With a wet week leading up to the race, Sunday 15th of June saw riders racing in the sunshine in Ballyhoura, Ireland, for the 2014 European XCM Championships. Despite a busy weekend of racing, with the Alpentour also taking place in Austria, a star studded field was in Ireland for much of the preceeding week […]
The Best Stage Races for Amateurs
Updated August 2017! “What are the best stage races to do?” It’s a question that is often asked, and can be broken down many different ways. What makes a race ‘the best’ anyway? It’s a very personal criteria. While one may rate the quality of accommodation available, others might go purely on the amount of […]
Paez regains lead at Alpentour Trophy
Dachstein 69km / 2800m The third day, and the third changing of the guards in the overall classification at the 16th Alpentour Trophy: the Columbian stage winner from day one, Leonardo Paez, took back his “Schladming/Dachstein” leader jersey from team mate Tony Longo on today’s third stage around the picturesque town of Ramsau at the […]
How to fix a broken chain
Bike riding is fun, and in general a lot more enjoyable than running. Primarily because you can freewheel, and not have to pedal the whole time. Of course, if this isn’t by choice as your chain has broken – it’s less fun. Broken chains can occur if the chain has been damaged by aggressive shifting, […]
Longo leads Alpentour Trophy after Planai Time Trial
Planai Time Trial – 14km / 1100m Yesterday’s victory took its toll on the Columbian rider Leonardo Paez. During today’s second stage of the 16th Int. Alpentour Trophy in Schladming he came third and lost too much time against the Italian stage winner Tony Longo, who takes over the lead overall. The Austrian Hermann Pernsteiner […]
Paez takes first blood at Alpentour Trophy
Hochwurzen-Giglachseen – 59km / 2900m The first stage winner of the 16th Alpentour Trophy is the Columbian rider Leonardo Paez. Paez claimed the victory 40 seconds ahead of double-World Champion Roel Paulissen from Belgium who came in second. Hermann Pernsteiner from Lower Austria was the best local finisher in the stage that took the riders […]
Croeser to XCM Worlds not Glasgow
On the back of his disappointment of not being included Team South Africa at the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, elite cross-country mountain biker Rourke Croeser has confirmed he will now focus on the 2014 UCI MTB Marathon World Championships which take place at the Cascades MTB Park in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday 29 July. Despite having […]
How to clean your mountain bike – in 3 minutes
A clean bike is a happy bike. Or more accurately, a clean bike that has then been dried, lubed and checked for maintenance requirements is a happy bike. If you live in a muddy area, or somewhere with lots of wet sand or grit that just destroys chains, brake pads and cassettes, keeping your bike […]
Riccardo Chiarini has tested positive for EPO
Italian mountain biker Riccardo Chiarini, who finished fourth overall in the 2014 Absa Cape Epic with partner Roel Paulissen of Belgium (Team Torpado Factory), has tested positive for unusually high levels of EPO. The former road professional was tested out-of-competition on May 7 this year by the UCI. The finding of excessive EPO (erythropoietin) was […]
How to setup tubeless MTB Wheels
Setting up your mountain bike wheels to run tubeless isn’t a black art – but it will almost certainly improve your riding experience. Some tyre and rim combinations are easy, like any with the UST rating. Others will require some tape, or a specific rim strip. But there aren’t many that won’t work. This video […]