Do you want to know how it feels to be on the front row of a Enduro mass start event like the Megavalanche?
Joost Wichman, former 4X MTB World Champion shot this GoPro footage from the front row of the 2014 Megavalanche.
Enjoy watching 600 freaks chasing him down the Pic Blanc Glacier!
This video whilst seemingly obvious is one of those little things overlooked when trying to eke out every metre in a race. Not racing well it also avoids you losing your line or scrubbing wide and washing out ….
and this one better
This looks very nice – good for touring and fat bike adventuring
A better connection to the pedals, regardless of the weather
At heart, the Alpineduro is a rugged mountain shoe with a grippy Vibram rubber outsole, insulated construction and a clip-in pedal-ready nylon shank that doesn’t sacrifice walking comfort or grip. On the outside, its an urban adventurer with superb fit and style, plus a waterproof microfiber upper engineered to repel winter’s wet and icy chill. When riding is your style all year-round, this is your go-to shoe.
Bringing XC & Trail riders together in one fun flowing trail. No matter who you are, or what you ride, XTR is engineered for the way you ride.
From single track
According to our survey data, 55% of mountain bikers have tried night riding. That means that 45% of mountain bikers haven’t even tried it, and of that 55%, I’d be willing to bet the number of riders that strap a light to their bike at least once per week is much, much less.
As I thought about it, I realized that lately I haven’t been night riding nearly as much as I have in past years. Here are 5 things, based on my personal experience and my conversations with others, that might keep you from riding at night… and reasons why they shouldn’t hold you back:
1. It’s expensive.
The number one excuse I hear from mountain bikers who don’t even want to dabble in night riding is, “Lights are so expensive! I can’t afford one of those!” Yes, there are expensive lights out there on the market. But if you took a look at our light buyer’s guide, you’ll realize that there are plenty of lights right around the $100 price point. And if you shop eBay, there are even no-name bike lights on sale for much cheaper than that.
My first night ride of the season. Pictured here is the Fenix BT20, which is a good-quality light set that can be purchased for about $150.
My first night ride of the season. Pictured here is the Fenix BT20, which is a good-quality light set that can be purchased for about $150.
In my opinion, buying a light is the #1 thing you can do to extend the amount of time you can ride your mountain bike in the fall and spring. Even if you have a lower-end bike, chances are your bike is worth at least $1,000. What good is a $1,000 (or a $10,000) bike if you can’t ride it during the week? Drop a hundred bucks on a light, and keep on pedaling!
2. It’s dangerous.
There seems to be this pervasive opinion among night riding n00bs that riding at night is dangerous. But the reality is, it’s no more dangerous than riding during the daytime. With even low-priced bike lights pushing 750-1000 lumens, and some lights boasting a whopping 6000 lumens, these lights can illuminate the trail as brilliantly as the sun.
3. It’s cold at night.
This one really depends on the time of year and the location, and in the northern reaches of the continent during the middle of the winter it can get really frigging cold at night! Honestly, sometimes this is a really good reason to stay indoors. However, with the advent of fat bikes, clothing manufacturers have made huge strides in recent years in producing lightweight, low-profile bike clothing that is surprisingly warm. With the right layers and preparation, you can easily mountain bike comfortably in zero degree (F) weather… or colder.
4. There’s no one else to ride with.
While at times it can be daunting to night ride alone, I’ve found that night riding solo is the most peaceful mountain bike experience ever. There’s usually no one else on the trails, and the quiet and solitude can’t be matched! Of course, if that makes you uncomfortable, it’s pretty easy to find people to ride with. Many shops conduct night rides all year long, as do mountain bike clubs and individuals. There are tons of people who night ride, and many of them will be willing to show you the ropes!
5. It’s hard to get motivated when it’s dark outside.
If we’re honest with ourselves, many of us already know the points and counterpoints listed above. But really, most of the time it’s just hard to get motivated to wrangle all of your bike gear, and pedal your bike in the pitch black of night. However, there are some steps you can take to make it easier.
The first step is to find a regular night ride to be a part of. I touched on this above, but there’s nothing more motivating than knowing a group of your friends will be riding at the same time, on the same day, every week.
The second step is almost just as important, and that’s to keep your gear ready to go, all the time:
When you get back from a ride, toss your battery on the charger so it’s ready to go at a moment’s notice. (Some higher-end lights feature charging stations that you can leave your battery on, ensuring your battery is always topped off.)
Wash your clothes quickly, and keep your warm winter riding clothes in a dedicated pile, ready to be donned in minutes.
Keep your hydration pack full of all the gear and layers you might need, so all you have to do is fill your water reservoir.
If you run a bike-mounted light, keep it mounted on your bike at all times so you don’t have to take it on and off.
And if you’re partial to a helmet-mounted light, dedicate one helmet to night riding alone, and leave your mount attached so you’re not constantly putting it on and taking it off when switching from night to day.
While at first blush going out for a night ride can be a daunting task, the right mindset and the proper preparation can make it a true joy and an utterly unique experience!
Carbon fat bikes can cost $5,000 or more. A new entry, the Carbon Alaskan from Minnesota-based Framed Bikes, will go for less than $2,400 when it comes to market this fall.
This summer GearJunkie got an exclusive test. You may have read our initial impressions in June, where we described the (at the time secret) bike as “super stiff and strong.”
Since then, we’ve put many more miles on the Framed, testing both the size medium and large versions.
Although they were both prototypes, and Framed is making changes to part specifications as well as the frame, below is the first full ride review available anywhere.
There are only a handful of these bikes on the planet right now, all of which are being ridden by product developers. Here’s the GearJunkie first look. —Tom Puzak
The Gear: Framed Alaskan Carbon
Price: Starts at $2,395
Available: October, 2014
First Impressions: Beefy, solid, unbreakable. The frame is the stiffest, strongest fat frame we’ve ever seen.
Where To Test It: The Alaskan is fun in the summer, as the Bluto fork allows the rider to hit mountain biking terrain without getting beat up too badly. But, of course, fat bikes really shine on snow and sand, and that’s where the Alaskan is most at home.
Who’s It For: The buyer looking to a fat bike to fill multiple voids in his quiver.
Boring But Important: The base build specs the Bluto fork, SRAM X7 drivetrain, and Avid BB7 mechanical brakes. The rear hub spacing will be 197mm with a 12mm through-axle. All in, the bike will weigh about 31.5 pounds. A second premium build will feature SRAM’s X1 drivetrain, with pricing and other specs TBD.
Killer! The SRAM Bluto is awesome. We continue to be impressed at how well the front end of Bluto-spec’d bikes absorb bumpy terrain and track through corners. We hope to never ride another fat bike in the summer without one.
Flaw: The wheels are heavy. Even though the Maxxis Mammoth (26” x 4”) tires are great, they are a bit sluggish to get up to speed mounted to these 80mm rims. When questioned on this, Framed mentioned that the bike may be spec’d with lighter tubes (the bike had full weight Surly tubes in). Regardless, finding a second set of wheels would be a great upgrade if you want to save weight and gain speed.
Who Should Buy It: The all-mountain summer rider, the winter rider, or the endurance racer who upgrades the wheels to get the build light enough to be raced.
We are hoping that the brand comes to market with a 1×10 drivetrain with a Wolftooth 40t cog conversion on the base $2,395 bike, but we are told that dream is still in the works.
The bike is likely the most versatile fat bike on the market due to its large range of available modifications straight from the company. Let Framed know what you want and they can get you a rigid front fork for another $300, or go the other direction and grab a dropper seatpost straight from the brand (our test bike had one).
Bottom Line: Framed is making a good fat bike here. A strong beast of a fat bike. One could say it’s bordering on being overbuilt but with carbon, you don’t pay much of a weight penalty for that extra strength. The parts are the best you can get for the money. Try it, you’ll probably love it. If you want to love it more, upgrade the wheels some day and you’ll have an even lighter and faster ride.
More Info: Click here for specs, geometry and additional images.
Shot out from home and cycled down to Cathkin Braes after watching Philip Buys shoot off the start line in Lap 1 (supporting South Africa you see) to watch the second half of the mens race.
Took one set of snaps of the leaders before my phone died ….
what is worse is that my pics are on the flattest most boring part of the course …..
the guys were flying along – I did the lap in 20min in the past and think these guys did it in 13min – the end was spectacular with a surprise sprint that no one could respond to …
Teenager Anton Cooper secured a first mountain biking gold medal for New Zealand in an exciting finish to the cross-country race.
Cooper, 19, beat team-mate Samuel Gaze, 18, into second in a sprint finish with Australian Daniel McConnell in third.
Scotland’s Grant Ferguson, 20, finished fifth with England’s 2006 winner Liam Killeen in sixth.
In the men’s race, only 10 seconds separated the first three riders, who dropped Max Plaxton of Canada on the seventh and final lap.
Don’t ask him – he doesn’t seem to need one ….
My ex father in law had a villa there and although I took my kite boards out I never took my bikes although I used to wonder every time I went on the trails.
This quadrocopter footage shows how pretty it all looks
What a fab day – not much to say but stats
And then a video
shot on one of those garmin Virb cameras http://amzn.to/1q77h0o
The numbers certainly are impressive: 15 days riding, 1,200km covered, 28,000m climbed. “The biggest mountain bike adventure in Europe” traverses the Iberian Peninsula from Madrid to Lisbon, covering high altitude plains, Roman Bridges, portions of a windmill park, and villages “seemingly stuck in the Middle Ages.” Not enough? How ’bout canyons, waterfalls, eucalyptus forests, and a swing by the westernmost point in Europe?
Rated “very difficult” by its organisers, Madrid-Lisbon Mountain Bike can be ridden either as a professionally- or GPS-guided tour. In both cases, accommodation along the route is in hotels and inns. Meals, luggage and airport transfers, and mechanic support are also included. For those who can’t commit to the entire fifteen days, either Spanish (8 days) or Portuguese segments (7 days) can be booked separately. The guided tour is limited to twenty riders and runs from 14 to 28 June (13 to 27 June in 2015) and pricing is €2,750.
The self-guided option is a bit looser, including maps, GPS tracks, and telephone support. In-event luggage transfer and airport transfers will be optional. Dates for self-guided tours are flexible – between May and October – and pricing has not yet been set. More on both options at bikemadridlisbon.com.
Looks great
We’ve just received the latest update on this year’s Mountain Mayhem at Gatcombe Park. The 2014 course is promising more woodsy racing, less climbing and the welcome return of trackside camping and heckling.
Here’s the official word from Pat..
At last, the Wiggle Mountain Mayhem 2014 course is here!
There might still be a few minor adjustments, but this is pretty much how it will be in 2014. We have included last year’s course here as well so you can see the difference, but in a nutshell, this is what you’ll get:
- 20% less climbing overall
- trackside camping
- loads more viewing points for spectators
- clockwise circuit
Much more to keep everyone happy we feel!
If you haven’t booked your place yet and you were just waiting to see what the course looks like, now you know, so get your place reserved. Later we will have a more comprehensive map with everything labelled for a more complete picture, but until then we thought that you would prefer to see it in all it’s bare bones glory and wait no longer.Wiggle Mountain Mayhem 2014 promises to have something for everyone: great riding, great camping, great arena and above all, great fun.
I confess I have been avoiding going out on the bike – hitting the gym and the swimming pool as the rain has lashed down this winter. Forced myself out today and for the first hour it was pretty dry.
I do love my Lynskey Ridgeline and felt that today was it’s day with messy mudguards in place ….
Your cornering position is the one that will provide you the maximum gain of time. If you mange to complicatly integrate the mouvment until you do it instinctively, you will be able to through the bike around in no time with grip and dynamism.
I have been guilty of leaning into the corners and getting the bike more upright … this is BAD BAD BAD – watch the video to see why
Having a clear out and getting rid of the tyres at the back of the cupboard – all 26″ tyres (or tires as those less proficient in language like to say)
All Tubeless ready / UST
Michelin ATX 26×2.2 £10
Schwalbe Racing Ralph 26×2.1 UST £15
Schwalbe Ice Spiker PRO 26×2.1 Tubeless Ready (only used to race Strathpuffer 24 in Jan 2013 – some spikes missing but other than that nearly no wear … replacement spikes available) £25
maxxis Medusa 26×2.1 Tubeless (I think this is even quicker than racing ralph and better grip in marginal conditions). £15
or £50 all in incl postage to save my faffing
These are not my words but even though I ride my road bike and do group rides my biggest joy is solo on a mtb
……..
First off, a disclaimer: I’m a mountain biker. Always have been, always will. And as the founder of Sacred Rides, I’ve made it my career. So I’m more than a bit biased.
Secondly, I don’t have anything against road riding. I’ve tried it many times. I tried to love it. I tried to like it. But ultimately it’s just not for me. I know that millions of people love road riding (and that it’s more popular than mountain biking), but… I also think millions of road riders haven’t tried mountain biking yet. 🙂
So without further ado, here are my 10 Reasons Why Mountain Biking is Better than Road Biking:
I’m sure the roadies will get plenty upset at this post. The comments below are your opportunity to do so (and an opportunity for MTBers to back me up!)
It’s like Tron in real life. Thanks to WOOProductions and Endless Gap, we get this enlightening video where LEDs were mounted to both bike and rider.
Kelly McGarry flips a 72-foot-long canyon gap at Red Bull Rampage 2013 to earn a 2nd place finish.
looks like it will be fun going down – maybe less on the way up
it’s been a few years since the Cathkin Braes course was opened and MTB’s were asked to use the course in order to bed in the track. It will be used for the MTB race in the Commonwealth Games of 2014 in Glasgow, Scotland. It was only the other week over dinner with friends when they asked if I had ridden the course – I had but that was before the bulldozers were there or any tracks so the real answer was err …. no
Here is a description of the course
http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=15190&p=0
So I travelled down there on Monday for a wee ride. the course is just over 5.5km long and is a figure of 8 course … a wee tunnel prevents you shooting the gap during the crossover.
It is a great course – not overly technical but difficult enough to make you concentrate on your line in places.
If you are stood in the main car-park looking at this sign The track heads off to the RIGHT!!!! as it seems that a fair few folk are getting it wrong. I came across two very confused people who couldn’t see the little no entry signs a an indication they were going the wrong way.
The next section you will come to is The first Listed feature on the Trail map Named Propeller Point. There is a red and Blue line down this … the red has two drops on it …This section most riders will have no problems getting through.
Further on you will next come to a trail crossing where you can loop down through a tunnel although I didn’t see it first time and went over the top which is nice technical drop.
Again this is a section that most rider will breeze through with ease and now the fun begins as you pick up speed through a sharp few corners in to a short rock section that the 29er just flows through.
Just after this you pop out the trees in to a sharp left and start descending across the hill,
That done there is a short steep climb up to the start of the Double Dare (Dual) Section a 200m section of trail made up of a series of seven corners. I preferred the right hand line but dual boys might prefer the slightly trickier left line.
At the bottom of this run you crest a wee bump and have a climb back up (Clyde Climb)
Once you have got to the top of this climb you cycle across the open(Rest and be thankful) and in to the Feature Three line Corner.
First the inside line with the rock drops. The middle line with one rock drop. And the outside line with no drop.
then it is a loop through a flowy bit and around and up a small climb to the Forest and along the bedrock (Broken Biscuits) section. Back across the tunnel intersection and through a section of small swooping berms (The Jock) with some small rock sections and Tree stump features that can be easily rid over or round.
You then roll in to the (Brig O’doom) This section is a tight twisty trail that run’s along side a 2 meter high natural rock ledge.
Then over a burn and up a very steep short climb. (i didnt make it the first 2 times but was ready the third time and ground up it …. JUST)
Then through the stream
Out of the trees and over the (Boulder Dash)
Then onward up the last few baby rock climbs to the finish.
Once back at the car-park you have completed the 5.5k 2014 Commonwealth Games Cross Country Mountain Bike Track. Give yourself a big pat on the back and get a few more laps in! Getting faster and fitter with every lap. So do it – dry course drains great – easy for all levels Green Blue and Red runs … kid friendly too and lots of spectator space for the Games ….
what the course looks like on Strava ….
here rab wardell that can do the course in 13m57s as opposed to my 20m31s talks to us about the course and the games ….
and another
Kite*Surf*Bike*Rambling 