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 […]
What’s it like to race XCO World Champs? Imogen Smith reports on Lenzerheide
I may not be an XCO racer most of the time, and on paper my result was nothing to write home about, but unless I suddenly become a rockstar, nothing I do in my life will come close to the exhilaration of racing XCO World Championships in Lenzerheide. So what’s it like racing XCO World […]
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 […]
Travel south for the Southern Peaks
Related Event: Southern Peaks - Southern MTB
A single day marathon requires travel, accommodation, and dedication to making sure everything goes right on the day. But thankfully there’s a new crop of events that are appearing, and growing in strength. 2-4 day mountain bike festivals are gaining favour as a way to use your weekend and maybe another day or two to […]
Maxxis release the Rekon Race
Just as we’re getting some trail time on the Maxxis Rekon in a marathon friendly 29×2.25″ size, Maxxis have released the tyre we’ve seen the likes of Nino Schurter on for close to 12 months – the all-new Maxxis Rekon Race. While the Rekon has taller, ramped knobs and strong L-shaped edge knobs, the Rekon […]
Bike Check: Jolanda Neff’s Kross Earth
Jolanda Neff is one of the most exciting and dynamic riders in cross-country racing. She is the reigning XCO World Champion and won the XCM World Championships in 2016. Neff has also confirmed she will ride the Whaka 100 in New Zealand this October. Since riding for Kross Neff has been on a Kross Level hardtail, […]
Momsen’s new Vipa spotted at Cape Epic
The Cape Epic always turns up plenty of new gear. We already know that the Canyon Topeak Factory Team are riding on a new cross-country full-suspension bike. But the Imbuko-Momsen team of Dylan Rybello and Marco Joubert have been spotted on something different to the normal Vipa Race. Compared to the Vipa Race, this bike […]
How Nino Schurter sets up his Scott Spark for the Cape Epic
Related Event: ABSA Cape Epic
Now that the first round of the UCI World Cup in Stellenbosch is out of the way, many pro riders are finalising their preparation for the Cape Epic. With Nino Schurter and Matthias Stirnemann the reigning champions, there will be some pressure on the team to perform! Here’s a look at how the SCOTT-SRAM Team […]
National Championships Course Preview – Armidale
The Australian XCO season reaches its climax this weekend with National Championship racing at Armidale’s fast and rocky University of New England course. MarathonMTB.com got between the tape early to bring you a preview of what’s in store for riders vying for the green and gold. The course begins with a fairly standard, flat, out […]
Report: Imogen Smith at the 2018 Oceania Championships
I headed off to Oceania Champs on my own this year, a week after my 37th birthday. Last year was meant to be my last year racing XCO, but I had an accident and couldn’t, so this year I’m doing all the stuff I’d planned to before I hit the deck, making up for lost […]