It has been some week for enduro with last weekend seeing round 2 of the Superenduro also hosting the first round of the new Enduro World Series in Punta Ala.
The race was won by two former downhill World champions – Fabian Barel and Tracy Moseley (apparantly riding a new shortly to be released 29er Trek Remedy). Another video comes to us from show man Cedric Gracia with episode 1 of his new series, [Read more →]
Three time Tour de France champion Greg LeMond will be in Limerick next month for the Get Back challenge charity ride and while here will take part in an interview with cycling journalist Shane Stokes in the Lime Tree theater on June 14th. Not to be missed this is a great opportunity to find out what makes a champion tick and to, no doubt discuss all the current going on in cycling. LeMond has been linked several times to a possible attempt to contest the forthcoming UCI presidential race against incumbent Pat McQuaid and has consistently been one of the most vociferous advocates that Armstrong was doping. It should be a great discussion. Full info below and link. [Read more →]
Sunday saw the running of the second round of the Irish Gravity Enduro series in Ballyhoura by Biking.ie. Last years event had been marred by awful weather and with Met Eireann forecasting similar conditions for the afternoon there was a scramble for the early start slots that proved unnecessary as balmy weather descended on County Limerick with the needle hitting a high of 15 degrees Celsius at one point.
The race featured five stages, most with long transitions and that balmy (!) weather allowed for spectacular views and visibility showcasing this beautiful part of the country. Back to the racing though. [Read more →]
Downhill legend (and now Enduro racer) Nico Vouilloz is set to star in a series of videos produced by SRAM this year. Here is the first one – well worth a look!
Nicolas Vouilloz – The relentless pursuit of balance – SRAM MTB Wheels
After 10 World Champion titles and 5 overall World Cup wins, Nicolas Vouilloz still wants to be and feel fast. A different kind of fast, perhaps. [Read more →]
41 year old Radioshack rider Jens Voigt took his 66th stage win at the Amgen Tour of California yesterday with a canny team breakaway that shattered the field and was reminiscent of the famous Tour de France echelon split made by the Columbia squad. Voigt is one of the most charismatic riders in the Peloton with his famous “Shut up legs!” quote adorning many t-shirts.
With 55km to go the team managed to split the peloton and distance the yellow jersey of Azevedo taking several big riders with them in what will likely prove the race deciding event. BMCs Tejay Van Gargeren was in the split and takes the leaders jersey but it was all about Voigt at the finish line who soloed in from 5km out. [Read more →]
National Youth development rider Scott Wallace rode to an excellent 3rd place at the NPS round on Sunday. Here is his take on how the day went down. Incidentally entry is now open for Round 4 in Lady Dixon Park on the 26th May. Full details here.
Words Scott Wallace, Photos Keith Wallace.
So last weekend was the 3rd round of the Xc NPS, and for me it was on home turf nearly in my back garden, 3 Rock. [Read more →]
National Youth development rider Leah Maunsell took the win in the Under 14 girls category at the Ticknock NPS round on Sunday. Thi sis her account of the weekend, just don’t tell her brother about her handlebars! Incidentally entry is now open for Round 4 in Lady Dixon Park on the 26th May. Full details here.
This weekend was the 3rd round of the XC NPS hosted by MAD MTB in Ticknock, Dublin. I began getting everything sorted on Friday evening starting with washing my brother’s bike which I had out test riding on Thursday night. Jonathan had given me his new Unovelo 29er Carbon Hardtail to race this weekend.
Packing takes a long time because you have to pack for every weather possibility. [Read more →]
South Eastern MTB club Racing 795 have announced an event with a difference. Billed as an MTB sportif it should be a fantastic day on the bike given the great events the club has run in the last few years. I still remember the Thai grub after their first XC race… be worth it for something like that alone! As an often overlooked area of the country for MTB make sure this is on your list!
Here is a little taster of some of the trails.
Racing795 Mt Leinster MTB Challenge – 7th July 2013 [Read more →]
After a great weekend of XC racing in a wet Three Rock we are off again to Sea Otter for the race from the Specialized point of view in slightly better conditions… Congrats to MAD on a great race!
Now the DH guys including Aaron Gwin’s first ride in a red shirt and not on a DH bike. Even more controversial it’s a 29er!
Shimano has launched an 11-speed version of its popular Ultegra groupset. Muchas XT is to XTR in the MTB world, Ultegra is to range topping Dura-Ace. Durable, with great quality and many of the features of Dura-Ace but at a more accessible price point, Ultegra is a really great product. Now available in 11 speed for when you just need that one more gear ratio…
Here is the video preview for Round 3 of the XC NPS next Sunday on Ticknock. Our all time favourite place to ride in the world (!), Ticknock boasts some super amazing trails which the organising club MAD have been busy adding too and utilising to make one tough course from the vid. Go here - http://www.madmtb.com/mad-nps-rd-3-2013/ for all the details.
Trek World Racing lost it’s lead racer Aaron Gwin at the cusp of the transfer market closing and unfortunately for them it shows. Faced with a season bereft of a real star of the DH world they have had to fall back on a more documentary style video format. Here is the first episode. We were a little underwhelmed… Gwin incidentally won riding for Specialized just to rub salt into the wound.
Here is a sneak peak at the new Rostrevor trails courtesy of Andy Yoong. Looks fantastic! remember to keep away until the official opening. For those of you looking for that dream job, look no further – Mourne Mountain Bike Trail Ranger
More new product news in what is a busy year for SRAM and Rockshox. The company have revamped their excellent SID and Revelation lineup. Both forks are now available in a full range of 26″, 27.5″ (650B) and 29er models with SID going from 80-120mm and Revelation from 120-150mm. They have also updated their excellent hydraulic X-LOC lock out lever to allow it to control both front and rear shocks in one push and added Rapid Recovery to the Monarch shock. Phew! Full details below.
RockShox introduces the new SID and Revelation
The new RockShox SID and Revelation retain all the character, which made them two of the most successful XC and Trail forks ever [Read more →]
The board of Cycling Ireland have announced tonight that they will convene an EGM regarding the nomination of Pat McQuaid for a third term as UCI president. This follows sustained pressure from many quarters in the wake of the vote to nominate him on the 12th of April that saw board member Anto Moran resign. Details for the EGM will be announced shortly. [Read more →]
Well it was only a matter of time… The Federal government has joined Floyd Landis’ case against Lance Armstrong which also interestingly includes Tailwind Sports (which owned and operated the U.S. Postal Service cycling team) and Johan Bruyneel.
US Postal was sponsored for a total of US$40 million between 1998 and 2004 and the case seeks to recover triple this in damages leaving the defendants facing a potential US$120 million in damages plus costs in the event that they lose. Armstrong’s legal team have dismissed the case as “opportunistic and insincere” according to the Associated Press (published by Outside Online). See the opening part of the action below -
The United States brings this action to recover treble damages and civil penalties pursuant to the False Claims Act, 3l U.S.C. $$ 3729-33 (the “FCA”), and to recover damages, restitution, and other monetary relief under the federal common law theories of fraud, breach of contract, payment by mistake and unjust enrichment. [Read more →]
Former professional cyclist turned award winning journalist Paul Kimmage is the subject of a new film project which will examine the 100th edition of the Tour de France this summer. Kimmage has competed in the race and his now infamous book A rough ride (if you have been hiding under a stone get this book and read it!) is seen as the original whistle blower on drugs in cycling. Kimmage hounded Lance Armstrong throughout his Tour winning spree and was the subject of personal attacks and law suits that eventually cost him his job. The final indignity was a lawsuit launched by head of the UCI Pat McQuaid and his predecessor Hein Verbruggen which has now been put on hold. The film is due for completion in November 2013 and should make for interesting viewing. Kimmage is not one to hold back…
The most spectacular sporting event in the world in 2013 will take place next July, when for twenty‐one days, the 100th Tour de France sees 180 cyclists pedal over 3,000km around the French countryside. [Read more →]
There are less than three weeks to go until the 2013 European 24 Hour and 12 Hour Solo Mountain Bike Championships and already over 100 riders from 7 countries have entered. The final preparations are being made to the new course at a new venue and sponsor details are being finalised. New for this year we are also adding a 12 Hour Fat Bike category.
The race will take place on 11th May 2013 at Wasing Park near Aldermaston, just a one hour drive from London’s major airports. [Read more →]
The 2013 Gravity Enduro Ireland Series kicked off with a cracker at Carrick Mountain in County Wicklow last weekend. The highly anticipated event sold out in record breaking time, with all 350 riders keen to make a good start to the new season. The trails had been tweaked from last year, with some challenging new technical sections making for exciting racing and a fun day out for everyone including the sun!
Shimano have just released detials of a revamp to their legendary XTR groupset. Now divided into XC and Trail, this release is a new brakeset for XC and a new 29er wheelset. 40 grams per wheel may not seem like a lot but to the XC set that’s a whole heap of weight and with XC racers now predominantly riding 29ers the quest for the lightest production wheelset continues with this release of a tubular wheel for the masses!
Well the weather outside is.. amazing! Finally spring is truly here and the Irish Enduro season kicks off in style this weekend with not one but two races. Wicklow venue Carrick hosts the first round of the Gravity Enduro (completely sold out) while the new Davagh trail centre hosts the Davagh Enduro. To get you in the mood here is the highlight reel from the first round of the Italian SuperEnduro series. Happy trails everyone.
Here is episode 1 from the new Danny MacAskill series. Anyone who is wondering where the dynamic Scotsman has been for the past while will find this illuminating!
Click here to go to the Red Bull site and watch it.
