Sitting here on an early Saturday evening, I just realised this is the longest I have spent in Livigno at one time. While in 2013 I came and visited for about 4 nights, headed off to race Dolomiti Superbike, then came back again for another four or five nights, this would be the longest consecutive […]
Livigno Training Camp: Day Three
It’s out third full day up in Livigno, and after Imogen and I went our different ways yesterday, we regrouped for one of the other highly popular activities in Livigno – shopping! It wasn’t a mega spending spree, but we did both buy some headbands, so we could feel the part in the high mountains. […]
Fitting Tubolito tubes for test
If you’re a bit of a weight weenie, and chances are you are, then you will probably have heard of Tubolito Tubes. The bright orange inner tubes are pretty special as far as inner tubes go for a variety of reasons. They’re light – 85g for a standard 29″ tube. Tubolito claim they are twice […]
Bike Check: Ryan Standish’s Merida Ninety Six
This Merida Ninety Six was photographed on location on the Mongolian steppe by Alex Malone from Cyclist. The whole bike shot is noticeably different as it’s clean! This was taken in Park City by Ryan. Ryan Standish is an American bike racer who has grown up on the rocky and spikey trails of Alice Springs, […]
Livigno Training Camp: Day One
Livigno is many things. It is a duty free shopping hub, an alpine town that is popular for snow sports, a farming village that has had rapid change – and an ever-growing base for altitude training. From runners, cross-country skiers, road cyclists, mountain bikers and more, Livigno offers about 1800m base elevation, with quiet trails, […]
2018 Swiss National Park Bike Marathon shortened due to weather
The National Park Bike Marathon in eastern Switzerland is another classic European marathon that sits as a ‘must do’ on many riders calendars. The 138km full length route circumnavigates the Swiss National Park. It climbs from Scuol, descends to Sta Maria, then to Doss Radond and the Val Mora, before passing the Lago di Cancano, […]
Perskindol Swiss Epic moves to Graubünden – home of trails
Not all mountain bike stage races are created equally. And since the first edition of the Perskindol Swiss Epic, we knew this race stood out from the rest. As Matt Page and Stu Spies tested themselves in the UCI Men’s class, they both reached sporting high points while at the same time riding excellent trails […]
Gains and losses at the Rothaus Bike Giro
Related Event: Rothaus Bike Giro Hochschwarzwald
Friday 17th August dawned sunny and warm in the Hochschwarzland, home for the Rothaus Bike Giro. Birds chirped, the rising sun warmed the cool overnight air, and many Germans contemplated their fruhstuck. But while the day was waking up, two devoted MarathonMTB.com Team riders were not. Imogen and I slumbered on through the early, and […]
Rothaus Bike Giro: The Prologue
There is a certain mystique about heading overseas to ride and race your bike. If you’ve never travelled to pedal in anger it is easy to romanticise the experience. The climbs, the trails, the #fullpro experience, the class of European riding and racing (or other areas) and of course the chance to benchmark yourself against […]
MTBA select 7 Australians for 2018 XCM World Championships
Related Event: 3Epic
Last week, Mountain Bike Australia (MTBA) published the list of 7 riders who have been selected to represent Australia at the 2018 Cross-Country Marathon (XCM) World Championships in Auronzo di Cadore, Italy, on 15th September. The women’s team is made up of three of Australia’s best mountain bikers. 2018 National XCM Champion Anna Beck will […]