In 2017 the Scale, Scott’s impressive range of lightweight hardtails, will again be available in both 27.5 and 29” wheel sizes. While the upper-mid end of the range, the 930/730 and the 935/735 carbon models will have plenty of interest for serious marathon and XCO racers, it’s the newer models at the top of […]
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 […]
Bike Check: Chris Pedder’s Open 1.1
Chris Pedder is a Brit (for the time being) mountain biker currently living in Luxembourg. When not investigating very small, very cold things in his day job as a theoretical physics researcher, he likes to daydream about mountain bike rides in proper mountains. Whilst Luxembourg doesn’t have many of those, it’s a lot closer to […]
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 […]
Rocky Mountain release the new Element
Related Event: BC Bike Race
Rocky Mountain Bicycles have released a new Element – their flagship XC full-suspension bike, sporting 120mm front travel and 100mm rear. The new frame design is the result of over two decades experience. The new Element has a more efficient suspension design, refined marathon geometry, Ride-9™ adjustability, and room for two bottles inside the front triangle – which […]
Bike Check: Anna Beck’s Rocky Mountain Element
Anna Beck is a Brisbane based mountain biker who packs a punch. With a full-schedule of life, she still manages to run a women’s MTB Team (Sol Breads-Cyclinic), coach a number of athletes, and race national level XCO and XCM, plus state level road. This year, Beck made it a goal to represent Australia at […]
Bike Check: Imogen Smith’s Norco Revolver 29 FS
We have taken a look at Imogen Smith’s team bike in the past, both in 2014 before the Crocodile Trophy, and then almost a year later before the Swiss Epic. While the Bianchi Methanol 29 FS frame and Stan’s NoTubes Valor wheels remained the same those times – in 2016 the whole Subaru-MarathonMTB.com Team are […]
The damage and repair of Imogen Smith’s Norco
Being able to repair a bike on the road, or on the trail, takes some luck, preparation and hopefully some calm thinking. A couple of weeks ago, I posted about the spare parts and tools that Imogen Smith and I would be taking to Europe for three races across France and Switzerland. The selection was […]
Scapin release new Oraklo 148
Scapin have been hard at work on their 29er race hardtail, and Oraklo 148 is ready for delivery. Born for maximum stability and precision steering, and designed for competition and ideal for marathons, the Oraklo 148 takes its name from the rear boost standard and its monocoque frame is made from Toray T800 carbon fibre. Aesthetically, […]
Nino Schurter’s new Scott bike
If you have been glued to RedBull Tv like many other mountain bikers, you will have noticed that cross country’s most exciting male racer is playing with a couple of new bikes. That’s right, although Nino Schurter helped pioneer the Scott Scale 700 and Spark 700 – it looks like he’s shifting to 29″ wheels […]