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 […]
Pro Bike Check: The Pivot LES of the Stan’s-Pivot Pro Team p/b Maxxis
The Pivot LES hardtail proves efficiency can be effective in a world of full-suspensions.
Bike Check: Nino Schurter’s Scott Scale from Albstadt
Did you miss the 2nd round of the World Cup in Albstadt? It was a muddy and intense race, but one where both current XCO World Champions came out on top. Jolanda Neff rode away from all her rivals winning over 2 minutes ahead of Yana Belamoina. In the men’s race Nino Schurter came back […]
Bikes of the Crocodile Trophy: Grant Webster’s Apollo Arctec 9
The Crocodile Trophy brings in a range of riders from around the globe. Everyone is there for their own reasons. Be it to finish their racing season, have a huge outback adventure, knock off a bucket list race – or test themselves against riders from home and abroad. In 2017, Grant Webster brought his Apollo […]
Bike Check: Jolanda Neff’s Kross Level
The Swiss mountain bike superstar Jolanda Neff has just won her first Elite Women’s XCO World Title, with a commanding display of technical ability, fitness and race tactics in Cairns, Australia. Although Neff won the XCM World Championships in 2016, this is her first elite title in XCO, which is her main discipline. She’s just […]
Bike Check: Lukas Fluckiger’s BMC Fourstroke and Teamelite
The 2017 World Cup season is about to start, and we caught up with the BMC team in April at a training camp, and looked over the two bikes that Swiss racer Lukas Fluckiger can choose for his races in 2017. BMC have a refined range, with the 100mm travel Fourstroke, and also the […]
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 […]
The 2017 Scott Scale – why the hardtail still lives
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 […]
Why The Hardtail Isn’t Dead
The Rise Of Full Suspension It’s the age-old question; “Should I get a hardtail or a dually?” Having worked in many bike shops over the years, this is without doubt one of the most common questions I’ve heard from mountain bikers who are in the market for a new XC bike. And it’s likely a […]
Bike Check: Rachel Fenton’s Open
Take a look at the Open hardtail that British racer Rachel Fenton will be piloting at the 2015 XCM World Championships. In contrast to professional racers who have access to a whole stable of bikes suited to particular courses, we privateers have to pick one bike to rule them all (unless we are lucky enough […]