The Pioneer is just days away, and all in a rush it was time to actually make the changes to the bikes Imogen Smith and I are taking to The Pioneer for 2018. We’ve both done a number of mountain bike stage races, but this is the most ‘trail’ we have set up our race […]
6 things you need to know about the Augusta Adventure Festival
The Augusta Adventure Festival is just weeks away. The popular multisport festival has always catered for mountain bikers in one way or another, be it a leg of an event, or having a team’s event where a mountain biker might do their thing for their team for the two-wheeled time on the trails. But now, […]
The Cape Epic route for 2019
The Cape Epic has released the route for 2019, and as you would expect from the world’s most high profile mountain bike stage race, it is really going to deliver a huge challenge for those who atake the start. With a prologue on the iconic slopes of Table Mountain’s National Park through to trails on […]
Equipment choices for MTB stage races
After finishing the recent Tour de Timor I have been giving my bike a post stage race overhaul. Going through my bike and all my personal equipment after many of these ‘adventure style’ stage races over the years has given me a deeper insight into appropriate equipment selection than I had before. By ‘adventure style’ […]
Who can win the 2018 XCM World Championship?
The 2018 UCI Cross-Country Marathon Mountain Bike Championship is upon us. And if you haven’t heard already – the start lists are intense. While we’ve already given our thoughts on the course, the question of who can win on it isn’t so simple. Firstly, you should go and read the entry lists on the UCI […]
2018 XCM World Championship course preview
Related Event: 3Epic
After the flat out marathon course in Singen for the 2017 UCI Cross-Country Marathon (XCM) World Championship, the course for the 2018 event is a completely different beast. The 3Epic race which hosts the Championship is a hilly course with sustained climbs and descents, taking in fast gravel roads, steep climbs, forest trails, a long […]
Have you met Ben May?
Words: Andrew Handyside. Photos: Melissa May The XCM World Championships are nearly upon us and, as any responsible national governing body would do, MTBA have named their athletes who will pull on the green and gold to represent us against the finest the world has to offer. As you know, kitting up for the lads […]
The Breck Epic: A Hero’s Proving Grounds
On October 13 2009 the Chinook Helicopter Juan Carlos Hernandez was sitting side gunner on was struck by a rocket propelled grenade. A routine nighttime mission over Afghanistan took a fateful turn as the floor beneath Hernandez burst with schrapnel from the rpg hit causing Hernandez to loose his right leg in a beneath-the-knee amputation. However […]
Preparing to take on Ironbike
Ironbike is one of the longest running and probably the most renowned mountain bike stage race in the calendar, for simply being the toughest. This year Ironbike celebrates 25 years of pitting man against mountain and despite its reputation for leaving riders broken, this race sells out every year with a significant waiting list. Held […]
Travel south for the Southern Peaks
Related Event: Southern Peaks - Southern MTB
A single day marathon requires travel, accommodation, and dedication to making sure everything goes right on the day. But thankfully there’s a new crop of events that are appearing, and growing in strength. 2-4 day mountain bike festivals are gaining favour as a way to use your weekend and maybe another day or two to […]