The Norco Revolver FS has been the bike of choice for the MarathonMTB.com Team since 2016. After we finished racing on Bianchi mountain bikes when they were no longer available in Australia, we needed a bike that climbed well, was light, and easy to service. The Norco Revolver 29 FS was all those things, with […]
Bike Check: Nino Schurter’s Scott Spark for the 2019 Cape Epic
Nino Schurter is lining up for his 6th Cape Epic, and after a less than ideal race in 2018, he will be out to make amends in 2019. A last minute change sees the flying Swiss racing with Lars Forster, not Andri Frischknecht. Andri was struggling with some health issues at the team camp in […]
FIRST RIDES: Scope O2 carbon MTB wheels
Not a week goes by without another carbon wheel option coming up – although this seems far more common in road cycling than in mountain biking. Still, the options are growing. And you know what? There are lots of really good options coming out. I have been really happy with wheels from Kappius, rims from […]
One year on Nextie NXT29AS30 carbon wheels
Last November we previewed the build of some Nextie NXT29AS30 rims that would be the new race wheels for MarathonMTB.com Team racer Imogen Smith. Having raced on NoTubes Valor rims for over three seasons, then spent some time on an earlier generation of 30mm Nextie rims, Imogen knew she wanted something wider than the Valors, […]
We test the Camelbak Octane 10 backpack
There is a lot to be said for having the right equipment. The trouble is, what is right for one event or purpose, isn’t always right for another. The Camelbak Chase Bike Vest has been really popular not just amongst our team of riders, but globally as well. The Chase Bike Vest is stable, can carry […]
New BikeYoke Divine SL Dropper weighs less than 350g
BikeYoke’s popular Revive dropper post runs reliably with a built in bleeding function, and they have had lots of requests for a shorter travel, reliable and superlight dropper post for the Marathon and XC riding and racing. BikeYoke did their homework, to figure out the exact demands for a short travel and light weight post. […]
First Look: EIE carbon A29C25D22S wheel build
You may not have heard of EIE Carbon, but chances are you will hear of them more in the future. They make a big range of rims, but what I was looking for in a rim needed to be something that hit the following numbers: internal width of 24-26mm Asymmetric for more even spoke tension […]
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, […]
REVIEWED: C Bear DUB Ceramic Bottom Bracket
This C Bear DUB bottom bracket review has been provided by Adam Cooper from Davy Sprocket. Davy Sprocket specialise in custom bike builds where the finest custom details are all part of the pleasure of the build. If you’ve been following SRAM’s announcements this year you’ll be aware of their DUB bottom bracket system. Designed […]