Innholdsfortegnelse for Nov-Dec-Jan 2021 i Mountain Biking Australia

And just like that 2020 is almost behind us. There may still be a few months to go but we at Mountain Biking Australia are already in 2021, at least according to this November/December/January issue. It’s been a tough year for mountain bikers with countless events cancelled or postponed and trails off-limits for so much of this year. Our thoughts are with our Victorian readers, especially those in Melbourne. With any luck things will open up again soon. One of the best ways to pass time is through storytelling and we have some absolute mountain biking legends telling theirs in this issue. Long-time contributor Steve Thomas has tracked down both Hans Rey and Nico Vouilloz. Each reflects on their own success as well as how they’ve adapted to the modern…

Launched in 2020, our eONE-SIXTY managed to seamlessly follow in the footsteps of the 'original' eONE-SIXTY which was the most decorated, tested and awarded bike in MERIDA's history. The highly anticipated bike managed to collect a vast amount of amazing test results and wins, as well as add a few industry awards to its tally. For 2021, our e-enduro bike will be equipped with the all-new EP8 motor from Shimano as well as with the range extending 630 Wh internal battery. Improved performance numbers, a perfectly tuned MTB geometry, paired with a stiff and lightweight frame that seamlessly integrates the battery into the lower part of the downtube and a 29er / 650B wheel combo, the eONE-SIXTY is ready for pretty much anything you can throw at it. Some of…

Back in November 2019, organisers were putting the finishing touches on the 2020 Snowies MTB Festival. Held every year in February, the Snowies is a three-day multi-stage race running out of the alpine capital of Jindabyne. Little did they know what the next few months would bring, events that would put the future of the famous race in jeopardy. But no matter what was thrown at them, be it unprecedented bushfires or a once-in-a-century pandemic, the Snowies MTB festival isn’t going anywhere. In fact, it’s only gone and gotten bigger. Australia's top shelf Located in the heart of the Snowy Mountains, Jindabyne is the gateway to the ski fields and the stunning wilderness that is Kosciusko National Park. It’s not all skiing and hiking however, Jindabyne is also within striking…

There’s absolutely nothing at all new about riding bikes offroad, even bikes with skinny tyres and dropped handlebars. Cyclists have been doing just that ever since bikes were invented, and way before surfaced roads became popular. Even the original Tour de France was in no small part held on dirt roads. Over a hundred years ago riders scrambled their way through the wilds of the Alps and Pyrenees, and they raced on single speed bikes with rod brakes for hundreds of kilometres a day. This was, of course, long before the advent and sanity of the modern uplift. So, just how is it that gravel riding and gravel bikes have taken off to the extent they have in recent years? The term “gravel bike” is new; that’s for sure, and…

Falls Creek is thrilled to announce it will be receiving a Regional Infrastructure Grant of $500,000 for the Stage 5 development of the Falls Creek Mountain Bike Park. Currently hosting 40km of world class gravity and cross country trails, this funding will see the expansion of the Falls Creek Mountain Bike Park to include a further 11km of flow and technical trails and provide the opportunity for riders of all levels to transition through the park. Stuart Smythe, Falls Creek Resort Management CEO stated, “The Falls Creek Mountain Bike Park is designed to appeal to a wide range of mountain bike riders from beginner to expert”. “Increasing the number of trails will add a new sense of excitement to park and entice riders near and far to test their lungs…

It used to be an anomaly: in this modern world of efficient-pedalling dual suspension MTBs that comfortably negotiate terrain ranging from baby-smooth XC/Flow trails through to punishing enduro and even downhill-esque descents, it was rare that you saw a hardtail out on the trails. Well, at least it was until the past couple of years, anyway. The resurgence of hardtail MTBs – most notably those built out of ‘oldschool’ steel – has come on fast; Norco’s Torrent HT, Kona’s monster Honzo ESD are just two of the latest, joining brands such as UK-based Cotic and Stanton, along with Canada’s highly regarded Chromag, in offering bikes that are tough, fast, forgiving and up for anything. The combo of a bike frame made from a material regarded as ancient by the ignorant,…

He’s often been termed as the most famous mountain biker of all time, and sure enough Hans Rey is a worthy contender for that title. The German born, Swiss-stamped, California resident has been a key figure in our sport since the pre-suspension days, and is just as prominent now as he was back in the 1980’s. As a former trials World Champion, Hans set sail for the USA back in the 80’s hoping to find fame and fortune plying his legendary skills to the emerging mountain bike scene. Three decades on and his unique style and approach have made him a true superstar of the sport. Unlike many of such status Hans is still a likeable, helpful and approachable guy, which undoubtedly makes up a huge part of why he’s…

Mountain Biking Australia: So, tell us a little bit about Albany, it’s a town a lot of our readers mightn't know a lot about. Albany MTB Club: We’re located in the southern city of Albany in Western Australia, surrounded by amazing beaches and stunning views just waiting for you to explore. The moderate climate makes mountain biking an excellent choice all year round. You can shred through exciting dirt trails in winter and come out feeling like you have just survived a wild off-road adventure or ride in summer whenever it suits, even the middle of the day is an excellent time to explore the views or continue your fitness training with abundant supplies of climbs and descents. There are plenty of fantastic places to stay and feast. Keep up…

Shimano have revealed the next stage of their e-MTB evolution with the EP8 motor officially announced in August. The Japanese brand, so often at the forefront of mountain biking technology over the past three decades, said it intended the EP8 system to set a “new benchmark in system-engineered e-bike components that can tackle everything from premium mountain biking and competition racing to trail riding, cross-country, casual MTB, trekking and off-road adventuring.” In addition to the new motor and battery options, Shimano have also unveiled new and improved mobile apps, the E-TUBE RIDE and E-TUBE PROJECT. Power up TheEP8 essentially builds on the impressive foundations laid by its predecessor, the STEPS E8000. The new drive unit can generate 85 Nm (Newton-metres), that’s about 21% more than the E8000. That combined with…

With three junior and seven elite downhill world titles to his name Nico Vouilloz was very much the dominant figure in male downhill racing during the mid 90’s and into the early part of the new millennium. Unlike his rivals the young French racer was a quiet and unassuming rider and not one for partying or styling it to please the crowd. His raw talent and cautiously smooth riding style made him almost unbeatable, especially when it came to World Championships, which frustrated the hell out of his rivals. But at just 26-years of age he retired from racing whilst still wearing the rainbow stripes and took on a successful sojourn as a rally car driver. That’s not so say that he ever stopped riding; like most of us the…

SCORE IN THE STAND 7/10 ON THE TRAIL 7/10 OVERALL 7/10 When it was first released in 2016, the Big Trail aimed to bring some fun to the world of hardtails. It came about when plus-size tyres were all the rage and was equipped with 2.8-inch wide tyres. The bike also had a 130mm travel fork, short stem, 760mm wide bars and the geometry was pretty progressive for a hardtail of that era; 67.5-degree head angle and short 427mm stays. It certainly broke the mould of the stereotypical Merida XC hardtail but time has marched on, and the reach and seat tube angle of the 2016 edition now look pretty dated. For 2021 the bike gets a complete face-lift and while their intent remains unchanged, the new Big Trail features…

RATINGS (DH22) VALUE 8/10 FUNCTION 10/10 LOOK 8/10 OVERALL 9/10 Earlier in the year I reviewed Michelin’s excellent Wild Enduro tyres, finding them to be truly outstanding all-round trail and enduro tyres. Michelin has now expanded its mountain bike tyre range, adding a family of more focused, downhill/gravityspecific tyres to the mix. Designated as “DH” tyres and tested and developed with the help of Michelin’s roster of pro downhill and enduro racers during 2019, the new range adds four different tyre options for your descending pleasure. The DH22, DH34 and DH Mud models form part of Michelin’s premium Racing Line of tyres. Sporting Michelin’s stickiest Magi-X DH rubber compound and sharing the same overall construction, these three tyres differ mainly in their tread patterns. Michelin calls the DH22 their most…