As a former road racer I have always been a fan of big miles on the bike for training. As a cycling coach now (Mind Matters Athlete Coaching) I still endorse the benefits of a solid endurance base that can only be strengthened through extended duration in the saddle. But how far is too far […]
Equipment choices for MTB stage races
After finishing the recent Tour de Timor I have been giving my bike a post stage race overhaul. Going through my bike and all my personal equipment after many of these ‘adventure style’ stage races over the years has given me a deeper insight into appropriate equipment selection than I had before. By ‘adventure style’ […]
Tour de Timor stage 4: Dramas for Vaz as Arnott takes stage!
Related Event: Tour de Timor 2018
Stage 4 lived up to its expectations as one of the toughest stages of this year’s tour. Without 1 significant, defining climb on the stage it was numerous climbs coupled with gnarly descents that tested all riders today. Overall race leader David Vaz was one rider who succumbed to troubles on one of the many […]
Tour de Timor stage 2: Riders get wet on tour’s shortest stage.
Related Event: Tour de Timor 2018
Tour de Timor stage 2 greeted riders with another early morning wake up call. Early starts are a trend in this race predominantly to allow riders to complete the bulk of racing before the brutal heat of the afternoon sun here. So the 7am start had some riders reaching for the arm warmers and undershirts […]
Stage set for 10th anniversary Tour de Timor
Related Event: Tour de Timor
Timor Leste in the Timor Sea north of Darwin, Australia lays claim to being one of the youngest country’s on the planet. Hence, hosting the 10th anniversary edition of the ‘Tour de Timor’ international MTB stage race is even more remarkable. Riders are now congregating in the nations capital Dili ready to start 5 days […]
Gravel or bust at the Michigan Coast to Coast
Related Event: Michigan Coast to Coast Gravel Grinder
The sport of a cycling used to be a reasonably straightforward and easy to follow sport. There was road racing with track and cyclocross being the winter alternatives. Also since the 1990s there has been mountain biking with usually either XC for the fitness oriented shaved leg variety of rider and downhill for the more […]
Johnston & Henderson take out AMB100 at Mt. Stromlo
The AMB100 has become a staple on the Australian XCM calendar, initially known for its extreme heat, today was to be an exception to the traditionally dry and hot conditions. A wintry change had hit Canberra on Friday evening dropping a few mm of rain, rare for Australia’s driest city. This left racers of the […]
5 things I have learnt from riding with Shimano Di2
There is no doubt electronic shifting has been one of the ground breaking innovations in the mountain bike industry over the past decade. I first had the pleasure of using this technology when it was brand new in 2012 on a road bike while racing in the USA. This was only available in Shimano Dura […]
The takeaway gifts from the Mongolia Bike Challenge
Related Event: Mongolia Bike Challenge
2017 was the eighth edition of the Mongolia Bike Challenge which has now established itself as a ‘bucket list’ race for international mountain bike stage racers. What makes this race so epic? And why do athletes travel from far and wide to compete in such an obscure and remote part of the world? Having completed […]
Mongolia Bike Challenge stages 3 & 4. Into the Wilderness!
Related Event: Mongolia Bike Challenge
Stages 3 and 4 of Mongolia Bike Challenge 2017 have now been run and won. With plenty of drama taking place over the past 2 days we now have a change in leadership for both the women’s and the men’s category. I last wrote reporting on the ‘queen stage’ of this year’s race, however now […]