Table of contents for No.73 in Spoke

I’d been wanting to shoot non-racing images with Mike for a while, especially after watching his on-bike antics from the side of the track at the DME, Trans NZ and NZ Enduro over the last couple of years. A couple of days before Christmas this year, we finally had a chance for a quick pedal around Nelson with our camera gear. Short on time, we made Codgers our target. The last track we wanted to shoot was Smasher, which I’d been eyeing up for photos for a while. This is from the last straight before the exit, with Mike effortlessly tweaking where I could barely make the landing. Rider: Mike Cowlin Location: Nelson, NZ…

The stark contrast of the highlights and shadows at Skyline in Queenstown make shooting challenging. On occasion, the canopy opens up to create a cool spotlight in a neat section of trail. While out shooting one day with Bas van Steenbergen, we journeyed down B.U.B.B.A. in search of good light, and we just so happened to find it on the track’s crux move: this tricky blind gap up and over some monstrous off-camber roots. In classic Bas fashion, he made it look all too easy. Rider: Bas van Steenbergen Location: Queenstown, NZ.…

I’ve recently been through a very low point in my life. A number of factors that might be familiar to men-of-a-certain-age happened to coalesce at a particular point in time, and were a hammer blow to my sense of self. Each morning, my heart felt heavy, my legs leaden, the world around me seeming darker than usual. The fresh scent of spring failed to reopen my ability to embrace the richness life had previously held. The golden allure of summer held no interest or relevance for me. As I retreated from the world, my family and my friends, a soft, dark curtain closed insidiously around me. Unable to express my feelings—words were too emotionally bruising to shape in my mouth—riding my bike delivered brief periods of respite. It was something…

Grins a mile wide, arms raised triumphantly, Nina McVicar and Reta Trotman crossed the finish line as female team champions of The Pioneer 2017. Boasting 550 kilometres of riding and more than 15,000 metres of ascent over seven days, The Pioneer is a brutally rewarding stage race through New Zealand’s remote and unspoilt high country. As a team, these two were a force to be reckoned with as they pedalled their way to victory on every single stage, a well-oiled, indestructible mountain biking machine. They’re never short of a laugh, and what’s evident from talking with the pair is the sheer enjoyment they took from the riding, enjoyment which made racing together a “ridiculously good time”. Rewind the clock only three years and this tight partnership seemed inconceivable. How their…

You know how you think you’ve ridden all the great singletrack in New Zealand? But really you haven’t, have you? A poster recently appeared advertising an upcoming mountain bike event in Garston, south of Queenstown, at the Welcome Rock Trails. I’d heard of them, but had no idea what they were all about. A day trip materialised, starting with a 6:30am coffee ride: meet up with like-minded folk, ride to the lake, make coffee and return… much fun. Anyway, a bag of gear and bike on the car, off I went. Unfortunately, every campervan and rental car was heading the same way. I breathed deep, sucked it up and drove safe. Planning on meeting Tom O’Brien (The Man when it comes to Welcome Rock) before my ride, I fronted up…

There’s a well-kept secret within the bike journalist fraternity that I’ll let you in on: not all junkets are created equal. However, being the consummate professionals that we are, we like to convince ourselves that the destination of a product launch has little effect on our willingness to attend, but occasionally one turns up that you literally jump out of your seat for. This was the case when I got the invite to head to the launch of Canyon’s new Spectral and Torque bikes on the Atlantic island of Madeira. Madeira popped up on the wider bike community’s radar in 2015 when Ratboy’s ‘Madeira Dreamin’ edit opened people’s eyes to what the Portuguese archipelago had to offer. This was firmly cemented last year when the island hosted a round of…

GAMBLE is a downhill mountain bike film by Steel City Media and Creative Concept showcasing some of the fastest and most charismatic downhill riders currently on two wheels, unleashing them outside of the tape to capture their true abilities on film. Two of those chosen riders happen to be Kiwis. Looking back on the weeks building up to shooting the first segments of GAMBLE with Sam Blenkinsop and Brook Macdonald, I remember it being a hard-to-manage mix of stoke, stress, credit card abuse and high expectations. Blenki - Bariloche, Argentina In classic, first-time filmmaker style, we didn’t ease into things. Instead we went full cannonball into the deep end by heading straight out to Bariloche, Argentina purely off the back of Blenki’s EWS dust experience the year before. The lack…

That time has come again. The travelling circus that is the UCI Downhill World Cup has been parked up for the off-season, and all eyes are now on the first round of the 2018 series. Team rumours are beginning to fly, the social media machine is cranking back into action, and it’s this machine that has got me thinking about how we view the World Cup from the outside. Is a career as a pro downhill racer the pinnacle of all jobs? How accurate is what we see when we’re staring at our phones as we commute to work, or sit in the stall avoiding said work? On the outside, the World Cup looks like a giant moveable party, the F1 of the mountain bike world. We see flash bikes,…

The original Fox Flux was a revelation to trail riders on its initial release back in 2006. One of the first helmets designed to meet the needs of mountain bikers, the Flux was a standout at a time when most helmets were thinly-disguised road models with a visor attached to the front. With deeper coverage at the rear and a unique rear spoiler, it quickly became a riders’ favourite. This newly updated Flux features a chunky, contemporary look that pays homage to the distinctive silhouette of the original, yet is bang up-to-date in terms of both helmet technology and styling. This version features a MIPS insert to protect your brain from rotational forces and Fox’s Varizorb multi-density EPS foam, which is intended to improve impact absorption. Like the much-vaunted Pro…

Here I am, untouched in the corner of the garage next to a broken deck chair and a dusty hiking pack. I’m only a shadow of my former self; clumps of dry, smelly mud are moulded to my frame, grit and grime stuck in my chain. Oh, how I yearn for just one more adventure with her, to be loaded onto the rack in the twilight of a warm summer’s evening, ready for hours of exploring. We’ve embarked on many thrilling journeys together and achieved so many fantastic things. But not anymore. Instead she’s been off flouncing around on Little Miss Roadie, cruising around the tarmac of the Christchurch hills and sprawling Canterbury Plains in preparation for the Coast to Coast. Pfft! No doubt about it, Little Miss Roadie is…

It’s only 9am, but our shoot is already a wrap—half a dozen bangers and a bunch of rad video. We’d been talking with Ben about filming for months, and finally all the cards aligned: free time, calm weather, perfect light and a brand spanking new Norco Sight. He’s only 20, but already showing a wealth of experience in front of the lens and on a bike, recently proven with a Whistler EWS under-21 stage win. Keep an eye out for him, and a few other Canterbury locals, in the The Perfect Line’s upcoming film – The GC. Rider: Ben Friel Location: Christchurch, NZ…

There are things in this world that make you fret about the human condition. Like Bruno Mars winning a Grammy over Kendrick Lamar, most of America’s current foreign and domestic policy, the popularity of the Segway (I actually crashed a Segway into a tree once—they pick up a lot of pace on the downhills), Married At First Sight. But then there are things which confirm that people, in general, are awesome. I had the pleasure of riding The Old Ghost Road with my family this year, and, well, what a spectacular thing it is: history, beauty, exposure, camaraderie, mystery, it’s all there. And what a story of vision, persistence, and all-round nice people that surrounds the planning, development and construction of that track. It’s a long story, so I won’t…

Here’s a great idea: ride all 22 of New Zealand’s Great Rides, map them while you’re at it, turn the whole thing into an app, let riders download it for free, and secure yourself a pass through the pearly gates of mountain biker heaven, because if that ain’t a good deed, I don’t know what is. A trained planner and cartographer, Gary Patterson came up with the idea of the Great Rides App after spending several years mapping cycle trails around the globe. “The idea to ride our country’s most iconic trails, to extend my mapping into apping, and provide a valuable yet free service to the riders captured my thoughts,” he said. He considered creating a business case for the project, but gave that up quickly. “The thought of…

When I was growing up, my local surf shop was the coolest place I knew. Of course, it had all the latest shiny toys to look at, but it was much more than that–it was a sanctuary, a place where the local groms came to hang out, sit on the couch and read magazines, to worship their idols from surf flicks that played incessantly on the TV screen, and to get the lowdown on everything from the weather to how to work on your dreadlocks. It wasn’t so much about the retail experience; it was a community resource for everything that was cool in the sport. This was pre-internet, and before shops started to worry about their dollar-per-square-metre conversion rates. Sadly, these little shrines have all but disappeared, replaced by…

There used to be two choices for mountain bikers hoping to race World Cup and crack a pro contract: be selected by Cycling NZ, the sport’s national body, or go it alone as a privateer. In case you’re unfamiliar with the term, privateers are self-supported athletes who look after themselves on the competition circuit, which includes managing travel logistics, finding a place to sleep every night, keeping bikes race-ready, and coming up with the money to compete. 4EVER Racing NZ aims to change this. Launched late last year by local Wanaka cycling enthusiast Scott Wright, 4EVER is a non-profit race team supported by 4EVER (4E) Bikes from the Czech Republic. The aim is to grow the number of Kiwi riders racing at World Cups and World Championships by making it…

It was only a few years ago that Keegan Wright was merely a blip on the radar of the greater mountain bike world. Keegan started to make himself known at the 2015 Crankworx Rotorua Pump Track Challenge, taking second place against a stacked global field. Then, while competing in the Dunedin round of the 2016 Downhill Nationals, he had a hefty crash that broke his left hand, dislocated his right wrist, smashed his cheekbone, and broke his eye socket, ending his summer of racing. After a week in hospital, he started focusing on 2017, working harder than ever. His determination paid off and he came storming back, winning the National DH title, the Crankworx Pump Track Challenge, and two rounds of the 2W Enduro series, topping it off with the…

The Tukudeka thrived for thousands of years predominately in what is today called Idaho. A band of the Shoshone tribe, their name roughly meant “sheep eaters.” They lived high in the Sawtooth Range where they hunted and ate bighorn sheep. In winter, they often stayed there, preferring the sides of south-facing mountains where the sun and winds kept the snow less deep than down in the valleys where it piled high. They were masters of high altitude living, using ridges as footpaths to get around and survive. With this knowledge tucked away, I met up with friends in Ketchum, Idaho, home to Sun Valley, where the foothills and mountains are better known to skiers. Slowly, however, it’s becoming a mountain biking destination, and I wanted to see what the fuss…

Visually (because come on, a sexy bike rides better, right?) I’d give it an 8 out of 10. The Troy is aesthetically pleasing, with its smooth, subtle curves, and top tube in line with seatstays. The head tube isn’t overbearing, and the pivot points look seamless. The only downfall is its overly chunky bottom bracket area, which is not that pretty from the non-drive side. Geometry: This bike definitely ticks the boxes of where today’s sought-after trail bikes are at or going. Long and slack (626mm top tube in a large and a 67° head angle) with a shorter and stiffer back end. The claim of a confident descender that still has a quick and snappy rear end is accurate. This is probably due to the monocoque carbon front triangle…

Apparently, mountain biking has an aging demographic. We’re getting older, hairier and fonder of craft brews (I am anyway), and we’re also more likely to be breeding. The immediate impact of this on our riding life is twofold. Firstly, there’s less money in the piggy bank for shiny new parts; secondly, there’s less time to go riding. As riding time becomes rarer and more precious, you’ll need to work out a schedule with your partner so you both get your fair share of trail time, avoiding the inevitable “but you went riding yesterday…” chat again. Or you can take the little ones with you. Not so long ago, the only solutions were rear-mounted seats which don’t play nicely with rear suspension, or those trailers which are great for leaving your…

The reopening of the Christchurch Adventure Park was an important day for the local bike community and I was invited to come along and be a part of it. To make the most of the day, I called one of my favourite riders, Joe Nation, to join me in exploring the new trails on offer. Excitement levels were raised greatly as I followed Joe into this corner and watched the dust blow up in the shafts of sunlight. Anyone who knows how excited I get over light and shadow will not be surprised to know I had to capture this spot from every angle. Luckily, Joe is a pretty fit guy and can handle pushing back up a few times. This was one of the snaps that stood out. Rider:…

1.BELL SIXER MIPS-EQUIPPED HELMET A helmet made for the long haul, the Sixer embraces integrated MIPS technology, with a sleeker, closer-to-the-head fit that combines the Float Fit system and proprietary Sweat Guide for all-day comfort. Pop it on your nog and forget about it—the only thing you’ll need to focus on is your ride. bellhelmets.com/cycling 2. LEZYNE ALLOY OVER DRIVE A high volume aluminium floor pump with maximum flow design, and a look for the style-inclined. Sleek it may be, but the Over Drive will make short work of large-diameter tyres and tubeless systems, with a large 2.5-inch gauge optimised for low-pressure setups. lezyne.com 3. TINELI MTB TRAIL SHORTS A lightweight trail and enduro short made from durable fabrics that stretch with you as you ride. The seamless inseam reduces…

I must confess that until recently I had no knowledge of bikepacking, as in packing heaps of crap on my bike and body and heading into the wilderness for overnight adventures. Being the second-highest paid bike journo in Paraparaumu Beach (after my daughter Elodie—I should never have lent her my camera), I usually have minions to carry my gear. Or failing that I just get a helicopter to drop off my air mattress and filet mignon so I can travel light. But, foolishly, I recently offered my services as a tour guide on The Old Ghost Road and thought I’d better play ball and carry my fair share. I’m sorry, but that little jaunt ruined me and I’m not sure I’ll ever fully recover. The main thing I learnt is…

Somewhere on Canada’s Sunshine Coast, there exists a group of mythical Kiwi trail builders, their existence shrouded in mystery. A bike shop owner located in British Columbia’s Sea-to-Sky Corridor might encounter one rushing through on his way back to this isolated location, with orders to have a fork rebuilt in two days, and “I need it to ride home from work” the only specifics given. Actually, it isn’t that much of a mystery and a few details can be squeezed out of the aforementioned trail builders when pressed, but there’s a need for strict confidentiality about locations and the client for whom the trails are being built. What I can tell you is that there are fifteen of us: one Brit, a Scot, two Canadians, and twelve Kiwis, all working…

When you think of jumping shores to ride your bike, the first place that comes to mind for most would be Canada. For me it would have to be Italy. But I’m sure I speak for most in saying that Australia wouldn’t be the first destination you’d want to take off to. However, like all good things we have in New Zealand, Aussie tends to copy us, and the investment into the growth of mountain biking and trail development is no exception. Situated on Australia’s upper east coast, Cairns is incredibly close to the equator and serves as the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. With an average yearly temp of 29 degrees, countless facilities in place for tourism, and a dry season that runs during our winter months, it…

I get the call on a Monday night. “What are you doing tomorrow? I need you to go and check out a place. There’ll be food and shuttles. Keen?” says the voice on the other end of the phone. “Sure. I can make that work,” I reply. “Oh, and you need to bring your own riders too. Good luck.” How do you convince someone to come and ride for you with only hours’ notice? It’s simple. You make them an offer they can’t refuse. The Offer: “Do you want to come and ride a freshly made private trail, followed by some delicious food cooked specifically for you, spend the night in an alpine lodge and follow it up with some shuttles around the Craigieburn–Cheeseman area?” Answer: “Yes.” Unsurprisingly. First off,…

“So on we went along that bastard of a track, round and round, up and down, but mostly up, until we had climbed right to the edge of the Vatnajökull, next to the ice.” From Running Blind by Desmond Bagley, a 1970 espionage thriller in which the MI6 hero evades his KGB pursuers by crossing the Gaesavatn. We were somewhere on the Gæsavatn, west of Kistufell, just north of the Vatnajökull Glacier, crossing a large, bleak lava field. It was windy, intermittently snowing, very cold, and a long, long way from anywhere. I had just made an interesting discovery and was hoping to draw on Sue’s medical know-how. “What does it mean when you have blood in your urine?” I asked. “Well, hematuria is quite common with endurance athletes, especially…

The Swedes are an aesthetically-minded and safety-conscious bunch–think fine furniture and Volvos–and POC have kept true to these clichéd values with their new Tectral Race SPIN helmet. As I took it out of the box, I couldn’t help but admire its beautiful lines and chiselled curves; this was a sublime-looking helmet, one that wouldn’t look out of place in a bleached wooden-floored, animal skin-clad, minimalist furniture showroom. First impressions are important, as is looking good on the trails, and the Tectal Race SPIN gets a big tick in these boxes. On the safety side of things, POC have again been very Swedish and developed their own unique protection system inside the helmet: SPIN, which stands for Shearing Pad INside. SPIN’s goal is to reduce the rotational forces that are generated…

Five Ten have redesigned their clipless DH shoe and sent me a pair to make sure they got it right. Right off the bat, I’ve been impressed at every improvement they’ve made over the previous Hellcat and M16 versions. The firmer rubber sole wears better, yet is still very sticky. They’re also supremely comfy with phenomenal heel lock and great walking flex, but super stiff when pedalling—stiff enough to work fine with non-caged clipless pedals. The grunty stitched-in toe box with impact foam wards off the biggest rock strikes, the one-piece upper Velcro flap won’t tear off, the cushioned sole makes for super plush heel strikes, and there’s an orthotic footbed and a really breathable upper, thanks to tongue perforations. They’re almost waterproof, and lighter too. There are rumours Greg…