Rocky Trail Entertainment have a vast array of events, and play a key role in others. Their Shimano MTB GP Series has helped plenty of riders get the taste for competitive events, and are a proving ground for endurance riders around New South Wales and the ACT. But their lap-based marathon race at Mt Stromlo, […]
The Off-season
The off-season can be paradoxical at times. One minute you’re glad to have some time off the bike to pursue other activities, like eating chocolate cake, and the next all you want to do is get back on the bike! After a long season skipping along to the, at times, monotonous beat of wake up […]
Perskindol Swiss Epic – the final push to Zermatt
Related Event: Perskindol Swiss Epic
While the Grand Tours might be lucky enough to have final stages as processions, in the world of mountain bike stage racing, there’s often quite a lot of racing left to do, and positions to decide. The 2015 Perskindol Swiss Epic was no exception, and across the Epic and the Flow race, many categories were […]
Perskindol Swiss Epic – on pulling out
Related Event: Perskindol Swiss Epic
So, right when Mike and I got comfortable with winning, here we are out of the race. Pulling out of a stage and the race was interesting in itself, and really brought home to us what’s great about the Perskindol Swiss Epic, and our partnership. I want to tell the story of what went on, […]
Perskindol Swiss Epic – Stage Four
Related Event: Perskindol Swiss Epic
Nothing hurts quite the same as watching a race from the sidelines. But the truth is that watching a race on the 5th day from the sidelines is a pretty sombre affair anyway. Despite the excellent trails, and the great accommodation and food, there were a lot of tired people in the start block today. […]
Perskindol Swiss Epic – Stage Three – back across the valley
Related Event: Perskindol Swiss Epic
The 4th day of a six day stage race, is well and truly the hump day. Starting in Leukerbad, the Perskindol Swiss Epic was set to descend down to the Rhone Valley, travel upstream towards Visp, and then ascend towards Grachen, via Visperterminen along a seemingly never ending climb, followed by a never ending descent […]
Perskindol Swiss Epic – Stage Two, Tour of Leukerbad
Related Event: Perskindol Swiss Epic
Whenever we get in a group of fast riders, challenging us, I always tell Mike that we have to ‘ride the wave, as long as we can’. We were feeling a little battle-worn when we finally turned out the lights last night. We’d had a very tough day: things had gone wrong, we’d both dipped […]
Perskindol Swiss Epic – Stage One, the Queen stage
Related Event: Perskindol Swiss Epic
Today the real racing started with a climb up to the iconic Croix de Coeur pass from Verbier, similar to the first ascent of the famous Grand Raid marathon race, but taken on some smaller and steeper roads. Mike and I enjoyed a call up to the front row, although we had to be beckoned […]
Perskindol Swiss Epic – Prologue
Related Event: Perskindol Swiss Epic
Stage races come and stage races go. Each promises something different: the Croc Trophy takes you to the wildest Australian outback. Transalp over the most magnificent passes. The Cape Epic offers the ultimate physical challenge. The Perskindol Swiss Epic has a lot going for it, but its point of difference, I’ve quickly realised, is quality. Everything, […]
National Park Bike Marathon 2015
Related Event: National Park Bike Marathon
Circumnavigating the beautiful Swiss National Park is the National Park Bike Marathon. Part of the hugely popular Swiss Bike Marathon Series, the NP marathon draws the best Swiss and international marathon stars to battle over the 137km course. The 4000m of climbing over the full course is made up of four main climbs that all […]