deal A slim yet durable Nylon composite body is accented with a concave design, built in traction treads and 8 replaceable traction pins per side. Not Just Another Axle Made to stand up to punishment, the durable sealed cro-mo axle rolls on a completely serviceable bearing + bushing set-up. The Limited Edition colours are…limited, so get your feet a set now! Available now from your local bike shop. Specs RRP: $79 www.solasport.com.au…

Michelin have utilised their extensive expertise in rubber technology and research including over a year’s worth of elite level racing to build and fine tune the downhill range from scratch. • The DH22 is the most versatile tread pattern in the downhill range with the downhill specific rubber compound Magi-X DH providing extraordinary grip in hard and soft terrain.• The DH34 tread pattern provides stability and speed on all hard terrains such as compact dirt and gravel. It also features the Magi-X DH compound. This tyre is also available in the Bike Park version which uses the very durable Gum-X compound.• The DH Mud tread pattern features well-spaced blocks that are easy to cut as required to suit the terrain, with the Magi-X DH compound. The casings have 4 ply…

It only struck me toward the end of our ride on the Paparoa, as we prepared to leave Pororari Hut. Leaning over my handlebars, I looked down and saw the connection. My 29er bike brandished Pike forks as did Laurence’s. This fine track those forks had cushioned us on, and that were about to get a full workout down to the sea, had come about because of a tragic accident. Out of this tragedy has come something that will offer enjoyment for thousands. On 19 November 2010, an underground explosion at the Pike River Mine near Blackball, trapped and killed 29 miners. It was one of the darkest days in New Zealand’s modern history and one for which final answers are still being sought. There is currently an attempt to…

What do mountain biking, Armidale and Brazil all have in common? Well if you are into endurance mountain biking you could have experienced all three in the space of 12 months. WEMBO (World Endurance Mountain Bike Organisation) are the head honchos for the discipline and held their World Solo 24 Hour Championships in Brazil last year with Armidale, NSW locked in for 2020. With COVID-19 disrupting the event calendar, the World Championships could well be one of the first big races to go ahead later this year. We sat down with Russel Baker to learn more about WEMBO and endurance racing in general. MBA: Thanks for joining us Russell. We featured an interview with endurance star Cory Wallace in our recent issue. He said he hoped UCI wouldn’t take on…

I’ve been racing bikes for a long while – since I was 14 years old (almost 40 years) – and racing MTB on and off for much of that period. But I’ve only had two dedicated XC ‘race’ bikes. The first a custom-made Ti hardtail (written about as part of my story about renewing old forks in MBA recently) and the second a full-suspension carbon bike I recently sold. My needs are a bit different these days, with 24-hour races in my past and even club XC races getting more technical than they were 10 years ago, perhaps reflecting the changes at the World Cup level. Also, I do a lot more Enduro races, but around Canberra many I have done were ‘over biked’ with my actual Enduro bike and…

So, you’ve decided three-hours, six-hours or even 24-hours just isn’t enough. It’s time to go multi-day mountain bike racing. Great decision! If you want to get immersed in the mountain biking experience, then this is a superb way to do it. For however many days your chosen event goes there’s no doubt the simple act of riding, recovering and riding again becomes your world. How pleasurable that experience is comes down to a bit of basic research, a decent amount of preparation and a fair degree of determination to see the event through to the end. Do everything the right way and you might even enjoy it. Maybe even want to come back again. So, here’s my thoughts on how to go about multi-day racing. I’m sure there’s plenty more…