Australian Mountain Bike

Rider: Paul van der Ploeg Australia’s High Country had a devastating summer, but many communities were lucky and had minimal damage. One of those is Falls Creek, and Paul van der Ploeg was quick to get back up the hill and rip on the trails. Falls C

It’s all too easy to get mired down with choices for new tyres, wheel sizes, suspension settings, rim widths and colour-matched clothing and helmets, when sometimes the most important decision is staring us in the face. When will you next go for a ri

Jack Moir has had plenty of successes in downhill racing, with a 2nd place in the 2017 Fort William World Cup, 4th place in the 2017 Cairns World Championships, Crankworx Downhill series winner in 2016, along with no less than 3 top-10 finishes in as

The 2021 Enduro World Series calendar has been released, and right after the EWS circus visits Nelson, it will drop into Tasmania in April 2021. The series will also have two rounds in the USA and of course hit the high and steep trails of the Europe

Nearly 1500 riders lined up for the Otway Odyssey in Forrest in February, and the 100km Otway Odyssey had a new course record set by professional road cyclist Robbie Hucker of Team UKYO, in what many claim was one of the strongest fields at a mountai

Always evolving, the 2020 Crocodile Trophy route is a reflection on the success of 2019 when the route received acclaim from all who completed the 25th anniversary event. In 2020 the 8-day event expands back to 9 days with a prologue at Smithfield Mo

Keen-eyed readers may remember we mentioned that there is an upcoming redevelopment at Wylde MTB Park to accomodate the M12 Motorway and also give the venue a revamp. Just before this current issue went to print, the plans for the upcoming changes we

We are in the middle of a deluge on the east coast of Australia. As I write this, our local creeks are thundering, our tanks are overflowing and flash flooding intermittently causes chaos on the arterials and motorways of the region. It’s very easy t

If only World Cup Downhill had pre-season just like Moto GP, we would have something fresh to talk about. The gap between the last race of 2019 and the first of 2020 feels like an eternity. As exciting as the last World Cup Season was, I can barely r

The big one is coming! Of all the races in the world, the Olympic XCO race for many racers is the pinnacle event. Four years of preparation and a lifetime of hard work has led to a few riders already booking their ticket to Tokyo. For many others, th

After an enduro last year at Red Hill in Victoria, Lachlan McKillop had crashed pretty hard, and when the race was said and done, he was feeling pretty beaten up. In search of relief, he didn’t pop a few Ibuprofen or reach for a tube of Voltaren; ins

Driving into Derby there are bikes everywhere — on cars, outside shops, bolted to the roofs of buildings and yes, under riders too. With the recognition the Blue Derby mountain bike trail network has earned and the way the town is bustling you would

How high and far can someone actually fly on a mountain bike? My previous idea of manageable dimensions on two wheels is currently being completely overthrown. I crouch in the bushes in one of the most remote places I have ever visited. All of my foc

Maydena Bike Park has a name now known around the world. My first day at Maydena was to cover the Gravity Enduro National Championships. Nick Waygood and I had driven over from St Helens in the north-east the day prior and we were slated to shoot the

When I’m looking for races to ride or adventures to tackle, I try to look for something unique. Something that will take me somewhere new or offer an experience like no other. Along with my cross-country racing throughout the year, I always try to ad

Stage races like The Pioneer require a lot of time on the bike which means that being comfortable and familiar with your ride is paramount. I raced my sponsored 2018 Norco Revolver FS in The Pioneer. I’ve been on this model for a while and am very fa

The final Pioneer presentation offered a great time to look back at the winners from the week and those who gave it their best. It also showcased riders who have taken on the challenge of becoming an Epic Legend. These are riders who have completed a

The clock started ticking on the 17th of August, 2019 in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan and ahead of 140 racers, solo riders and pairs, there was a 1700km fixed route with 27000 metres climbing and three staffed checkpoints. If you want to be a f

What sort of bike do you use for a multi-day bikepacking trip, and what do you pack? We say, take the bike that works for you and pack what you need to get through. The bikes on the event were as diverse as the people, but we contacted Jeff Kerkove f

By launching an all-new sequel to its popular predecessor, Pivot has their fans world over excited about the launch of the new Switchblade. The genre bending original opened riders’ eyes to the possibility of a true all-in bike, switching from 27.5+

Trek have always been one of the biggest brands in the cycling industry, their history, quality and range have always made them one of the greats. Whilst Trek have been producing eMTBs for a few years now, they had failed to really deliver a real eMT

Polygon bikes are known for being the rides of Mick and Tracy Hannah, but also as some of the best value mountain bikes in Australia, just about anywhere in their range. Polygon bikes come from Indonesia, but here in Australia everything is handled b

One of the most banal but important things to figure out for mountain biking is how you’re going to carry fluid. We have seen many bike manufacturers forget the need for a water bottle mount, and then be slaughtered on social media by riders whose cl

When the new Marzocchi Z1 was announced in 2018 I was surprised not to see a coil option. While uber supple, the Z1 we reviewed last year equipped with a simple and robust Fox air spring and damper left me thinking there was space in the market for a

Stans NoTubes rims and tubeless products quickly became widespread across the mountain bike world over the last decade and a half. The popular Crest, Arch and Flow models have always been the core rims but the range has expanded with wheels and rims

Gloves are one of the most useful contact points going, and if you’re a gloves-free rider you will hate to hear that. But the right gloves give you better tactile feedback with your bars in w ider range of conditions, protect your hands from crashes,

I’m a sucker for a new backpack, and Patagonia have made plenty of bags that I have wanted to add to my collection. Their new Black Hole range using recycled materials really caught my eye. With my current go-to backpack wearing through at the bottom

Derby is a magical place nestled in the north-east end of Tasmania, and in only a short few years has gone from a modern day ghost town to a buzzing mountain bike destination. It’s one of those places, if you haven’t been there already, you should be

The front wheel tap up is a relatively unrecognised skill when it comes to trail riding. When it comes to trials riding though (you know, that crazy stuff where they hop around with no seat), it’s a fundamental skill required to make it possible to g

Being able to reach for a healthy option without having to think about shopping, cooking or cleaning up can be a lifesaver when you’re juggling work, life and training. However, there are some key things to think about before you dive right into the

These antioxidant-rich raw cookies are awesome anytime – whether you want to include them as part of your ride nutrition, your post-ride recovery or simply as some afternoon deliciousness. Antioxidants help you recover from stress (e.g. pollution or

Dr Tim Noakes MD was the first to introduce the concept of the central governor theory: which posits that fatigue and reduced performance is wholly managed by the brain (the centre) as a protective mechanism against physical damage, prior to damage o