Downhillnews

2012 Pro GRT Race Dates

2012-02-09T20:24:00.000-08:00

Colorado Springs, Colo. (February 9, 2012) —USA Cycling announced today the 2012 USA Cycling Professional Mountain Bike Gravity Tour (Pro GRT). In its fourth year, the series has expanded to six races and continues to raise the level of competitive gravity racing across the United States. As the country’s premier gravity calendar, the Pro GRT aims to provide a consistent stage of international-caliber events for elite gravity racers to showcase their downhill skills.
The nation’s top gravity racers will be looking to dethrone 2011 champions Cody Warren (Alpine, Calif./DRD X-Fusion Intense) and Jill Kintner (Ferndale, Wash./Transition Racing) as the downhill-only series visits five states from April to August.

The calendar will begin with a visit to Port Angeles, Wash., for the fourth consecutive year as the NW Cup will once again kick things off, this year April 26-29. The Mountain Creek Bike Park will play host to the calendar’s newest event, the Eastern States Cup in Mountain Creek, New Jersey, on May 20. The series will then head just up the road to Roxbury, N.Y., for Plattekill Mountain’s stop on the Eastern States Cup, May 27.

2012 Pro GRT Race Dates

Marzocchi Supports The MS/Mondraker Team

2012-02-07T08:08:00.001-08:00

Marzocchi is proud to announce their support of the MS Mondraker team for the 2012 season. The team’s DH athletes have been able to climb to the top of the world ranking list and are no strangers to the podiums of UCI World Cups and UCI World Championships. Team MS Mondraker will be riding our DH flagship, the 888 RC3 EVO TITANIUM and Roco RC World Cup rear suspension.

The team delivered a particularly impressive performance at the World Championships in Champery (SUI) last year. Emmeline Ragot climbed to the top of the podium at the most important event in the mountain bike world and now bears the title of World Champion. Damien Spagnolo only barely missed first place and is currently vice World Champion. At other races, the MS Mondraker team was definitely a force to be reckoned with as well: Brook MacDonald took three podium spots in the UCI World Cup circuit and Markus Pekoll is the crowned king of the iXS European DH cup.

2012 MS/Mondraker To Use Marzocchi Suspension

2012 Santa Cruz Syndicate Romolo Testing With Shimano And Fox

2012-02-02T20:38:00.000-08:00

SYNDICATE TEST SESSION WELCOMING
FOX AND SHIMANO!!

Early season testing started for the Santa Cruz Syndicate with mechanics, engineers and riders arriving in the town of Imperia, Italy, for three days of extensive testing aboard the latest Santa Cruz full carbon V-10s. The bikes were decked out with the Syndicate’s newest sponsor products from Fox and Shimano. The Syndicate’s choice to join forces with Shimano and Fox proved to be a great decision as the test session was incredibly successful.
“Testing was amazing, the most productive test session I have ever been to. Besides good riding and eating killer Italian food, our Syndicate family expanded with Fox and Shimano. I feel this was a great start to the year and I’m looking forward to more positive things to come in 2012,” said Greg Minnaar.
The testing took place on the long downhill racetrack in San Romolo with shuttle assistance from Roberto Vernassa from Argentina Bike. The five-man Fox crew was ready to gather information from suspension testing using their state of the art data acquisition equipment. Spirits were high as everyone got started off on the dark chilly mornings while the mechanics built a bonfire at the bottom of the track to stave off a bit of chill. Riders were warm and tingly inside with big grins after the first run.
“We were getting everyone up to speed on the new full carbon frame, Fox suspension, and Shimano components. With the frame being much lighter than the previous version we had to dial the suspension in because of less un-sprung weight. I’ve also been riding the new XTR brakes for some time now and can’t get over how impressive they are, particularly with modulation. Feedback from all the racers was what I was expecting, a new milestone in performance.” Says Rob Roskopp.

2012 Santa Cruz Syndicate Romolo Testing

2012 Hutchinson United Ride Team Announced

2012-02-01T17:02:00.001-08:00

Starting out as a conversation in the Morewood Bikes factory some years ago, the United Ride team was created and has come a long way since then. A diverse race team with riders hailing from France, South Africa and now Australia. For the 2012 season United Ride gains some great sponsors and continues to grow the team as we are proud to announce Hutchinson as our title sponsor and the signing of Mick and Tracey Hannah.
Mick Hannah is one of the most respected riders on the circuit known for his solid work ethic, toughness and training:
Mick Hannah
“I’m really excited to be joining with United Ride. We have very similar goals for the next 2 years and I feel like with the support of Morewood and Hutchinson and the great atmosphere within the team we can achieve all that we set out to do. I am also very excited about the opportunity to travel and race with Tracey. She is really focused right now and I think that together, along with the rest of the team, we will have a great season! Thanks very much to everyone that’s getting behind us! It’s going to be a great year!”

2012 Hutchinson/United Team

Santa Cruz Syndicate And SRAM Part Ways After 8 Years

2012-01-30T18:26:00.000-08:00

The Santa Cruz Syndicate and SRAM/RockShox brands have been synonymous with one another for 8 years, from the inception of the Syndicate in 2004 through 2011. It is with sadness and great respect that we are parting ways in 2012.

This has been an incredible journey, and the partnership has helped our racers achieve an impressive set of goals and dreams—2 UCI World Cup Downhill overall titles, 10 UCI World Cups wins by Greg Minnaar, 3 World Cup wins and a historic World Championship title by Steve Peat, and a Junior World Championship title by Josh Bryceland. These results were made possible using SRAM, Rockshox, Truvativ and Avid products, along with the world-class technical support of the SRAM team.

The Syndicate Team Thanks SRAM For 8 Years

2012 Troy Lee D3 Test

2012-01-27T16:49:00.000-08:00

The next generation of action sports protection, the brand new D3 Helmet is the pinnacle of style and safety. A technologically advanced Composite shell and titanium hardware gives the D3 a featherweight feel. 20 high-flow intake and exhaust ports, including a revolutionary injection-molded intake system, combine with new deeper EPS channeling to provide optimal ventilation.

It's been over 10 years since Troy first introduced the D2, and during that time TLD has accumulated valuable feedback from racers and customers, and studied the latest technology to design this helmet. TLD spent the last 3 years refining the design and improving the features that make this helmet unique.
The biggest improvements over other helmets are increased safety, with a thicker, more protective EPS, increased airflow with 20 vents, improved fit and comfort, and the most obvious feature, the distinctive futuristic styling.

The D3's EPS gains several millimeters of thickness in critical parts of the helmet, which greatly improved the impact testing results. The D3 also boasts a Dual Density Shock Pad System, a unique shock absorption system developed by strategically adding EVA padding to channels within the EPS. This system helps absorb smaller impacts and also greatly improves the helmet's comfort."

2012 TLD D3 Helmet Review

2012 IXS Downhill Cup Changes

2012-01-26T20:46:00.001-08:00

Already in its tenth year, the iXS Downhill Cup series has grown up and presents itself in a new look. Not only the logo has been redone, it also comes with a new online presence.

With the four series under the flag of iXS running for some years already, the layout of the cup had to be dusted off. This has been done with the design of a new logo and the redevelopment of the website. But it's not only the look that has changed, there are also changes within the series as well. The organizers have revised the time table at some stages, but most significant are the changes within the rules of the iXS European Downhill Cups.

2012 ixs Cup Changes And Schedule

Lezyne Partners With Team Norco International

2012-01-19T20:59:00.000-08:00

San Luis Obispo, CA – Lezyne is proud to announce a partnership with Jill Kintner and Bryn Atkinson of the newly formed Team Norco International for the 2012 season. Jill Kintner, an Olympic BMX Bronze Medalist, is one of the most dominant female cyclists in the world, and is ready to take on the 2012 race circuit in DH, 4X, and DS. Bryn Atkinson is a top downhill racer on the World Cup scene who has come up through the ranks along side some of the industry's best. Jill and Bryn are dedicated to toping the podium at every race they attend around the world.

Lezyne Teams Up With Norco International

2012 Nukeproof Complete Bikes

2012-01-19T20:51:00.000-08:00

New for 2012, Nukeproof complete bike builds based on our highly acclaimed framesets available in Comp & Pro build options!

Take to the Alps with the Nukeproof Mega AM Pro; built around our race proven Mega AM frame which has evolved from a prototype that placed highly in the 2009 Megavalanche event. The Mega Comp features a high end component spec that will offer high levels of performance in your local Enduro events yet be ready for the starting beeps when the Megavalnche rolls around!

Hrdroformed Double-Welded 6061 Aluminium Frame & RockShox Lyrik RC Fork
Our custom drawn hydrofoormed double-welded 6061 aluminium frame offers 150mm rear travel and designed to match with 150-170mm forks up front. The Mega is a versatile frame that combines plush descending prowess with pedalling efficiency. Utilizing our 'Erosion' linkage giving a smooth progressive action with a well controlled mid-stroke to avoid wallowing under pedal loads; suspension travel is controlled by the RockShox Monarch air shock. The main bearing pivots are contained within a bespoke CNC-machined Bottom Bracket Assembly to ensure alignment, durability and precision. An asymmetric chainstay design gives clearance for a double front derailleur (with a 22t-36t chainring set up) and compatibility with all leading models of ISCG-05 mounted chain retention systems.Geometry is based around a 66deg head angle and 75deg seat angle, with a BB height of 13.69” for climbing and descending prowess. A 44mm headtube standard keeps the front of the bike light, with Nukeproof headset options allowing all fork steerer option compatibility.
A RockShox Lyrik RC2 DH fork presents a new level of performance for AM assaults with a balanced 160mm of infinitely adjustable air sprung travel. The Maxle Lite 20mm thru axle will provide positive tracking on the roughest rock strewn descents and increases front end stiffness and braking performance.

SRAM Pro Groupset
The Snap Pro features a full SRAM groupset. Shifting is taken care of with SRAM X7/X9 shifters and derailleur’s to deliver flawless performance and crisp gear shifts. The SRAM X0 2x10 chainset is at the heart of the transmission and when paired with the 11-36t cassette provides the perfect blend of lightweight performance with a gear ratio that will make short work of the steepest ascents!
The RockShox Reverb seatpost is a revelation in terms of increasing your enjoyment. With a simple flick of the bar mounted remote lever you can drop the saddle height for increased standover clearance for descending and at the flick of a switch raise it again for climbing increasing the bikes race ready credentials.
Avid X0 hydraulic disc brakes are paired up with 180mm rotors front and rear providing powerful, fade free braking in any conditions.
Nukeproof Finishing Kit
Finishing kit is our own tried and tested Warhead series of components. Our Generator Race wheelset combine low weight in a bombproof build for all-day epics. Steering is precise and sharp with our Warhead 760 riser bars and Warhead stem combination with our lock-on grips ensuring you never come un-stuck! Our Warhead plasma “Mega” edition saddle completes the build adding unique style.

Specifications
•Frame: Hydroformed Double-Welded 6061 Aluminium Single Pivot Design Featuring Erosion Linkage Driven Suspension, 150mm Travel
•Rear Shock: RockShox Monarch
•Forks: RockShox Lyrik RC2 DH SoloAir, 160mm Travel, Tapered Steerer, Maxle Lite 20mm Axle
•Handlebars: Nukeproof Warhead 760 Riser Bar, 25mm Rise
•Stem: Nukeproof Warhead, 60mm
•Grips: Nukeproof Lock-On
•Headset: Nukeproof 44IETS
•Chainset: SRAM X0 DH GXP, 34t, 170mm
•Chainguide: Truvativ X0 ISCG05, 36-40t Black
•Chain: SRAM PC-1071
•Cassette: SRAM PG-1070, 11-36t, 10-Speed
•Shifter: SRAM X0
•Rear Derailleur: SRAM X0
•Brakes: Avid X0, 180mm Rotors
•Saddle: Nukeproof Plasma Mega
•Seatpost: RockShox Reverb
•Tyres: Maxxis High Roller Tubeless Front & Rear 26” x 2.35” MaxxPro 60a
•Wheelset: Nukeproof Generator Race, Thru Axle 110mm-20mm/135mm-12mm
•Weight: 13.7kg (Medium)
2012 Nukeproof Bikes Announced

Lars N Bars Episode 3

2012-01-19T20:49:00.000-08:00

Transition Bikes employee and pro rider Lars Sternberg welcomes guest rider Matt Slaven for some amazing January weather in the Northwest in search of the path least traveled. Their goal was to find super technical all mountain terrain that most mountain bikers wouldn't think of riding. Lars also welcomes professional photographer Tim Zimmerman along as they try to capture images for a Dakine ad.

Lars N Bars Episode 3

Specialized Butcher Tire Test

2012-01-19T20:46:00.000-08:00

Specialized have been making bikes for decades now. They have slowly begun to produce their own parts and accessories for bicycles as well. With the demands of the UCI World Cup Circuit and having a strong team of riders to help them Specialized began developing Downhill oriented tires. 2010 saw the release of the Specialized Butcher Tire.

Features

Casing: 60 TPI, dual ply
Compound: Base 70a / Top 42a
Bead: Wire
Pinch Protection: Butyl inserts at bead
26" x 2.3; psi 25-50; approx. weight 1250g
26" x 2.5; psi 25-50; approx. weight 1260g

Specialized Butcher Tires

GT Bikes And Atherton Racing Join Forces

2012-01-10T06:26:00.000-08:00

Atherton Racing is proud to announce its partnership with GT Bicycles. Beginning in 2012, the mountain bike race team of Dan, Gee, and Rachel Atherton, will join non-family GT rider Marc Beaumont and form the new team GT Factory Racing.

“Atherton Racing is one of the most progressive teams in the history of mountain biking, and is known for taking the sport to the next level,” said Mark Peterman, Global General Manager GT Bicycles. “We’re excited about the partnership because it both continues GT’s legacy as the brand that helps progressive riders push their limits, and because of the opportunities it presents to develop new products.”

Athertons Join GT

Jill Kitner And Bryan Atkinson Join Norco World Team

2012-01-04T20:13:00.000-08:00

Vancouver, BC – January 4, 2012 – Norco Bicycles Welcomes Jill Kintner and Bryn Atkinson to Norco World Team

Norco Bicycles has partnered with Jill Kintner and Bryn Atkinson, as title sponsor, to re-launch the Norco World Team. For 2012 the team will racing the downhill race scene aboard the newly designed AURUM downhill bike. Bryn and Jill are dedicated to reaching podium positions at every race they attend and representing Norco on the world stage.

Jill Kintner is one of the most successful female cyclists to compete on two wheels. With a collection of titles in BMX, 4x, slalom and downhill that spans from an Olympic medal, to world titles in 4x, and multiple national championships in all 4 disciplines she is a dominant figure on the race circuit. She finished 9th place overall for 2011 in her first year of World Cup downhill, and for 2012 is looking to come back with vengeance and best this result.

“With a new trainer and new bikes, we are now running a program with a fantastic list of sponsors; it feels like everything is clicking into place! The new Norco bikes have an incredible feel; I especially notice with the shorter rear end a difference in my balance point and turning ability thanks to the Aurum’s GRAVITY TUNE. These bikes are really well designed, and I am honored to be a part of the Norco family.” – Jill

2012 Norco World Team

2012 TWR Race Team

2011-12-13T06:04:00.001-08:00

Trek World Racing announces its roster for 2012, returning once again with an impressive line-up of Cross Country and Downhill riders ready to take on the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup, World Championships, Olympics and a selected set of major events including Crankworx in Whistler, the Sea Otter Classic and the Sunshine Cup in Cyprus.

DH: As the number 1 Downhill team in the world this year, Trek World Racing will return with 3 elite men, namely Aaron Gwin (USA), Justin Leov (NZL) and Neko Mulally (USA). The 3 Downhill men will be aboard their Trek Session 9.9 carbon bikes and racing the full World Cup along with a number of MTB Grand Prix events in the US, Sea Otter Classic, Crankworx in Whistler, and other selected events.

Also new for the team in 2012 is the hiring of 2000 World Downhill Champion, Myles Rockwell, as a rider liaison assisting the riders with their training, strategy and racing at the World Cups and Worlds.

Tracy Moseley successfully raced for the program for last 3 years, taking 18 World Cup podiums (including 6 wins), the World Championship Title in 2010, and the World Cup title in 2011, however she has decided to take her career in a different direction in 2012. T-MO will be making her own announcement.

2012 Trek World Racing Updates

Brendan Fairclough Signs With Scott 11

2011-11-29T08:12:00.001-08:00

Following the wrap up of yet another amazing season of Downhill racing, a number of interesting rumors involving Claudio’s 11, Swiss cheese, pump tracks, and Brendan Fairclough’s next move have been circulating online. SCOTT Sports is delighted to put an end to the speculation and to proudly welcome professional DH racer, and all round pinner, Brendan Fairclough to the Scott11 team.

Brendan is widely recognized as one of the most well rounded riders on the DH circuit with a unique style that has captivated and inspired his many fans. Whether he is racing competitions or ripping with friends, his natural ability and bike control make him one of the most exciting riders to watch. Brendan is a regular top ten rider with an impressive 4th place finish at the recent 2011 Champéry World Championships, despite a torn ACL, and has featured in multiple highly acclaimed mountain bike films such as Clay Porter’s 3 Minute Gaps and Anthill Films’ Follow Me. Now, after having undergone reconstructive knee surgery, Brendan is ready to come back next season to continue working with top bike film producers and to take on the UCI World Cup DH series with a new knee and a new bike.

SCOTT Sports and the SCOTT11 team will give Brendan the opportunity to take his racing to the next level by providing him with unparalleled support and the finest equipment to reach his goals. Brendan will also play an instrumental role in developing and testing SCOTT products including SCOTT’s Gambler and Voltage FR bikes.

Fairclough Rides Scott

Stund Seroes 3 Episode 6 The Best Of Stund

2011-11-22T08:08:00.001-08:00

For those of you who have been following STUND this year and the past 2 season you all know what this show is about. Mountain Biking Lifestyle. That says a lot actually. We live and breath what we do in our lives and when you give that much of your life to a sport in the way which we do, it becomes your life. The Best Of STUND is a chapter in each of our lives. There's no doubt that each year we leave a legacy behind with this show. The time, energy, sacrifice and finances that each member of our crew gives to make this show can not be fully understood by anyone. We do this for the love, and we think that's why everyone should be in this industry.The fat has been chewed and left nothing but the lean cuts for one last sender of an episode. Ladies and Gentlemen... The BEST OF STUND!Thanks to all for watching, this show is for the viewers because you make it all possible. A huge shout-out to all the sites that broadcasted the show, our sponsors for taking the chance on our dream and most importantly the riders and crew of this show. You are our most valuable assets. From all of us with stund, thank you for the support!Enough talk, lets ride!

The Best Of Stund

Brook MacDonald Signs With 23 Degrees

2011-11-18T08:14:00.001-08:00

23 Degrees Sports Management announced today that it has finalized an agreement to represent 2009 Junior World Champion and World Number 6, Brook MacDonald of Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. After an impressive 2011 that included 3 World Cup podiums and an overall 6th place in the series, Brook who turns 20 next week, has a big future ahead of him.

Brook had this to say: "Next year is a really important year for me. I want to build on the experience I gained this year and chase down my goals of being one of the top Downhillers on the circuit next year and hopefully gain a medal at the World Champi onships. To be honest, I struggle a bit with the admin and paper work side of the sport and just want to focus on my training and racing. I’ve seen what Martin and 23 Degrees has done for Sam (Blenkinsop) and other riders, and so I asked him to help me out with my career. I’m looking forward to it.”

Brook MacDonald Signs With 23 Degrees

No 4x For UCI

2011-09-23T06:20:00.000-07:00

"Following the publication of the 2012 Mountain Bike calendar, the UCI confirms that Four-cross events will form part of the programme of the 2012 UCI Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships to be held in Leogang, Austria.

However, due to the high costs of constructing tracks and their impact on the environment, the UCI has decided to withdraw this speciality from the programme of events at UCI Mountain Bike World Cups from next season."

UCI Announces No 4X For 2012

Zerodeusa Launches Website

2011-09-21T22:43:00.000-07:00

Zerode bikes have arrived in the USA. Check out the new site that has launched here.

Gearbox
“As mountain bikers we love riding in all sorts of conditions. Mud, sand, dust, dirt in all forms gets all over our gears and moving parts wearing them out and hindering their performance.We all know the feeling of skipping gears. Many of us are scared for life by derailleur malfunction. Whether it is caused by bashing your expensive derailleur on a rock or all of those little pivots wearing out the result is the same, poor shifting, no confidence and a riding experience that is less than desirable. The Zerode gearbox never misses a gear, ever!The shifts are seamless under full load, at a full stop, up or down & amp; even if your bike is caked in mud. Your Chain will last for years not months because they aren’t tortured into climbing up and down clusters and the Gearbox itself is a sealed self contained unit that requires almost no maintenance. You will never drop a chain because the gearbox allows a fool poof chain guide to be built into the frame.We put a lot of testing into selecting our gearbox and after thousands of downhill runs and trails rides on the same unit we are confident we\’ve made the right choice and sure you’ll agree.To date we have known Gearboxes as heavy and draggy making the bike feel sluggish and hard to pedal. The Zerode Gearbox weighs about the same as the parts it replaces ( cluster, derailleur, chain guide or chain rings and front derailleur for XC bikes. Gearbox drag is a non issue, the efficiency of the gearbox means the drive chain feels similar to a standard derailleur system.Once again very real improvements in your bikes performance have been made through Zerode’s redesign of the mountain bike frame from the ground up. This truly is the future of mountain biking.”zerodeusa.com

Stund Episode 3

2011-09-19T07:51:00.000-07:00

It's been a season in the making. STUND Visions - Mountain Biking's first online series started back in 2006. Before the industry knew where things would be going, STUND made a move more than 5 years ago and took a chance on creating the first ever series to exclusively air on the web. Since then we've had 2 seasons under our belt and are now proud to expose our 3rd and best season yet. All free, all for you lovers of mountain biking everywhere. Finally after all the emails, comments, questions, and anticipation, we can honestly answer you, YES! Season 3 is coming.

We threw it all on the table this year and were determined to make this the best season of all. Setting up cable cams, flying around scouting lines, building trails, and exploring as much as we could. With the same amazing and talented riders from season 2; James Doerfling, Steve Romaniuk, Garett Beuhler, and Mike Kinrade, This Season of STUND is set to be the best yet.

Thanks to sites like BigBike taking the chance with hosting the show, STUND has grown to have a total viewer impression of 1.7 million views over the past 2 seasons! it's been an amazing ride for us and we're stoked to bring you this next installment. Last but not least a huge thanks to our sponsors! Please. Support the companies that support us. They share our vision!

Stund Episode 3

2011 UCI 4X World Champs Crowned In CHampery

2011-09-03T06:42:00.000-07:00

Champéry was packed out this evening to watch a spectacular show of four-cross which was raced in ideal conditions on the third day of competition at the UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships.
The fans in the Swiss resort became increasingly vocal as the rounds progressed, creating an electric atmosphere as the finals approached.

Prokop NAd Beerten Are The 2011 4X World Champs

TWR In Pursuit Victorious In Val Di Sole

2011-08-30T23:41:00.001-07:00

On the eve of the World Championships this weekend, the latest instalment of the In Pursuit series from Trek World Racing has been released today. Entitled "Victorious In Val Di Sole" it follows the downhill riders in Italy for the final round of the UCI Downhill Mountain Bike World Cup. Watch as Tracy Moseley has an anxious day for the finals, ultimately winning the overall World Cup, and as Aaron Gwin takes his 5th win of the season, a new record! Winning the men's and women's DH Overall, and ending up the number 1 ranked team, it's a season to remember for Trek World Rcaing.
TWR In Pursuit From Val Di Sole

Cody Warren Wins 2011 Pro GRT Series

2011-08-30T16:52:00.000-07:00

X-Fusion is proud to announce the winning of the Pro GRT DH title by our very own, Cody Warren (DRD X-Fusion Intense). On Saturday August 27th, Cody took 2nd place at Northstar Pro GRT #5 securing his overall position in the series. That date just also happened to be Cody’s 26th birthday. Working with Cody in 2011 has been a great experience and has lead to not only good results on the racetrack, but also to advancements with our product development. We at X-Fusion could not imagine having the same success without Cody and the rest of the team.

2011 Pro GRT Overall Leader

2011 UCI Worl Champs In Champery

2011-08-30T08:35:00.000-07:00

The world’s best mountain bike and trials specialists will converge on the Swiss resort of Champéry next week for the 2011 UCI Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships. Some 840 athletes from 49 countries have entered for the mountain bike races, which will see nearly all the big names that have dominated the season so far battle it out for the ultimate glory: the World Champion’s rainbow jersey.

Five of the six 2010 Elite World Champions (four-cross, cross-country and downhill Men and Women) will defend their titles during the Championships, which run from August 31st to September 4th.

Four-cross: Several Czech athletes among the favourites

Only Australia’s Caroline Buchanan, 2010 four-cross World Champion, is missing from the line-up. However last year’s silver medallist Jana Horakova (CZE) will be looking for gold as will Anneke Beerten (NED) who dominated the UCI World Cup this year with four wins in five events. Melissa Buhl (USA) and Lucia Oetjen (SUI), who finished 2nd and 3rd respectively in the World Cup will also be present in Champéry.

In 2010, the Czechs made a big impression in the men’s four-cross competition with two medals: Tomas Slavik (gold) and Michal Prokop (bronze). Both will be in the starting blocks next week, as will Australia’s Jared Graves, silver medallist at last year’s Worlds in Mont-Sainte-Anne and winner of the 2011 World Cup.

2011 World Champs In Champery

The Atherton Project Season 3 Episode 7

2011-08-26T18:12:00.000-07:00

Episode 7 of The Atherton Project begins in Windham for round 5 of the World Cup with the team feeling the pressure for points following the disappointment of the last round especially for Gee, if he’s to retain his title this season. Then it’s on to Whistler for the Crankworx event, a good chance to get away from the World Cup and have some fun, whether it’s judging the Miss Trail Bunny competition or working on some backflips in a foam pit.

Atherton Project Season 3 Episode 7

2011 UCI WC Finals Val Di Sole With Factory Giant Off-Road Team

2011-08-24T06:17:00.000-07:00

Filmmakers Clay Porter and John Lawlor have been following the Giant Factory Off-Road Team throughout the 2011 World Cup downhill series. The August 20-21 finals (Round #7) brought the team to Val Di Sole, Italy, to race one of the most difficult, roughest and steepest tracks on the circuit.

The team was coming in with some momentum — both Danny Hart and Andrew Neethling were looking to repeat their great performances from 2010 on this track and climb up the overall points standings.

Duncan Riffle suffered some bad luck, crashing in qualifying, but Danny wowed the crowd with his all-or-nothing approach as both he and Andrew finished the season strong.
Factory Giant At 2011 Val Di Sole

Trek World Racing At The 2011 UCI WC 7

2011-08-22T17:26:00.000-07:00

In an incredible end to an amazing season for Trek World Racing, here in Val Di Sole Italy, Tracy Moseley clinched the World Cup title and Aaron Gwin became the only man in history to win 5 Downhill World Cups in one season. It's also the first time in the history of the World Cup that a team has won both the Men's and Women's World Cup overalls in Downhill. To top off the great season, Trek World Racing ended up the number 1 ranked team.

The conditions for the World Cup finals were extremely difficult. The heat had dried out the super steep course and holes were filling with super fine powder. The lack of let up in the track made for a very difficult final quarter of racing as riders became very fatigued with arm pump, and the race was fully of spectacular crashes and saves. Neko Mulally was one of the riders that fell victim to the track conditions, crashing just after the first split, but ended up his season as 3rd junior overall.

Justin Leov, who missed the entire first day of training due to a visit to the hospital to check on a neck injury, managed to find most of his speed by the finals, and moved up from 25th in qualifying to 12th on race day, finishing 9th overall for the year, his 3rd top 10 career overall.

TWR At Val Di Sole 2011 WC

2011 UCI WC Finals Val Di Sole 4X

2011-08-22T06:04:00.000-07:00

The overall titles may have been decided going into the final round of the UCI Four-Cross World Cup presented by Shimano, but there was still intense competition for victory in Val di Sole, Italy, at one of the best attended events of the season. World Champion Tomas Slavik (RSP 4 Cross) beat World Cup champion Jared Graves (Yeti Fox Shox) in the men's competition, while Anneke Beerten (Milka-Trek) confirmed her status as top woman in the sport by taking her fourth win of the season.

The 16 women who qualified were whittled down to four, for the final: Beerten, Switzerland's Lucia Oetjen, Melissa Buhl of the United States and Celine Gros (Morzine-Avoriaz/Haute-Savoie). Beerten, who had dominated each of her heats on the way to final easily took the win, followed by Oetjen and Buhl. Steffi Marth of Germany won the small final for fifth.

"It has been amazing," said Beerten. "It was hard to keep focus, when you already have the title in the bag, but I said to myself 'this is just a race', and I wanted to win it as well. I like this track and I could step it up on the Pro Line." [She was only woman to ride it]

The men's competition saw a number of crashes on the way to selecting the final four riders. Joining Slavik and Graves in the final were Czech rider Kamil Tatarkovic and Johannes Fischbach (Ghost Factory). Graves got off to his usual fast start, with Slavik trailing well back in fourth. At the bottom of the course Slavik made the move of the day, cutting inside a corner to jump into the lead and win. Fischbach took second after Graves tangled with Tatarkovic and finished fourth.

"What I was aiming for this whole season and last was second, third or something, but now it is first," stated Slavik. "That was a fantastic run, I think the run of my life ... the World Championship [last year] and this one. From last position to get a first on a final of a World Cup. It's just insane, and I am super stoked. It helps to win just before a World Championship, with your mental state. You know you can win, it gives a lot of confidence. Hopefully, let's see what happens in Champery."

Beerten took her fourth title with an almost perfect score of 450 points, followed by Buhl with 240, Oetjen at 225, Gros at 190 and Fionn Griffiths (Team GR) with 135 points. In the men's competition, Graves finished with 485 points to win his third title, followed by Swiss rider Roger Rinderknecht at 300, Slavik at 283, Switzerland's David Graf at 250 and Michal Prokop of the Czech Republic also at 250 points. Rinderknecht, Graf and Prokop all missed the final to compete at the Olympic BMX test event in London.

2011 UCI WC Finals Val Di Sole 4X

2011 UCI WC Finals Val Di Sole Downhill

2011-08-22T06:03:00.000-07:00

The 2011 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup presented by Shimano concluded on Sunday in Val di Sole, Italy, with the crowd favourite Downhill. Myriam Nicole (Riding Addiction Commencal) took her first ever World Cup victory in the women's race, while Aaron Gwin (Trek World Racing) took a record fifth victory in a single season in the men's competition. Gwin had already locked up the men's title in the previous round, and his team mate Tracy Moseley held off a tight challenge from Floriane Pugin (Scott 11) to win the women's.

Moseley was playing it safe, knowing that she only needed a top-seven to win the title, and not wanting to crash, slotted in behind Emmeline Ragot (Team GR). Rachel Atherton (Commencal), went third from last and took the lead below four minutes with a time of 3:54.405, however, Nicole came through right after, 2.2 seconds faster, which proved to be the winning run. Pugin, the fastest qualifier, and second in the World Cup standings, rode last, but finished eight-tenths of a second behind Nicole for second.

"I don't believe it," Nicole said after her run, "maybe I will realize tonight. I didn't have a clean run, but I was all out on this track. I did not want to crash on the top, it was real hard and my hands hurt already. Near the finish I was [saying] "come on", and I did it."

Moseley agreed that she was nervous before her run, "I wanted to race hard for the win, but when I hit the first [technical] section, I realized that I needed to play it safe and not take any chances. This has been an incredible season, a dream season, coming towards the end of my career."

Moseley won the overall title with 1465 points and four individual victories in seven races. Pugin finished with 1390 points, one win and four seconds, followed by Atherton with 115 points, Nicole with 929 points and Jonnier with 889 points.

Greg Minnaar (Santa Cruz Syndicate) set a time of 3:17.329 with 20 riders to go, which remained the leading time until Cameron Cole (Lapierre), 11th from the end, knocked off eight-tenths of a second.

Cole remained in the lead as the top-ten counted down, but Gee Atherton (Commencal), the World Champion on this course in 2008, came in two seconds faster, with three riders remaining. Junior World Cup leader Troy Brosnan (Monster Energy/Specialized/Mad Catz) slotted in just behind Atherton, before Danny Hart (Giant) finished three seconds ahead to take the lead, the first to go faster than Gwin's qualifying time.

Steve Smith (Devinci) was supposed to race next, as the second fastest qualifier, but he had crashed in training earlier in the day, injuring his ankle and knee, and had to watch from the sidelines. It was up to Gwin and, as he has shown all season, he is in a class of his own this year. Fastest through both splits, Gwin came in 1.232 seconds up on Hart to confirm that he is the number one downhiller in the world.

"I am just really happy," stated Gwin. "It was an important race for me. I struggled here last year with a crash and felt good this week, but it was rough, it was definitely a challenge. I don't know, the top part went pretty good, I felt like I was on a good run. So I just tried to be smooth at the bottom. I went a bit slower than I would have liked to at the bottom. I am just so happy. I want to thank all the fans and sponsors and everybody. It has been an awesome year. Could not have done it without you all."

Gwin finishes the season with 1558 points, five wins, a third and a fourth. Minnaar, with two wins this season, hung on for second with 1093 points, ahead of Atherton at 1009. Danny Hart jumped over Steve Smith to take fourth, while Smith hung onto the final podium spot.

2011 UCI WC Finals Val Di Sole Downhill

2011 UCI WC Finals Val Di SOle 4X Results

2011-08-20T22:25:00.000-07:00

Check out the full results for the 2011 WC Round 7.

2011 UCI WC 7 4X Results

2011 UCI World Cup 7 Val Di Sole

2011-08-20T22:22:00.000-07:00

The 2011 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup presented by Shimano concludes this weekend in Val di Sole, Italy, with all three disciplines coming together for the final round. While a number of titles have already been mathematically won, there will still be intense competition for individual victory in this final lead up to the World Championships in ten days time. Val di Sole has attracted more than 900 participants from 43 nations, making it the best attended World Cup in history.

Four-Cross

Jared Graves (Yeti-Fox Shox) wrapped up the men's title in round four, in Mont Ste Anne, Canada, however, there is still a three-way battle for second place in the overall standings between Swiss riders Roger Rinderknecht and David Graf, plus former World Champion Michal Prokop from the Czech Republic, all of whom are separated by 50 points. There are at least five other riders also in contention for a top-five in the final overall standings, depending on the outcome here in Val di Sole, so expect some very aggressive racing.

In the Women's series, Anneke Beerten (Milka Trek) has successfully defended her World Cup title, with an insurmountable lead of 160 points over second place Melissa Buhl of the United States. Buhl could still be bumped out of second by Switzerland's Lucia Oetjen or Celine Gros (Team Morzine-Avoriaz/Haute-Savoie), and there are a total of seven riders who could still make the final podium for the overall standings.

Cross-Country

Last weekend, at round six in Nove Mesto na Morave, Czech Republic, the defending World Cup Champion, Catharine Pendrel (Luna) cut into the points lead of World Cup leader Julie Bresset (BH-Suntour-Peisey Vallandry) by taking her second victory of the season. Bresset still leads Pendrel by a significant 140 point margin, but this battle is not over, and a bad day for Bresset could see an upset in the final round. Behind the two leaders there is a cluster of riders who are fighting for the three remaining top-five spots in the standings. Irina Kalentieva (Topeak Ergon) and Marie-Helene Premont (Maxxis-Rocky Mountain) are separated by ten points only in the battle for third, with four riders having a real potential to take the fifth and final spot on the podium.

Jaroslav Kulhavy (Specialized) became the men's cross-country World Cup Champion last week after taking his fourth win of the season before a very enthusiastic home crowd, while Nino Scurter (Scott-Swisspower) also wrapped up second place in the final standings. The battle for third, fourth and fifth is much tighter, with Julien Absalon (Orbea) facing competition from Maxime Marotte (BH-Suntour-Peisey Vallandry), World Champion Jose Hermida (Multivan Merida) and Burry Stander (Specialized) for third. In total, there are seven riders vying for the final three spots in the overall standings.

Downhill

World Champion Tracy Moseley (Trek World Racing) holds a commanding 150 point lead over second place Floriane Pugin (Scott 11) going into this final round, but in the downhill discipline, one mechanical or crash could change things drastically. While these two battle for the title, Rachel Atherton (Commencal) - who has only the slimmest of chances to move into second - will have to fend off challenges to her third place ranking from Sabrina Jonnier (Maxxis-Rocky Mountain). Jonnier, in turn, will be pushed by Myriam Nicole (Riding Addiction Commencal) and Emmeline Ragot (Team GR).

In the Men's competition, Aaron Gwin (Trek World Racing) became the first American man in over a decade to win the World Cup downhill title, with his third place at La Bresse, France, two weeks ago. Greg Minnaar (Santa Cruz Syndicate) has a 151 point lead over Gee Atherton (Commencal) in the fight for second but, as Atherton knows from his flat tire in round four, one problem can quickly change the standings. Minnaar, if he makes the podium, will set a new record of 53 World Cup podiums, as would his team mate Steve Peat. Below the top three, Steve Smith (Devinci), Danny Hart (Giant) and Brook MacDonald (MS Evil) are all in contention for the final two spots on the podium.

2011 UCI WC Finals VDS

Cane Creek DBAir

2011-08-17T08:17:00.000-07:00

At EUROBIKE we will be officially launching DBair. Building upon the Double Barrel legacy, the DBair is the very first air-sprung rear shock that features twin-tube technology, 4-way independent adjustability and unrivaled levels of quality. The DBair enables custom, rider-tuned damping performance which optimizes the ride for every rider on every bike allowing you to DEFINE YOUR GREAT.

CC Double Barrel Air

Industrial Revolution With Danny Macaskill

2011-08-17T06:24:00.000-07:00

Industrial Revolutions is the amazing new film from street trials riding star Danny Macaskill.
Industrial Revolutions sees Danny take his incredible bike skills into an industrial train yard and some derelict buildings.' Filmed in the beautiful Scottish countryside Danny Macaskill's latest film was directed by Stu Thomson (Cut Media/MTBcut) for Channel 4's documentary Concrete Circus.

Industrial Revolution

The Atherton Project Season 3 Episode 6

2011-08-14T17:58:00.000-07:00

Episode 6 of the Atherton Project kicks off at Mont St. Anne in Canada – one of the hardest, longest and oldest tracks on the circuit, and the team could us the good points to help with the title chase. Then it’s on to Windham in New York for the 4th July and the next round of the World Cup – not before taking part in some watersports and yet more fireworks…

Atherton Project Season 3 Episode 6

TWR In Pursuit Lockdown In La Bresse

2011-08-14T07:59:00.000-07:00

The latest instalment of the In Pursuit series from Trek World Racing has been released today. Entitled "Lockdown In La Bresse" it follows the downhill riders in La Bresse, France, for Round 6 of the UCI Downhill Mountain Bike World Cup. Watch as Aaron Gwin wraps up the overall World Cup with one race to go, Tracy scores another win for her best season of her career, and the venue gets jammed with fans. Truly a race to remember for Trek World Racing.

TWR Lockdown In La Bresse

Strength In Numbers "Aptos"

2011-08-10T22:58:00.000-07:00

"The Post Office dirt jumps are built on a private lot at the corner of Trout Gulch Rd and Cathedral Dr in Aptos, California about fifteen minutes south of Santa Cruz down Highway 1. The lot the jumps are built on has a slight slope to it and there is only one tree. The lot is leased to the town and the jumps are public and legal. The jumps are called Post Office because the Post Office is directly across the street from the lot and at the time that name made sense to the kids that began riding and building there. Those kids have grown up and are now known as the Aptos Crew led by Cam McCaul and Greg Watts.

Regarded as some of the best jumps to be found in North America, people travel from all over the world to ride Post Office. A statement of fact that only sounds far fetched to those who do not dirt jump. The take offs are steep and appear to be vertical making the first drop in at Post Office an intimidating experience for any rider. Riders love these jumps because once the lines are learned they flow and ride perfectly.

The jumps in their current state are the result of ten years hard effort. The first place Watts will take you when you arrive to ride at Post Office is to the hardware store to buy a shovel. It is friendly reminder that you get back what you put in at Post Office. This is a common sentiment in many dirt jump communities and a commanding belief held by all the local riders in the Aptos Crew.

The perfect balance of speed and amplitude is the magic of what is goes on at Post Office. The lines are built so that the skill of the rider is the only variable in this equation. A perfect take off provides the perfect opportunity for the perfect trick. And a perfect landing leads to the next opportunity. These jumps are sculptures with more purpose than just to be looked at. They do what they were designed and built to do. If you ride the line clean, the jumps will reward you with the opportunity to fly.

The Post Office jumps in Aptos are a beautiful thing. A vacant lot that brought strangers together to become best friends. Jumping bikes for fun that nurtured a hard work ethic and built livelihoods. A crew of mountain bikers brought together based on a common focus of riding bikes they way they like to.

The Aptos Crew began with a piece of land and a few piles of dirt. But what exists today does so regardless of land. Post Office has always existed on borrowed time. It has always been known by all in the crew that one day the lease may not be renewed. Though their land is not permanent the strength of their crew is, and that is a story we can all learn from."
Jonathan Schramm

Strength In Numbers At Aptos

Aaron Gwin WIns The 2011 WC DH Title

2011-08-07T13:01:00.000-07:00

Today in France Aaron Gwin made history, yet again, by becoming the first ever American man ever to win the World Cup Downhill title, a fact that will become even clearer to the 23 year old when he stands on the podium in Italy in 2 weeks' time to receive the prized crystal trophy. His team mate, World Champion Tracy Moseley, won her 4th World Cup race of the season today and has extended her lead to 150 points going into the final round in Italy. Rounding out a perfect weekend, the team once again finished up number 1 for the week.

For the women's event, Tracy had good cause to be anxiou s going into the finals as a second place to her main rival of season 2011, Floriane Pugin (FRA), would have reduced her points lead to just 70, and with 250 on offer at the finals in Italy, it would have made for a more difficult weekend. Rain had fallen overnight here in La Bresse making for a different track to that qualified on, and a large amount of water early on in the race nearly ended Tracy hopes.

Aaron Gwin Wins Title

2011 World Cup 6 La Bresse

2011-08-07T07:17:00.001-07:00

"After a break of almost a month, the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup presented by Shimano begins again this weekend with round six of the Downhill in La Bresse, France. The World Cup returns to La Bresse after an absence of one year.
It was raining earlier in the week, and is scheduled to rain again for race day on Sunday, making the many grassy sections slick and slippery. This is a fairly short course, so any time lost will be extremely damaging.

Despite a relatively small women's field of 37 riders, all of the top competitors are here, led by World Champion and World Cup leader Tracy Moseley (Trek World Racing). Moseley's lead is a fairly slim 100 points over Floriane Pugin (Scott 11), with round five winner Rachel Atherton (Commencal) considerably further back at 260 points in arrears. Moseley, unless she has a disastrous ride, should come out of the race still in the lead. However Pugin, racing before a home crowd, may be inspired here in La Bresse to close the gap even further for the final round. In addition to these women, Sabrina Jonnier (Maxxis-Rocky Mountain) continues to return to form after an early season injury, and would certainly like to repeat her win of 2009 here.

The men's series is all but wrapped up by Aaron Gwin, Moseley's team mate on the Trek World Racing squad. The American, after four wins in five races, holds a commanding 342 point lead over second place Greg Minnaar (Santa Cruz Syndicate). Gee Atherton (Commencal) is the only other rider with a mathematical chance of catching Gwin, and that is very remote, since he is 461 points back. As well as the aforementioned riders, look to the 2009 winner, Steve Peat (Santa Cruz Syndicate), and France's Fabien Barel (Mondraker) for a possible upset."

2011 UCI WC 6 La Bresse

2012 Transition Bandit 29er

2011-08-03T20:43:00.000-07:00

Yes the rumors are true, we are doing a 29er version of our Bandit as well as a TransAm 29. We are actually pretty excited about the new bikes and realize while they are not for everyone, they can be pretty awesome. "We felt there are rider types and sizes that benefit from bigger wheels. Taller riders have the tendency to ride on top of smaller wheeled bikes and making a larger wheel bike allowed us to plant the rider more “in” the bike. Lower relative to the axles. With shorter riders, this benefit is negated and at some point could become a drawback as the bike feels too big and unwieldy. We felt that 29ers aren’t “the answer” but rather one more way to have fun on a bike. 29ers have their own set of quirks just like every bike does, but riding them is actually really fun and forces the rider to think in new ways about how to tackle terrain, keep speed, jump, etc, - Kyle Young, Owner of Transition Bikes".

2012 Transition Bandit 29r

2011 Crankworx Colorado Slopestyle Finals

2011-08-02T19:44:00.000-07:00

Slope Finals went down in Winterpark today! Despite a little wind, the weather stayed friendly for the most part, and riders were able to shred the Slope course. Ending up on top was Cam McCaul. In second was Brandon Semenuk, and in third Sam Pilgrim. Watch the video for their winning runs!

2011 Crankworx Colorado Slopestyle

The Atherton Project Season 3 Episode 5

2011-07-30T14:51:00.000-07:00

Episode 5 of The Atherton Project begins with the team travelling to the mountain town of Sauze D’Oulx for some a week’s free riding ahead of the next World Cup race. It’s a place where all there is to do is eat, sleep and ride – a perfect place to hone skills and switch off from the rigours of the World Cup, at least temporarily.
The team also reflect on the season so far, and look ahead to what’s to come.

The Atherton Project Season 3 Episode 5

2011 Ancient Peaks MTB Race

2011-07-26T22:35:00.000-07:00

The Ancient Peaks Race happened last weekend. It was held on the Santa Margarita ranch about ten miles north of San Luis Obispo. The downhill course has been cut over the last four to five months. Nate Lewis was the course designer and lead trail digger. He had help from many friends and volunteers from the community to get the course ready to ride by race day.

2011 Ancient Peaks Downhill

Easton Havoc UST 150mm Announced

2011-07-26T20:41:00.001-07:00

Scotts Valley, Calif., July 20, 2011- Meeting the increasing demands of freeride and downhill riders,
Easton Cycling has launched a 12x150mm version of its highly regarded Havoc UST wheelset. Total
wheelset weight for this new option is a remarkable 1,870-grams making it the lightest 12x150mm
wheelset on the market while delivering certified UST compatibility.

Easton will continue selling the Havoc DH, a heavy-duty alternative and official wheel of Whistler Bike
Park, but the new Havoc UST 150mm takes downhill wheels to a new level by dropping nearly a full
pound of weight and adding certified UST compatibility. This new wheelset has been race tested all season
on the downhill world cup by Team Lapierre and Team Devinci’s Steve Smith, recent winner of the
Canadian Open DH race on Havoc UST 150’s.

The Havoc UST 150mm features a tubeless compatible, true UST 23-millimeter internal rim width (28mm
external) and is laced with 28 straight-gauge Sapim spokes. Havocs are available with either bold orange
anodized hubs and matching water-transfer graphics or in a stealthy gray. The Havoc 150mm is sold as a
separate rear wheel for $555 or with a 20mm front wheel as a complete set at $1000 and is also
compatible with 157mm rear spacing through the use of modular end caps.

Easton Havoc UST

Intense Cycles New Carbine

2011-07-26T06:14:00.000-07:00

The Carbine is a very refined 5.5 – 6 inch travel all mountain bike that climbs like you can not imagine. Really, I cant lie, standing up wrenching on the bars, or sitting – spinning - making peanut butter. It is really mind boggling how good it is at going up a hill, (it could have something to do with the 5.5lb frame, and maybe the well engineered carbon construction, maybe the VPP design or maybe the superior geometry). I guess I am raving about how good this thing climbs, because of how well it descends. And how well it handles tight poppy single track, and jumps, and corners, and, and, and.. You really need to ride the bike to find out for yourself.
"State of the art engineering and technology, along with the vision and design of Jeff Steber, has culminated in the production of our most alluring and inspired mountain bike design to date. "We combined the best of the best" says Steber, "American design with German engineering."

Intense employed the services of German firm, SEED Engineering to match its vision with their expertise in carbon-fiber product development and engineering.

The brains behind SEED come from years of experience in carbon fiber manufacturing. “We use all the great technology there is, but especially keep a focus on providing the best product”, says SEED engineer, Thomas Harter.

The outcome is remarkable: a do-it-all trail bike with a dual personality. "We took the original DNA of the famous Tracer VP and re-designed and improved it using carbon fiber construction”, says Steber.

The Carbine is proving to be Intense’s best all-around trail bike. The combination of the properties of carbon fiber and the magic of patented VPP suspension makes the new Carbine a segment leader."

Intense Carbine

2011 Crankworx Giant Slalom

2011-07-23T23:19:00.001-07:00

WHISTLER, BC July 22, 2011 – A redesign of the course and a new format put some of the world’s best mountain bikers through the paces today at the Giant Slalom, presented by Giant Bicycles. Thomas Slavik had the fastest combined time of 1:20.25 in the Pro Men’s category while Jill Kintner took first place in the Pro Women’s category and pretty much solidified her chance at becoming this year’s Queen of Crankworx.

The new course featured a flowing, yet technical ride that tested the high speed skills of each rider. Tight rhythm sections at the top, high-speed berms and a full complement of jumps kept things interesting for the athletes.

Thomas Slavic (CZE), took first place with a time of 1:20.25; Johannes Fischbach (GER), took second place with a time of 1:20.76; Blake Carney (USA), took third place with a time of 1:20.85.

In the Pro Women’s category, Jill Kintner (USA), took first place with a time of 1:27.40; Melissa Buhl (USA), took second place with a time of 1:30.68; Danielle Beecroft (AUS), took third place with a time of 1:32.42.

Jill was also named Queen of Kokanee Crankworx by having also won the Slalom and Pump track events and coming second in the Jeep Air DH. Mitch Ropelato was named King of Kokanee Crankworx.

2011 Giant Slalom Results

2011 Teva Best Trick SHowdown

2011-07-21T23:08:00.000-07:00

WHISTLER, BC July 21, 2011 – Benny Phillips will be a name to remember after the sponsor-less rider stormed the Teva Best Trick Challenge to take the win in Session One with a 360 Double Downside Whip. His attempts at Front Flip Tailwhips were impressive, but not stomped. The newcomer burst onto the slopestyle scene tonight and shares the Teva Best Trick Showdown podium with Cam Zink, one of the best slope riders in the world.
Phillips recently moved to Whistler from Melbourne AUS and was “discovered” by Whistler Mountain Bike Park Manager Brian Finestone. “He was basically living at the Airdome and Brian noticed his determination and skill,” says Brett Tippie, professional rider. “This got the wheels turning for Benny to get invited as an alternate rider for the Red Bull Joyride event this Saturday.”
Cam Zink (USA), winner of Session Two at the Teva Best Trick Showdown, is no stranger to the podium and his winning run featured a risky Front Flip off the final Kokanee Cabin step down feature. “To throw down that trick before the Red Bull Joyride is pretty risky but he was totally committed and it paid off for him,” says Tippie.

2011 Crankworx Teva best Trick Showdown

2011 Crankworx Garbanzo Downhill

2011-07-20T06:02:00.000-07:00

WHISTLER, BC July 19, 2011 – With only one run to make his mark, Sam Blenkinsop (NZL) made an incredible recovery after hitting a tree to take the Pro Men win in the Garbanzo Downhill with a time of 13:44.52.
“That was hard. I hit a tree and it knocked all the wind out of me,” said an out of breath Blenkinsop at the bottom of the course. “It took me awhile to breath again after I got back on my bike. Compared to this race, the World Cup Downhills feel pretty easy. This is much longer than usual DH races, you can't ride it 100 per cent all the way down.”
Another racer putting on the power, and linking together a good run, was Whistler local Claire Buchar who won the Pro Women’s category with a time of 16:06.68.
The Garbanzo DH is an epic course when the conditions are ideal so the variable conditions the racers had to deal with today made the course extra challenging. Cold and wet conditions up top transitioned to extremely slippery roots and rocks on the mid-mountain and then merged with dry conditions on the bottom. The racers had to constantly adapt to the ever-changing conditions but the weather stayed consistent for the entire race, giving the athletes a level playing field from the first to the last rider.
In the Pro Men category 1st Sam Blenkinsop13:44.52; 2nd Marcelo Gutierrez Villega 13:57.23; 3rd Jack Reading 13:58.44. In the Pro Women category 1st Claire Buchar 16:06.68; 2nd Manon Carpenter 16:13.82; 3rd Miranda Miller 16:55.00.
Full event results at this link: http://www.crankworx.com/index.php/results/kokanee-crankworx/2011-results/47-2011-results
The Garbanzo Downhill is a 3,400’ arm-pumping, finger-cramping, unrelenting descent from the top of the Whistler Mountain Bike Park to the valley bottom. The course snakes through some of the most challenging and aggressive terrain available in Whistler.

2011 Garbanzo DH

2011 Crankworx SRAM Whip-It

2011-07-19T13:35:00.000-07:00

Today was a off day at Kokanee Crankworx so the bike suppliers got into the action . We headed up to the rebuilt Crabapple hits, the newly tooled super step ups that will send you 30 plus feet, this is not a place for the faint of heart. Pro rider from the World Cup along with some big slopestyle guys came to session the jumps for video and photo's for Sram products. With the likes of B Fairclough, D Riffle, M Hannah,A Neethling and slope style senders C Zink, K Strait, Tyler McCaul, M Soderstrom, A Lacondeguy we new we were in for a major whip session. The riders hit the jumps over and over, hiking their bikes back up and going single and trains, so wicked. The photo guys along were Sven Martin, Frazer Britton, Adrian Marcoux and myself as well as Taylor Sage and the Parkin Bros doing Video. You know with these talents someone is getting bangers for sure. These are a few of mine from today, thanks to Sram and the riders for doing this.

2011 SRAM Whip It Day

2011 Crankworx Dual Slalom

2011-07-19T08:10:00.000-07:00

WHISTLER, BC July 16, 2011 –A crash in last year’s Dual Slalom Pro Men’s Final kept Mitch Ropelato (USA) from earning gold but he redeemed himself a year later by coming out on top in today’s race. With hardly an error in any run, Ropelato has able to blaze through each ladder, consistently pinning it to take gold over Mick Hannah (AUS) in the finals. Jill Kintner (USA) took gold from Micayla Gatto (CAD) in the Pro Women’s category with clean runs through each ladder. Kintner went in with an advantage of 0.49 and a serious bobble on the moguls by Gatto at the top end of the course took the defending champion out of the running.

2011 Crankworx DS

2011 Crankworx Canadian Open DH

2011-07-19T08:08:00.000-07:00

Today Vancouver Island’s Steve Smith kept the Canadian Open Downhill title on home soil by dominating the notoriously technical course to take first place with a time of 3:00.01. Rachel Atherton (GBR) had the fastest time for the women with a time of 3:34.45.

“The Canadian Open DH is my favourite event at Kokanee Crankworx. After getting a flat on the course last year I was ready to go hard this year,” says Smith. “This track suits my style; it is rough and technical, and one of my favourite trails to ride in the Whistler Mountain Bike Park.”

2011 Canadian Open Downhill

2012 Specialized SX Trail

2011-07-14T20:38:00.000-07:00

Looking for a bike to handle the gnarliest downhill trails, but agile for hitting stunts in the park? The 180mm-travel SX Trail is the bike for you partner. With a Fox 36 Van R coil-sprung fork, custom Avid Elixir 7 hydraulic disc brakes and Specialized Butcher SX tires, the SX Trail is versatile downhill machine.

2012 Specialized SX Trail

2012 Specialized Demo

2011-07-14T20:20:00.000-07:00

With two downhill World Championships already to its name, the Demo 8 II is the world's fastest downhill machine. With 200mm of travel, a Cane Creek Double Barrel shock and a RockShox World Cup fork, it oozes premium downhill performance.
2012 Specialized Demo

2012 Session 9.9

2011-07-14T06:29:00.000-07:00

Trek World Racing’s Aaron Gwin raced a prototype of an OCLV Mountain Carbon Trek Session to his third World Cup win in four starts this season, furthering his overall lead and maintaining his reputation as the man to beat in 2011. After qualifying second in muddy conditions two days prior, Gwin ripped the new bike through a dry Sunday course on his way to another podium. Gwin’s Trek World Racing teammate, Tracy Moseley, returned to the site of her 2010 World Championship run in familiar fashion racing to the top of the women’s DH podium aboard her team-issue Trek Session 88.

Rumors of the existence of a carbon Session have abounded for weeks, exacerbated by numerous spy photos and a highly publicized practice run, but on Sunday, Gwin would expose the bike and its capabilities to the world. “It’s hardly a secret that we’ve been working on a new bike with Aaron,” said Michael Browne, Trek’s Global Mountain Bike Brand Manager. “He’s been on the bike a few times and obviously felt confident enough after a few runs to race it. It’s exciting to watch this incredible season unfold along with the development of a new racing machine.”

2012 Trek Session 9.9

Elelments Of Perfection 2 ROCK

2011-07-12T08:24:00.000-07:00

2nd of 5 in Elements of Perfection video series.

ROCK: You are more than a mere part of the earth. You are the earth. You erupt from deep volcanic faults or collect in ancient processes. Upon impact, you give nothing, but you give everything through your existence. You are the beginning, middle and end of all trails. So thank you. Thank you for letting me ride all over you. Thank you for allowing my tires to leave their rubber fingerprint on you. For dictating the path of the trail: over, above and around. For allowing traction on dry days, and scary-but-fun sliding on soggy ones. For jagged, demanding descents and burly no-fall lines. For always being there. For never changing. Thank you for providing mental markers with your cracks and lines. For nearvertical rollovers and wallrides and lips that never need reshaping. For giving birth to gravel and dirt. For bringing together others just like me to worship you in this kick-ass place. At once, you are everything to me, but just one small part of my favorite bike park in the world.

Elements Of Perfection 2

Elements Of Perfection 1 DIRT

2011-07-12T08:22:00.000-07:00

1st of 5 in Elements of Perfection Video Series.

DIRT: An infinite collection of tiny rocks and decomposed plant matter. You clog my lungs and grit my teeth. You scratch my goggles and stain my clothes. But you also stain my soul. So thank you. Thank you for letting me ride all over you. For being forgiving while I learn whips. For two-wheel drifts and big, fat skids. For providing soft ground between stone and wood. For flowy lines and sculpted berms. For the scars on my shins. For the impressions in my memory. For bringing together others just like me to worship you in this kick-ass place. At once, you are everything to me, but just another small part of the best bike park in the world.

Elements Of Perfection 1

Atherton Project Season 3 Episode 4

2011-07-12T08:21:00.000-07:00

Episode 4 begins with the team hitting the road as they make the long drive to the next world cup race in Leogang, Austria. Gloomy weather means the track’s not looking its best. Undeterred, Gee’s keen to get a good qualifier and a podium place to get some points in the bank. Dan’s fast getting reacquainted with the sheer speed of World Cup races, and needs to find his pace if he’s to be in contention.

The team then drop in at the Red Bull Hangar-7 in Salzburg for a high-G spin in one of the Flying Bulls stunt planes. The idea that extreme athletes should be able to take anything thrown at them soon goes out the window, and it’s sick bags at the ready as the team takes to the skies.

The Atherton Project Season 3 Episode 4

Specialized Butcher DH Tires

2011-07-11T20:29:00.000-07:00

Specialized released these awhile ago and we have had some serious saddle time on them. They have held up well to rocks at 20PSI and sloppy Santa Cruz based mud. They are a solid tire all the way around. We noticed a good size weight fluctuation in the tires almost 100GM on some. If you really care weigh the Specialized Butchers to make sure your bike is "light".

Banshee Legend MKII Update

2011-07-11T20:22:00.000-07:00

We have had the Banshee Legend MKII built for close to a year now. So far the bike has been killer all the way around. It pedal decent, sits low, tracks very good, holds lines and is stable, and inspires confidence in the rider. Recently we added a pair of E13 Downhill cranks to the bike. They are stiff, light and holding up well. So far the only issues with them was mounting them it was a pain.

Scott Sharples Joins Intense Cycles As Marketing Manager

2011-07-11T19:25:00.000-07:00

Temecula, CA: Intense Cycles proudly announces the addition of Scott Sharples as Marketing Manager/brand ambassador.

Scott brings with him extensive experience in the cycling industry, including a successful career as a top pro downhiller, editorial contributor to a variety of publications and founder/manager of the athlete development program “Race Brain”.

Sharples is best known, however, for his success as a Cycling coach. From 2001-2007 he was head downhill coach for Cycling Australia, where he created and implemented a flagship downhill race program for his native country’s national cycling body.

Scott Sharples As Intense Marketing Manager

Aaron Gwin WIns 2011 Windham World Cup

2011-07-11T06:08:00.000-07:00

All four Trek World Racing downhill riders performed strongly at Round 5 of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in Windham, New York in front of a large US crowd on a short and technical track. Neko Mulally (USA) took another solid top 30 result to move up in the rankings, Justin Leov (NZL) had his best result of the year in 6th, just 1/10th of a second off the podium, and Tracy Moseley (GBR) kept her perfect record of being on the podium for every World Cup race in 2011, with a 3rd place.

But it was Aaron Gwin's 4th win of the season that had the fans chanting U-S-A-GWIN at the podium and the city adminis trators changing the name of host town Windham to ‘Gwindham’ for the remainder of the day, in a flurry of red white and blue flags, that had everyone talking. Aaron's win, after qualifying first on Friday, was the first win on US soil by an American downhiller since both Missy Giove and Shaun Palmer won in Big Bear, California, in 1999. Furthermore, Aaron joins a small group of 3 men who have won 4 Downhill World Cups in one season, the other two being Francois Gachet (FRA) and the legendary Nicolas Vouilloz (FRA).

This was the second time the World Cup has visited Windham and the course certainly had its share of technical content with three major rock garden sections, and running around two and a half minutes in length. The weather was perfect and the crowds built all morning to beat the numbers from 2010. Tracy had qualified 3rd and was hoping to move up to second, but last year's winner Rachel Atherton (GBR) repeated for 2011, and this season's other in-form rider Floriane Pugin (FRA) took 2nd. Tracy maintains the overall lead of the series by 100 points with 2 races to go.

Gwin Wins Windham

2012 Kona Operator

2011-07-02T20:26:00.000-07:00

Last year we launched our new Operator platform with one purpose: ride the bejesus out of the world’s downhill tracks all week, race the hell out of them on Sunday, then do it every weekend forever. It starts with a wholly rejuvenated version of our famed Walking Beam 4-Bar suspension system. The design features incredibly plush and durable oversized axle pivots and bearings, combined with low standover and a modern, balanced riding position. We’ve taken everything we’ve learned from our World-Championship-winning Stab and created a bike that speeds into a new era of downhill riding. It’s easy to maintain, with a supple and deep rear suspension feel designed for The Long Sweet Ride, so it’s no surprise Dirt Magazine called it “Bang on!” To make it even better, we added new rear shock mount options and shortened the rear chainstays. To make it even better, we added new rear shock mount options and shortened the rear chainstays.

2012 Kona Operator

The Atherton Project Season 3 Episode 3

2011-06-29T21:58:00.000-07:00

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

2012 Orange Patriot Announced

2011-06-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

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

2011 UCI WC 3 Leogang Downhill

2011-06-13T06:43:00.000-07:00

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

2011 Leogang World Cup Downhill Results

2011-06-12T12:56:00.000-07:00

2011 UCI WC 3 Downhill Results

2011 Leogang World Cup 4X Results

2011-06-12T12:54:00.000-07:00

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

Trek WOrld Racing Is Top Team At 2011 Fort William UCI

2011-06-06T06:06:00.000-07:00

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

New MTB World Speed Record?

2011-05-31T20:30:00.000-07:00

A new inofficial world speed record for serial mountain bikes on gravel was set by the 36-year-old Austrian Red Bull Athlete Markus Stöckl on a volcano in Nicaragua when he hit 164.95 km/h and eclipsed the record set nine years ago by Eric Barone of France, who was on hand to witness the feat as the organizer.

World Speed Record For Mountain Bikes Set

2011 US Open Of MTB

2011-05-29T13:13:00.000-07:00

Aaron Gwin takes the win at the 2011 US Open held at Diablo.

2011 US OPEN OF MOUNTAIN BIKING

2011 PORC Dirt Wars

2011-05-25T06:06:00.001-07:00

Dirt Wars at PORC, Pro Comp. Song is 'Promises' by Nero. Dynamic Style, Haro, Mojo Suspension, Nookie Bikes, DMR Bikes, Dirt Wars 2011, Fox, RAM Bikes, Smuggling Duds, Duffs, Rockstar Energy Drink, Bell, Cranked365, Kenda, Ogio, Saracen. Thanks to Cliff for organising the event and everyone who threw down, checkout www.lepagephotography.com for pics

2011 Porc Dirt Wars

3 Minute Gaps Dan Atherton

2011-05-25T06:04:00.000-07:00

Dan has made an amazing recovery and not only has he come back from the brink, he has come back to a level of riding that most of us will never achieve in our own lifetimes. It was amazing to watch him battle with himself in the week of filming to overstep what he was comfortable with, to take his riding to an even higher level. He is a true inspiration and for those of you who need reminding to make every day count should look at what Dan has achieved in the past eight months. He has sent out a message that it is important to never give up and that anything is possible if you have the right attitude.

3 Minute Gap Dan Atherton Clip

2011 Transition TR 450 Review

2011-05-23T14:51:00.001-07:00

When selecting the 2011 Transition TR 450 as a test bike we debated a little bit about a full custom build versus the kit offered by Transition. We studied their build kit and liked pretty much everything about it. The only items that we would actually swap before them breaking would probably be the cranks mainly due to weight. The build kit on this bike is actually the 2010 kit not the 2011. We placed our order early and had to wait awhile before getting the bike. But the frame, shock and fork are all 2011 pieces. Looking at the geometry numbers of the TR we knew that it should feel at home going down steep trails and inspire confidence in the rider as well. We also like the idea of having a chip in the linkage to adjust HA, and BB heights. The bike went together well with no hang ups. It is a size large and weighed in at a hair over forty pounds. Once built the bike looked stunning. Just looking at the 2010 Pro GRT standings will attest to the TR's ability to win on the track with both Jill and Bryn winning the overall titles.

Transition TR 450 Test

The Atherton Project Season 3 Teaser

2011-05-23T13:25:00.000-07:00

The Atherton Project series 3 begins on Red Bull TV on 2nd June. Check out The Atherton Project website for more information.

Atherton Project Season 3 Trailer

Bike Park BC Opening Days

2011-05-18T06:05:00.000-07:00

Win Ultimate Summer Of Freeride Including Cash, Accommodation And Season Pass At Six BC Bike Parks

VANCOUVER, BC May 17, 2011 – Mountain bikers worldwide are advised to keep the following dates in their calendar clear to ensure they are available for British Columbia’s best lift-accessed exhilaration at the following bike parks on their 2011 opening days.

Bike Park BC

Kokanee Crankworx Unveils Red Boy Joyride Riders

2011-05-18T06:03:00.000-07:00

KOKANEE CRANKWORX UNVEILS NEW INVITE FORMAT FOR RED BULL JOYRIDE AND TEVA BEST TRICK SHOWDOWN
Roster Determined Through Crankworx History, FMBA Rankings And Key Event Results
WHISTLER, BC May 17, 2011 – With a whopping $25,000 on the line for first place, Kokanee Crankworx will be ensuring the best of the best are on course for the inaugural Red Bull Joyride event July 23, 2011. Kokanee Crankworx’s slopestyle event has long been considered the most prestigious event of its kind in the world. A new partnership between Kokanee Crankworx and Red Bull will next level the competition with a complete course redesign and the biggest prize purse in freeride mountain biking.
“We have developed a new invitation format that will ensure the best athletes are here in Whistler to compete in Red Bull Joyride,” says Darren Kinnaird, Kokanee Crankworx General Manager. “Invitations have gone out to athletes based on their performance at previous Crankworx Slopestyles, and how they fared in the FMBA World Tour 2010.”
Here are the invited athletes so far with another ten athletes to be determined by July 4:
Brandon Semenuk
Cameron Zink
Mike Montgomery
Casey Groves
Greg Watts
Martin Soderstrom
Andreu Lacondeguy
Lance McDermott
Sam Dueck
Kelly McGarry
Yannick Granieri
Jack Fogelquist
Amir Kabbani
Darren Berrecloth
Sam Pilgrim

Red Bull Joyride

2012 Commencal Supreme DH V3 Coming Soon

2011-05-11T06:16:00.000-07:00

Look no further, for here you have a replica of the bike used by the Athertons this season. You get high-end equipment and a new generation frame. According to the riders themselves, it gives even greater confidence to face any obstacle, thanks to the increased rigidity and adaptability of the frame. All this means you’ll excel on any type of track.
If you plan on winning the DH World Cup this season, the weapon you need is right here.

2012 Commencal Supreme DH V3 Atherton Edition

Trek World Racing At The First UCI Race Of 2011

2011-05-06T06:07:00.000-07:00

UCI 2011 #1

3 Minute Gaps Trailer

2011-05-02T06:11:00.001-07:00

"For two years the crew of 3 MINUTE GAPS have followed the world’s best mountain bike racers around the globe documenting them as they trained, prepared, rode, ate, traveled, raced, celebrated, commiserated, and made sacrifices simply because of the weight of ambition to be the fastest. There is no truer, more accurate and intimate depiction of the hallowed worlds of the very best World Cup rider's than 3 MINUTE GAPS.

Filmed in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, USA, and every round of the 2009 and 2010 World Cup Series and World Championships.

Director Clay Porter has traveled the world capturing a story of triumph and struggle.

From multiple World Champions to future World Champions - including Gee Atherton, Sam Hill, Aaron Gwin, Sam Blenkinsop, Brendan Fairclough, Greg Minnaar, Andrew Neethling, Danny Hart, Matti Lehikoinen, Ben Reid, and Josh Bryceland - this film chronicles the new breed of racers who are re-shaping modern downhill racing, and indeed, riding.

This movie is more than a Post-It note stuck on a page of mountain bike history, it is a leather bound pop-up book printed on sheets of polished stone with a crystal ball for the contents. For years to come this movie will still be referenced in conversations and discussions about when riding was re-imagined.

- Seb Kemp"

3 Minute Gaps Official Trailer

Trek World Racing Scores Historic First In The First UCI Race Of 2011

2011-04-24T20:36:00.000-07:00

Historic Double Win For Trek World Racing In South Africa

At the opening round of the 2011 Downhill World Cup, Trek World Racing's Tracy Moseley (GBR) and Aaron Gwin (USA) have walked away with the leaders' jerseys of the series after a display of blistering speed, strength, and determination in front of a huge crowd in sunny Pietermaritzburg. For Tracy it was her first World Cup win in the coveted rainbow jersey of the World Champion, and for Aaron, it was his first World Cup win ever, and the first by an American male since 1999.

Aaron qualified 7th 2 days ago, but in the time between that race and today’s final, he worked with the Trek World Racing me chanics to find the ideal set up for what was going to be a much faster and drier race. His Fox suspension was perfectly dialled as was his choice of Maxxis rubber, and together with a supreme show of speed in the first and second sectors the Californian, who only started racing World Cups in 2008, scored his 8th World cup podium, but an all-important first win for his career, and his new team.

TWR Takes Double Win

2011 UCI WORLD CUP 1 IN PIETERMARITZBURG

2011-04-23T08:46:00.000-07:00

For the opening round of the 2011 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup presented by Shimano, the athletes and teams have returned to Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, after a one year absence. All three disciplines are represented in the opening round - Olympic Cross-country, Downhill and Four-Cross. Contested on three continents, both the Cross-country and Downhill World Cup series will feature seven events, with the Four-Cross offering five.

From Pietermaritzburg, the disciplines split, with the Cross-country returning to Dalby, Great Britain and Offenburg, Germany in May, while the Gravity events resume in June with Fort William, Scotland, and Leogang, Austria. For July, the World Cup moves to North America, with a triple event at the classic Mont-Sainte Anne venue in Canada, followed by a Cross-country/Downhill double in Windham, New York, in the United States. August returns the World Cup to Europe for the final three races - La Bresse (France) for a stand-alone Downhill, the new Czech venue of Nove Mesto Na Morave for Cross-country number six, and the World Cup Final bringing all three disciplines back together in Val di Sole, Italy.

The Cross-country is entering a critical phase in Olympic qualifying for next year's London Games, so the competition is expected to reach new heights in intensity. The men's side will see renewed rivalry between France's Julien Absalon (Orbea) and the 2010 World Cup Champion from Switzerland, Nino Schurter (Scott-Swisspower), while Spain's Jose Hermida (Multivan Merida), who won the opening round the last time the race was in Pietermaritzburg, will wear the rainbow stripes of the World Champion through the year. For the women, Canada's Catharine Pendrel (Luna) will start the year with the Number One plate, however, she faces strong competition from Americans Willow Koerber (Trek World Racing) and Georgia Gould (Luna), as well as Italy's Eva Lechner (Colnago Arreghini Sudtirol) and Russia's Irina Kalentieva (Topeak Ergon). The Cross-country will also introduce, for the first time, separate World Cup races for the Under-23 categories.

In 2010, the crowd-favourite Downhill saw a tremendous battle for the men's title between Great Britain's Gee Atherton (Commencal) and South African Greg Minnaar (Santa Cruz Syndicate), with the lead seesawing back and forth until Atherton took the title in the final event. This year, we can expect to see both riders fighting it out again, with World Champion Sam Hill (Monster Energy/Specialized/Mad Catz) in the mix also. The women's competition was dominated by French star Sabrina Jonnier (Maxxis-Rocky Mountain) last year, but her countrywoman Emmeline Ragot (Team GR) and World Champion Tracy Moseley (Trek World Racing) will both be looking to dislodge Jonnier from the top spot.

The Four-cross will once again see perennial men's favourite Jared Graves (Yeti Fox Shox) of Australia go up against the powerful RSP four-cross squad led by Czech rider Tomas Slavik and the Netherland's Joost Wichman. Graves repeated as the World Cup Champion in 2010, however, Slavik was able to take the world title from him. On the women's side, Austria's Anita Molcik took the 2010 title from multi-time World Cup Champion Anneke Beerten (Milka Trek) of the Netherlands, so Beerten is sure to be anxious to regain her number one status.

The 2011 action starts on Friday in Pietermaritzburg, with the Four-cross.

2011 WC Round 1

2011 UCI World Cup Round 1 Pietermartizburg

2011-04-22T05:34:00.000-07:00

The 2011 UCI MTB World Cup presented by Shimano, will open with the first event in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. We look forward to welcoming all UCI MTB Teams, National Federations and individual riders and we as the organizers and Cycling South Africa will work as hard as possible to ensure their experience will be of the highest standard.
The organizers, together with the City of Pietermaritzburg, have developed a prime piece of real estate which is almost in the centre of the city and served as the premier Mountain Bike venue in the country over the past two years. This 12 hectare piece of land boasts competition ready Cross Country, Downhill and Four Cross courses that will all be utilized at the event in April 2011.
2011 UCI WC 1

Transition TR 450 Explained

2011-04-21T21:27:00.000-07:00

The TR450 product video gives you a complete view of the TR450 as told from the people that designed it, race on it and tune the suspension for it. See the bike in action and why it is regarded as one of the best overall downhill racing bikes around.
Transition TR 450 Video

3 Minute Gaps Andrew Neethling

2011-04-19T22:37:00.001-07:00

When we arrived in Somerset west to film "Needles" section it was clear it wasn't going to be a normal weeks filming for a number of reasons. First, we had to put up with a full week of Sven Martin in full panic mode every time a potential photographic moment was missed. Which resulted in us getting out of bed at 5.30am everyday for the epic morning light. Second, Andrew has the best trails and jumps literally in his own own back yard. The area overlooks both the Indian and Atlantic Ocean and is one of the most amazing places I have ever filmed. Getting a chance to hang out with Andrew in his hometown for the filming of his section was one the most memorable experiences of my life.
3 Minute Gap

WIN THE NEW IBIS MOJO SL-R

2011-04-19T19:33:00.001-07:00

Information About the Mojo SL-R
After five years of refinement on the Mojo SL, it was time for a full reboot.

The result is the Mojo SL-R, a sub-5 lb. (2250g) trail bike frame with the same proven Mojo/Mojo SL geometry and dw-link suspension (140 mm travel).

At the heart of it, the Mojo SL-R utilizes a new manufacturing technology that delivers a stronger, stiffer, lighter and more consistent carbon fiber structure.

In addition to this new manufacturing method, we utilized several new component standards to further optimize the design:
Tapered 1 1/8” to 1.5” head tube (Cane Creek ZS44 ZeroStack 1 1/8" top/ Traditional 1.5" bottom). Provides more precise steering control and enables the use of Cane Creek’s AngleSet for customized steering geometry.
142 x 12mm Maxle through-axle rear drop outs. Tie the rear end together providing a stout Mojo HD like swing arm and easier wheel installation.
Direct mount front derailleur, using the high direct mount standard. It delivers drivetrain compatibility for both 2x10 and 3x10. Also, eliminates the “neck-down” of the seat tube improving BB stiffness and frame strength.
BB92/Press GXP style integrated BB is lighter and stiffer.

Additional features include:
FOX RP23 with Genuine Kashima Coat and Adaptive Logic ProPedal shock standard.
Carbon fiber post-mount rear brake mounts and integrated drop outs.
Four colors: Black & Blue, Lamborine Orange, South Beach White and DB5 Silver.
The new chain suck plate has more coverage.
Same proven geometry of the Mojo SL.
Titanium fasteners abound.
Links interchangeable with Mojo SL links.
Best of all, target weight for the frame is sub 5 pounds (2250g) for a large matte clear.
Complete bike with XTR in size large 22.4lbs (10.16 kilos) w/o pedals.

Ibis Mojo SL-R

2011 Vienna Air King With Andy Whitman

2011-04-11T20:12:00.000-07:00

We searched for a very long time. Vienna is a place where it can be found in these spring days. Our search was in the subway, the street and in other places, but it had to be found in the heart of the city. He's - Andy Whitman! And he likes to jump from the big jumps!

2011 Vienna Air King With Andy Whitman

2011 Nukeproof Mega

2011-04-06T06:19:00.000-07:00

Inspired by the explosion in Megavalanche-style Enduro DH events and evolved from a prototype that placed highly in the 2009 run of the actual event, the Mega frame is built to take the unique combinations of challenges thrown up by Enduro-style DH events and general All-Mountain adventure.

Offering 150mm rear travel and designed to match with 150-170mm forks up front the Mega is a versatile frame that combines plush descending prowess with pedalling efficiency.
Suspension-wise, the Mega uses our 'Erosion' linkage giving a smooth progressive action with a well controlled mid-stroke to avoid wallowing under pedal loads.

Main bearing pivots are contained within a bespoke CNC-machined Bottom Bracket Assembly to ensure alignment, durability and precision, while an asymmetric chainstay design gives clearance for a double front derailleur (with a 22t-36t chainring set up) and compatibility with all leading models of ISCG-05 mounted chain retention systems.  Geometry is based around a 66deg head angle and 75deg seat angle, with a BB height of 13.69” for climbing and descending prowess.

A 44mm headtube standard keeps the front of the bike light, with Nukeproof headset options allowing all fork steerer option compatibility.

The Mega is available in a choice of Anodized Black, Anodized Silver and Nukeproof Yellow finishes.

Frame Weight - Medium 6.83lb or 3.1kg (without shock)

Nukeproof Mega

2011 Transition Bottlerocket Images

2011-04-05T19:54:00.001-07:00

2011 Bottlerocket Images

Brendan Wins Vigo

2011-04-05T06:17:00.000-07:00

Specialized's Brendan Fairclough Wins Vigo. The British World Cup racer has been training hard in the off-season putting in the miles on the road bike but will this all transfer easily onto the bouncy bike?

With a tail-ender preventing him from nailing a decent seeding run, Brendan has it all to play for in the final run. Will the pedaling shy pinner finally get his foot down? It certainly looks like it.
Brendan Wins 2011 Vigo

GoPro 3D Hero System

2011-04-04T12:51:00.001-07:00

The 3D HERO System allows you to combine two 1080p HD HERO cameras into a single housing to record 3D video and photos while simultaneously recording in 2D. A synchronization cable plugs into the rear HERO Port on both cameras to join them together, enabling both cameras to record video and photos in perfect synchronization. This is a requirement for professional quality 3D and is available only from GoPro.

3D GoPro Hero

Greg Minnar's 2011 V-10

2011-04-01T21:53:00.000-07:00

Steve Peat and Josh Bryceland have just taken possession of their new SRAM/RockShox equipped Santa Cruz Carbon V-10’s with carbon Enve wheels complete with lots of slick team issue products. Next week they will be racing at the second Halo BDS round in Molfre, UK aboard their new steeds, then they will promptly jump on a plane to Pietermaritzburg, South Africa where they will be caught up in a whirlwind of activities leading up to the World Cup season opener.
They spent a day building up the new bikes and Steve remarks on the new features of the bike:
"I get excited at this time every year! The feeling of surprise as to what the guys in the art department have come up with for our new graphics is great and 2011 is no exception!!! The guys have done a killer job yet again. Good old Dougie "Hatrick” Hatfield stuck most of the bike together and myself and Josh had a bit of fun putting the last bits on to see the whole bike. It then needed to be sent of to Ricky Bobby for a final race prep tune and to tighten all the bolts I had missed....ha,ha. She will be back with me soon for her maiden voyage....can’t wait as the whole thing looks awesome."

Once the Syndicate lands in South Africa they will head to Pietermaritzburg for a couple of days of photo shoots with Gary “Flipper” Perkin for Santa Cruz, then the True Collection activities start with other True Athletes Cedric Gracia, and extreme mountain skier and base jumper JT Holmes in tow. Greg is eager to see his “Syndicate Family” again and says, “I’m looking forward to being a part of the Syndicate again, and the family reunion is here at my home. There is a lot going on with the True Collection and one of the things I'm really looking forward to is meeting up with JT Holmes to do a parachute drop into the World Cup! The GM/True Athlete fan club has taken some work but is looking very good....exciting times!”
Team Syndicate V-10

2011 Irish NPS Round 1

2011-03-31T06:22:00.001-07:00

Highlight reel of the the first round of the 2011 Irish National Points Series Downhill MTB Championship.

Sponsored by Relentless
Promoted by Chain Reaction Cycles
2011 NPS 1

Q & A About The Zerode G-1

2011-03-30T21:35:00.000-07:00

A Q&A with Rob Metz & James Dodds, the Zerode boys.
Learn a bit more about production delays, what makes the bike so good, and their plans for world domination!

Zerode G1

CRC/Nukeprood Testing The Scalp In Spain

2011-03-30T19:15:00.000-07:00

We’ve just received this super video edit of Team ChainReactionCycles/Nukeproof riders Matti Lehikoinen, Matt Simmonds and Joe Smith during pre-season training in Malaga, Spain.

It was a great opportunity for the riders to tweak and test their brand new race-issue Nukeproof Scalp bikes on the dry and dusty tracks in the region.

Watch the riding video now, courtesy of Salvador Moreno and Francisco Martinez Rivera, where the riders are flat out and pushing the bikes and themselves to the limit. We’ll have plenty more riding videos like this throughout the race season, so keep your eye on the site for updates.
Scalp Testing

DRD X-Fusion At Fontana

2011-03-29T19:35:00.000-07:00

The ‘DRD X-Fusion Intense’ factory mountain bike team kicked off their season with tremendous success a little early this year at the 2011 Fontana City National! With plans of taking the season by storm in just a few short weeks at the Port Angeles Pro GRT, several of our team riders, Jason Memmelaar, Brad King & Austin Warren wanted to get a good race on their brand new Intense M9 factory bikes before the season starts!

DRD X-Fusion At Fontana

Custom Chrome Nukeproof Scalp

2011-03-29T06:11:00.000-07:00

We’ve got very high hopes for our Nukeproof Scalp downhill bike in 2011. It’s already taken some of our sponsored riders to the podium, and we’re expecting more of the same from the ChainReactionCycles.com/Nukeproof downhill race team in this year’s World Cup and World Championship races.
Chrome Scalp

Tara Llanes Answers Questions With Giant

2011-03-22T12:48:00.000-07:00

The 2011 Tara Llanes Classic returns to Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort on September 24th and 25th. What began as an impromptu fund raiser for Tara shortly after the Downhill champion was injured in September 2007 has grown to an annual race attracting hundreds of pro and amateur competitors. This will be the third year that the event has been held at Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort, the world-class skiing and mountain bike racing venue near Truckee, CA. The Mega DH race has been the primary event of the Tara Llanes Classic; last year, World Cup DH pro Brian Lopes won the Pro Men’s race, and French World Cup DH pro Sabrina Jonnier claimed the Pro Women’s title. In 2011, the Tara Llanes Classic adds an XC race that is sure to attract even more competitors and fans to Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort.

Tara Answers Some Questions

Mondraker Factory team Signs With Renthal

2011-03-22T06:31:00.000-07:00

Renthal are proud to announce their association with the Mondraker Factory Team.

Multiple World Champion Fabien Barel and team mates Damien Spagnolo, Aurélien Giordanengo and Patrick Thome will be competing across the globe using Renthal components throughout 2011 and beyond.

Fabien and his mechanic, Paul Walton are famous on the World Cup circuit for an innovative approach to increasing performance, often disregarding convention in the race against the clock.

Mondraker On Renthal

Zerode G-1 Available Now

2011-03-20T20:13:00.000-07:00

The ZERODE G-1 has arrived. Gone are the days of semi-active suspension, derralieurs and chainguides. Welcome flawless gear shifting, high-pivot activated,100% active suspension, and superior handling, along with killer looks (because lets be honest, looks count!)

After 4 years of testing and prototyping, ZERODE Bikes (Rotorua, New Zealand) is proud to announce the official release of the 'G-1' frameset.

The design team of Rob Metz and James Dodds (aka Dodzy) have re-engineered the mountainbike from the ground up, taking ques from their own riding experiences (NZ championships, World Cup DH rounds, 1000's of downhill runs and years of riding home made high pivot gearbox bikes), rider feedback and motorcycle design theory.

Zerode G1

2011 Maxxis Cup Downhill International In Gouveia

2011-03-20T13:46:00.000-07:00

Gouveia in Portugal is recognized by many as the unofficial season opener for international downhill racing, and Trek World Racing riders Tracy Moseley (GBR) and Neko Mulally (USA) decided to use the event as an important ramp up to the start of the World Cup season next month. Tracy took the win in the Women's category, proudly wearing the rainbow jersey of the reigning World Champ, and Neko won the Juniors and also took 2nd place overall in Scratch.
The track in Gouveia is notorious for the high speed rocky sections throughout, and during the week it claimed many riders, bikes and wheels. Tracy crashed in training yesterday when she had a front wheel wash out and she landed heavily on a large boulder, destroying her new custom painted helmet, but other than some soreness, was good to go for racing today. Neko survived a spectacular high speed crash on his final training run, after misjudging a landing slightly, and landed hard and fast onto a large pointed rock, destroying the rear wheel and sending him over the handlebars in a cloud of dust. He too destroyed a brand new custom helmet, but walked away from the crash with little more than bruising and scraping.

2011 Maxxis Cup International Round 1

2nd Annual SCMBF In Aptos California

2011-03-19T06:55:00.000-07:00

Join us for an exciting two day event that includes professional and amateur jump competitions, short track races, bike skill clinics and shuttles with bike industry expo and demo area.
APTOS, CA – March 16, 2011 – Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz (MBOSC) today announced the event schedule and sponsor list for the 2nd Annual Santa Cruz Mountain Bike Festival (SCMBF) at the Aptos Pump Track and Post Office Dirt Jump Park in Aptos Village, California on April 9th and 10th, 2011. The SCMBF is Santa Cruz County’s premier mountain biking event, bringing together a mix of competitive racing, fun rides, skills clinics and a deep list of industry manufacturers and retailers with booths and demo products. To benefit mountain biking in Santa Cruz, all proceeds from the 2011 event will be dedicated to a permanent bike park in Aptos.
For two jam-packed days, the SCMBF will be home to exciting events for riders at every level. Whether attendees want to participate, spectate, improve their skills or check out the latest gear, there’s something for everyone. For professional and amateur competitive mountain bikers there are jump contests and short track races, endurance XC rides, and Soquel Demo Forest shuttle rides. Beginners can hone their dirt skills with clinics focusing on bike handling and pump track skills. Over 36 industry vendors are on hand to share their latest innovations and equipment. The beer garden will pour tasty drafts from local beer makers including Santa Cruz Ale Works, Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing, Seabright Brewery, Boulder Creek Brewery, Uncommon Brewers and Corralitos Brewing Co. For kids there will be handmade root beer on tap.

2011 SCMBF