Australian Mountain Bike Issue 188

Putting together a mountain bike magazine seven times a year creates a little bit of forward thinking. While I’m writing this editorial in early March, I know that once this magazine goes on sale, we’ll have new National Champions in eMTB, Pump Track, Trials, Downhill and Cross-Country. I hope you liked the coverage that I’ll be putting online next week, in my current time. On the topic of time, there is no denying that some elements of mountain biking are accelerating forward in leaps and bounds. Trail design and bike capability is a key area, and that’s driving a lot of the new trails that are being built around Australia right now. We’ve got the tiniest of summaries on that in Fast Track, and in talking with cover star Ryan…

We’ve said it before, but let’s repeat it again anyway – when have mountain bikers ever had it so good? We can start by looking at how capable modern mountain bikes are, along with their reliability. But what really makes mountain biking so great currently is the variety and lengths of new mountain bike trails being developed around the country. We talked about this through winter last year, and progress isn’t slowing down. Here’s a look at a few places that are opening now, or later this year. We've got plans afoot to visit a couple of these locations in the coming months, to see if they're going to be everything we expect. WILD MERSEY, TASMANIA This one is exciting, especially for anyone in Melbourne. With trails just a short roll from Devonport…

If you’ve wanted more trails, or better trails in your area – are you doing anything about? In Brisbane, BORRA has been created for advocacy and change, to make a positive impact on the trails riders have, and the trails riders want. So we asked for some more details. What is BORRA anyway? The Brisbane Off-Road Riders Alliance (BORRA) is a voice for the mountain biking community of the Brisbane area. We advocate for the protection and maintenance of trails as environmental leaders, focused on sustainability through education & action. Can I follow BORRA’s progress? Yes! At borra.org, sign up there for a regular newsletter, or look us up on Facebook (BORRA). What are the main goals for BORRA? Mission - BORRA exists to give local off road cycling enthusiasts a voice for open, respectful communication…

CONVICT 100 One of the original mountain bike marathons in Australia is back in 2021, with three courses of 44, 68 or 100km. The routes start and finish at St Albans, at the historic pub by the river. The riding itself is primarily on fire trail, but anyone who has ridden on the Convict Trail will know that there’s plenty of kilometres of rocky trail with only one rideable line up, over and along the sandstone edges. Falling on May 1, you can expect brisk temperatures at the start, warmth when the sun pops through the inevitable inversion in the rocky valleys, and a laid back atmosphere at the end when riders order their food and drinks and wait for their mates to roll in. If you’ve never done the Convict,…

After a year with very few mountain bike events in the southern half of Australia, many riders have been cautiously entering events in the first part of 2021. Those who booked in for the Snowies MTB Festival at Lake Crackenback in the NSW Snowy Mountains were rewarded with three days of great trails and friendly, competitive racing. The overall format for the Wild Brumby and Brumby stage race at the Snowies MTB Festival changes a little from year to year, but they remain really diverse offerings. On the cards was a race up the Thredbo Valley Trail, a time trial, marathon stage and a time trail style stage down the whole Thredbo Valley Trail – from Friday Flat through to Gaden Trout Hatchery. The Brumby had some slightly shorter courses, but…

ELITE WOMEN Zoe Cuthbert Bec McConnell Em Viotto ELITE MEN Dan McConnell Jon Odams Ben Henderson 19-29 MEN Harrison Ware Mitchell Pope Michael Trimble 30-39 WOMEN Ruth Owen-Evans Anna Bruton Rhian Saunsbury 30-39 MEN Wills Brassil Dave Stewart Mark Mozejko 40-49 WOMEN Julia Chadburn Alexandra Gooch Angela Weston 40-49 MEN Adrian Hamilton Mark Oakey Bashier Wattad-Graeber 50-59 WOMEN Sharon Heap Tanya Clark Cathy Faye 50-59 MEN Mark Brockwell Les Heap Matthew Ludman 60+ WOMEN Annkathrin Franzmann Diane Farrar 60+ MEN John Henderson Ian Prosser Mak Moerman Full results are online at: in2adventure.com.au…