Episode 3 of The Atherton Project kicks off with a visit from pro trials biker and viral internet sensation Danny MacAskill, who takes the gang out for a spot of inspirational riding around Llanrhaeadr, much to the locals’ bemusement. Dan reflects on how post-injury he’s become so much more aware of the risks involved, and visits the dirt jumps that took him out of action last year still unsure if he’s properly over the crash.
Then it’s off to Fort William for one of the biggest races of the season, and Dan’s first proper race back in the saddle. Year after year, Fort Bill never disappoints, and the home crowd is always able to push the riders even harder – can the team overcome technical problems and secure podium places?
Atherton Project Season 3 Episode 3
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Thursday, June 23, 2011
2012 Orange Patriot Announced
The Patriot makes a return to the Orange Mountain Bikes lineup for 2012. Taking up a position between the Alpine 160 and 224, the new bike delivers 180mm of balanced single pivot suspension. The original was responsible for much of our direction in design, the 2012 bike more than lives up to the name…
The Patriot is for the mega pinner, the rider needing something different for how they hit the trails. A downhill bike too big and slow but six inches not capable enough? The Patriot provides the midpoint.
The new frame uses a monocoque top and down tube to maximise strength and stiffness but keep weight low. The 1.5” headtube houses a tapered fork, the perfect solution for fitting angle-adjust headsets and future proofing design. The low profile swingarm features the Maxle as standard with the maintenance-free pivot assembly keeping things tight. The single pivot setup is lowered for a more active suspension feel, plush but controlled, efficient on the pedals and light enough to earn your turns. Optimised for 180mm travel front and rear, the Patriot is a slack angled big mountain ripper.
The Patriot is where it all began, from the Animal Orange days through to Global Racing, the bike that influenced a whole generation of riders. See it as a UK downhill bike, a lightweight freeride bike or something to pedal around the Alps. The Patriot is bred tough, the only limits are your nerves…
The 2012 Patriot will be available as a complete build or frame only package. The standard bike retails at £2999.99 with a Fox Van RC shock, Marzocchi 66 RCV 180mm fork, Hope hubs, Avid Elixir brakes, Truvativ finishing kit and a RaceFace/Shimano transmission. The usual array of upgrade options will be offered including the Cane Creek Double Barrel, Hope Tech V2 brakes, RockShox Reverb seat post, Gammut chain device and new for 2012, the Renthal Fatboy bar and Duo stem.
Full spec details, pricing and all the available upgrade options will be added to the website on the July 1st launch date. Curious how it's meant to be ridden, take a look at Joe's testing video, it's all about data-logging and technology...
2012 Orange Patriot
The Patriot is for the mega pinner, the rider needing something different for how they hit the trails. A downhill bike too big and slow but six inches not capable enough? The Patriot provides the midpoint.
The new frame uses a monocoque top and down tube to maximise strength and stiffness but keep weight low. The 1.5” headtube houses a tapered fork, the perfect solution for fitting angle-adjust headsets and future proofing design. The low profile swingarm features the Maxle as standard with the maintenance-free pivot assembly keeping things tight. The single pivot setup is lowered for a more active suspension feel, plush but controlled, efficient on the pedals and light enough to earn your turns. Optimised for 180mm travel front and rear, the Patriot is a slack angled big mountain ripper.
The Patriot is where it all began, from the Animal Orange days through to Global Racing, the bike that influenced a whole generation of riders. See it as a UK downhill bike, a lightweight freeride bike or something to pedal around the Alps. The Patriot is bred tough, the only limits are your nerves…
The 2012 Patriot will be available as a complete build or frame only package. The standard bike retails at £2999.99 with a Fox Van RC shock, Marzocchi 66 RCV 180mm fork, Hope hubs, Avid Elixir brakes, Truvativ finishing kit and a RaceFace/Shimano transmission. The usual array of upgrade options will be offered including the Cane Creek Double Barrel, Hope Tech V2 brakes, RockShox Reverb seat post, Gammut chain device and new for 2012, the Renthal Fatboy bar and Duo stem.
Full spec details, pricing and all the available upgrade options will be added to the website on the July 1st launch date. Curious how it's meant to be ridden, take a look at Joe's testing video, it's all about data-logging and technology...
2012 Orange Patriot
Monday, June 13, 2011
2011 UCI WC 3 Leogang Downhill
The weather definitely played a role in the third round of the UCI Downhill World Cup presented by Shimano in Leogang, Austria, as sticky mud slowed times down from qualifying a day earlier.
However, the fastest riders proved that it didn't matter in the end as the top-seeded qualifiers in both the men’s and women’s competition went on to win the final. Floriane Pugin (Scott 11) took the first World Cup win of her career in the women's race, while Aaron Gwin (Trek World Racing) regained the lead in the men's series after taking his second win in three events.
Elite Women: Pugin puts a stop to Moseley’s winning streak
With her victory, the young French rider Pugin stopped World Cup leader Tracy Moseley's (Trek World Racing) winning streak at two: the British rider could only manage third. Rachel Atherton (Commençal) took second behind Pugin. Moseley still leads the World Cup standings with 660 points, followed by Pugin at 570 and Atherton - who missed the first round - at 410.
"It is hard to take in," a breathless Pugin said after her run. "I'm so happy. It was so hard in the pedalling section because it [the ground] was getting sticky and it was hard to carry speed through there, but I gave it my all. To win a World Cup was my main goal for this year, and now it is done!"
Elite Men: Gwin reclaims World Cup lead
Aaron Gwin reclaimed the men's World Cup lead from rival Greg Minnaar (Santa Cruz Syndicate) with a dominating performance. Gwin, winner of round one but who managed only fifth place in Fort William last week, qualified fastest. He went on to finish over two seconds ahead of Gee Atherton (Commençal) in the final. Minnaar finished nearly six seconds back in third place. Gwin, with 628 points, lies just 46 points in front of Minnaar, with two rounds remaining.
The leading time steadily decreased as the field of 81 riders worked its way down to the fastest qualifiers. Minnaar, the winner of round two, set the first sub-3:50 time with seven riders to go, and no one could match his time until the final two riders, the top two qualifiers, showed that they were a notch above everyone else on this day. Atherton came through the first split three seconds up on Minnaar and finished 3.608 seconds faster than the South African.
Atherton's time wouldn't prove to be enough for the win, unfortunately for the Brit, as Gwin, possibly still smarting from losing a week earlier after crashing while well in the lead, blew through every section of the course well ahead of his competition to score his second win in three races and recover the lead in the standings.
"It feels great to get that monkey off my back after last week's crash," commented Gwin. "I knew I had it in me, I just had to put it together. My run went good until it almost fell apart at the bottom ... I blew my feet out of the pedals and rode the last minute of the track without being clipped in, but managed to hold it together. The bike was working awesome, everything just sort of clicked. I'm just happy it all came together."
2011 WC 3 At Leogang
However, the fastest riders proved that it didn't matter in the end as the top-seeded qualifiers in both the men’s and women’s competition went on to win the final. Floriane Pugin (Scott 11) took the first World Cup win of her career in the women's race, while Aaron Gwin (Trek World Racing) regained the lead in the men's series after taking his second win in three events.
Elite Women: Pugin puts a stop to Moseley’s winning streak
With her victory, the young French rider Pugin stopped World Cup leader Tracy Moseley's (Trek World Racing) winning streak at two: the British rider could only manage third. Rachel Atherton (Commençal) took second behind Pugin. Moseley still leads the World Cup standings with 660 points, followed by Pugin at 570 and Atherton - who missed the first round - at 410.
"It is hard to take in," a breathless Pugin said after her run. "I'm so happy. It was so hard in the pedalling section because it [the ground] was getting sticky and it was hard to carry speed through there, but I gave it my all. To win a World Cup was my main goal for this year, and now it is done!"
Elite Men: Gwin reclaims World Cup lead
Aaron Gwin reclaimed the men's World Cup lead from rival Greg Minnaar (Santa Cruz Syndicate) with a dominating performance. Gwin, winner of round one but who managed only fifth place in Fort William last week, qualified fastest. He went on to finish over two seconds ahead of Gee Atherton (Commençal) in the final. Minnaar finished nearly six seconds back in third place. Gwin, with 628 points, lies just 46 points in front of Minnaar, with two rounds remaining.
The leading time steadily decreased as the field of 81 riders worked its way down to the fastest qualifiers. Minnaar, the winner of round two, set the first sub-3:50 time with seven riders to go, and no one could match his time until the final two riders, the top two qualifiers, showed that they were a notch above everyone else on this day. Atherton came through the first split three seconds up on Minnaar and finished 3.608 seconds faster than the South African.
Atherton's time wouldn't prove to be enough for the win, unfortunately for the Brit, as Gwin, possibly still smarting from losing a week earlier after crashing while well in the lead, blew through every section of the course well ahead of his competition to score his second win in three races and recover the lead in the standings.
"It feels great to get that monkey off my back after last week's crash," commented Gwin. "I knew I had it in me, I just had to put it together. My run went good until it almost fell apart at the bottom ... I blew my feet out of the pedals and rode the last minute of the track without being clipped in, but managed to hold it together. The bike was working awesome, everything just sort of clicked. I'm just happy it all came together."
2011 WC 3 At Leogang
Sunday, June 12, 2011
2011 Leogang World Cup 4X Results
Raced in rain and cold temperatures, the third round of the four-cross UCI Mountain Bike World Cup presented by Shimano in Leogang, Austria, produced some of the most exciting confrontations of the season so far. Romana Labounkova and Jared Graves (Yeit-Fox Shox) were the class of the field, taking the women's and men's titles respectively.
Labounkova, after missing the opening two rounds for BMX racing, proved her bronze medal at last year's World Xhampionships was no fluke. The Czech rider qualified first and easily won her first two races to advance to the final, with American Melissa Buhl (KHS) also qualifying from that half of the draw. Anneke Beerten (Milka-Trek), the winner of the first two rounds and World Cup leader, had a similarly easy path to the final after qualifying second. Swiss rider Lucia Oetjen was the final rider to make it to the medal race.
Elite Women: Fast start and clean run for Labounkova
Labounkova used her BMX speed to take the holeshot into the first corner and rode away for the win. Buhl just beat Beerten for the second spot into the first corner, and was able to hold off the Dutch rider through the rest of the 450 metre run to take second. Celine Gros (Morzine-Avoriaz/Haute-Savoie) took the fifth and final podium spot by winning the small final.
"I was fast in the gate, and that was the biggest part of my success," explained Labounkova. "After that, I just did a clean run, which was perfect."
Beerten continues to lead the overall standings, with 250 points to Oetjen's 130. Gros sits in third, ten points further back.
After a lapse of concentration last weekend in Fort William, Scotland, saw Graves miss the final, the Australian was eager to reassert his dominance on the men's field. He did so with authority in Leogang. Graves qualified first, and advanced through the first four rounds with ease, grabbing the holeshot in every heat, and extending his lead on every section of the course. Switzerland's David Graf continues to improve at every race, and joined Graves for the final from their half of the draw.
From the other half of the field, former World Cup Champion Michal Prokop was equally strong to advance, while World Champion Thomas Slavik (RSP 4 Cross) also qualified for the deciding race.
Elite Men: Graves in front from start to finish
In the final, it was Graves in the front from the start to the finish, while a tremendous battle was being fought behind him. Prokop grabbed second place into the first corner, but Graf made a daring move by taking a little-used second line through the middle of the course. His move paid off and allowed him to overtake Prokop for second, while Slavik did the same to take third. Round two winner Roger Rinderknecht won the small final for fifth.
"I had my worst race in about three years last week in Fort William, so to get the win back was exactly what I hoped for," commented Graves.
Graves now leads the men's standings with 300 points, 50 points ahead of Graf, while Rinderknecht and Prokop are tied at 100 points in arrears.
2011 UCI WC 3 4X Results
Labounkova, after missing the opening two rounds for BMX racing, proved her bronze medal at last year's World Xhampionships was no fluke. The Czech rider qualified first and easily won her first two races to advance to the final, with American Melissa Buhl (KHS) also qualifying from that half of the draw. Anneke Beerten (Milka-Trek), the winner of the first two rounds and World Cup leader, had a similarly easy path to the final after qualifying second. Swiss rider Lucia Oetjen was the final rider to make it to the medal race.
Elite Women: Fast start and clean run for Labounkova
Labounkova used her BMX speed to take the holeshot into the first corner and rode away for the win. Buhl just beat Beerten for the second spot into the first corner, and was able to hold off the Dutch rider through the rest of the 450 metre run to take second. Celine Gros (Morzine-Avoriaz/Haute-Savoie) took the fifth and final podium spot by winning the small final.
"I was fast in the gate, and that was the biggest part of my success," explained Labounkova. "After that, I just did a clean run, which was perfect."
Beerten continues to lead the overall standings, with 250 points to Oetjen's 130. Gros sits in third, ten points further back.
After a lapse of concentration last weekend in Fort William, Scotland, saw Graves miss the final, the Australian was eager to reassert his dominance on the men's field. He did so with authority in Leogang. Graves qualified first, and advanced through the first four rounds with ease, grabbing the holeshot in every heat, and extending his lead on every section of the course. Switzerland's David Graf continues to improve at every race, and joined Graves for the final from their half of the draw.
From the other half of the field, former World Cup Champion Michal Prokop was equally strong to advance, while World Champion Thomas Slavik (RSP 4 Cross) also qualified for the deciding race.
Elite Men: Graves in front from start to finish
In the final, it was Graves in the front from the start to the finish, while a tremendous battle was being fought behind him. Prokop grabbed second place into the first corner, but Graf made a daring move by taking a little-used second line through the middle of the course. His move paid off and allowed him to overtake Prokop for second, while Slavik did the same to take third. Round two winner Roger Rinderknecht won the small final for fifth.
"I had my worst race in about three years last week in Fort William, so to get the win back was exactly what I hoped for," commented Graves.
Graves now leads the men's standings with 300 points, 50 points ahead of Graf, while Rinderknecht and Prokop are tied at 100 points in arrears.
2011 UCI WC 3 4X Results
Monday, June 6, 2011
Trek WOrld Racing Is Top Team At 2011 Fort William UCI
Fort William is the absolute classic on the World Cup Downhill circuit and a race that all downhiller riders want to win. In winning for the fifth time at "The Fort", Tracy Moseley becomes the most successful Downhill rider ever in the decade long history of the venue. On top of that, her result along with Aaron Gwin and Justin Leov who both finished in the top 10, meant that Trek World Racing scored its first trophy for 2011 as Number 1 Team.
It was almost another story altogether with Aaron Gwin starting last in the men's field, as the fastest qualifier, leading by a massive 5 seconds with about 1 minute of racing to go, and clearly about to win by a large margin. A crash when his rear wheel got hooked up on a tree stump as he ran a little wide meant that he lost the 5 second margin, and a bit more, and finished 5th; the disappointment clearly evident on his face as he circled the finish arena while Greg Minnaar celebrated the victory.
Justin Leov was back in strong form with a 6th in qualifying, and a solid 8th in the race. His front tire lost pressure during the run and this affected his time a little, but generally he was very happy to be back in the top 10. Neko Mulally who qualified successfully on Saturday, was pushing hard for big points when his front wheel washed out on a sandy corner and he went down before he could get a foot out. He went down again on the next corner as he was still trying to get clipped back in.
2011 Fort William WC TWR Report
It was almost another story altogether with Aaron Gwin starting last in the men's field, as the fastest qualifier, leading by a massive 5 seconds with about 1 minute of racing to go, and clearly about to win by a large margin. A crash when his rear wheel got hooked up on a tree stump as he ran a little wide meant that he lost the 5 second margin, and a bit more, and finished 5th; the disappointment clearly evident on his face as he circled the finish arena while Greg Minnaar celebrated the victory.
Justin Leov was back in strong form with a 6th in qualifying, and a solid 8th in the race. His front tire lost pressure during the run and this affected his time a little, but generally he was very happy to be back in the top 10. Neko Mulally who qualified successfully on Saturday, was pushing hard for big points when his front wheel washed out on a sandy corner and he went down before he could get a foot out. He went down again on the next corner as he was still trying to get clipped back in.
2011 Fort William WC TWR Report
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