Big news came out overnight, that has little immediate impact on the races we enjoy, but might change the size and scale of events in the future. Ironman announced that they have reached an agreement to acquire the Cape Epic mountain bike race. In addition to operating The Motatapu and The Pioneer multiple stage mountain bike races in […]
Day one at Iceland’s Glacier360
Related Event: Glacier 360
Competitors started the Glacier 360 in Iceland on the morning of Wednesday 17th of August, from Geysir, the original Geyser in the South of Iceland. In teams of two the group raced through the modest birch forrest above the hot springs and into the black volcanic outback on the south side of the Langjökull Glacier. Today’s route traced 95 kilometers […]
Buying the right bike for marathon and stage racing
What bike should I buy for marathon racing? Or, what bike should I buy for… *enter a massive stage race here*? These are not uncommon questions for bike shop staff, and one that we get sent via email or social media quite frequently. The range of bikes continues to expand, as does the type and […]
The Land Rover West Rand Silverstar MTB Challenge set for 2016
The 9th edition of the Land Rover West Rand Silverstar MTB Challenge takes place on 10th September this year, offering its traditional 20km and 40km options on the Krugersdorp Ridge. The event starts and finishes at the revamped Silverstar Casino and a special treat is in store for riders with the finish moving inside the square which […]
Mackay Mountain Marathon – a return to Eungella
Related Event: Mackay Mountain Marathon
Three years ago I was tempted north to the Mackay Mountain Marathon by Evan Corry, who I had met at the 2012 Crocodile Trophy. With the local club, and plenty of community support, he and many others had set up a marathon race on the range behind Mackay – based out of the tiny town […]
Light Bicycle XC923 carbon wheel set – first look
Carbon wheels have been making inroads in mountain biking for well over 5 years. Although the first options were limited, and eye-wateringly expensive, the options for mountain bikers have grown – there is now so much choice on the market. From major manufacturers like Enve, who keep on expanding their range as the market changes […]
Vietnam Mountain Bike Marathon heads to Sapa Hills
The first edition of the three day Vietnam Mountain Bike Marathon is set to take place from November 4 – 6 2016 in the remote mountainous region surrounding Sapa. Registration for the bike race is now open. With a backdrop of the highest peaks in Indochina and the Hoang Lien National Park deep in the far north, […]
Norco Ithaqua: Full fat, low weight
Fat bikes aren’t always the first thing that comes to mind when you think of marathon and stage races – but think a little deeper, and events like the Iditarod come up, or even the Snow Epic. So while fatbikes are synonymous with adventure rides, people who can’t go fast so want to get something […]
Who can win the 2016 Craft BIKE Transalp?
If you think of a marathon stage race, chances are you’ll come up with imagery from one of the oldest and greatest of them all – Transalp. This year, Transalp celebrates its 19th anniversary of crossing the alps from north to south. Having recently changed from eight days to seven, Transalp has also seen dramatic […]
Riding Lapierre’s new XR full-suspension bike
Last week, French manufacturer Lapierre released their updated cross-country full-suspension bike – the XR. They’ve billed it as the bike for the racer inside. The Lapierre XR has sat within the Lapierre mountain bike range for a few years, and was one of the first bikes in the line-up to use the e:i automatic suspension management […]