It’s a fair question: what bike should I take to the Crocodile Trophy? Unfortunately there isn’t a one word answer. Like any mountain bike stage race, the Crocodile Trophy has its own unique challenges. And each rider has their own unique requirements. But let’s break down the kind of choices to make, and what might […]
Bikes of the Crocodile Trophy: Mike Blewitt’s Norco Revolver 29 FS
The 23rd Crocodile Trophy finished last Saturday, and as usual it was a test of the support crew, riders and their bikes. The 8 day race takes in a huge variety of terrain with about 13000m of climbing and over 600km of racing. I have done the Crocodile Trophy 3 times before, so have a […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
REVIEWED: Norco Revolver FS 2016
Norco are as Canadian as maple syrup-covered Mounties. Starting out as a small family business in British Columbia in 1964, the company has been Canadian-owned and operated for over fifty years, and the people who work there these days maintain the family feel. Norco’s bikes are infused with passion for the mountains and lakes that […]
Bike Check: Imogen Smith’s Bianchi Methanol 29 FS
It wouldn’t be long ago that many would say to take a hardtail to the Crocodile Trophy. That’s not to say you can’t, or shouldn’t. But for the 20th Crocodile Trophy, this mountain bike race has more trails in it than ever before. And comfortable can be fast, especially over 9 days. Although Subaru-MarathonMTB racer […]